“Sorry, I’m on duty. Besides, it’s a little early for me.”
“We’re celebrating here, FBI man. Just announced the biggest damn deal
of my life. I’d say that’s worth getting drunk over, wouldn’t you?”
“If you want to. It’s not my deal.”
“You never know,” he said provocatively. “Let’s take a walk.”
Gamble led Sawyer up across the stage, down a short corridor and into a
small room. Gamble plopped down in a chair and pulled a cigar from his
coat pocket. “If you don’t want to get drunk, at least have a smoke
with me.”
Sawyer put out his hand and the two men lit up.
Gamble slowly waved his match back and forth like a miniature flag
before crumpling it under his foot. He eyed Sawyer intently through the
twin walls of cigar smoke. “Hardy tells me you’re thinking about
joining up with him.”
“To tell you the truth, I really haven’t given it much thought.”
“You could do a hell of a lot worse for yourself.”
“Frankly, Gamble, I don’t think I do all that bad for myself right where
I am.”
Gamble grinned. “Shit! What do you make a year?”
“That’s none of your damned business.”
“Jesus, I told you what I pull in. Come on, just a ballpark.”
Sawyer cradled the cigar in his hand before clenching it between his
teeth. There was now mild amusement in his eyes. “Okay, it’s less than
what you make. That narrow it down enough?”
Gamble laughed.
“Why do you care what my paycheck says?”
“The point is, I don’t. But from what I’ve seen of you and knowing the
government’s way of doing business, I gotta believe it’s not nearly
enough.”
“So? Even if it isn’t, that’s not your problem.”
“I’m not into problems so much as I’m into problem solving.
That’s what chairmen do, Sawyer. They look at the big picture, or at
least they’re supposed to. So how about it?”
“So how about what?”
Gamble puffed on his cigar, a small twinkle in his eye.
It finally dawned on Sawyer what the man was getting at.
“Are you offering me a job?”
“Hardy says you’re the best. I only hire the best.”
“Exactly what position are you looking to fill?”
“Head of security, what else?”
“I thought Lucas already had that job.”
Gamble shrugged. “I’ll take care of him. He’s more of my personal guy
anyway. I quadrupled his government salary, by the way. I’ll do better
than that for you.”
“I take it you blame Lucas for what happened with Archer.”
“Hey, it’s somebody’s responsibility. So what do you say?”
“What about Hardy?”
“He’s a big boy. Who says I can’t bid for your services? I get you on
board, maybe I don’t need as much of him.”
“Frank’s a good friend of mine. I’m not doing anything that would screw
him. That’s not how I operate.”
“It’s not like the guy’s gonna be reduced to going through trash cans.
He’s already made a hell of a lot of money. Most of it off me.”
Gamble shrugged. “But suit yourself.”
Sawyer stood up. “To tell you the truth, I’m not sure you and I could
ever survive each other.”
Gamble eyed him steadily. “You know, you’re probably right about that.”
Sawyer left Gamble sitting there. When he exited the room, he came
face-to-face with Richard Lucas, who had been standing outside the door.
“Hey, Rich, you certainly get around.”
“It’s part of my job,” Lucas said brusquely.
“Well, in my book, you qualify for sainthood.” Sawyer nodded toward the
room where Nathan Gamble was puffing on his cigar and walked off.
Sawyer had just gotten back to his office when his line buzzed.
“Yes?”
“Charles Tiedman, Lee.”
“I’ll sure take that one.” Sawyer hit the flashing red light on his
phone. “Hello, Charles.”
Tiedman’s manner was brisk and businesslike. “Lee, I was getting back
to you on your question.”
Sawyer flipped back through his notebook until he reached the section on
his previous discussion with Tiedman. “You were going to check on the
dates Lieberman had raised the rates.”
“I didn’t want to mail or fax them to you. Even though they are
technically publicly known… well, I wasn’t certain who might see them