The Last Don - Mario Puzo [125]
They were all astonished. It was rare that Marrion cut so quickly to the bone, at least since his younger days. Stuart was alarmed.
“Athena knows nothing about this,” he said. “She would have told me.”
Deere said, “Would she take the deal if she knew?”
Stuart said, “I would advise her to take it and then in a side letter split her half with the Studio.”
Bantz said crisply, “Then all her protestations of fear would be a mockery. Bullshit, in short. And Melo, you’re full of shit. You think this studio would settle for half of what Athena gets from De Lena? All that money rightfully belongs to us. And she may get away rich with De Lena but it means the end of her career in the movies. No studio will ever hire her again.”
“Foreign,” Skippy said. “Foreign would take a chance.”
Marrion picked up the phone and handed it to Stuart. “This is all to no purpose. Call Athena. Tell her what Cross De Lena is going to offer and ask if she is going to accept.”
Deere said, “She disappeared over the weekend.”
“She’s back,” Stuart said. “She often disappears on weekends.” He pushed the buttons on the phone.
The conversation was very brief. Stuart hung up and smiled. “She said she has received no such offer. And no such offer would make her come back to work. She doesn’t give a shit about her career.” He paused for a moment and then said admiringly, “I’d like to meet this guy Skannet. Any man who can scare an actress out of her career has some good in him.”
Marrion said, “It’s settled then. We’ve recouped our loss out of a hopeless situation. But it’s a pity. Athena was such a great star.”
Andrew Pollard had his instructions. The first had been to inform Bantz of Cross De Lena’s intention regarding Athena. The second was to pull the surveillance team off Skannet. The third was to visit Boz Skannet and offer a proposition.
Skannet was in his undershirt when he let Pollard into his Beverly Hills Hotel suite, and he smelled of cologne. “Just finished shaving,” he said. “This hotel has more bathroom perfumes than a whorehouse.”
“You are not supposed to be in this town,” Pollard said reproachfully.
Skannet slapped him on the back. “I know, but I’ll leave tomorrow. I just have a few loose ends to tie up.” His malicious glee while saying this, his massive torso, would have frightened Pollard before, but now that Cross was involved it only evoked pity. But he would have to be careful.
“Athena is not surprised that you haven’t left,” he said. “She feels the Studio doesn’t understand you but she does. So she would like to meet with you personally. She thinks that just the two of you alone can strike a deal.”
When he saw the momentary rush of joy on Skannet’s face, he knew that Cross had been right. This guy was still in love, he would buy the story.
Boz Skannet was suddenly wary. “That doesn’t sound like Athena. She can’t stand the sight of me, not that I blame her.” He laughed. “She needs that pretty mug of hers.”
Pollard said, “She wants to make a serious offer. A lifetime annuity. A percentage of her earnings for the rest of her life if you want. But she wants to talk to you personally and secretly. There’s something else she wants.”
“I know what she wants,” Skannet said. Skannet had a curious look on his face. Pollard had seen that look on the faces of wistfully repentant rapists.
“Seven o’clock,” Pollard said. “Two of my men will come to pick you up and bring you to the meeting place. They will stay with her to be her bodyguards. Two of my best men, armed. Just so you won’t get any funny ideas.”
Skannet smiled. “Don’t worry about me,” he said.
“Right,” Pollard said and left.
When the door closed, Skannet shot his right hand up in the air. He would see Athena again with only two half-assed private detectives to protect her. And he would have proof that she initiated the meeting, he would not be violating the judge’s restraining order.
For the rest of the day