Condominium by John D. MacDonald Read Free Book Online Page B

you getting so excited?”
    “My God, Marty, I’m excited because I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “I’m talking about two friends of mine, two successful men I respect. Do you know about respect, Sully?”
    “Honest to God, this is some kind of terrible mistake! When is this supposed to have happened? What are their names?”
    Drusilla Bryne came in with a letter for his signature, put it in front of him and waited there. He said, “Hold on a minute, Sully.”
    Drusilla said, “I’m going to lunch now if it’s okay.”
    The office door was closed. That was the rule. Always close it. She was standing to the left of his chair. He winked up at her, switched the phone to his right hand, rolled his chair back a foot and reached his left arm around her. He pulled her close and bent forward and rested his left ear against the trim almost-flat belly, warm and soft beneath the summery skirt.
    “The two gentlemen, Sully, were Mr. Peter McGinnity and Mr. Hadley Forrester.”
    She stubbed strong slender fingers into the shoulder muscles near the nape of his neck, pressing and stroking, massaging away the tensions. The internal she spoke into his left ear, a
querk
and gurgle, a small growl of midday hunger. Sullivan spoke into his right ear, his voice light with relief. “Hey, I get it! You’re making a joke. Those guys are a total
nothing
, Marty. They’re senior citizens. Retired. There’s nothing they can do to anybody. No leverage. They came bothering me and I told them to shove it. What else?”
    As he stroked and caressed Dru with his left hand, he said, “What you are going to have to do is kiss ass. You are going to have to tell them that you are going to take care of every complaint, because that is what you are going to do.”
    “Marty! I get it! They’re in your office, right? They’re hearing your end of it. A snow job.”
    “Wrong, Sully baby. I’m completely alone.” As he said that he stopped listening to Drusilla with the other ear, leaning away from her to look up at her questioningly. She made a face at him andraised a fist in mock threat. He cowered back against the fragrant softness of her.
    “Well … whatever you want me to do, I’ll do. You know that. But can you give me a guideline?”
    “Such as what?”
    “One thing those old clowns want, they want Higbee taking orders from the Association instead of out of this office.”
    “Then you tell Julian that’s the way it is.”
    “I just want to remind you that Julian is milking a nice return out of that situation, and if they give the orders it is going to stop fast. I’m not making an objection. I’m just reminding.”
    “What I want over there at Golden Sands is people thinking somebody gives a damn about making them happy.”
    “Okay. It isn’t going to be easy turning Julian around. Lorrie will get the message with no problem. Julian is a mule.”
    “There’s the joke about the mule trainer.”
    “I know. Sure. The guy hits him with a sledge and drops him in his tracks and says, ‘Now I’ve got his attention.’ Okay, Marty. Wilco. You never ask for anything without some kind of reason, and you’re not going to tell me until you’re ready.”
    “Sully?”
    “Yeh, Marty?”
    “Kid, you’re doing a good job there. I’ve been over the statements. One word of advice. This will take the cream out of Golden Sands for a while. So don’t try to look good by squeezing it back out of the other condos we’re managing. Okay?”
    “Got you.”
    “Take care,” Martin Liss said and hung up. He released Drusilla Bryne. She turned and sat on the corner of his desk, one leg braced, one leg swinging, and looked down at him with a half smile. He noted that she was flushed and her eyes and lips looked heavy.
    “So?” she said.
    “On your way back from lunch stop in at Benedict’s and get me a liverwurst on rye and a large iced tea.”
    Her smile disappeared and she stood up. “Is that all?”
    “I’ll be