Warren Murphy: The Head Men

"How much was the fare?" Smith asked.

"Chiun, how much was the cab?" "Two hundred dollars," Chiun said.

"C'mon, Chiun, you could take a cab to New York for two hundred dollars. You only went to the Capitol."

"I was overcharged," Chiun said. "Everyone takes advantage of my basic good and trusting nature."

"Smitty, he says it cost him two hundred dollars but he's just trying to shake you down," Remo said.

"Tell him I'll give him a hundred," Smith said.

"He'll give you a hundred, Chiun," said Remo.

"Tell him in gold," said Chiun. "No paper."

"In gold, Smitty," said Remo.

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"Tell him okay. By the way, how did he know there was going to be a bomb set off?"

"Easy. Walgreen was killed by a bomb. It was a dry run. Chiun figured it would be the same. A bomb planted long before the threat was made. Put it in a place where the President would be vulnerable. You sent over that Warren Commission report and Chiun read it. He said the Secret Service stupidly told assassins how to act. The report says the Secret Service, in cases of danger to the President, first protects him and then moves him away to the nearest safe place. That obviously had to be right inside the Capitol."

"Obviously," Smith said drily. "If it was so obvious, why didn't I think of it? Or the Secret Service?"

"That's easy," said Remo. "Why?" said Smith. "You're not the Master of Sinanju." "No, that's true," Smith said after a pause. "Anyway, the President would like to thank both of you."

"The President says thanks, Chiun," Remo called out.

"I do not want and will not accept his thanks," Chiun said.

"Chiun doesn't want his thanks," Remo told Smith.

"Why not?"

"The way he figures it the President owes him a new robe. The other one was ripped in the blast."

"We'll get him a new robe." "Chiun, Smitty says he'll get you a new robe. How much was that one worth ?" "Nine hundred dollars," said Chiun.

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"He says nine hundred dollars," said Remo. "Tell him I'll give him a hundred." "He'll give you a hundred, Chiun," said Remo. "I will take it just this one time. But then no more Mister Nice Guy," Chiun said.

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