“Proceed with him. Why disturb me in the middle of it?”
“Because we’ve been disturbed. Dennis Horan drove in upstairs and gave a code signal to the basement on a buzzer, and Orrie took him and brought him down. He’s out of earshot, but the other two are right here. I want your opinion on the kind and amount of stimulation to apply to a member of the bar. Of course he came to see Egan and he’s in on the racket, but I haven’t got it in writing.”
“Is Mr. Horan bruised?”
“We’ve hardly touched him.”
“Have you questioned him any?”
“No, I thought I’d call you.”
“This is very satisfactory. Hold the wire while I wake up.”
I did so. It was a full minute, maybe more, before his voice came again. “How are you arranged?”
“Fred and I are in the room in the basement with Ervin and Egan. Saul has Horan outside. Orrie’s upstairs to receive visitors.”
“Get Mr. Horan in and apologize to him.”