He laughed.
‘You’re continual y thinking up difficulties, aren’t you?’ he said lightly. ‘The trouble with you is you worry too much. As soon as Baird starts on the job, you don’t have to think anything more about it. I’ll handle it.’
‘That doesn’t answer my question. What are you going to do about Kile? What wil you do if Baird finds out there’s a half-million involved?’
Gillis lit a cigarette and flicked the match out of the window.
‘I’ll wait until the time comes. But it wouldn’t do any harm to keep your eyes and ears open so far as brother Kile is concerned. He must have a few secrets he doesn’t want to broadcast. Suppose you concentrate on that angle, pet? If we could get something on him, we’d have him where we wanted him if he did turn nasty.’
‘I’m not going to do it,’ Eve said evenly. ‘It’s blackmail.’
‘Why must you always put a label on everything? Suppose it is blackmail: what of it? Or do you want me to leave you to be Kile’s toy until you lose your looks and he boots you out?’
She stood up.
‘Please listen to me, Adam,’ she said quietly. ‘You may be able to handle Kile, but I know you won’t be able to handle Baird. Kile doesn’t matter. He’s old and il and finished, but Baird’s not. He’s dangerous and he’s no fool. If he finds out…’
‘I know, I know,’ Gil is said, giving her his charming smile that was a little faded at the edges. ‘I heard you the first time. It may surprise you to know I’m not worried about Baird. I hope I’ve enough brains to outwit a man of his calibre. I know he’s a kil er; but that’s al . A good boxer can always beat a good slugger, and that’s what Baird is. He doesn’t scare me in the slightest.’