Page 62 - The Myth and the Moment

Afternoon

“So that’s what you think. And you’ve been carrying a chip on
your shoulder all these years? Hmm.”
“Never mind about the past. The bottom line is that you have
something very important to me, and I have got to get it back. I am
in touch with the police, and I will press charges against you if you
don’t give me my papers.”
“Come off it, Evangelino. You want me to call my lawyer? This is
slanderous talk. Listen: there’s no way I could have done anything,
much less commit a robbery, anywhere else this morning. I was here,
throwing a party; remember? You want witnesses? You want an alibi?
I’ve got about twenty people who know I didn’t leave this place all
morning. And I mean big names in this city, network executives and
investment bankers.”
No! It’s a trick!
“I don’t know how you did it, Phil, but I know you did it. I know it
like I know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. You won’t
get away with it this time. I’m not the same naive kid you pushed
around in 1962. I’ll get my own lawyer. I know how this town
operates, too, you know. I’ll get the Times to listen to me, and Variety
and the Hollywood Reporter. Yeah, you can buy fancier lawyers than I
can, but I’ll bet you have at least as many enemies as friends by now.
People who’d love to have a weapon against you. I’m sure I’m not
the only dead body you stepped over to get where you are now.”
God, my heart’s pounding. Too much adrenalin, not enough
action. But that slowed him down. Now he’s thinking. Thinking. So
much glare off the water, the deck, the glass doors. Got to rest my
eyes.
“Nate, Nate, are you—”

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