“Of course they can, and they will. When they’re ready to take me. they’ll take me.”
“But how?” Frances asked. “With all these policemen watching you…”
Pete threw out his hands in despair.
“Do you think I trust any of them? If Maurer offered them enough money one of them would sell me out. Maurer could buy them all if he wanted to. When the time comes for him to take me, he’ll pay them to look the other way. It’s been done before, and it will be done again.”
“But he can’t get at them!” Frances pointed out. “Mr. Conrad assured me these policemen are incorruptible.”
“Yeah, he assured me that too. I don’t even trust him. He might be the one to sell me out for all I know.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense,” Frances said sharply. “I don’t believe that for a moment. You are letting your imagination run away with you.”
“When I am dead,” Pete said quietly, “please remember what I’ve told you. And please remember your only chance to survive is to say nothing. If Conrad persuades you to tell him what he wants to know, no one, no power on earth, can save you. Please remember that. No one, do you understand? The organization will never let you reach the witness-box. So say nothing, admit nothing, and there may be a chance that Maurer will believe you do know nothing and you’ll survive. It’s your only chance. Please, please, remember this.”
“Yes, of course,” Francis said soothingly. “But you’re not going to the. You mustn’t think that.”
Pete stood up abruptly.