He smiled at Follet. Just sightseeing, Johnny. He lifted the glass. Join me?
Follet nodded to the barman, and said, Well, its nice to see you, anyway.
He would not feel that way for long, thought Warren. He said, These are patients youre talking about, Johnny; theyre sick people. I dont rule them Im not a leader or anything like that.
Thats as may be, said Follet. But once your hopheads go on a toot they can do more damage than youd believe possible. And if anyone can control them, its you.
Ive passed around the word that theyre not welcome here, said Warren. Thats all I can do.
Follet nodded shortly. I understand, Doctor. Thats good enough for me.
Warren looked about the room and saw Andrew Tozier standing at the nearest blackjack table. He said casually, You seem to be doing well.
Follet snorted. You cant do well in this crazy country. Now were having to play the wheel without a zero and thats goddam impossible. No club can operate without an edge.
I dont know, said Warren. Its an equal chance for you and the customer, so thats square. And you make your profit on the club membership, the bar and the restaurant.
Are you crazy? demanded Follet. It just doesnt work that way. In any game of equal chances a lucky rich man will beat hell out of a lucky poor man any time. Bernoulli figured that out back in 1713 its called the St Petersburg paradox. He gestured towards a roulette table. That wheel carries a nut of fifty thousand pounds but how much do you think the customers are worth? Were in the position of playing a game of equal chances against the public which can be regarded as infinitely rich. In the long run we get trimmed but good.
I didnt know you were a mathematician, said Warren.
Any guy in this racket who doesnt understand mathematics goes broke fast, said Follet. And its about time your British legislators employed a few mathematicians. He scowled. Another thing take that blackjack table; at one time it was banned because it was called a game of chance. Now that games of chance are legal they still want to ban it because a good player can beat a bad player. They dont know what in hell they want.
Can a good player win at blackjack? asked Warren interestedly.
Follett nodded. It takes a steeltrap memory and nerves of iron, but it can be done. Its lucky for the house there arent too many of those guys around. Well take that risk on blackjack but on the wheel weve got to have an edge. He looked despondently into his glass. And I dont see much chance of getting one not with the laws that are in the works.
Things are bad all round, said Warren unfeelingly. Maybe youd better go back to the States.
No, Ill ride it out here for a while. Follet drained his glass.
Dont go, said Warren. I had a reason for coming here. I wanted to talk to you.
If its a touch for your clinic Im already on your books.
Warren smiled. This time I want to give you money.
This I must stick around to hear, said Follet. Tell me more.
I have a little expedition planned, said Warren. The pay isnt much say, two-fifty a month for six months. But therell be a bonus at the end if it all works out all right.
Two-fifty a month! Follet laughed. Look around you and figure how much Im making right now. Pull the other one, Doctor.
Dont forget the bonus, said Warren calmly.
All right; whats the bonus? asked Follet, smiling.
That would be open to negotiation, but shall we say a thousand?
You kill me, Warren, you really do the way you make jokes with a straight face. He began to turn away. Ill be seeing you, Doctor.
Dont go, Johnny. Im confident youll join me. You see, I know what happened to that Argentinian a couple of months ago and I know how it was done. It was a little over two hundred thousand pounds you rooked him of, wasnt it?
Follet stopped dead and turned his head to speak over his shoulder. And how did you learn about that?
A good story like that soon gets around, Johnny. You and Kostas were very clever.
Follet turned back to Warren and said seriously, Dr Warren: Id be very careful about the way you talk especially about Argentinian millionaires. Something might happen to you.
I dare say, agreed Warren. And something might happen to you too, Johnny. For instance, if the Argentinian were to find out how hed been had, hed raise a stink, wouldnt he? Hed certainly go to the police. Its one thing to lose and quite another to be cheated, so hed go to the police. He tapped Follet on the chest. And the police would come to you, Johnny. The best that could happen would be that theyd deport you ship you back to the States. Or would it be the best? I hear that the States is a good place for Johnny Follet to keep away from right now. It was something about certain people having long memories.
