The Adventures of Portia DeLysle

Chapter 6

The big Fiat sedan turned the corner and paused as the driver checked the street. With the car lights off, the street lamps reflected eerily in the rain dappled pavement. The men in the car sat silently, their focus on one thing only. Satisfied, the driver accelerated the car down the empty street and veered close to the sidewalk as the Tommy guns appeared from inside, spitting flame.

Bullets shattered the large windows and splintered door and window frames, moving through to tear up office furnishings and walls. With a screech of tires on the damp pavement, the car raced away into the night, headlights blinking on only when it was well away.

Headlines the following day showed several pictures of what once was the office of Cardinal Imports. Police attributed the damage to gangland elements, probably some revenge or warning. The night janitor was the only casualty in the shooting.

Dennis Creighton put down the phone after reading the news report and then changed his mind and picked it up, dialling his employer.

"It seems our friend at Cardinal was trying to do a deal with Garber and was being pressured because he had offers ready to commit. It sounds like another greedy Trevor employee is trying to do the same as we are."

Karl listened and frowned. His hound was against his trousers and he brushed at its head receiving a growl.

"Do we know who is making the offer?"

"That I intend to get from Garber."

"Make sure you keep a distance, Dennis, we don't want to jeopardize our own business."

"I have a man who gathers that kind of information for me."