“You’ll change your mind. Think it over. Once you’re out of my hands, Weiner, I wouldn’t give a dime for your life. I’m not protecting you unless you’re going to do some talking.”
“I don’t know anything about anything,” Pete said sullenly, and shifted around so his back was half turned to Conrad.
“You stupid fool!” Conrad said. “The girl will identify you. Do you think you can get out of this? You were sent to kill her weren’t you? You acted on Maurer’s orders.”
Pete didn’t say anything.
“You’ll have to talk sooner or later,” Conrad said quietly. “You can’t spend the rest of your days suspended in space. You’ve got to come down on one side of the fence. You either talk and we’ll protect you or you’ll keep your mouth shut and we’ll turn you loose. There’s no other out for you.”
Still Pete didn’t say anything.
“We’re not interested in you,” Conrad went on. “We’re after Maurer. Play with us and we’ll take care of you.”
Pete twisted around.
“Take care of me? That’s a laugh! Do you imagine you can protect me? So long as I keep my mouth shut I stand a chance: not much of one, but a chance. If I talk I’m as good as dead. Neither you nor the whole goddamn police force could keep me alive!”
“Don’t be a fool!” Conrad snapped. “Of course we can protect you. I’ll guarantee it.”