“Greetings, boy.” He took the dead cigar out of his mouth and tapped it. “Make yourself comfy for a sec, huh?” Gluck carried a folder to the room with the filing cabinets. He had a flat-footed walk, probably because of the weight he carried in his rear, and he made a grunt each time he took a step.

“You shoulda waited outside,” he said when he came back. Then he sat down and the jowls around his face made a quick shimmy.

“I waited. What in hell did you think I was doing out there besides waiting?”

“Now, Jack boy, let’s act like buddies. You and me-”

“Stop licking, willya, Gluck?”

“Jackie boy, what’s eating you?” Gluck put the dead cigar back in his mouth.

Jesso didn’t answer right away. He held it for a minute because it wouldn’t do to buck Gluck all the time. Not when it wasn’t important. Save your strength. Ignore the bastard, just the way Gluck knew how to ignore the things he didn’t like. It wasn’t easy to figure what he liked and what he didn’t like. Most of the time he took just about anything as long as he could call a man his buddy boy And then somewhere along the line buddy boy would get the shaft.

“You know why I’m boss and you aren’t, Jackie boy?”

The cigar came out and there was a friendly smile.

“No,” said Jesso. “You tell me, President.”

“I will,” and the cigar went back. “Because you don’t know people, boy. You never studied how to get along. Take me, for instance.”

“Don’t. Don’t put yourself out, Gluck. Just keep the secret.”

“Like right now, boy. You’re riled because I let you wait.”

Jesso lit a cigarette and tossed the match at the ash tray. He missed. “Now I know why you’re president and I’m the punk around here. You know everything. So now let’s talk about Vegas. You read the stuff and papers I brought back?”

“No.” Gluck smiled. “I didn’t have to. On account I read minds.” He sat back and gave Jesso a wink.