Rico shook his head. He wouldn’t admit to Baird that he knew of no one to whom he could sell a piece of this value. Ever since he had first met Baird he had tried to impress the big man with his importance.
‘I don’t want it,’ he said. ‘It’s too dangerous.’
Baird looked at Rico, his pale eyes probing.
‘All the same you’ve got to take it, Rico,’ he said. ‘I’m in a jam. The twist might die.’
Rico stiffened. His heart skipped a beat and then began to race madly.
‘What was that? What do you mean?’
Baird reached for a cigarette from a box on Rico’s desk. He smiled jeeringly at Rico. The sudden fear in Rico’s eyes amused him.
‘The bitch tried to scream. There was a prowl car not more than ten yards away. I had to hit her.’
Rico looked as if he were going to faint. He clung to the edge of the desk, his face turning white.
‘Why, you crazy bastard!’ he snarled furiously. ‘Get out of here! Don’t you know this’ll be the first place the cops will come to? They know you’re always here. What are you thinking of? Get out and stay out!’