Beery lighted a cigarette.
“They can both buy it,” Kells went on, “and for plenty.”
He turned to Borg. “See if you can get Hanline at the Knickerbocker.”
Borg picked up the phone, dialed a number. After a moment he got up and handed the phone to Kells.
Kells said: “Hello — Hanline?... Tell that boss of yours that I’ve got the stuff he’s dealing with Crotti about. Tell him that in the next two hours I’m going to sell it to the best offer. He’ll know what I mean... Tell him that the bidding starts at fifty grand, and that he’d better be damned quick...”
Kells hung up, grinned at Beery. “Now watch things happen,” he said.
Beery was looking at Granquist. “Where does Miss G get off if you peddle Fenner’s confession back to him? It’s the one thing that leaves her in the clear.”
Kells moved his grin to Granquist. “We’ve figured that out,” he said.
The house-phone rang: Borg answered it, said, “Send him up,” hung up. He said, “Faber,” over his shoulder, went to the door.
Granquist looked questioningly at Kells. Kells shook his head. “Borg’s running mate — I’ll give you twelve guesses where I’m going to send him.”