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"Mister Cotswald has a new associate, a buyer up from Florida," Rooster explained. "This is Stu Jacksonville."
"Jacksonville. Gene Moyo. Pleased." Moyo didn't look pleased, but placed the cigar carefully at the edge of the desk and came around the edge to shake hands. His hand felt like a wrench wrapped in desert leather. "Christ, Roo, at this rate I'm never getting down to the games. There's supposed to be a good match tonight."
"We won't be long," Cotswald said. "Just need a few permissions to look over your current inventory."
"Roo, call down to the box and tell them to hold dinner. Well, siddown, you two. Make it fast."
They pulled chairs as Rooster left.
Valentine wanted a look around the office, but didn't see how he could in his present circumstances. He surreptitiously felt around in his pocket.
"What's your line, Jacksonville? Pro or amateur?"
Valentine hazarded a guess. "My official title's Provisional Leisure and Entertainment Director. The port's growing."
Moyo put the cigar back in his mouth. "Learn something useful, son. No one with a title like that rises."
"It's a sinecure. I used to work coast security."
"Get the facial reconstruction doing that?"
"That would make a better story. It was an accident-I was careless with a rifle."
"What kind of numbers are you looking for?"
Valentine shifted in his seat to cover his hand's motion. "Thirty gals to start off. I'd like a seat at your auctions, too. I can see two, maybe three trips a year up here."
The cigar moved from the left side of Moyo's mouth to his right. "Payment?"
"Gold. I have enough for a substantial deposit."
"Let's see your color. Sorry, but you're a stranger to me."
Valentine placed a coin on the desk.
"Fort Knox mint. Very good."
"Mister Moyo, if you'd rather talk business at the game, I'm not averse to continuing negotiations down there."
"Anais!" Moyo barked over his shoulder.
The woman with the diplomat bag set down her cards. "Yes, Mister Moyo?"
"Get my weekly out. See if Rooster's got any last-minute additions, then you two can go home as soon as I'm done with my last appointment."
"Thank you, Mister Moyo," she said.
"Rooster!" Moyo yelled.
Rooster appeared quickly enough. "Take these gentlemen down to the owner's box. We have much inventory on hand?"
"New? Five or six girls at the most," Rooster said. "Sorry, Mister Jacksonville, a year ago we had half of Arkansas in here. At this rate there won't be another auction for some weeks."
"You can buy out of my joints, if you want, Jacksonville," Moyo said. "I've got a couple older gals who aren't half-bad managers, too. If the price is right you could hire one or two away from me."
"I appreciate your generosity," Valentine said, shifting his foot slightly.
Moyo put down his cigar again in the same wet groove. "Liquor in the box is on me, alright? Cots, you staying?"
