Page 6 of Nash Falls
“Been there since college?”
“Yes.”
“You like the work?”
“Yes.”
“Ever think of leaving?” Morris asked.
“No.”
“Get along okay with the top brass?”
Nash frowned. “Meaning who exactly?”
“Just in general.”
“Yes.”
“Know the Temples?” asked Morris.
“Yes.”
“Everettandhis father, Barton?”
“Yes, in fact, Barton hired me right out of college.”
“I looked up the termsybarite. It means ‘lover of luxury.’”
“Yes, it does.”
“Odd name for an investment firm, don’t you think?” said Morris.
“Actually, I think it’s quite apt. You invest so you can afford a life of luxury. You know. To… make… money.” He said the last part as though speaking to an idiot.
Or an FBI Special Agent.
“Ah, never looked at it that way, but then again I don’t see a life of luxury in my future. So how would you characterize your relationship with Everett Temple?”
“In what way?” said Nash.
“In any way. Your words, please.”
“Wait, do I need a lawyer?” asked an ever more cautious Nash.
“Not currently, no.”
“‘Not currently’? What does that mean?” Nash said, clearly startled by this.
“It means, right this very minute, no… you… do… not… need… a… lawyer.”
Funny, thought Nash irritably. “But that could change?”
“In life everything is subject to change, sir, is it not?”
“I don’t need you waxing philosophically, Agent Morris. I just need to understand what is behind your being here tonight asking these sorts of questions.”
Morris made a show of symbolically closing his notebook and capping his pen. He did it so fluidly that Nash suspected it was part of the man’s art of negotiation.
