The 16mm Caper

Chapter 10

Since both Hughes and Julia were out, all calls went to Austin, and he blessed the stroke of luck that allowed him to intercept this particular call. He asked the caller to wait and he went around and closed his office door. This was a surprise. The young man was obviously very astute and enterprising; he wondered how he'd discovered Ralston's number.

Perhaps his alliance with Julia was coming at the right time; should any unpleasantness arise Ralston could well be placed front and center. He picked up the telephone.

"Thank you for waiting. Now, how may I help you?"

"I just called to inform you personally that the film is not for sale at this time."

"Film? I'm afraid you've--"

"Don't bother. I already spoke to your man and he gave me your name. And before you object again, I have a card with the same number on it from your, Mata Hari, representative."

Austin silently conceded the point. "Would you at least allow me to make my offer before you refuse?"

"Offer away nothing will chan--"

"Ten thousand dollars."

Peter gaped at the phone. Ten thousand dollars! A quick subtraction of his expenses and he silently acknowledged one hell of a profit. Immediately he thought that there must be more to Guns Across the Rio Grande than he knew. He swallowed and took a deep breath. "I uh- I don't think so."

"What if the offer was raised to fifteen thousand including all the copies if any, and all records referring to the item?"

"I- I can't guarantee that no copies have been made. The film company had it for a week; who knows what they did."

"Twenty-five thousand."

Peter choked. "Look, Mister Hughes, I'm not trying to get more money here. I don't want your money. I just don't want to sell."

"Pity, it could have been a simple business deal."

"Could have been?"

"Goodbye Mister Rabb." Austin tapped the phone with his fingers and smiled ruefully. Pity he didn't accept but at least the young man thought he was dealing with Ralston.

Peter stared at the silent phone. Could have been? He placed a call to Harv at Cinelab, told him about the offer and made arrangements to do further examinations and cataloguing. He also suggested another copy be placed somewhere off the premises - somewhere safe." Harv listened without comment about the offers and agreed without question.

******

Vera strode into the hotel room occupied by Harry and Douglas, and went straight to the bar refrigerator, extracting a beer and wrenching the cap off.

"Can I get you a drink maybe?" Harry growled, his own three-quarters empty.

"Too cute, Feldman. Austin wants us to shake down the guy's apartment. He called and said no sale." She tipped up the bottle and drained half of it in one swallow. Douglas raised his eyebrows and made an admiring oh with his mouth.

"Austin talked to him? What the hell for?"

"The guy thought he was reaching Hughes but Austin took the call. He tracked the number down somehow." She finished the beer and tossed the bottle on one of the beds, ignoring the fact that she had supplied the number on her card.

"How?" Harry didn't like the idea that their mark was too enterprising.

"Who cares? Just do the apartment. He said copies had probably been made so look for discs. If nothing shows up there we'll do the lab."