"It's here. It's come apart. I'm done for. It. That's it. It." He poured himself a tumbler of Scotch.
"I took a chance. I lost. Done for."
There was a knock on the door. He didn't answer it. Let the police get him. He didn't care. A man's voice with a Spanish accent came through the door. It begged to be let in. It begged to save him.
"It's no use," sobbed James Brewster. Done. It was all over.
"You're a fool. You could be rich and live with servants beyond your wildest dreams."
"That's how I got into this pickle," said Brewster. He looked at the wall. Better get used to looking at a wall for the rest of your life, he told himself.
"You took a chance. You won. You will win even more."
"I want to go home."
"To McKeesport, Pennsylvania?"
James Brewster thought about that a moment. Then he opened the door.
He expected a Spaniard. But an incredibly beautiful blond man in a white suit stood in the doorway. He wore a dark blue shirt and a single gold chain under it, hiding a medallion of sorts.
"My name is Francisco. I have come to keep you out of jail. To give you an even richer, more splendid life than you have ever known before."
James Brewster stood in the doorway waiting. He tapped his foot, waiting.
"What are you waiting for?" asked Braun.
"To wake up," said Brewster. "This is a bad dream."
Francisco Braun slapped him across the face.
"Okay," said Brewster, his left cheek stinging like a swarm of bees had just struck him. "Awake. I'm awake."
"You are going to go to jail if you don't listen to me," said Braun.
"Very awake," said Brewster. "Really awake."
"But I can give you wealth and luxury beyond your wildest dreams."
"Asleep again. Dreaming," said Brewster. "All done. Life is over."
"I will help you get away. You can live in hiding for the rest of your life," said Braun.
"Waking up."
"Fly to Brazil. No one can arrest you in Brazil. They do not have an extradition treaty with anyone. Many criminals live a high wonderful life in Rio. You have no doubt, senor, heard of wonderful Rio."
"Almost everything I have is in this condominium."
"I will buy it."
"Well, considering land values, I think I really want to hold on to it a little longer. This isn't the right time to sell."
"Are you joking, senor? You must sell. Or go to jail."
"I didn't want you to think you could get this for a bargain price. No one should ever sell real estate in desperation."
"I will give you in gold whatever you think it is worth."
James Brewster named a price that would have purchased half the town. Considering the town was La Jolla, it was higher than the net worth of two-thirds of the members of the United Nations.
They settled on a minuscule fraction. A million dollars in gold. It came to slightly over two hundred pounds. In two valises. For which he paid extra in baggage charges at the airport.
"I know Brazil. It is a beautiful country," said Braun.
"But you must know how to handle people." Braun rubbed his fingers together. Bribes were his kind of psychology.
Brewster understood bribes. That was how he got here.
"You must know how to protect yourself," said Braun. "What if they follow your trail?"
"But you said they couldn't extradite me."
"Ah, that is the problem with your situation. You see, you helped steal uranium."
"Shhhh," said Brewster. He looked around the airport.
"No one cares. This is a busy airport. Listen. You must know how to lose a tail, even if it comes from a government seeking revenge for your helping to steal atomic materials."
"Yes. Yes. Lose a tail. Lose a tail," said Brewster.
"When you get to Rio, you hire a boat to go up the Amazon. And use your correct name."
"I hate jungles."
"I don't blame you. That is why James Brewster will go up the Amazon but Arnold Diaz will live in luxury in another condominium. And for a mere quarter of a million dollars you will have space. All the space you want."
"Only a quarter of a million?"
"And you can hire servants for three dollars a week. Beautiful women will fall at your feet for ten dollars American."
"How much for making love? I'm not into feet," said Brewster.
"Whatever you want for ten dollars, all right? But don't forget to register for the trip up the Amazon. I have written down this name of a tour guide. Use him."
"Why him?"