You hear too damn much, said Follet coldly.
I get around, said Warren with a modest smile.
It seems you do. You wouldnt be trying to put the bite on me, would you?
You might call it that.
Follet sighed. Warren, you know how it is. I have a fifteen per cent piece of this place Im not the boss. Whatever was done to the Argentinian was done by Kostas. Sure, I was around when it happened, but it wasnt my idea I wasnt in on it, and I got nothing out of it. Kostas did everything.
I know, said Warren. Youre as pure as the driven snow. But it wont make much difference when they put you on a VC-10 and shoot you back to the States. He paused and said contemplatively. It might even be possible to arrange for a reception committee to meet you at Kennedy Airport.
I dont think I like any of this, said Follet tightly. Supposing I told Kostas you were shooting your mouth. What do you suppose would happen to you? Ive never had a beef against you, and I dont see why youre doing this. Just watch it.
As he turned away, Warren said, Im sorry, Johnny; it seems as though youll be back in the States before the months out.
That does it, said Follet violently. Kostas is a bad guy to cross. Watch out for your back, Warren. He snapped his fingers and a man who was lounging against the wall suddenly tautened and walked over to the bar. Follet said, Dr Warren is just leaving.
Warren glanced over at Andy Tozier and held up a finger. Tozier strolled over and said pleasantly, Evening, all.
Johnny Follet wants to throw me out, said Warren.
Does he? said Tozier interestedly. And how does he propose to do that? Not that it matters very much.
Who the hells this? snapped Follet.
Oh, Im a friend of Dr Warren, said Tozier. Nice place youve got here, Follet. It should be an interesting exercise.
What are you talking about? What exercise?
Oh, just to see how quickly it could be taken apart. I know a couple of hearty sergeant types who could go through here like a dose of salts in less than thirty minutes. The trouble about that, though, is that youd have a hell of a job putting back the pieces. His voice hardened. My advice to you is that if Dr Warren wants to talk to you, then you pin back your hairy ears and listen.
Oh, just to see how quickly it could be taken apart. I know a couple of hearty sergeant types who could go through here like a dose of salts in less than thirty minutes. The trouble about that, though, is that youd have a hell of a job putting back the pieces. His voice hardened. My advice to you is that if Dr Warren wants to talk to you, then you pin back your hairy ears and listen.
Follet took a deep breath and blew out his cheeks. All right, Steve; Ill sort this out, he said to the man next to him. But stick around I might need you fast. The man nodded and returned to his position against the wall.
Lets all have a nice, soothing drink, suggested Tozier.
I dont get any of this, protested Follet. Why are you pushing me, Warren? Ive never done anything to you.
And you wont, either, observed Warren. In particular you wont say anything about this to Kostas because if anything happens to me all my information goes directly to the places where it will do most good.
Tozier said, I dont know what this is all about, but if anything happens to Dr Warren then a certain Johnny Follet will wish hed never been born, whatever else happens to him.
What the hell are you ganging up on me for? said Follet desperately.
I dont know, said Tozier. Why are we ganging up on him, Doc?
All you have to do is to take a holiday, Johnny, said Warren. You come with me to the Middle East, help me out on a job, and then come back here. And everything will be as it was. Personally, I dont care how much money you loot from Argentinian millionaires. I just want to get a job done.
But why pick on me? demanded Follet.
I didnt pick on you, said Warren wearily. Youre all Ive got, damn it! I have an idea I can use a man of your peculiar talents, so youre elected. And you dont have much say about it, either you darent take the chance of being pushed back to the States. Youre a gambler, but not that much of a gambler.
Okay, so youve whipsawed me, said Follet sourly. Whats the deal?
Im running this on the need to know principle. You dont have to know, you just have to do and Ill tell you when to do it.
Now, wait a goddam minute.
Thats the way it is, said Warren flatly.
Follet shook his head in bewilderment. This is the screwiest thing that ever happened to me.
