'In your own best interests, don't you mean, Mr. Kane?' said Abel hotly.

The young man flushed. 'That is an unjust remark, Mr. Rosnovski, and I would greatly resent it if I did not understand what you are going through.'

'Too bad you didn't wheel out your understanding in time for Davis Leroy,' said Abel. - 'He could have used it. You killed him, Mr. Kane, just as surely as if you had pushed him out of that window yourself, you and your simon - pure colleagues, sitting here on your backsides while we sweat our guts out to be sure you can take a rake - off when times are good and tread an people when times are bad.'

William, too, was beconiing angry. Unlike Abel Rosnovski, he did not show it. 'nis line of discussion is getting us nowhere, Mr. Rosnovski. I must warn you that if you are unable to find a purchaser for the group within thirty days, I shall have no choice but to put the hotels up for auction on the open market.'

'You'll be advising me to ask another bank for a loan next,' said Abel sarcastically. 'You know my record, and you won't back me, so where the hell do you expect me to go from - here ?'

'I'm afraid I have no idea,' replied William. 'That's entirely up to you.

My board's instructions are simply to wind up the account as quickly as possible, and that is what I intend to do. Perhaps you would be kind enough to contact me no later than 4 February, and let me know whether you have had any success in finding a buyer. Good day, Mr. Rosnovski.'

William rose from behind the desk, and again offered his hand. This time Abel ignored it and went to the door.

'I thought after our phone conversation, Mr. Kane, you might feel embarrassed enough to offer a helping hand. I was wrong. You're just a bastard through and through, so when you go to bed at night, Mr. Kane, be sure to think about me., When you wake up in the morning, think about me again, because I'll never cease thinkina about my plans for you.'

William stood frowning at th closed door. The silver band still bothered hi~m - where had he seen it before? His secretary returned. 'What a dreadful little man,' she said.

'No, not really,' replied William. 'He thinks we killed his business partner, and now we are disbanding his company without any thought for his employees, not to mention himself, when he had actually proved to be very capable. Mr. Rosnovski was remarkably polite in the circumstances, and I must confess I was almost sorry the board felt unable to back him.'

He looked up at his secretary.

'Get me Mr. Cohen on the phone.'

18

Abel arrived back in Chicago on the morning of the following day, still preoccupied and furious with his treatment at the hands of William Kane.

He didn't catch exactly what the boy was shouting at the comer news - stand as he hailed a cab and climbed into the back seat.

'The Richmond Hotel, please!

'Are you from the newspapers?' asked the cab driver as he moved out on to State Street.

'No, what made you ask that?' said Abel.

'Oh, only because you asked for the Richmond. All the reporters are there today.'

Abel couldn't remember any functions scheduled for the Richmond that would attract the press.

The cab driver continued. 'If you're not a newspaper man, maybe I should take you to another hotel.'

'Why?' asked Abel, even more puzzled.

'Well, you won't have a very good night's sleep if you're booked in there. The Richmond has been burned to the ground.'

As the cab turned the corner of the block, Abel was faced head on with the smouldering shell of the Richmond Hotel. Police cars, fire engines, charred wood and water Oooding the street. He stepped out of the cab and stared at the scorched remains of the flagship of Davis Leroy's group.

The Pole is wise when the damage is done, thought Abel, as he clenched his fist and started banging on his lame leg. He felt no pain - there was nothing lef t to feel.

'You bastards,' he shouted aloud. 'I've been lower than this before, and I'll still beat every one of you. Germans, Russians, Turks, that bastard Kane, and now this. Everyone. I'll beat you all. Nobody kills Abel Rosnovski.'

The assis~ant manager saw Abel gesticulating by the cab and ran over to him. Abel forced himself to be calm. 'Did all the staff and guests get out of the hotel safely?' he asked.

'Yes, thank God. The hotel was nearly empty, so getting everyone out was no great problem. There were one or two minor injuries and burns, and they are being dealt with at the hospital, but there's nothing for you to worry about.'

'Good, at least that's a relief. Thank God the hotel was well insured, over - a million if I remember. We may yet be able to turn this disaster to our advantage!