human
You said you wanted to see me, Palveri began after a second.
gpt
But you didn't say what about. What's up, Mr. Malone?
human
I've been looking around, Malone said in what he hoped was a grim, no-nonsense tone.
gpt
Checking things. You know.
human
Checking? Palveri said.
gpt
What's this about?
human
Castelnuovo in Chicago sent me down, he said.
gpt
I've been doing some checking around for him.
human
You throwing names around to impress me?
gpt
I'm not throwing names around, Malone said grimly.
human
Castelnuovo wants me to look around, that's all.
gpt
Castelnuovo's a big man in Chicago, Palveri said.
human
He wouldn't send a guy down without telling me about it.
gpt
He did, Malone said. He thought back to the FBI files on Giacomo Castelnuovo, which took up a lot of space in Washington, even on microfilm.
human
You want proof? he said.
gpt
He's got a scar over his ribs on the left side--got it from a bullet in '62. He wears a little black mustache because he thinks he looks like an old-time TV star, but he doesn't, much. He's got three or four girls on the string, but the only one he cares about is Carla Bragonzi. He--
human
O.K., Palveri said.
gpt
O.K., O.K. You know him. You're not fooling, around. But how come he sends you down without telling me?
human
I've been here two weeks, he said.
gpt
You didn't know I was around, did you? That's the way Castelnuovo wanted it.
human
He thinks I'd cheat him? Palveri said, his face changing color slightly.
gpt
He thinks I'd dress up for him or drag down? He knows me better than that.
human
Maybe he just wants to be sure, he said.
gpt
Funny things are happening all over.
human
You're telling me, Palveri said.
gpt
Things are crazy. What I'm thinking is this: Maybe Castelnuovo wants to keep this place operating. Maybe he wants to keep me here working for him.
human
And if he does?
gpt
If he does, he's going to have to pay for it, Palveri said firmly.
human
The place needs dough to keep operating. I've got to have a loan, or else I'm going under.
gpt
The place is making money,
human
Have one,