‘No letter, ‘he said. ‘We can’t put anything on paper. The New York office wouldn’t like it. But we’ll give you all the help that you want. And the twenty grand, if you find the pearls. But you won’t, of course, Not after twenty years.’
I lit my cigarette and blew smoke at the ceiling.
‘It’s still my own time,’ I said.
He looked at me for a moment. ‘Suppose I send somebody to follow you? What then?
‘I’ll know if that happens. I’ve done this job for too long. I’ll tell the police what I know, and go home.’
‘The police? Why?’
I put my hands on the desk. ‘Because.’ I said slowly, ‘the guy that had the lead got bumped off today.’
‘Oh-oh,’
‘I didn’t bump him off,’ I said.
We were both silent for a while. Then Lutin said, ‘You don’t want a letter. And now you’ve told me that, you know I won’t give you one.’
I stood up, smiled, and started walking towards the door. He ran around the dask and put his hand on my arm.
‘Listen, Carmady, I know you’re crazy, but if you do get anything bring it to us. It’ll look good for the business.’