It's in the Book by Mickey Spillane Read Free Book Online Page A

prick.”
    â€œWell, you learn something every day, if you’re paying attention. I want that hundred K donated to whatever charities that Father Mandano designates. Think of the fine reputation you’ll earn, Sonny, continuing your late uncle’s good works in Little Italy.”
    And I hung up on him.
    Cops always come in twos, they say, but the next morning, when Hanson entered my private office, he left his nameless crony in the outer one, to read old magazines. Velda wasn’t back at her reception desk yet, but she soon would be.
    â€œHave a seat, Inspector,” I said, getting behind my desk.
    The brown sheepskin volume, its spine ancient and cracked, lay on my blotter at a casual angle, where I’d tossed it in anticipation of his visit.
    â€œ That’s the book,” he said, eyes wide.
    â€œThat’s the book. And it’s all yours for ten grand.”
    â€œMay I?” he asked, reaching for it.
    â€œBe my guest.”
    He thumbed it open. The pleasure on his face turned to confusion, then to shock.
    â€œMy God …” he said.
    â€œIt’s valuable, all right. I’m no expert, though, so you may be overpaying. You may want to hold onto it for a while.”
    â€œI’ll be damned,” he said, leafing through.
    â€œAs advertised, it has in it everything the old don knew about dirty schemes and double-dealing. Stuff that applies to crooks and cops and senators and even presidents.”
    He was shaking his head, eyes still on the book.
    â€œOf course, we were wrong about it being a ledger. It’s more a how-to-book by another Italian gangster. First-edition English-language translation, though—1640, it says.”
    â€œA gangster named Machiavelli,” Hanson said dryly.
    â€œAnd a book,” I said, “called The Prince.”

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    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
    Copyright © 2013 by Mickey Spillane Publications, LLC
    Cover design by Neil Alexander Heacox
    Published in 2014 by MysteriousPress.com /Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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