Chapter 51
Mamie was just coming from the kitchen, her shopping bag in hand. "I was jes goin' to the store. Anything I can get for you, Miz Huggins?"
"No," Margaret said. "I'm all right. I'm just going up to bed and lie down for a while."
They hadn't driven for more than a few blocks when George, the driver, glanced back at Daniel. "There's a car following us, Mr. Huggins."
"Sure?" Daniel asked.
George glanced in the rearview mirror. "Positive. The blue Dodge. There are two men in the front seat. They picked me up when I came out of the garage this morning."
Daniel looked out the rear window. Traffic was heavy behind them, and he didn't see the car. "Where?"
"About seven cars back," George said.
Daniel saw them now. It was an ordinary-looking car. He could make out two men in the front seat but couldn't tell what they looked like. "Recognize any of them?" he asked.
George shook his head. "Never saw any of them before."
"Did you come right to my house from the garage?"
"No, sir," George answered. "I had to pick up Mr.
474.
I.
Gibbons from the hotel first and take him to the Teamster office for a meeting with Mr. Beck. I dropped him off, then came to get you."
Daniel nodded. It was a Teamster car and driver. Only normal that they take care of their own first. Hoffa had arranged for the car and driver to be available to him when he needed it. ''Who do you think they are?"
''I don't know," George said. "Could be cops. They use crummy cars like that."
"Did you mention it to Mr. Gibbons?"
"No. I wasn't sure then. It wasn't until after I dropped him off and they still followed me that I was sure."
"Do you carry a gun?" Daniel asked.
"No, sir."
"Who else knew you were picking me up this morning?"
"Everybody," George answered. "The drivers' a.s.signments are posted on the bulletin board the night before."
Daniel looked back through the window. The Dodge was still there about five cars behind them. He turned back in his seat. "Jump the next red light and make a right turn. Then duck up the first alley you come to. Stop there and lie down on the front seat."
George glanced back in time to see Daniel taking the gun from his shoulder holster. His voice went dry. "Do you think there'll be any shooting?"
Daniel checked the cylinder of the revolver. "I don't think so, but I learned a long time ago not to take any chances."
George's hands tightened grimly on the wheel. They went three more blocks before George had his chance. He shot through the red light and made a sharp right. Daniel, watching through the rear window, didn't see the blue car as they turned again into an alley. Halfway through to the next street, George stopped the car. He turned to look back.
*'Get down/' Daniel said sharply.
George disappeared, and Daniel looked back at the street from the window. About a minute later, the blue car sped past the alley.
"Okay," Daniel said. *'Let's s.h.a.g a.s.s outta here and get me to my office."
George spun the wheels of the car getting out of the alley as Daniel returned the gun to its holster. "Jesus!" George said.
"Do you have any other a.s.signments after you drop me off?" Daniel said.
"I was told to stay with you all day."
"No. Drop me off and then go back to your garage. As soon as you get there, call and let me know if they're still following you."
George glanced in the mirror. "They're behind us again."
"I expected them," Daniel said. "I just wanted to make sure of what they were doing." He caught a glimpse of George's worried face in the mirror. "Nothing to be afraid of," he said rea.s.suringly. "They know we're on to them now. They won't make any trouble."
The car stopped in front of the two-story taxpayer building that housed the offices. Without looking around, Daniel walked into the building and went directly to his office. He was in the midst of his morning mail when the call came.
"This is George, Mr. Huggins. I'm at the garage. They didn't follow me."
"Okay, George. Thanks."
"Is there anything else you want me to do?"
"No, George. I'll call you if there's anything. Thanks again." He pressed a b.u.t.ton on his phone. A moment later, Moses and Jack were in his office. "There's a blue Dodge sedan parked somewhere on the street outside with two men in it. They've been tailing me since I left the house this morning."
"Do you know who they are?" Moses asked, concern in his voice.
*'I haven't the faintest idea. Have someone get the license-plate number for us, then see if we can find out who the car belongs to through our friends in the police department."
'Til do it
"No. If they know me, they know you. Send one of the office boys or a stenographer. Tell them not to be obvious. Just walk by and get the number. That's all.'
"Okay," Moses said. He left the office.
Daniel turned to Jack. "What's our position if we're questioned on any of our clients' affairs?"
Jack kx)ked at him. "If they have exercised proper legal procedures and you're required to testify under oath, you have no choice but to answer the questions."
Daniel was silent.
"You don't enjoy the protection of a lawyer-client or even a doctor-patient relations.h.i.+p, if that's what you're thinking," he added.
"What about files that have been entrusted to us by our subscribers?"
"If they're subpoenaed, you have to turn them over."
Daniel nodded and stared thoughtfully down at his desk. "Better get everything we have in the place that comes from outside and make arrangements to get them back to whichever unions are concerned. I want nothing in our files by tonight except our own papers."
"You're making it tough on us," Jack said. "We need a lot of those papers so that we can do our job."
"I don't give a d.a.m.n," Daniel said. "I'm not going to be the back door for any son of a b.i.t.c.h that wants to get to one of our subscribers. You get those files out of here. Tomorrow we'll start planning small task forces to work in the subscribers' own offices. It may be a little inconvenient, but we'll get the work done."
