“All right, only it means a loss of about ninety grand, the kind of green we'll never have a chance at again, so be sure in your mind.”
“Mickey, I don't want any money. For one thing it can be a trail to us, in case Jacques is a wrongo guy. And if he's on the level, then taking the ten grand is blood money. Having that kind of dough wouldn't make for happiness. If we're getting rid of a dream-buster, let's not take on another one. What do you think?”
“I'm with you. But when it comes to passing up a hundred thousand bucks, you make the decision.”
“When we make port you send it to him registered mail, with a false return name and address. And a letter telling him to do what he wants, but to let it be known he has the letters, even if they contain a lot of slop. What do you think Josef wrote? The truth?”
“Maybe. Maybe it's a novel, or a bunch of outright lies.”
“Happily we'll never know. I feel relieved already, sort of clean,” Rose said, kissing me.
“A hundred grand bath,” I mumbled.
“The big bubble bath we... You louse, you have me making the decision so you can throw it in my face when we're broke!”
I pulled her to me. “That's the idea. When we're about seventy and so ragged we have to steal a coconut for eats, I may mention it.”
“Mickey, do you agree with me about giving it to Jacques?”
“Sure.”
“For true? You sound too casual.”
“How do you think you sound? Whatever you decide, Rose, goes for me. I mean that.”
“Then we'll do it.” She kissed me again. “I'm glad you see it my way.”
Holding her with one hand, the other on the wheel, I really did mean it. For a guy like me to have a movie beauty for a wife and a boat like the Sea Princess: it figured I could dismiss a hundred thousand as if it was a popcorn ball... I think.