Sullivan's sting

43

Termite Tommy climbed into the Bentley and put a battered briefcase on the floor.

"Thirty grand in fifties," he said. "Queerest of the queer. Want to count it?"

"Of course not," Rathbone said. "I trust you."

"Going to stick it in banks?"

"I've already opened four different accounts," David said. "I've got to keep each deposit under ten thousand. By the way, I had to make initial deposits of my own money to cover the minimum on checking accounts. My expenses come off the top. Okay?"

"Sure. David, I think you better get this stuff in the banks as soon as possible. That nutsy German can't swear to how stable this batch of paper is."

"How long do I have?"

"Better figure two days tops."

"All right, I'll deposit it first thing tomorrow morning."

Termite Tommy lighted a cigarette. "How soon do you plan to cash in?"

Rathbone shrugged and opened the windows. "A week or two."

"That long?"

"Tommy, I can't put money in one day and draw it out the next. Even a brainless banker would wonder what the hell was going on."

"The problem is I need cash in a hurry. Legit cash. There's a payment due on that color laser copier, and the German and I have the shorts."

"How much do you need?"

"Ten grand."

"By when?"

"Yesterday. We've been stalling the guy who sold us the machine, but now he's threatening to repossess."

"Ten thousand?" Rathbone repeated. "I'd advance it out of my own pocket if I had it, but right now I'm in a squeeze. Look, let me see if I can hit a couple of friends. If I can raise the ten, I'll give you a shout and you come down and pick it up."

"I'd appreciate it," Tommy said. "I hate to put you in a bind, but I don't want to lose that copier."

"Neither do I," David said. "Leave it to me; I'll raise the loot somehow."

"Soon," the other man said, climbing out of the car. "The sooner the better."

Rathbone watched him get into his pickup truck and drive away. Then he opened the briefcase and inspected the money. Tommy and Herman Weisrotte had done a good job weathering the bills, and none of the serial numbers were in sequence.

He drove to the home of James Bartlett on Bayview. Jimmy opened the door wearing a lime-green golf shirt, lavender slacks, pink socks, white Reeboks.

"You're a veritable rainbow," David said and held up the briefcase.

"Got it?" Bartlett said. "Good. Let's go out to the pool. I have a pitcher of fresh lemonade and a bottle of port. Ever try port in lemonade?"

"Never have."

"Refreshing, and it's practically impossible to get stoned."

They sat at an umbrella table, the briefcase on the tiles. Bartlett mixed them drinks in tall green glasses.

Rathbone took a sip. "Nice," he said. "A little sweetish for me, but I like it."

Jimmy kicked the scarred briefcase gently. "All there?" he asked.

"I didn't count it, but I don't think they're playing games. The bills look good to me, but Tommy says the Kraut isn't sure how long the paper will last. He gives it two days."

"No problem," Bartlett said. "My deposit at the Crescent in Boca is scheduled for tomorrow morning. After it's in the bank, I don't care what happens to it."

They sat comfortably, sipping their drinks, watching sunlight dance over the surface of the pool. They could hear the drone of a nearby mower, and once a V of pelicans wheeled overhead.

"By the way," Bartlett said, "the Corcoran brothers are back in town. They're ready."

"Price still ten thousand?"

Jimmy nodded. "They'll make it look good. Guy gets drunk, ends up in a canal. But we've got to figure a way to get him down here from Lakeland and finger him for the Corcorans."

Rathbone stared at him. "I've got a way," he said. "Tommy needs a fast 10K. Says there's a payment due on the copying machine. You'll have the legit cash by tomorrow?"

"Noon at the latest. The courier from Miami is coming tonight. Almost two hundred thousand. I sign for it. He leaves. I take out thirty grand in legit bills and replace them with this 30K of queer. Tomorrow morning I drive up to Boca and deliver the package to Mike Mulligan. He gives me a signed deposit slip. That's it."

"All right," David said. "I'll call Tommy and tell him I've raised the ten thousand he needs. He comes down to Lauderdale, meets me at the Palace, and I hand over the ten grand. That's when the Corcorans pick him up and do their job. Their fee will be in Tommy's pocket. How does it play?"

"Like Hamlet," Bartlett said. "I'm glad you're on my side. But what happens when Tommy doesn't return to Lakeland? The German will wonder what happened to him and worry about losing the machine."

"I'll drive up there and snow him," David said. "I'll tell him Tommy got drunk, messed up, and is in the clink. He'll buy it. I'll give him ten grand for the machine and promise more to come. And I'll get him started on a new batch of the queer. Okay?"

"Sounds good to me. Order fifty thousand in fifties and hundreds. I have a feeling this deal is going to work out just fine."

"Can't miss."

"Then why do you look so down?"

"I guess it's because I've got to finger Tommy for the Corcorans."

"It has to be done."

"Sure," Rathbone said. "When are we going to Miami to make a buy for the Fund?"

"I'm working on it. The dealer I want to use is in Peru right now, but he's due back in a week or so."

"How much do you think we'll have to pay?"

"I'm hoping to get it for 13K per kilo. That would give the Fund a profit of ninety-seven thousand, five hundred on our first deal." "Beautiful," David said. "Will your guy take a check?"

"I don't see why not; we're not asking immediate delivery. We have enough in the Fund's account to cover it, don't we?"

"More than enough. Will he sign a contract?"

"I think he will. We don't have the muscle to enforce it, but he doesn't know that. But contract or not, he'll make delivery. He's an honorable man."

"We're all honorable men," Rathbone said, and they both laughed and poured more lemonade.