Gollowitz wiped his glistening face. The past ten days had been dangerous and difficult for him. It had come as a great relief when Maurer had sent for him and had told him to forget what he had said at their last meeting. He realized now Maurer couldn’t do without him. The problem was too big for Maurer to handle himself.
“Ferrari could do it,” Gollowitz said. “I’m sure he could.”
Maurer paused to stare at Gollowitz.
“Is he still in town?”
Gollowitz, who had expected an explosion, nodded eagerly.
“He’s in the bar right now.”
“We’re admitting failure by using him, Abe,” Maurer said. “You realize that?”
“We have failed. I wouldn’t have brought him in if we hadn’t failed to get Weiner. I know you blame me, but there was no alternative as there is no alternative now. If anyone can get at that girl, Ferrari can.”
Maurer came back to his desk and sat down. He stared down at his snowy blotter, his forehead furrowed, his eyes narrowed. He sat like that for some minutes. Then he picked up the receiver.
“Louis? Ask Ferrari to come to my office. He’s in the bar.”