"Thank you, Judge," I said.
It was easy after that.
I bought their stock for twenty-five thousand dollars and the first thing I did was fire Denby.
If I was going to have a secretary, I didn't want a prissy little sneak like him.
I wanted one with tits.
Robair came into the study, where McAllister and I were working.
I looked up.
"Yes, Robair?"
He bowed his head respectfully.
"Miss Rina would like to see you in her room, suh."
I got to my feet and stretched.
This sitting at a desk for half a day was worse than anything I'd ever done.
"O.K., I’ll go right up."
McAllister looked at me questioningly.
"Wait for me," I said. "I won't be long."
Robair held the door for me and I went up the stairs to Rina's room. I knocked on the door.
"Come in," she called.
She was sitting at her table in front of a mirror.
Louise was brushing her hair with a big white brush.
Rina's eyes looked up at me in the mirror.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked.
"Yes," she answered. She turned to Louise. "That's all for now," she said.
"Leave us." The girl nodded silently and started for the door.
Rina's voice reached after her. "And wait downstairs.
I’ll call when I want you."
Rina looked at me and smiled. "She has a habit of listening at keyholes."
"I know," I said, closing the door behind me. "What is it you wanted to see me about?"
Rina got to her feet.
Her black negligee swirled around her. Through it I could see she was wearing black undergarments, also.
Her eyes caught mine.
She smiled again.
"What do you think of my widow's weeds?"
"Very merry-widowish," I answered. "But that isn't what you asked me up for."
She took a cigarette and lit it.
"I want to get out of here right after the funeral."
"What for?" I asked.
"It's your house. He left it to you."
Her eyes met mine through a cloud of smoke she blew out.
"I want you to buy the house from me."
"What'll I use for money?"
"You'll get it," she said flatly. "Your father always got it for the things he wanted."
I studied her.
She seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
"How much do you want?" I asked cautiously.
"One hundred thousand dollars," she said calmly.
"What?" I exclaimed. "It isn't worth more than fifty-five."
"I know," she said, "But I'm throwing in something else – my stock in the Cord Explosives Company."
"The stock isn't worth the difference!" I exploded. "I just bought twice as much this morning for twenty-five thousand!"
She got to her feet and walked over to me.
Her eyes stared coldly up at me.