When she reappeared at the open door, Vicki could hear Roy Olsen arguing with Van.
“But look, mister! I have to have clearance for a flight to Cuba. I just can’t pick up and go on the spur of the moment.”
“All right,” Van said, “I’ll double my offer. Five hundred dollars!”
“Sorry, mister. If I did a thing like that I’d lose my license for sure.”
“Look here,” Van said. “I’m in a tremendous hurry. I missed my plane, and if I’m not in Havana by two o’clock I’ll lose a lot of money. I’ll make it a thousand. How’s that?”
“Gee, mister, I’d like to take you,” Roy said, “but I just can’t do it for any price unless I have legal clearance.”
“All right,” Vicki heard Van say, “how long will it take you?”
“Twenty minutes maybe. A half hour at the most.”
“Okay,” Van said. “But hurry it up.”
Vicki breathed a deep sigh of relief. The delay would give Quayle and the airport police plenty of time to get here!