“We might compromise with him,” said Sadie, further convincing Nick that he was shooting straight at the mark.
“That’s not like you, nor any of your gang,” Nick returned.
“As well compromise with him, Goulard, as with you,” Sadie pointedly asserted.
“Not by a long chalk.”
“Why not?”
“Because you know I’ll keep my trap closed,” said Nick. “You couldn’t feel sure of him.”
“Yes, we could,” said Sadie, with an expressive nod. “He wouldn’t dare to squeal. It was he who killed Connie[Pg 26] Taggart, and we know it. You’ve overlooked that, Goulard, haven’t you?”
The woman laughed derisively.
Nick silenced her laugh, however, by retorting pointedly:
“No, nothing of the kind. You’ve got nothing on Padillo for stabbing Taggart. He did it in self-defense to protect his property. He had a legal right to do that.”