*'It's also going to cost money," Jack said.
Daniel looked at him. "Can you tell me what doesn't?"
Moses came back into the office. ''We know who the car belongs to. We didn't have to call the police. It's stamped right on the plates. U.S. Gov't. G.S.A."
Daniel looked up at him. ''Know anybody over at General Services who will tell us what department the car is a.s.signed to?"
"I think so," Moses said. He picked up the phone and dialed rapidly. He spoke into the telephone in a quiet voice, then covered the mouthpiece with his hand. "He's checking for us." A moment later, he said, "Thank you" and put down the telephone. "It's signed out to the McClellan committee," he announced.
The Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field was the full name. "Okay," Daniel said. "At least we know now what we're dealing with. There's only two unions they're targeting. The United Auto Workers and the Teamsters. And since we're not signed with the U.A.W., we have to a.s.sume they're tying us into the Teamsters." He looked up at Jack. "You make sure that the Teamsters' files are the first you get out of here."
be profitable, are beginning to smell a little bit. This could freshen the air for them/'
"It's very interesting," Jack said cautiously.
''I don't know," Moses said cautiously. "It could change the whole nature of our operation. We move from the position of adviser to manager."
"I can't see anything wrong in that," Daniel said. * It's consistent with our purpose. To provide better security for the union man."
"It could be tricky," Moses said. "We don't know anything about running a fund like that."
"We hire experts. There isn't a stockbroker in the world who wouldn't jump at a chance to come in on a deal like this. Right now we have over three million union members in unions affiliated with us. Just one hundred dollars from each member gives us three hundred million dollars to invest. You don't have to be an expert to know that if you invest only in blue-chip stocks, you'll average an eight-percent return on the money. That's twenty-four million dollars a year, and if our service fees for management are only half the commercial rate, we'll be earning three million dollars a year."
"That's almost twice what we're collecting in affiliation dues right now," Moses said. "And we don't have to go around hat in hand."
"You're beginning to get the idea," Daniel said. He picked up the report on the desk. "Jack, you get started on this right away. I want to know everything we need to set up shop."
"Right."
He turned to Moses. "Get the statistical department to make up a list of members of each affiliated local. Names and home addresses."
"We'll have to get that from the unions," Moses said. "Right now we collect on the per capita reports sent us by the unions."
"Get it, then."
"What wUl I tell them?" Moses asked. **You know how touchy they are about giving out members' names.'*
*'Tell them we're doing a study on members' Uving conditions. Anything. Just figure out something, but get the information.''
''Okay."
The two men got to then-feet. Jack gestured at the report. ''Do you want me to send that on to Hofifa*^"
"No," Daniel said. "I think Fll deliver this one myself."
"Something's on your mind," Hofifa said shrewdly. "Otherwise you wouldn't have come down here yourself just to bring these."
"That's right," Daniel said. "In addition to our recommendations in that folder, I want you to invest fifteen million dollars in a mutual fund that we're starting."
Hofifa looked at him. "What makes you think I'm gonna give you money to start up a mutual fiind when we can start our own?"
"Good pubUc relations." He smiled. "It will show that your concern for labor transcends jurisdictional lines. That you're concerned not only with the welfare of the Teamsters but with all union members equally."
'^What kmd of c.r.a.p is that?" Hoffa asked.
Daniel laughed. "Want the bottom line?"
Hoffa noaaea. "You bet your a.s.s I do."
"For the last two weeks I've been under surveillance by agents of the McClellan committee. Our friends up on the Hill tell me the reason they're watching me is that they're after you and they figure our a.s.sociation will lead them to something they can use against you. Any day now they're going to come marchmg in here to look over your records.'^ "What the heU are they looking for?"
"I don't know. And I have a hunch they don't know either. They just figure with the kind of money pouring in, there has to be something illegal going on."
"They ain't gonna find nothin' in my files."
"They won't in mine either," Daniel said. "I had every piece of paper I received from the Teamsters sent back to you two weeks ago."
"How come n.o.body told me about it?"
"I don't know. I had everything sent back to Gibbons."
Hoffa reached for the telephone. "I'll get Gibbons in here."
"That can wait," Daniel said. "It's not importctut now. You better do what I did. Get hold of your legal department and find out exactly what rights you have if they do come in."
Hoffa stared at him. Then he nodded. "Yeah."
Daniel was silent.
"Who else is putting money into this mutual fund you're starting?" Hoffa asked.
"The U.M.W. is coming in for five million."
"Then why should I kick in fifteen?"
"Because you're three times as rich as they are."
Hoffa laughed. "You lay it right on the line, Big Dan." He opened the report and glanced through the pages. "What makes you think that will be a better investment than any of these you recommend?"
"I don't know whether it will be better. I only know it will be safer. Every deal in there involves a degree of speculation. You might make a lot of money, or you might blow it. We're staying in blue-chips. Nothing fancy-just straight-line steady growth. You might not make as much money, but you won't get hurt."