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"You're damned right it won't be necessary," Janvert said. He put a hand in
the bulging pocket of his jacket and moved another two paces away from Saldo.
"Don't even try it, baby, or I'll fix you permanently."
"Here! Here!" Hellstrom snapped. "That's quite enough of that!" He looked
squarely at Saldo.
"What you can do, Saldo, is try to get a call through to Deputy Kraft. If
what Mr. Janvert says is true, I don't understand why Kraft is not here
already. See if you can contact him and ask him to --"
"Kraft is very busy on a telephone call from his Lakeview office," Janvert
said. "Your tame deputy is occupied, understand? Nobody is going to come
here and rescue you or interfere in any way before the arrival of the FBI."
Hellstrom saw a tight smile appear on Janvert's face, realized abruptly that
the Outsider was playing some kind of calculated game. Hellstrom frowned,
wondering if Janvert might actually possess police authority. Was it possible
he was trying to provoke an incident that would allow him to take charge here
until the others arrived? There were many things that had to be done to
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protect the
Hive before the arrival of Outsider police. Would Janvert try to stop anyone
from leaving this room?
"Saldo," Hellstrom said, "as lamentable as this situation is, we still have
deadlines to meet, work to do. Delays are costly." Hellstrom signaled for
Saldo to leave, get about sealing up the Hive for an all-out investigation.
"I suggest you get about that work," Hellstrom said. "We'll wait here with
--"
"Nobody leaves!" Janvert snapped. He took another step away from Saldo, hand
menacing in the jacket pocket. What did these hicks think they were doing?
"This is a murder investigation! If you think you can cover --"
"I think if it turns out to be anything at all, it will be considerably less
than murder," Hellstrom said.
He signaled urgently for Saldo to leave. "I know for a fact that Fancy did
not leave the farm last night. Meanwhile, Mr. Saldo is vitally important to
the film we're making. That film represents an investment of several hundred
thousand dollars already and it's due in Hollywood in little more than a
month. He obviously has taken time off from his work to greet you and escort
you to --"
"I was taking a walk to settle my dinner after the lunch break," Saldo said,
picking up his cue. He glanced at his wristwatch. "My God! I'm late! Ed
will be clawing the wall!" He whirled, strode briskly toward the hall and the
outer door.
"Just a minute, you!" Janvert shouted.
Saldo ignored him. Hellstrom's command in Hive-sign had been explicit and
brooked no disobedience. Janvert obviously carried a weapon, but the
situation was desperate. Would he use it? Saldo felt his back muscles crawl,
but he continued unswerving toward the door. The Hive required this of him.
"I'm telling you to stop or else!" Janvert yelled. He moved through the
archway into the hall, trying to keep his attention on Saldo's retreating back
and on the pair in the living room. Saldo had the door open! Janvert's hand
was slippery with sweat on the gun in his pocket. Did he dare shoot?
Saldo was going out!
The door closed.
"Mr. Janvert," Hellstrom said.
Janvert turned, glared at Hellstrom. The bastards!
"Mr. Janvert," Hellstrom repeated, his tone reasonable, "as lamentable as this
situation is, I would appreciate our not adding to its complications. We were
expecting Mr. Peruge for luncheon and it would be a shame to waste that food.
I'm sure all of our tempers would improve if we --"
"You think I'd eat anything here?" Janvert asked. Was Hellstrom really that
naive?
Hellstrom shrugged. "Apparently we must wait for the law to arrive, and you
do not want Fancy or me to leave your presence. I am proposing a reasonable
solution to the waiting period. I'm sure there's a simple answer to these
disturbing matters and I am only trying to --"
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"Sure you are!" Janvert sneered. "And you like me!"
"No, Mr. Janvert, I don't particularly care for you. And I'm sure Fancy
shares my aversion. My concern simply goes to --"
"Will you knock off the innocent act!"
Janvert felt himself seething with rage and frustration. He should not have
let that other character get out of here. He should've shot at the guy's
legs, brought him down.
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