"Look at you," Audibon said in a voice that shook. "Take a panoramic of yourself. Where are you? You've got no show. You've got no partner. Your agency's ready to blacklist you. This network's blacklisting you. You're got no friends. You've got no business. You've got nothing. Nothing!" "But I've got something you haven't got, Roy." "Never." Lennox tapped the water color. "I've got the original of this." "Never!" Lennox smiled. "So you're chasing," Audibon snorted. "Go ahead and chase. You'll never catch up. Not while she remembers me...." "Who's chasing?" "Then you're bluffing, you--" "Who's bluffing?" Audibon went white, then red. He turned, walked to the desk and put down the shot-glasses so violently that they clattered. "I'm waiting for your offer," Lennox said pleasantly. "Get out," Audibon said in a low voice. "Tooky offered to trade. Blinky offered to trade. Why not you? Let's hear how contemptible you can get." Audibon swung around. "I'll see you in hell first!" He came at Lennox so fast that Lennox only had time enough to grasp his arms above the elbow. They strained at each other for half a minute. "I'll see you dead and rotting first," Audibon panted. "I'll run you out of the business. I'll run you off The Rock. If she stays with you, I'll run her off too. I'll see both of you dead first." "Do you love her?" "I'll kill her!" Lennox looked deep into Audibon's drawn face. "I'm seeing you for the first time," he said. "And for the first time I'm beginning to like you." Audibon broke out of Jake's grasp and staggered back against the desk. His hand fumbled behind him, and an instant later the office door opened and his secretary entered. "Yes, Mr. Audibon?" "Lennox is leaving." "It's funny what The Rock does," Lennox said. "We ought to be friends." He turned and left. "Get me Miss Valentine at Houseways, Inc." Audibon told his secretary. She closed the door behind her. He went to the bar and had a shot. Then he opened his wallet and took out the slip of paper Macro had thrown into his waste basket. The phone buzzed. "Gabby? Roy. I want to see you tonight. It's important. No, I can't tell you on the phone. I said it was important. Yes. When? All right, I'll pick you up." He dropped the phone, went to the bar and had another shot. Then he wandered to the water color and examined the picture while his fingers mechanically smoothed Macro's slip of paper. Suddenly the dazzling smile reappeared on his lips. "Never," he said. "Never." CHAPTER XI Audibon took Gabby's hand and pressed it gallantly. Then he led her across the sidewalk to the waiting cab. He helped her in, followed, and gave the network address to the driver. "I'm sorry," he explained. "My baby's in rehearsal tonight. 'Operation Universe.' I've got to look into the studio. You don't mind?" Gabby was examining his bruised face with concern. "That happened last night, Roy?" "Yes." "That's awful.... Awful."