“No.”

Pendleton’s hand kept moving back and forth. “There are other methods that ensure discipline. I have other methods.” Pendleton parted his lips and moved the tip of his tongue from right to left. “And you, Tapkow-”

“Listen,” Benny said. His voice sounded rough with impatience. “Now listen to me, Mr. Pendleton.”

The white hand stopped moving back and forth.

“The more you say, Tapkow, the worse it gets.” Then he almost smiled. “What do you think is the worst thing I can do to you, Tapkow? Do you remember a few years ago, a man called Murdock? Did you ever wonder what happened to Murdock? He’s still alive, you know.”

Pendleton paused to give things weight, but he hadn’t been watching Benny. He hadn’t seen the stubbornness and the angry impatience.

“The hell with Murdock,” Benny said. His breath sounded tight “The hell with Murdock and all this talk. You haven’t given me a chance to say a word, Mr. Pendleton. So here it is.” His voice suddenly turned quiet. “I’ve worked for you for seven years. I’ve tried to do better than the next guy because I know something they don’t. I am better. You think so, or you wouldn’t have let me stick around. I’ve done your crumby jobs, I’ve done some big ones. And then I’ve done some extra jobs you didn’t ask for, because all I ever wanted was a chance to show I’ve got the stuff. And then you started putting on the brakes. ‘Tapkow, take my pants to the cleaner,’ while I should have been working at Imports. ‘Tapkow, bring my car around,’ when Turk could have done it just as well.” Benny started talking faster now. “Finally I got a territory, a run-down, no-good territory, where Paddy used to rob you blind. I took that and glad for the chance. I start collecting double in my district and handed the stuff in. I needn’t have. So look at it that way for a minute, Mr. Pendleton, and then see if you’re doing right. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but you’ve got to remember I’m not the chauffeur around here any more. I’ve done better than that.”