Tycoon by Harold Robbins Page A

to Douglas, Arizona, to Los Angeles, with a stop at each city. Because the flying continued overnight—a recent and daring innovation in air travel—the airplane was equipped with seats that converted into comfortable berths. After the ten passengers had eaten a hearty meal, complete with liquors and wine, they were invited to retire. Somewhere over Virginia or Tennessee the berths were made up, and the passengers donned theirpajamas and lay down to sleep. Those who were still asleep were wakened at Dallas and told their flight was more than half complete. They ate breakfast, lunch, and a late-afternoon snack with cocktails aboard the Condor and touched down in Los Angeles in time to have dinner there.
    Before he left the airport, Jack dispatched a telegram to Kimberly:
    LA 61234 915 PM
    HAVE ARRIVED HERE SAFELY STOP WILL RETURN BY TRAIN
STOP ALL MY LOVE TO YOU AND LITTLE JOHN
    JACK
    Mickey Sullivan met him at the airport. Only after Jack had sent his telegram did Mickey tell him he had not arrived in time. “The old man died about four hours ago.”
    â€œDid he say anything about me?”
    â€œHe didn’t say anything about anybody. Your father and your brother tried to talk to him the last couple of days. He knew they were talking to him—his eyes followed them—but he ignored them. That’s the way death is, Jack. Nothing special. People just retreat inside themselves and spend their last hours with their own private thoughts.”
    Mickey Sullivan was eight years older than Jack. He had sandy hair and a square, bland, honest face. Many people said that Erich Lear’s demands on his time and energy had ruined his marriage, which had ended in divorce.
    â€œYour father is angry,” Mickey said as they walked to his car.
    â€œFancy that. Pissed off or horny. The only two conditions he knows.”
    â€œThey’ve looked at your grandfather’s will. He left your brother a million dollars and you half a million, saying he gave you a half a million advance on your inheritance in 1931. Your father is very upset that neither of you told him about that.”
    â€œMy grandfather didn’t want him to know.”
    â€œWell, he thinks it was a betrayal. The residue of the estate, which is what he gets, won’t amount to a million.”
    â€œHe got his. He’s the president and chief stockholder of Lear Ship Breaking and Salvage.”
    â€œThey are going to sit shivah. Will you stay?”
    â€œI can’t stay that long. In fact, since the old man is dead I’m tempted to ask you to drive me to the railroad station so I can start back tonight.”
    â€œI don’t see how you can do that, Jack,” Mickey said gravely.
    â€œWell, take me to the Ambassador. I’ve got a reservation. Stay and have dinner with me, will you? I don’t want to face my father and brother before tomorrow.”
    Over dinner Jack told Mickey a little about the house on Louisburg Square and about his son. Mickey told Jack about what was happening with the California Lears.
    â€œThe business is going great. You know your father. He’s bidding to break up the Mauretania. And I’ll bet he gets it. What the man sets out to do, he does. He ought to be happy, too. He’s up to his usual tricks.”
    â€œWho now?”
    â€œYou wouldn’t believe it. She’s nineteen years old. Luscious. I mean, luscious! I’m ashamed to say I set it up for him. My mother didn’t raise me to be a procurer.” Mickey shook his head.
    Jack grinned. “But you’re good at it. If I didn’t have to catch a train for Boston in a couple of days, I’d ask you to set up one for me.”
    Mickey glanced at his watch. “Not too late, really. I can probably set you up with—”
    â€œTomorrow night, maybe.”
    â€œOkay. Listen. The man who’s unhappy is your brother, Bob. And worse than him, your sister-in-law,