Page 110 - Just Deserts

The Sirocco Lites 26K Run for the Money

don’t like it, okay: I’ll walk. But give me a chance. I think you’ll like
this one.”
“Well, buddy, since you bought me a drink, I’ll give you a chance:
a sporting chance! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha!” Ace wiped his mouth on the
cuff of his custom-tailored silk shirt.
Boyd tapped a cigarette out of its package. “Smoke?” Ace
responded by picking up a cigar languishing in an ashtray and
puffing it back to life. Boyd lit his cigarette, took a deep drag, and
leaned forward. “I am here talking to you, Ace, because you are the
only one who can handle a deal like this. I know you can, because
you’ve already done a lot of deals just like it.”
“Oh, yeah? Such as what?”
“Well, off the top of my head: the Sugar Lumps All-America Teen
Skate-off in Boise; the Messerschmitt Razors Water Ballet finals at
Glow ‘n’ Curl Aquatic Stadium; the Schluggenheimer Ale Demolition
Derby in Nashville. Oh, yeah: and the Macho Spray Monster Truck
Rally. Those are big-time sporting events, Ace: and you promoted
them, built them up from small-town get-togethers to major-market
high-profile prime-time commercial successes.”
“You better believe I did, baby. Those sponsors wanted a piece of
the action, and I was their ace in the hole. Ha-ha, get it?”
“Ace in the hole? Oh, I see. Ha-ha-ha!” Brainard shook his head,
as if in helpless admiration of the other’s wit. “Well, I’m hoping that
history can repeat itself again. I mean, a lot of companies out there
are just drooling to get their logos plastered all over a track meet or a
soccer match, you know what I mean? Makes them look like they
care about fitness and wholesome youth and all that crap, while they
get all kinds of free advertising.”
“You got it right, buddy,” croaked La Manza into his glass. “I
figure I’m doing everybody a service when I hook up a sponsor with
some local government—myself included, of course. You want the
best,” he jabbed at the airspace between Brainard and himself, “you
got to pay for the best. And that’s me.”
“I know it, Ace. You’ve got the track record, all right.” Boyd
lowered his voice. “Now here’s the pitch—I’m counting on you to
keep it to yourself; no sense in cutting anyone else in on this, right?
Well, among my many big-name corporate clients is a tobacco
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