His fox-like eyes darted back and forth, noting that no other policemen were anywhere in sight.
This ascertained, he sidled over to Dan.
“You’re here to identify a man you’re supposed to have seen in a motorboat,” his purring voice said. “Get this! You never saw the guy before.”
Taken by surprise, Dan stared at Eddie and made no reply.
“Have some popcorn?” the man invited.
Dan shook his head, and made uncomfortable by those dark boring eyes, moved a step back against the wall.
Eddie had opened the bag. Now he thrust it directly under the boy’s eyes. Dan saw then that it contained not popcorn, but a 32-caliber revolver.
“You never saw the guy before,” Eddie repeated. “If you forget—you’ll hear from me. I got a way of taking care of my friends and them that ain’t.”
Two policemen had emerged from one of the offices. Dan turned to signal to them. Before he could do so, Eddie wheeled and departed by way of the revolving doors.
“You’re Dan Carter?” one of the policemen called, noticing the boy. “They’re waiting for you.”