"What about?"
"The stock market. How are you going to beat Gornt?" He listened with growing awe as Dunross told him about the Bank of China's money, Plumm's party and his challenge to Gornt, backed by his new 50 million revolving fund.
"Fantastic! Who's supporting you, Ian?"
"Father Christmas!"
Bartlett laughed. "So Murtagh came through, huh?" He heard the silence and smiled again.
"Casey told you?"
"No. No, I had that figured. I told you Casey's as smart as a whip. So you're home free. Congratulations," he said with a grin, meaning it. "I thought I had you, Ian." Bartlett laughed. "You really think your stock'll open at 30?"
"I'm hoping."
"If you're hoping, that means you and your pals have fixed it. But Gornt's smart. You won't get him."
"Oh yes I will."
"No you won't! How about our deal?"
"Par-Con? That stands of course. I thought that was all arranged?"
Bartlett heard the dry innocence. "Quillan must be fit to be tied."
"He is! He's just above. He's helping too."
Bartlett was surprised. "Why?"
There was a pause. "Quillan's a first-class, twenty-four-carat berk but… I don't know. Maybe he likes you!"
"Screw you too!" Bartlett was equally good-natured. "What're you going to do about Quillan?"
"I've made him a proposal." Dunross told it to him.
Bartlett grunted. "So my 2 mill's down the sewer?"
"Of course. That 2 million is. But your share of the General Stores takeover'll bring you 5, perhaps more, our Struan-Par-Con deal much more."
"You really figure 5?"
"Yes. You 5, Casey 5."
"Great! I always wanted her to get her drop dead money." I wonder what she'll do now? he asked himself. "She's always wanted to be independent and now she is. Great! What?" he asked, missing what Dunross had said.
"I just said, would you like to talk to her? It's dicey but safe enough."
"No," Bartlett said firmly. "Just say hi, I can say it better when I'm out."
"Casey's said she's not moving till you are." There was a slight pause. "Orlanda too. How about her? You want to say hello or anything?"
"No thanks. Plenty of time later. Tell them both to go home." "They won't. I'm afraid you're rather popular." Bartlett laughed and sat up and bumped his head. A pain snaked down his back and he grunted, then moved more comfortably, his head almost touching the roof.