{"product_id":"2940014069052","title":"Tycoon of Crime","description":"His hands--slender, nervous hands--were turning the dials with\u003cbr\u003eswift, jerky motions. The back of his hatless head was a shiny black\u003cbr\u003eknob, plastered-down hair glistening like patent leather in the light.\u003cbr\u003eHis slender, crouched body swayed as he worked, graceful except for\u003cbr\u003eits slight jerkiness. His flashy top-coat trailed on the boarded\u003cbr\u003efloor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHarsh, raucous static coughed abruptly from a loudspeaker, rising\u003cbr\u003eand diminishing as the man turned the dials.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What's the matter, Slick? Can'tcha get it?\" came the coarse, deep\u003cbr\u003evoice of one of the two, a huge, barrel-chested hulk of a man who\u003cbr\u003eseemed almost to fill the cramped little shack. His fedora hat seemed\u003cbr\u003epygmy-sized over his wide, swart face with its small, glinting eyes,\u003cbr\u003eflattened nose, and wide gash of mouth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe took a step forward as he spoke, moving with a loping, almost\u003cbr\u003esimian gait, one arm swinging at his side, the other nestled with snug\u003cbr\u003eease around a blue steel Thompson submachine gun.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Me,\" he snarled, \"I'm gettin' tired of waitin' around here like\u003cbr\u003ethis.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Shut up!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe authoritative command came in a harsh, jerky staccato from the\u003cbr\u003eman at the radio. He turned from the set. The light fell on his face--\u003cbr\u003eolive skinned, its darkly handsome features marred by a livid, zigzag\u003cbr\u003escar which ran across his left cheek from chin to ear.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'll get it any minute now if you keep quiet.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe turned to the third man who was standing immobile as a statue,\u003cbr\u003ea faint wisp of smoke from the cigarette in his lips alone giving him\u003cbr\u003esemblance of movement. Tall, lean, he had an angular face with pale,\u003cbr\u003eexpressionless eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Luke!\" he snapped. \"You sure you tipped off the others?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWithout moving the man Luke answered: \"They'll be around on the\u003cbr\u003edot, Slick.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe patent-leather hair of the man called Slick showed again as\u003cbr\u003eonce more he bent to the dials. The static continued, grating in the\u003cbr\u003esilent shack.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen, suddenly, Slick's crouching figure tensed as through the\u003cbr\u003ecloud of that static a voice began to materialize.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Listen, guys!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSlick turned the dials more. The static diminished, the voice grew\u003cbr\u003ein volume and clarity. A crisp, incisive voice speaking rapidly, with\u003cbr\u003eclear enunciation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"--Plane Number One from Chicago, calling Newark Airport--Pat\u003cbr\u003eBentley, pilot, speaking--Plane Number One--\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOut of the night, out of the dark ether, came that call. And as\u003cbr\u003ethe three men in the shack listened with tense interest, there was a\u003cbr\u003eswift answering voice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Newark Airport. Go ahead, Bentley.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We're still over the Pennsylvania, nearing Balesville. Visibility\u003cbr\u003egetting bad up here at fifteen thousand. Been keeping altitude to\u003cbr\u003ecross the Alleghenies and to get best speed, but clouds are too thick.\u003cbr\u003eDon't worry, though. We're smack on the radio beam. Ought to make\u003cbr\u003eNewark in another hour.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSlick rose to his feet. His dark eyes glinted, and there was a\u003cbr\u003ecrooked, evil smile on his lips as he looked at his two companions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Newark in another hour, eh?\" he chortled. \"That's what he\u003cbr\u003ethinks!\"","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47178087235824,"sku":"2940014069052","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940014069052_p0.jpg?v=1763600105","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940014069052","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}