"I see." Lopresto forced his anger down. "But I've got to be sure we can get back without 'em."
"You can be damn sure. I got to get back myself, don't I? But get one thing down solid. I get the big peroxide blonde."
"You can have her. Too big. I like the little yellowhead a lot better."
Newman sneered into the hard-held face so close to his and said: "And don't think for a second you can make me crawl, you small-time, chiseling punk. Rub me out after we kill them off and you get nowhere. You're dead. Chew on that a while, and you'll know who's boss."
After just the right amount of holding back and objecting, Lopresto agreed. "You win, Newman, the way the cards lay. Have you ever planned this kind of an operation or do you want me to?"
"You do it, Vince," Newman said, grandly. He had at least one of the qualities of a leader. "Besides, you already have, ain't you?"
"Of course. Ferdy will take Deston——"
"No he won't! He's mine, the louse!"
"If you're that dumb, all bets are off. What are you using for a brain? Can't you see the guy's chain lightning on ball bearings?"
"But we're going to surprise 'em, ain't we?"