A fleshy face filled the screen, the face of a man who had lived a soft life in a moist climate. A rumbling voice said, "You are Walton."
"I am Walton."
"I am Gaetano di Cassio. Pleased of making the acquaintance, Signor Director Walton. I own rubber plantation in the area here."
Walton's mind immediately clocked off the top name on the list of landed proprietors Lassen had prepared for him:
di Cassio, Gaetano. 57. Holdings estimated at better than a billion and a quarter. Born Genoa 2175, settled in Amsterdam 2199. Purchased large Java holding 2211.
"What can I do for you, Mr. di Cassio?"
The rubber magnate looked ill; his fleshy face was beaded with globules of sweat. "Your brother," he grunted heavily. "Your brother worked for me. I sent him to see you yesterday. He has not come back."
"Indeed?" Walton shrugged. "There's a famous phrase I could use at this point. I won't."
"Make no flippancies," di Cassio said heavily. "Where is he?"
Walton said, "In jail. Attempted coercion of a public official." He realized di Cassio was twice as nervous and tense as he was.