He Huffed and He Puffed by Barbara Paul Page B

keep it that way. It’ll be to your benefit as well as mine. I’ll buy that letter from you. Fifty thousand.”
    Strode looked annoyed. “You know damn well House of Glass is worth a lot more to me than that. Why are you so determined to hang on to those shares?”
    â€œI don’t give a hoot about House of Glass, other than as a minor investment. But I care even less for the thought that what’s mine can be so easily stripped away from me.”
    â€œBetter get used to the idea, then, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen. You’re no fool, Bruce. You know I’ll use that letter against you if you block me. I’m not just blowing smoke. I’ll get you. I’ll send you to the gas chamber and not lose any sleep over it.”
    Bruce’s eyes narrowed. “Yes,” he said slowly, drawing it out, “you would do that, wouldn’t you?” The words you bastard hung unspoken in the air.
    Then Bruce stood up and moved over to the window overlooking the West Basin; there was no carpeting on the floor, but still he made no noise when he walked. Castleberry retrieved the envelope Harry Rankin’s letter had come in and put it back in his briefcase, leaving the rest of the papers on the desk.
    They waited.
    At last Bruce turned from the window. The other men could see no change in him; his facial expression told them nothing. He looked straight at Strode and said softly, “It seems you have me.”
    Castleberry looked relieved; Strode did not. “It’s a straightforward business deal,” the latter said. “You have something I want, I have something you don’t want made public. A swap.”
    â€œWhat guarantee do I have you won’t use those papers against me anyway?”
    â€œNone, other than my assurances.” Strode tried his lupine smile and got no response. “Look, Bruce, I’m not interested in doing the police’s work for them. The originals will be yours as soon as you sign the transfer papers.”
    â€œAnd the Rankin woman’s new name and address?”
    â€œNo. Silence is part of my deal with her.”
    â€œI want her name and address,” Bruce insisted.
    â€œSorry, I can’t be party to … whatever you might have in mind. But you don’t have anything to fear from Mrs. Rankin. She’s kept quiet for seventeen years. If she was going to do anything, she’d have done it by now. When I drop the matter, so will she.”
    Bruce’s eyes narrowed into an icy gaze. “Would you accept a guarantee as thin as that?”
    â€œIf I had no choice.”
    â€œI see. I’m to take your word for it not only that this woman will keep quiet but you will too, you and however many of your people know about it.” He waved an arm in the direction of the bodyguard standing by the door, still ignoring Castleberry. “I wouldn’t call that much of a guarantee.”
    Strode returned his icy stare. “You prefer the alternative?”
    Bruce spread his hands on the desk and leaned his weight on them. “No, I do not prefer the alternative.” The two men were locked in eye contact, excluding the others in the room from their private battle of wills. Finally Bruce said, “Your terms are abominable, Strode, but I see I have no choice but to accept them. I presume you’ve already prepared the transfer papers?”
    At Strode’s nod, Castleberry dipped into his briefcase again and came up with a legal paper.
    Bruce gave it a cursory glance and dropped it into a desk drawer. “I’ll want my attorney to look it over. If it’s a standard form, then we’ll arrange another meeting. I will not send you my shares and wait for you to get around to mailing me the originals of that letter and the Rankin woman’s statement.”
    â€œThat is satisfactory.” Strode stood up. “I’ll expect to hear from you soon.” Without