human
Mike Sand wanted to get in on some of that, Palveri said.
gpt
Well, it's big money, a guy figures he's got to have competition. But it's business nowadays, not a shooting war. That went out forty years ago.
human
So?
gpt
I'm getting there, Palveri said.
human
I'm getting there. Mike Sand and his truckers, they tried to high jack a shipment coming through out on the desert. Now, the Trucker's Union is old and experienced, maybe, but not as old and experienced as the Mafia. It figures we can take them, right?
gpt
It figures, Malone agreed.
human
But you didn't?
gpt
It's like a curse, he said.
human
Two boys wounded and one of them dead, right there on the sand. The shipment gone, and Mike Sand on his way to the East with it. A curse.
gpt
Things are certainly bad, he said.
human
But how's money going to make things any better?
gpt
Help? the club owner said.
human
With money I could stay open, I could stay alive. Listen, I had investments, nice guaranteed stuff: real estate, some California oil stuff ... you know the kind of thing.
gpt
Sure,
human
Now that the contacts are gone and everybody's dead or resigned or being investigated, Palveri said,
gpt
But--
human
And not only that, Palveri said, waving the cigar.
gpt
The club was going good, and you know I thought about building a second one a little farther out. A straight investment, get me: an honest one.
human
So I got the foundation in, Malone, Palveri said,
gpt
In a handbasket,
human
You said it, Malone, he added.
gpt
Everything. My men, too. He sighed.
human
And the contractor after me for his dough. Good old Harry Seldon, everybody's friend. Sure. Owe him some money and find out how friendly he is. Talks about nothing but figures. Ten thousand. Twelve thousand.
gpt
Tough, Malone said.
human
But what do you mean about your men?
gpt
Mistakes, Palveri said.
human
Book-keepers throwing the computers off and croupiers making mistakes paying off and collecting--and always mistakes against me, Malone. Always. It's like a curse. Even the hotel bills--three of them this week were made out too small and the customer paid up and went before I found out about it.
gpt
It sounds like a curse, Malone said.
human
Either that or there are spies in the organization.
gpt
Spies? Palveri said.
human
With the checking we do? With the way I've known some of these guys from childhood? They were little kids with me, Malone. They stuck with me all the way. And with Castelnuovo, too,
gpt
Sure, Malone said.
human
But they could still be spies.
gpt
I thought of that, he said.
human
I fired four of them. Four of my childhood friends, Malone. It was like cutting off an arm. And all it did was leave me with one arm less. The same mistakes go on happening.
gpt
Well, he said,
human
I'll see what I can do.
gpt
I'd appreciate it, Malone, Palveri said.
human
And when Primo Palveri appreciates something, he _appreciates_ it. Get what I mean?
gpt
Sure, Malone said.
human
I'll report back and let you know what happens.
gpt
I need the dough, he said.
human
I really need it.
gpt
With dough, Malone said,
human
Who knows? he said.
gpt
But I could stay open long enough to find out.