If its any comfort, brother Jonathan, I dont know whats going on, either, said Tozier. He eyed Warren thoughtfully. But Doc here is showing unmistakable signs of acting like a boss, so I suppose he is the boss.
Then Ill give you an order, said Warren with a tired grin. For Gods sake, stop calling me Doc. It could be important in the future.
Okay, boss, said Tozier with a poker face,
V
Warren did not have to go out to find Mike Abbot because Mike Abbot came to him. He was leaving his rooms after a particularly hard day when he found Abbot on his doorstep. Anything to tell me, Doctor? asked Abbot.
Not particularly, said Warren. What are you looking for?
Just the usual all the dirt on the drug scene. Abbot fell into step beside Warren. For instance, what about Helliers girl?
Whose girl? said Warren with a blank face.
Sir Robert Hellier, the film mogul and dont go all pofaced. You know who I mean. The inquest was bloody uninformative the old boy had slammed down the lid and screwed it tight. Its amazing what you can do if you have a few million quid. Was it accidental or suicide or was she pushed?
Why ask me? said Warren. Youre the hotshot reporter.
Abbot grinned. All I know is what I write for the papers but I have to get it from somewhere or someone. This time the someone is you.
Sorry, Mike no comment.
Oh well; I tried, said Abbot philosophically. Why are we passing this pub? Come in and Ill buy you a drink.
All right, said Warren. I could do with one. Ive had a hard day.
As they pushed open the door Abbot said, All your days seem to be hard ones, judging by the way youve been knocking it back lately. They reached the counter, and he said, Whatll you have?
Ill have a Scotch, said Warren. And what the devil do you mean by that crack?
No harm meant, said Abbot, raising his hands in mock fright. Just one of my feebler non-laughter-making jokes. Its just that Ive seen you around inhaling quite a bit of the stuff. In a pub in Soho and a couple of nights later in the Howard Club.
Have you been following me? demanded Warren.
Christ, no! said Abbot. It was just coincidental. He ordered the drinks. All the same, you seem to move in rum company. I ask myself what is the connection between a doctor of medicine, a professional gambler and a mercenary soldier? And you know what? I get no answer at all.
One of these days that long nose of yours will get chopped off at the roots. Warren diluted his whisky with Malvern water.
Not as bad as losing face, said Abbot. I make my reputation by asking the right questions. For instance, why should the highly respected Dr Warren have a flaming row with Johnny Follet? It was pretty obvious, you know.
You know how it is, said Warren tiredly. Some of my patients had been cutting up ructions at the Howard Club. Johnny didnt like it.
And you had to take your own private army to back you up? queried Abbot. Tell me another fairy tale. The barman was looking at him expectantly so Abbot paid him, and said, Well have another round. He turned back to Warren, and said, Its all right, Doctor; its on the expense account Im working.
So I see, said Warren drily. Even now he had not made up his mind about Helliers proposition. All the moves he had made so far had been tentative and merely to ensure that he could assemble a team if he had to. Mike Abbot was a putative member of the team Warrens choice but it seemed that he was dealing himself in, anyway.
I know this is a damnfool question to ask a pressman, he said. But how far can you keep a secret?
Abbot cocked an eyebrow. Not very far. Not so far as to allow someone to beat me to a story. You know how cutthroat Fleet Street is.
Warren nodded. But how independent are you? I mean, do you have to report on your investigations to anyone on your paper? Your editor, perhaps?
Usually, said Abbot. After all, thats where my pay cheque comes from. Wise in the way of interviews, he waited for Warren to make the running.
Warren refused to play the game. Thats a pity, he said, and fell silent.
Oh, come now, said Abbot. You cant just leave it at that. Whats on your mind?
Id like you to help me but not if its going to be noised about the newspaper offices. You know what a rumour factory your crowd is. Youll know what the score is, but no one else must or well come a cropper.
I cant see my editor buying that, observed Abbot. Its too much like that character in the South Sea Bubble who was selling shares in a company but nobody to know what it is. I suppose its something to do with drugs?