In the Best Families

Zeck spoke. The last time you were here, Rackham, you lost control of yourself and you know what happened.

Rackham did not reply. He stood with his hands behind him like a man ready to begin a speech, but his trap stayed shut, and from the expression of his face it was a good guess that his hands, out of sight, were making a tight knot.

“Sit down, Zeck told him.

Since the seating was an important item of the staging, I had stepped up ahead after we entered and made for the chair farthest front, a little to the left of

Zeck's desk and about even with it, and Roeder had taken the one nearest me, to my right. That left, for Rackham, of the chairs near the desk, the one on the other side, and he went to it. He was about twelve feet from Zeck, Roeder about the same, and I was slightly closer.

Zeck asked Roeder, “Have you had a talk?

Roeder shook his head. “Since Mr Rackham had never met me before, I thought it might be better for you to explain the proposal to him. Naturally he will want to know exactly how it is to be handled before deciding whether to help with it. He reached to get his brief-case from the floor, put it on his lap, and opened it.

“I think, Zeck said, “that you should describe the operation, since you conceived it and will manage it. But you were right to wait. He turned to

Rackham. “You remember our last talk some time ago.

Rackham said nothing.

“You remember it? Zeck demanded. He made it a demand by the faintest possible sharpening of his tone.

“I remember it, Rackham stated, not much above a whisper.

“You know the position you took. Ordinarily that course is not permitted to any man who has been given a place in my organisation, and I made an exception of you only because the death of your wife had changed your circumstances. I thought it better to await an opportunity to take advantage of that change, and now it has come-through Roeder here. We want your help and we are prepared to insist on getting it. How do you feel about it?

“I don't know. Rackham licked his lips. “I'd have to know more about what you want.

Zeck nodded. “But first your attitude. You will need to recognise the existence of mutual interests-yours and mine.

Rackham said nothing.

“Well? The faint sharpening.

“Damn it, of course I recognise them!

“Good. Go ahead, Roeder.