‘Yeah, she’s quite something.’ Sleder waved his hand in an expansive gesture. ‘Why don’t you ask her out tonight – have a bit of fun in New York before you go back to your wife?’

‘I can’t – it’s her birthday today.’

‘So? She’ll have another one next year.’

‘But I—’

Sleder silenced him with a wave of his hand, and pressed the intercom. ‘Barbara, darling, what are you doing this evening?’

‘Well, I – er, I – do have a date, Mr Sleder.’

‘An important one?’

‘Well, I guess not.’

‘Perhaps you could cancel it? My good friend Mr Slan is stopping over in New York tonight and he doesn’t know his way around the city too well. It would be a good idea for him to have a pretty girl to keep him out of trouble, don’t you think?’

She didn’t think it was a good idea at all, in fact she thought it was a rotten idea; but her contract stated that unless she’d given two weeks’ prior notice of any date, she could be requested to cancel it.

‘Why don’t you book a table for two,’ continued Sleder, ‘somewhere nice and romantic. I would join you, but I have a meeting that I’m afraid is going to continue until very late.’

‘Yes, Mr Sleder.’

The meeting that was going to continue very late came in and asked if anyone would like more coffee, then removed the dirty cups and herself from Slan’s transfixed gaze.

‘Er – I really do have to get back to Adamsville tonight. My wife – she’ll—’

‘There is no schedule airline that can get you back today. The earliest is tomorrow morning. If my aeroplane were to break down, the earliest you could be back home would be midday tomorrow.’

‘But your jet hasn’t broken down,’ said Slan.

Sleder grinned. ‘If I tell you I’ve just heard that it has, does that clear your conscience?’

‘You’ve already shown me what a high regard you have for the truth.’

‘Well, it has broken down. So, to make up for everything, there’s a limousine and driver at your disposal to take you around New York, anywhere you’d like to go. My secretary will give you some expenses money, and a bit over to buy your wife a nice little something. Come back about half five and collect Barbara. And you don’t have to worry about a hotel – we have a hospitality apartment here that I am sure you will find more than adequate. You’ll get a good night’s sleep – if you want it – but who needs sleep when you’re in New York, eh Harry?’

‘Sure, who the hell does!’ grinned Slan, beginning to feel a bit better.