Chapter 2
"So, are you guys going to buy, or sell?" Cornwall asked, "Fifteen thousand dollars would actually cover my losses in this robbery, and my guards are at the door of the room and can come in at any time. So you had better offer me something with higher value than that."
"Of course, of course." Hosea Matthews said immediately, "We can offer you a lot, and one of the most valuable commodities is Colm O'Driscoll's damn life. And all we want is just a small patronage from you."
"You mean, to hire you to take on Colm O'Driscoll." Mr. Cornwall crossed his legs, "But obviously, you know I've hired the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and I'm buying the best services…"
"Pinkerton." A disdainful smile appeared on the faces of the three men. Dutch replied, "Mr. Cornwall, do you know how many times this asshole has been to the gallows? The law has its uses, of course, but so do the outlaws. We're not bound by the dull letter of the law. Colm is more cunning than you can imagine, sir, and if the law could take care of him, Colm would have died at least five times over."
"You pay Pinkerton fifteen thousand dollars, and the most they can do is to send Colm to the gallows of the state police, but that doesn't mean you can beat him." Hosea added, "But we're different. No one knows the bandits better than another gang of bandits, and at least we can guarantee that if he goes to the gallows he won't walk back down - and actually, as I said, we can do even more."
"All we need is a small loan to set up a security consultancy, Mr. Cornwall. Repayment of the loan and interest is what we will inevitably do, and on top of that, we will guarantee you Colm's death, just within a year. This will all be legal, of course."
"You are indeed frank enough. But I have one last question: why me? Or rather, why O'Driscoll?"
"Because of some blood feuds, ancient and modern, some jungle stuff, you know. Of course, you have old Milton to help you, and I'm sure he'll soon be able to check this out for you, as well as our reputation: the Van der Linde gang always does what it claims."
"With such a high bounty on you, my loan terms won't be very generous." Mr. Cornwall cautioned.
"Oh, Mr. Cornwall, you really are a very shrewd businessman, very shrewd. Truth be told, I admire your style, and if it weren't for your profit-oriented approach, how would we be able to sit here in peace and chat with a man of weight like you? But seriously, what does a bunch of desperadoes committing crimes in West Elizabeth have to do with the sheriffs of other states? We don't even need to go to Lemoyne or Ambarino, we can travel unhindered even in New Hanover, and it doesn't make sense for you to use that excuse to raise interest rates. By the way, as far as we know, the Foreman Gang, the Lemoyne Raiders, and the Moverleys have a lot of enemies, and the reward is not low. In such a region, a fledgling security consulting firm in the partner this aspect of the choice is very free. Only, how much more damage the boys of the O'Driscoll Gang will cause you during our tussle with the Lemoyne Raiders is of less concern to us, naturally ..."
"Are you threatening me, Mr. Van der Linde?" Cornwall reddened his face and growled low.
"Of course not, Mr. Cornwall. We are talking about business, and this is nothing but a regular bargain; what malice can we have against you? We are just a few small potatoes who have come to seek loan opportunities." Hosea explained with a smile. Somehow, despite his courteous phrasing, Mr. Cornwall heard a hint of mockery in the words.
I don't like these people. Mr. Cornwall quickly drew such a conclusion to himself. But he had to admit that the outlaws' proposal had some merit. He wasn't afraid of any O'Driscoll or other gangsters, but if they targeted him and came to rob a train or a factory every now and then, it would undoubtedly still be a trouble, and Mr. Cornwall had always been a man who didn't like trouble.
"I can't answer you today, I need to make a careful consideration." Mr. Cornwall rose from his comfortable lap chair, a signal to send off, "but when I have made my decision, how could I inform you?"
"You don't need to." The large man who had been silent and who called himself Fenton Callahan, finally spoke up, "We will come back to visit in a month."
"We look forward to your good news, Mr. Cornwall." Hosea Matthews gave a polite salute and followed Dutch Van der Linde and Fenton Callahan out the door.