Maltz said, “Gee! That joint’s too swell for us guys.”
“You’ve got to change your ideasall of you. This is no longer a small−town party. We’re big shots,” Raven said, sipping his whisky carefully. “I want to talk to you guys. We’re startin’ work right away. You’ve got to go round the bars and spread the rumour that all whores are to get off the streets or else… Do you get it?”
Little Joe scratched his head. “Say, what’s the idea?”
Raven knew he’d got to be patient with these guys. “We’re goin’ to clean up the whole town. It’s goin’ to be a hell of a job, but it’s got to be done. You three have got to get so many hoods in each district of the town who are tough enough to run the whores off the streets and to deal with their bookers. That’s your first job. I’ll make myself plain. What happens to a guy who smokes a lot and suddenly finds out he can’t get tobacco?”
Lefty knew that one. “He goes nuts,” he said simply.
Raven nodded. “That’s it, he goes nuts. Then supposing some guy comes along and offers him tobacco after a while at a greatly increased price? What happens?”
The three looked at each other. This was getting beyond them.
“He pays more because he can’t get it elsewhere,” Raven said patiently.
“So what?” Little Joe said.
“That’s what we’re goin’ to do. Once we get organized, no whore on the streets will be safe. She’s got to be treated rough, so she’s too scared to work. We want them to leave town. It’ll take a little while, but if you treat