The Seersucker Whipsaw Read Online Free PDF Page B

list,” Duffy told the secretary.
    â€œWhat’re you called, Pete?” Shartelle asked.
    â€œScaramouche,” I said and shrugged.
    â€œHow ’bout you, Pig?”
    â€œI’m Hiredhand.”
    â€œIs it necessary?”
    â€œYes and no. It wouldn’t fool any intelligence operation, but it keeps the casually curious from lifting information that they might sell or gossip about. It’s just a minor precaution really.”
    â€œIt sure as hell wouldn’t fool any of the bright boys from Renesslaer.”
    Duffy smiled pleasantly. “No it wouldn’t, Clint. That’s going to be your job.”
    â€œJust so we get everything nice and clear, Pig, I hope you’ve told the candidate about the ground rules. First, I run the campaign—from buttons to banquets. Second, I don’t handle money.”
    â€œI know and the candidate knows,” Duffy said. “The money’s taken care of. All you have to do is find ways to spend it.”
    â€œI’m usually pretty good at that.”
    â€œNow here’s a thing I want to ask you: can you handle the opposition?”
    â€œRenesslaer?”
    â€œJust.”
    Shartelle rose and walked over to the window. He looked out for a while and then moved so he could examine the miniature of the bank. “They’re a right capable bunch,” he said. “I’d be the last to poor-talk them. But since neither of us is going to be playing at home, I might have a slight edge. You’ve got a research staff?”
    Duffy nodded. “One of the best.”
    â€œYou can count on Renesslaer having the best, so what you’ve got is second best. But you can turn it loose, if need be?”
    â€œIt’s at the Chief’s disposal—and at yours.”
    â€œWay I understand it, this is going to be a three-way race: Chief Akomolo, old Alhaji Sir Prettyname, and somebody else. Who’s the somebody else and how much clout has he got?”
    â€œDr. Kensington Kologo,” Duffy said. “He’s from the Eastern section of Albertia. The doctor is real: he earned his M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in 1934.”
    â€œWhat’s he got?”
    â€œAbout a third of the country’s population in his region. He also has the iron range plus some tin which gives him a large following among the trade unionists and the more radical younger crowd.”
    â€œSounds like a good base. Does he worry Chief Akomolo?”
    â€œNot as much as Fulawa does.”
    â€œHave you checked out whether he’s got an agency handling his campaign? I’d sure hate to get out there and find I was being double-teamed by Renesslaer and Doyle Dane.”
    â€œIt’s not an agency exactly,” Duffy said and watched Shartelle’s face intently.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œThe CIA.”

Chapter
    4

    Shartelle slumped far down in his chair, crossed his legs, and stared intently at the ceiling. He made himself more comfortable by folding his arms behind his head. Duffy watched him. I watched Duffy.
    â€œWell, now, old buddy,” Shartelle said slowly, “this kind of brings us full circle. You and me, that is. It doesn’t seem too long ago that you and Downer and me were taking and losing that French radio station for the granddaddy of the same outfit.”
    â€œThat was war time, Clint.”
    Shartelle looked at Duffy and frowned. “You know, Pig, it always amazed me how you got started over here so smooth-like. I mean you had a going concern from the time you caught a cab at Victoria Station.”
    â€œI made a lot of contacts here during the war. You know that, Clint.”
    Shartelle looked around the room with the gaze of a probate court appraiser. “Yes, I guess you did. And I imagine you still have some, or you wouldn’t know about the CIA moving in.”
    Duffy looked at me. “Nobody but you two knows about it Nobody but you two had better find