Through the open doorway Dillon could see the others standing like waxworks. He could see Sam Vessi holding a cue, as if he were going to make a shot, his head turned to the office, motionless. Jakie McGowan had his hands resting on the table, his thick features glistening with sweat. The others just stood or sat about motionless.
Dillon said, “You got no right bustin’ in here, an’ you know it.” His black eyes glittered.
Strawn wandered farther into the room. Ain’t you the guy I told to get out of this town?” he asked.
Dillon stood up. These birds weren’t going to push him around any more. “Maybe you think you’re smart with this line of talk,” he snarled. “But it don’t wash with me. You ain’t got anythin’ on me, so you can get the hell outta here.”
Strawn said evenly, “So you’re a big shot, huh? Well, listen, Big Shot, I still don’t like you, an’ I still say get out of this town. What do you think of that?”
Dillon shrugged. “You ain’t causin’ me any grief,” he said. “I know where I am, an’ you can’t do a thing.”
“One of these days,” Strawn said quietly, “you an’ me are goin’ to take a ride. Smart guys like you always come unstuck… you see.”
Dillon sat down again. “Okay,” he said. “Maybe I’ll take a ride with you Maybe a lot of things. But right now you’re using too much air around here.”
Strawn nodded briefly. “I’ve heard a lot about you an’ your girl-friend. You two are getting big. But you can’t last. None of you guys can last. You think you can, but you can’t.”
He nodded to the other guy. “Take a look at him,” he said. “I’ll lay you ten to one we fix him in six months.”