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From an inside pocket Chelsea withdrew a folded sheet of Amazing Kingdom stationery。 He handed it across the desk to Francis X。 Kingsbury； who set aside both the handkerchief and the golf ball in order to read。
〃It's a press release；〃 Chelsea said。
〃I see what it is。 Horseshit is what it is。〃 Kingsbury scanned it several times； including once from the bottom up。 His mouth moved in twitchy circles； like a mule chewing a carrot。
〃You ought to consider it；〃 Winder advised him； 〃if you want to stay out of jail。〃
〃Oh； so now it's blackmail？〃
〃No； sir； it's the cold fucking hand of fate。〃
Nervously Kingsbury fingered the bridge of his nose。 〃The hell is your angle； son？〃
〃You arranged an elaborate scientific fraud for the purposes of profit。 An ingenious fraud； to be sure； but a felony nonetheless。 Two hundred thousand is just about enough to interest the U。S。 Attorney's Office。〃
Kingsbury shrugged in mockery。 〃Is that； what； like the end of the world？〃
〃I forgot；〃 Winder said； 〃you're an expert on indictments。 Aren't you； Frankie？〃
Kingsbury turned color。
〃Frankie King；〃 said Winder。 That's your real name； in case you don't remember。〃
Kingsbury shrank into the chair。 Winder turned to Charles Chelsea and said； 〃I think somebody's finally in the mood to talk。〃
〃Can I leave？〃
〃Certainly； Charlie。 And thanks for a terrific job on the publicity release。〃
〃Yeah； right。〃
〃I mean it；〃 Winder said。 〃It's seamless。〃
Chelsea eyed him warily。 〃You're just being sarcastic。〃
〃No； it was perfect。 You've got a definite flair。〃
〃Thanks； Joe。 And I mean it； too。〃
The rescue of Francis Kingsbury was further delayed when a disturbance broke out near the front gate of the Amazing Kingdom； a tense and potentially violent dispute over the distribution of prizes； specifically a Nissan 300…Z。
The security…guard uniform is what gave Pedro Luz away。 As he crutched toward Kingsbury's office； he was spotted and intercepted by a flying wedge of disgruntled customers。 Something about the Summerfest contest being rigged。 Pedro Luz insisted he didn't know about any damn contest； but the customers were loud and insistent。 They led the security man back to the stage； where a short plump tourist named Rossiter had just been presented the keys to the sleek new sports car。 Draped around Mr。 Rossiter's neck was a shiny streamer that said： 〃OUR FIVE…MILLIONTH SPECIAL GUEST！〃 In response to questions from a tuxedoed emcee； Mr。 Rossiter said he was visiting the Amazing Kingdom with his wife and mother…in…law。 He said it was only his second trip to Florida。
Mr。 Rossiter gave the car keys to his wife； who squeezed her torso into the driver's seat and happily posed for pictures。 Several persons in the crowd began to hiss and boo。 Somebody threw a cup of frozen yogurt； which splattered against one of the car's wire wheels。
This was too much for Pedro Luz's jangled； hormone…flooded sensory receptors。 He grabbed the microphone from the emcee and said； 〃Next person that throws food； I break their fucking spine。〃
Instantly a lull came over the mob。 Pedro Luz said； 〃Now somebody explain what's going on。〃
At first no one spoke up； but there was a good bit of whispering about the bloody purple knots on the security chief's forehead。 Finally a man in the crowd pointed at the Rossiters and shouted； 〃They cheated； that's what！〃
Another male voice： 〃He cut in line！〃
Pedro Luz said； 〃Jesus； I can't believe you people。〃
He turned to the Rossiters。 〃Is it true？ Did you cut in line？〃
〃No； Officer；〃 Mr。 Rossiter answered。 〃We got here first； fair and square。〃
Mrs。 Rossiter popped her head from the car and said； 〃They're just a bunch of sore losers。〃 Mrs。 Rossiter's mother； a stubby woman wearing sandals and a Petey Possum T…shirt； said she'd never seen such rude people in all her life。
Pedro Luz didn't know what to do next； for one pleasantly deranged moment； he considered throwing the Rossiters off the stage and claiming the 300…Z for himself。 Daring anyone to try to take it away from him。 Then Charles Chelsea materialized and Pedro Luz gratefully surrendered the microphone。 His ears buzzed and his head clanged and all he really wanted to do was limp to the gymnasium and pump some iron。
〃Ladies and gentlemen；〃 Chelsea intoned； 〃please settle down。〃 He looked smooth and confident in a crisp blue oxford shirt and a wine…colored tie。 He looked as if he could talk his way out of practically anything。
〃I've reviewed the tapes from our security cameras；〃 Chelsea told the crowd； 〃and whether you like it or not； Mr。 Rossiter and his family were clearly the first ones through the turnstiles this morning…〃
〃But he threatened me！〃 yelled a teenager in the crowd。 〃I was here first but he said he'd kill me！〃
A middle…aged woman in a straw Orky hat hollered： 〃Me； too！ And I was ahead of that kid…〃
The crowd surged toward the stage until Pedro Luz drew his revolver and aimed it toward the sky。 Seeing the gun； the tourists grew quiet and rippled back a few steps。
〃Thank you；〃 Chelsea said to Pedro Luz。
〃I got an emergency。〃
〃You can go now。 I'll be fine。〃
〃You need a gun？〃
〃No；〃 said Chelsea； 〃but thanks just the same。〃
〃You got something against fun。〃
Francis Kingsbury made it an indictment。 〃What； you got something against little children？ Little cutey pies having a good time？〃
Joe Winder said： 〃You can keep the park； Frankie。 The park is already built。 It's the golf resort that's eighty…sixed； as of today。〃
〃Oh； ho；〃 said Kingsbury。 〃So you got something against golf？〃
〃That's the deal。 Take it or leave it。〃
〃You think you can scare me？ Hell； I got gangsters shooting at me。 Professionals。〃 Kingsbury cut loose an enormous sneeze； and promptly plugged his nostrils with the handkerchief。
Winder said； 〃I was hoping to appeal to the pragmatic side of your nature。〃
〃Listen； I know how to handle this situation from up North。 The way to handle it is； I cut the wop bastards in。 The Zubonis； I'm talking about。 I cut 'em in on Falcon Trace； you'd be surprised how fast they let bygones be bygones。 You watch what good friends we are once I start using Zuboni roofers； Zuboni drywall； Zuboni plumbing。〃 Kingsbury looked positively triumphant。 〃Blackmail； my ass。 The fuck are you going to blackmail me with now？〃
〃I believe you misunderstood the offer；〃 Joe Winder said。 〃I'm not planning to go to the mob。 I'm planning to go to the media。〃
Defiantly Kingsbury snatched the hanky from his nose。 〃Jesus； you're pissing me off。〃 He picked up the phone and manded the operator to connect him with Security。 Joe Winder took two steps toward the desk； raised his paw and shot the telephone console to pieces。
Impressed； Kingsbury probed at the tangle of wires and broken plastic。 〃Goddamn lunatic；〃 he said。
Winder sat down and tucked the gun into the furry folds of the costume。 〃Think in terms of headlines；〃 he said。 〃Imagine what'll happen when the newspapers find out the Amazing Kingdom of Thrills is run by a Mafia snitch。 You'll be famous； Frankie。 Wouldn't you love to be interviewed by Connie Chung？〃
〃Let me just say； fuck you。〃
Winder frowned。 〃Don't make me