started from nothing and parleyed a bank loan into twelve million dollars?'
`Just how did he do it?'
`Vision. He was a crystal ball gazer — he looked into the future. When he came to Tucson from Texas over twenty years ago he guessed Tucson would expand one day. He bought options on land outside the city limits — and when that increased in value he used the extra collateral to buy more and more land further and further out.
`So,' Newman commented, 'Linda is worth eight million dollars when Jesse goes and Nancy gets four million?'
`His will is common knowledge. He made no secret of it. And if anything happened to Nancy first, then Linda collects the whole twelve million. Maybe you see why it worries me — that kind of money at stake.' Rosen played with his empty glass. 'No thanks. Two is my limit. You know, Newman, I thought you'd be just the man to check out this mystery. You cracked the Kruger espionage case in Germany — I read the book you wrote afterwards. That must have made you a pile...'
`Not four million dollars,' Newman said shortly.
`Oh! Now I get it — I sensed you couldn't make up your mind about marrying Nancy. The money worries you, which is to your credit. I still think you ought to go to Berne...'
`Now you sound like Nancy. She never stops...'
`Argue against her and it will just make her more determined.' Rosen smiled again. 'Or maybe you've found that out?'
`We've had our moments. Jesus, look what just walked in...'
`Harvey Wayne, Linda's husband. He's into electronics, as you doubtless know. He's another one greedy for a dollar …'
Rosen stopped talking as a fat, pasty-faced man in his early forties came over to them. He was wearing a cream-coloured dinner jacket, dark trousers and the oily smile Newman found so distasteful. He put an arm round the Englishman's shoulder.
`Hi, pal! Hear you and that cute sister-in-law of mine will soon be in Berne. Give my regards to that old coot, Jesse.. `You heard what?'
Newman's tone was cold. He glanced at his shoulder and Harvey reluctantly moved his hand. He gave Rosen a throwaway gesture of resignation with his hand, then shrugged.
`Did I say something I ought not to have?'
`You haven't answered my question,' Newman replied.
`You're not rousting Dr Rosen the way you did Frank Chase, I hope.' Harvey looked towards the entrance and smiled again. 'We have company. You have the opportunity- of getting a direct answer to your question.
Linda, wearing an off-the-shoulder cocktail dress and a come-hither smile, had entered the Tack Room and was heading towards them, her innocent eyes staring straight at Newman. Beside her walked Nancy, a few inches shorter, dressed in a cream blouse and a midnight blue skirt. Heads turned as the two women progressed across the room. Newman stood up, his expression bleak.
`Let's go somewhere quiet,' he said to Nancy. 'We have to talk and I do mean now …'
The blazing row took place in the lobby, carried on in low tones so the receptionist couldn't hear them. Newman opened the conversation, treading warily at first.
`I'm sure that creep, Harvey, has got it wrong. He's just told me we're going to Berne...'
`I have the tickets, Bob.' Nancy produced two folders from her handbag and handed them to him. 'It's a very direct route. An American Airlines 727 from Tucson to Dallas. One hour stopover in Dallas. Then an eight-hour flight — again American Airlines — to Gatwick in England from Dallas. The last lap is by Dan-Air from Gatwick to Belp. That's the airport just outside Berne …'
`I have actually heard of Belp,' Newman replied with deceptive calm.
`We take off on tomorrow's flight...'
`I can actually read an airline ticket...'
`Somebody had to take a decision.' She looked pleased with herself. 'And I've just got out of Linda that Jesse didn't go that route. He was flown to Belp by private jet...'
`So?'
`Jesse was careful with money. If he'd agreed to go he'd have travelled in a wheelchair on a scheduled
`Just how did he do it?'
`Vision. He was a crystal ball gazer — he looked into the future. When he came to Tucson from Texas over twenty years ago he guessed Tucson would expand one day. He bought options on land outside the city limits — and when that increased in value he used the extra collateral to buy more and more land further and further out.
`So,' Newman commented, 'Linda is worth eight million dollars when Jesse goes and Nancy gets four million?'
`His will is common knowledge. He made no secret of it. And if anything happened to Nancy first, then Linda collects the whole twelve million. Maybe you see why it worries me — that kind of money at stake.' Rosen played with his empty glass. 'No thanks. Two is my limit. You know, Newman, I thought you'd be just the man to check out this mystery. You cracked the Kruger espionage case in Germany — I read the book you wrote afterwards. That must have made you a pile...'
`Not four million dollars,' Newman said shortly.
`Oh! Now I get it — I sensed you couldn't make up your mind about marrying Nancy. The money worries you, which is to your credit. I still think you ought to go to Berne...'
`Now you sound like Nancy. She never stops...'
`Argue against her and it will just make her more determined.' Rosen smiled again. 'Or maybe you've found that out?'
`We've had our moments. Jesus, look what just walked in...'
`Harvey Wayne, Linda's husband. He's into electronics, as you doubtless know. He's another one greedy for a dollar …'
Rosen stopped talking as a fat, pasty-faced man in his early forties came over to them. He was wearing a cream-coloured dinner jacket, dark trousers and the oily smile Newman found so distasteful. He put an arm round the Englishman's shoulder.
`Hi, pal! Hear you and that cute sister-in-law of mine will soon be in Berne. Give my regards to that old coot, Jesse.. `You heard what?'
Newman's tone was cold. He glanced at his shoulder and Harvey reluctantly moved his hand. He gave Rosen a throwaway gesture of resignation with his hand, then shrugged.
`Did I say something I ought not to have?'
`You haven't answered my question,' Newman replied.
`You're not rousting Dr Rosen the way you did Frank Chase, I hope.' Harvey looked towards the entrance and smiled again. 'We have company. You have the opportunity- of getting a direct answer to your question.
Linda, wearing an off-the-shoulder cocktail dress and a come-hither smile, had entered the Tack Room and was heading towards them, her innocent eyes staring straight at Newman. Beside her walked Nancy, a few inches shorter, dressed in a cream blouse and a midnight blue skirt. Heads turned as the two women progressed across the room. Newman stood up, his expression bleak.
`Let's go somewhere quiet,' he said to Nancy. 'We have to talk and I do mean now …'
The blazing row took place in the lobby, carried on in low tones so the receptionist couldn't hear them. Newman opened the conversation, treading warily at first.
`I'm sure that creep, Harvey, has got it wrong. He's just told me we're going to Berne...'
`I have the tickets, Bob.' Nancy produced two folders from her handbag and handed them to him. 'It's a very direct route. An American Airlines 727 from Tucson to Dallas. One hour stopover in Dallas. Then an eight-hour flight — again American Airlines — to Gatwick in England from Dallas. The last lap is by Dan-Air from Gatwick to Belp. That's the airport just outside Berne …'
`I have actually heard of Belp,' Newman replied with deceptive calm.
`We take off on tomorrow's flight...'
`I can actually read an airline ticket...'
`Somebody had to take a decision.' She looked pleased with herself. 'And I've just got out of Linda that Jesse didn't go that route. He was flown to Belp by private jet...'
`So?'
`Jesse was careful with money. If he'd agreed to go he'd have travelled in a wheelchair on a scheduled
Similar Books
