His face unstiffened. He walked around to the front seat and got in next to the big one. I had taken the first round on points, by plenty.

“I’m staying at the Penn Plaza,” I said.

“We’re supposed to take you to Klaus.”

“You take me to the Penn Plaza. You think I flew three thousand miles to run right into a business conference? Wise up, simps. I need some relaxing first.”

“Klaus is gonna be awful mad—”

“I’ll see him when I feel like seeing him.”

The big boy turned around and said in a feathery voice, “Hey, Mister Lowney, you talk like you did us a big favor by coming here. You oughta realize that we’re the guys who gonna do you the favor.”

I gave him one cold look that wiped the smugness off his face.

“Can it, friend,” I said quietly. “Are you going to take me to the Penn Plaza, or do I take a cab…?”

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