Beware the Curves

invulnerable position yourself, Lam.”
    “In what way?”
    “Many ways.”
    “Name them.”
    “I don’t have to.”
    “Name one.”
    “I’m simply making a statement.”
    “All right. You’ve made it. Now back it up.”
    “We didn’t come here to fight,” Taber said.
    “What did you come here for?”
    “We’d like to have the co-operation of your firm.“
    “In what way?”
    “You have been talking with the press.”
    “Any objection?”
    “We feel some of the statements that have been made to the press are irresponsible.”
    “Would you like to see Santa Ana get a big factory away from Citrus Grove?”
    “Certainly not. And, for your information, there’s n o likelihood anything of that sort can happen.“
    “Want to bet?
    “I am not a betting man. I am, however, a businessman.”
    “You’re a politician?”
    “I have been in politics.“
    “And you expect to be in politics?”
    “Possibly.”
    I said, “This company wants to come to Citrus Grove. It has its location picked out. It wants a reasonable amount of co-operation from the city government. Now of course I don’t know anything about what the newspapers are going to say. I do know that one of the reporters has an idea.”
    “What?”
    “The idea that some person with powerful political connections who owns land in Citrus Grove wants to change the location of this factory and is stalling around over a zoning ordinance change hoping he can learn the identity of the manufacturer and steal the deal.”
    “That’s absolutely ridiculous! That’s absurd! That’s utterly false!” Hale said.
    “I was merely commenting about an idea one of the reporters has,” I told him.
    “If you can tell me which one, I’ll punch his nose.“
    “Why?” I asked.
    “Because there’s nothing to it.”
    “Then why should you punch his nose? What’s it to you?”
    Hale said nothing.
    Taber said, “What Mr. Hale means is that a publication of that sort of a story, accompanied by a lot of innuendoes might reflect upon him personally.”
    “You mean he has property in Citrus Grove?”
    “I have always been a strong believer in the future of Citrus Grove,” Hale said unctuously. “I have made money by a series of fortunate real estate investments, which have backed my faith in the growth of the community. I have made considerable personal sacrifices to help this community.”
    “That’s the spirit!” I said.
    “It is indeed,” Taber agreed.
    “All right,” Bertha said, “this crap isn’t getting us anywhere. What do you want?”
    “Mr. Nickerson is a witness in the Endicott murder case,” Taber said.
    I said nothing.
    “So is Mr. Hale,” Taber went on.
    “Well?” I asked.
    “And you are interested in the Endicott murder case,” Taber said.
    “Were working on it,” I told him.
    “Ansel doesn’t stand a chance! Not a single chance in the world! The case against him is dead open-and- shut.”
    “Doubtless the district attorney thinks it is,” I said. “Mr. Quinn, who is the attorney for the defense, has other ideas.”
    “It is a case where the citizens of the community feel greatly incensed,” Taber said. “That community spirit will manifest itself throughout the trial. In fact, some of the jurors will undoubtedly be from the vicinity of Citrus Grove. The district attorney will demand the death penalty and I don’t think there is the slightest chance but what Ansel will be sent to the gas chamber.”
    I said nothing.
    “Now,” Taber went on, “we are prepared to co-operate. If, as I rather suspect, much of the motivation back of these rumors which have been appearing in the press is due to a desire to distract attention from the Endicott case and involve certain witnesses, it might be that you are resorting to the wrong tactics. You might make more actual progress by trying to cooperate instead of trying to tear down.”
    “In what way?”
    “The district attorney is not an unreasonable man. As it happens he is a friend of mine. I feel certain that he would be amenable to reason.”
    “In what way?”
    “I feel quite certain that if Ansel should plead guilty the district attorney would take into consideration the fact that a great deal of expense had been saved the county and no attempt would be made to try to get the judge to impose the death penalty. In fact, it might well be that the district attorney himself would ask for a life sentence. I am not in a position to state. I don’t represent the