TWENTY NINE
STAN WAS in bed reading a black and white copy of the Daily Mail when Harvey and Bo walked in.
"How did it go?"
"Well, but regretfully we need to pay more.”
"What happened to the first hundred?"
"He took it as a down-payment."
"How much more does he want?"
"Another hundred thousand."
"So one more stash of cash and Mike's out?"
"He gave me his word."
"I'm not sure if that means much, but I'll play along."
"I think it's worth the risk."
"Why don't you go for a coffee? It'll take a short while to get it."
"We still need to pay the rest of Puku's debt."
"Do we still need to do that? I mean now that we're dealing directly with Nincotte."
"I gave her my word but if you'd prefer I can pay out of my fee."
"…No, never mind."
He reached under the bed, pulled out a case, opened it and handed over what he had left.