Dietz leaned forward. A hungry look spread over his face.
“You mean if I tell you where your father is—” he began.
“I might persuade him to cut you in on the pearl fishery. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
Dietz didn’t reply. He walked across the room and stood by a long, low table. His hand went to his head. He rubbed his scalp. His long silence worried Biff. It was obvious that some scheme was forming in Dietz’s mind. He came back to Biff.
“I’ll tell you where your father is if you’ll tell me the exact location of the pearl fishery.” Dietz poked his crafty face close to Biff’s.
Biff could hardly suppress a smile. He knew that neither one of them could give the other the information asked for. Biff didn’t know where the pearl fishery was. He also knew that Dietz didn’t know where Brom Zook was. This was going to be a cat-and-mouse game. Biff just hoped it could be played long enough for his uncle and Derek to get things firmed up in Martinique.
“Can you take me to my father?”
“Not until you give me the information I want,” Dietz replied.
“Is he here in Curaçao, or in Martinique?” Biff asked this question to stall for more time. He knew Dietz couldn’t give him an honest answer.
Before Dietz could reply, Specks returned. The giant Crunch was behind him.