Chapter 18 Joshua Cain was not a patient man. From deep within his black leather chair he glared across the room at the clock on the mantle, as if daring it to continue to defy him. His stubby figures drummed on the cool mahogany surface of his desk. He breathed deeply and tried to relax. It wasn't his fault if he was impatient by nature, so few people ever dared to keep him waiting.

After all, his clients might be the most powerful criminals in the city,

but they only darkened Cain's door when they had desperate need of his services and nowhere else to turn.

At last the door to his study opened and his man-servant stepped into the room,

his nose still heavily bandaged from his first contact with Cain's new client.

If the man bore any ill-will or indeed felt anything at all, his face did not show it.

He nodded wordlessly to Cain as if to indicate that a long-aw-awated event

had come to pass at last.

"'Show him in,' Cain said, smoothing his hair with his hand and doing his best to appear

unperturbed. A moment later the door opened wider and Ajay Shah breezed in with an

inky smile on his face. He looked tall and elegant in a dark day suit,

and he fidgeted slightly with his cuffs like a man who had made a careful study of the rich

and indolent. He nodded to Cain with a smile.

Sorry to keep you waiting, old man. I was dining with Madame Dubriel and her charming daughters. Shaw stepped to the window and gazed out

onto the garden like a man without a care in the world. DuBrell, the widow of the brewery magnet,

Kane said, his brows furrowed. You know I do believe they mentioned something of that, Shaw sighed.

Every two minutes.

Why do those in your country who have stumbled into great wealth insist on pointing it out?

I couldn't say, Kane smiled.

I'm an honest businessman.

The two men held one another's eyes for a moment, then each smiled.

Kane offered Shaw a cigar from the box on the desk.

...