“You know the Public Garage Owners Association?”
Mike Wharton nodded. Technically, a garage manager, he was, nevertheless, familiar with the racket run by Killer Durgan.
“Well” — Durgan was fuming — “who has been paying in to it regular — leading the way for the others — talking protection — all that?”
“The New Era Garages.”
“Right! My garages! The last ones where anything ought to happen! Now they’ve been hit hard!
“You say they’ve gone up — well, the Public Garage Owners Association has gone up with them! Don’t you see?”
“Yes,” agreed Wharton thoughtfully. “I see it now. I didn’t before. Somebody’s after the association — that’s sure. So all the garages that subscribe to it are going to get scared.”
“You’re right they are! They’ll figure that this means a war. They’ve been forking over dough to the association because they figured they’d get smashed if they didn’t. Now they’ll figure they’re due for a lacing anyway!
“They all know that the New Era Garages were in right with the association. That’s why they stayed in. But now they figure they’ll find trouble, whether they’re in the association or out of it. So they’ll stay out and save their dough!”
“What are you going to do about it?”