“Which I figured you’d have them do as soon as you heard I was claiming to know how to find you.”
Unciello’s eyes did not blink so much as deliberately close and open again, like the eyes of a lizard.
“You’re a smart fellow. Now you’re here. What’s your angle?”
“Will one of these goons behind me start shooting if I go for a cigarette?”
“Not if it’s just a cigarette.”
Simon took one from the pack in his breast pocket, moving slowly and carefully to avoid causing any alarm. In the same way he took out his lighter and kindled it.
“I’m acting as Mr Inverest’s strictly unofficial representative,” he said. “As you very well know, he can’t officially make any deal with you. In fact, for public consumption he’s got to say loudly that nobody can blackmail him, even with his daughter’s life — or else he’d probably be out of a job and have no influence at all. But as a man, of course, you’ve got him over a barrel. He’s ready to trade.”
“He’s a smart fellow, too.”
“It’ll have to be very discreetly handled, so that it looks kosher. They’ll have to arrange to dig up some startling new evidence, to give grounds for a re-trial and an acquittal.”
“That’s his worry, I don’t care how he does it, just so Mick gets out.”