Beast by Peter Benchley

Author:Peter Benchley [Benchley, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780679403555
Google: voRKPgAACAAJ
Amazon: 0679403558
Publisher: Random House
Published: 1991-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

When Darling had gone, Talley finished his drink, sighed and said, “I must say, Osborn, you were—”

“Don’t tell me how to do business,” Manning said. “Charm wouldn’t have worked any better. We understand one another, Darling and I. We may not like one another, but we understand one another.” He signaled to Shilly for the check.

Talley was furious. This couldn’t be happening. Everything had gone so well. He had a blank check from Manning, had meshed his own obsession with Manning’s and had created a common purpose. He could buy anything he wanted, and had: the best equipment, the newest, the most sophisticated.

Best of all, he had a plan.

But now the final thing he needed, the last cog in his elaborate machine, was not available.

He had to hide his discouragement from Manning, in case it might become contagious. If Manning canceled his check, thirty years of research, of hopes, of dreams, would vanish like steam.

They did not speak again until they were in the parking lot, and then Manning said, “How much do we know about Darling?”

“Just reputation. He’s the best around.”

“No … about him … personally.”

“Nothing.”

“Nose around, see what you can learn. There’s not a man alive who doesn’t have enemies. Find one. Throw money at him. Tell him you want to know everything there is to know: dirt, gossip, lies, rumors. Start with the fishermen. Small community, no work, no money … I’ll bet they’re worse than actors—they’ll sell their own mothers for the chance to ruin a competitor.”

“You want to destroy the man? Why?”

“No. I want to control him, but I can’t until I know what there is to know. Old truism, Talley: Knowledge is power. I’ll go downtown in the morning, talk to some people, cash a few chips.”

“Talk about what?”

“Weaknesses … liabilities. Another old truism: Every man has his price. All we have to do is find Darling’s, and then he’s ours.”

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