"Well, that's something," Wyatt said. He smiled. "Maybe that'll do it."
Remo stood up. "Are you going to be here a while?" he asked.
Wyatt nodded.
Remo said, "All right, then. I'm going back to my house to make some calls. I'll call you here and let you know how I make out. By the way, who called you?"
"Called me?"
"About the quake? And the million dollars?"
"Oh, yeah. A man. Never heard his voice before," Wyatt said.
"Another by-the-way, sheriff. Any leads on who killed Curpwell?"
"From the description his secretary gave me, I think those guineas we found in the ditch mighta had something to do with it. Anyway, I'm listing it as a heart attack. Don't want to shake up the town."
"Been a busy day, sheriff. A heart attack; two hit-and-run victims; now this million dollars."
"That's not all, either," Wyatt said. "I got word today about some kind of a killing today out at the Gromucci farm. Three men, supposed to be killed by two men. One an old Chink. But I called Gromucci and he told me there wasn't nothing to it. Just a fairy tale." He looked at Remo suspiciously.
"Can't believe in fairy tales," Remo said pleasantly. I'll call you back, sheriff."
"All right, Blomberg," Wyatt said. "And thanks. I appreciate it. You know, you're not such a bad guy after all."
When Remo left, Wyatt stared at the office door. Blomberg wasn't such a bad guy, particularly for a fairy. It was a shame what he was going to look like when the two girls were done with him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Dr. Harold W. Smith toyed with the $0.90 red plastic letter opener with a magnifying glass on one end as he listened to Remo on the telephone.
"All right," he said, "I understand. Do you have any leads? Anything at all?"
"Nothing. I think Quake's machine is involved. Maybe it's him. But he's kind of loose."
"If that's what you think, work on it."
"All right, I will. But what about the million?"
"Stay where you are," Smith said. "I'll call you back."
Smith hung up the phone, turned in his chair and stared out at the waters of Long Island Sound. Blackmailing the government. It was unthinkable. But duty required that he report the message to the President. It was a decision for him to make.
He turned back to the desk, opened a drawer and removed a telephone with a red dot in the handle. He picked up the phone.
In Washington, the President chased his wife from the bedroom and picked up the telephone which was kept in a dresser drawer.
He listened as Smith explained the circumstances. His reaction was immediate.
"Pay it," he told Smith.
"May I advise you, sir, that once started, blackmail is difficult to stop? And this is nothing but blackmail."
"Doctor Smith, this is also California we're talking about. Not Texas."
"The decision is yours, of course," Smith said.
"And my decision is this. We will pay them the million dollars. And if they cancel the earthquake they have scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, we will up the ante to $1.5 million. Do you have that kind of money available?"
"Yes sir."
"All right. Then pay it."
"As you wish," Smith said. He hung up the telephone and dialed Remo's number. The President was wrong. He should not pay.
Remo picked up the phone on the first ring.
"Yes?"
"The President says we'll pay."
"That must send you up the wall," Remo said. "Is it coming out of your budget?"
"Not only out of my budget, but out of your expenses. You'll have to wear a pair of shoes more than a week now."
"Poor Chiun," Remo said. "He's going to have to go on short rations."
"Another thing," Smith said. "The President says we'll pay more if tomorrow's earthquake is cancelled."
"How much more?"
Smith could not bring himself to say it. He hesitated then said, "$1.2 million total."
"I don't know," Remo said. "I don't know if I can bring it home for a penny less than $1.5 million."
"Do whatever you have to do," Smith groused. "There'll be a bank draft of $1.5 million to your account in the San Aquino Bank tomorrow morning. Who will take the money?"
"The sheriff here. A big blowhard named Wyatt."
"It might be interesting to find out who he gives the money to," Smith said.
"Don't worry. I plan to."
"And Remo," Smith said. "Please try to get the money back."
"You're some piece of work," Remo said, as he hung up.