The Destroyer - 25 - The Destroyer 025 - Sweet Dreams by Warren Murphy & Richard Sapir

Author:Warren Murphy & Richard Sapir [Murphy, Warren & Sapir, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pulp Action
Publisher: PINNACLE BOOKS
Published: 2010-03-19T14:53:14+00:00

Chapter Ten

"A man should not have to live like this." Don Salvatore Massello's voice was concerned and gracious, and the movement of his hand indicating Dr. Wooley's littered living room was the embodiment of all-encompassing pity.

"How did you find me here, Mr. Massello?" Wooley asked.

"I know a great deal about this city. What I do not know, I can find out."

Wooley stared at Massello, then turned to look at Leen Forth who stifled a yawn.

"Excuse me a moment," Wooley said and led Leen Forth into the equally cluttered bedroom.

"Is this your pad, Pop?" she asked.

Wooley nodded. "I've been using it to do research that I was afraid to leave around the house. Why don't you get some sleep?"

"Okay. Hey, we really blew their minds tonight, didn't we?"

Wooley put an arm around the shoulders of the girl who was almost as tall as he was.

"We sure did. Woodward's never going to be the same," he said.

"Yeah, that too," she said.

"And tomorrow we'll be rich."

A small frown crossed Leen Forth's face. "Even when we're rich, Pop, things are going to be the same, aren't they? I mean, it's you and me against the world?"

"It always was."

"Good," she said. "Good night. He looks like a nice man." She nodded her head toward the bedroom door.

"Yes, he does." Wooley kissed her good night, and went back into the living room. Massello was still standing where Wooley had left him but when the professor returned Massello sank back into his seat on the couch.

"You don't remember me, Professor, do you?" he said.

Wooley looked hopelessly lost.

"We met, perhaps two years ago, at a dinner for Indochina refugees. I wouldn't expect you to remember just another businessman. There were many people there that night."

"Of course. Now I remember," Wooley lied.

"At any rate, I am a businessman and I'll get down to business. I was at the university tonight and I saw the demonstration of your..."

"Dreamocizer," Wooley filled in.

"Yes, of course. I want to buy all rights from you to manufacture and sell it-and of course you would be paid a generous percentage on the sale of each unit."

"I really don't think I'm up to talking business tonight," Wooley started.

"I understand. I'm sure it's been a long day for you. And before that, long years, perfecting your device. It is patented, isn't it?"

"Yes. A string of patents."

"Good," said Massello, making a mental note to have a search done the next day for all patents in Wooley's name. "Just so that you are not, as your daughter might say, ripped off."

"Not much chance of that. But as I said, I really didn't want to talk business tonight."

"There's just one problem, Professor. As I said, I'm in many businesses around the area and consequently hear many things. I understand that men have come here from out of state, whose only interest is in stealing your invention."

"They'd have to find it first," said Wooley.

"Of course. You would put it away safely." Massello shook his head. "But these are the kind of men who would not stop at anything to get from you your invention.

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