The Inheritors by Robbins Harold

Author:Robbins, Harold [Robbins, Harold]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

***

I learned a little bit more about Ed Johnston on the way down to Vegas. Blonde Girl told me a few personal items. Like he was married, two children, and on the square side of the sheets. Warm but square. No tricks, no kinks, everything simple and straight. Sometimes dull but with a great deal of strength and staying power.

Dave filled me in on the business side. He was the youngest captain ever to command an aircraft carrier. He left the Navy after the Korean War despite the attempts made to keep him in, which included a promotion to rear admiral in the Reserve. He joined Palomar Plate as executive VP and within one year became president and chief officer. Within five years he began his period of diversification and acquisition. First in related lines, then going further and further afield until now Palomar Plate controlled one of the big meat-packing companies and a large hotel chain whose newest hotel was the Flaming Desert in Las Vegas where we were going to meet. He was also reaching for one of the major transcontinental airlines and had just acquired a large tract of land in Los Angeles where he planned to erect another Century City on the style of the Alcoa project.

I could understand all of them. The one thing I did not understand was why he wanted a film company. That made no sense at all in the scheme of things.

It was a quarter to two when we were ushered into his suite in the tower of the hotel. The luncheon table was already set, but he was on the telephone.

He waved us to a seat and kept on talking. I tuned in carefully. “The red herring is already out,” he was saying in a calm voice. “Let’s wait for the reaction before we start fiddling with the points. If it goes well we’re in good shape. Time enough to change if it looks like it’s dragging ass.” He put down the telephone with finality and got to his feet. He held out a hand. “I’m Ed Johnston. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

“Thank you,” I said.

He shook hands with Dave and kissed Blonde Girl on the cheek. “You just earned your bonus,” he said. He turned back to me with a smile that took the edge off his words. “How do you like the bodyguard we found for you?”

I laughed. He was direct enough. “I couldn’t have done better for myself.”

“Let’s eat,” he said, sitting down at the table. “I ordered delicatessen. They tell me this hotel has the best in the world. Anything to drink?”

A waiter appeared quickly and began taking our orders. I got myself a Scotch and water and felt better with a glass in my hand. He had a diet Coke.

We ate quickly and efficiently and in twenty minutes the table was cleared. He looked at me. I glanced at him, then at Dave. Apparently it was up to me to begin.

“I have just one question,” I said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.