A Gambling Man by David Baldacci (best short books to read txt) 📗

convertible cabriolet.”

Callahan gushed, “It…it looks like it’s floating on air.”

Archer eyed the long hood, which ended in a shiny grille that ran from top to bottom on the front of the vehicle like a knight’s metal vestments. Its front and rear fenders looked like waves crashing on a beach and enormous teardrop-shaped pearls, respectively. There were slashes of chrome trim on the sides and running along the bottom of the chassis. It rode so low that he could see only the bare bottoms of the whitewall tires.

“It looks…more like a dream than a car,” said Archer quietly.

Lester said, “It ain’t no dream, buddy. This baby weighs three thousand pounds, has a twelve-cylinder all-aluminum, four-point-five-liter engine, triple overhead cam, three downdraft Solex carburetors, and a four-speed transmission, with a top speed of around a hundred and fifteen miles an hour.”

“Holy hell,” said Callahan. “Just the car you want if you’re robbing a bank.”

This comment made Howells and Archer exchange a startled look.

“Figoni and Falaschi?” said Archer.

Lester replied, “Figoni and Falaschi were the designers of the car. Delahaye was an engineer and he didn’t have an in-house body shop. He built the mechanics of the car and left the body design to coachbuilders, like Figoni and Falaschi. They make really pretty cars. They’re I-talians.”

Howells said, “So what say you, Archer?”

Archer pointed at the front seat. “Well, for starters, the steering wheel’s on the wrong side.”

“No, the steering wheel is on the right side for the simple fact that it was built for an Englishman, and that is where a steering wheel is located over there,” said Howells.

“I’m not English,” said Archer. “And I’m over here, not there.”

“So do you want it or not?” said Howells.

“I can’t decide on buying a car I haven’t driven.”

“Fair enough. Lester, the key?”

Lester slipped a key off a hook on the wall and held it out to Archer. “You ever driven anything like this?”

“Hell, I’ve never seen anything like this, pal. What a sheltered life I’ve led.”

“You want me to drive it out of the garage for you, so you won’t bang nothing up?”

Archer reached out and took the key from him. “I got it.”

Lester held his hand up without the key for longer than was necessary. For a moment, Archer thought the hand would change to a fist and be swung at him. With his free hand he felt for the aluminum knuckles in his pocket. He would have preferred a howitzer.

But Lester shrugged, lowered his arm, and said, “You break it you bought it, mister.”

“Let’s go, Liberty,” said Archer.

“What, me?”

“I don’t see anybody else named Liberty hanging around.”

They climbed into the car, and Lester pushed the other door open, providing a wide space for the Delahaye to roll through.

Archer put the key in the ignition and turned it. Then he hit the starter button, and the car purred to life with suppressed power.

“Sounds like a lion yawning,” said Callahan.

Howells grinned. “This beast hasn’t been out of its cage. It needs to run free.”

Archer worked the clutch and put the car in gear using the tiny gearshift that was mounted on the steering column. The steering wheel was the same color as the car. It was like he was holding a circle of fire in his hands. He was relieved that there was no grinding sound as he geared up, and they pulled through the opening. They passed the other humbled cars, which seemed to bow to the Delahaye like a pride to its king. As they rolled through the double doors, Archer turned on the headlights; they overcame the darkness with stunning visibility.

Howells and Lester followed them out.

“Which way should we go?” Archer asked.

“Well, first things first. Move over, gal,” said Howells to Callahan.

“What?” said Callahan, staring up wide-eyed at the old man.

“You think I’m going to let you ride off into the night all by your lonesome in the most beautiful car ever built before giving me a dime for it?”

“I’m no car thief,” said Archer.

“Glad you think so. I’m not convinced myself.”

“I can ride with them,” said Lester.

“Hell, Lester,” said Howells. “I don’t think you would fit in there if it was just you.”

Callahan slid over tight to Archer, and Howells climbed into the car, crowding the other two. “Now go west, young man,” he said pointing to the left. “That way.”

Archer pulled onto the road and pressed down the gas.

Howells pursed his lips. “Come on, Archer. Let it rip.”

Archer mashed the pedal down.

The acceleration was immediate, popping their heads back and exhilaratingly so.

“My goodness,” exclaimed Callahan. “If this car was a man, I think I’d propose.”

Chapter 8

SO HOW MUCH ARE YOU ASKING FOR IT?” Archer said as they spun around a tight curve in the road before reaching a long straightaway.

Howells scratched his cheek and then smoothed down both ends of his white mustache. “Like I said, there’s only five known One Sixty-Fives around. And a fellow in Beverly Hills, California, just bought one for $12,000.”

“Christ Almighty,” yelled Callahan.

In her agitation she hit Archer’s arm, and he nearly drove the car off the road and into some cacti. Archer quickly righted the vehicle and slowed. He looked down at his hands holding the wheel of a $12,000 car. That amount of money was unimaginable to someone like him. It was far more than a house cost. To his mind, it was far more than anything should cost.

“I don’t have $12,000, Bobby H. And I don’t know anyone who does besides Rockefeller, and I don’t know him.”

“Well, I didn’t say that’s what I was asking for it. I was just conveying some information to lend you some perspective.”

“Well, you’d have to lend me the twelve grand too.”

“You said your gambling debts were $1,850,” Callahan reminded him.

“Well, yes, but I can’t let it go for just that. I’m many things, but an idiot is not one of them.”

“Then I’m not your man.”

“Now hold on, Archer, I’m in a bit of a dilemma, obviously, so let’s just have a discussion on what might be