“Yes.”
“But why? What’s the idea? What the hell is he coming here for?”
Gollowitz stared at Seigel, his small black eyes like glass beads.
“I asked him to come.”
Seigel got slowly to his feet.
“Are you crazy? You asked Ferrari to come here? Why?”
“Who else do you imagine can handle this mess?” Gollowitz asked, spreading his fat hands palms up on the blotter. “You? Do you imagine you can handle it?”
“But Ferrari…”
“If those two go into the witness-box we’re all finished,” Gollowitz said quietly. “They must be silenced. You have had your chance. I have had mine. We both failed. We can’t afford to fail. I asked the Syndicate to send Ferrari. They said I had done the right thing.”
“What will Maurer say?” Seigel asked, licking his dry lips. “You know he wouldn’t have a Syndicate man on his territory.”