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Immediately, I could detect a soft, pleasant hu co Voices rose and fell as I passed small offices and cubicles and there was an occasional peal of laughter I wondered ould happen if I suddenly shouted, "Help! I’ kidnapped!" Would anyone come to my rescue? Would soive it a try, but the wo us down a narrow corridor

There was a large double door at the end of the corridor nize The woed e, richly appointed conference room It looked as if the decorator had been adrandeur, which he acco bookcase filled with leather-bound books and drawings by Picasso that could have been originals for all I knew The far as entirely glass and provided a panoramic view of don Minneapolis with the Mississippi River beyond In front of the as a glealish lords to have sat around while discussing the colonial tea tax two hundred and fifty years ago A handful of men sat at the table, four at the end farthest fro-ste silver tray in front of them A much older fifth man was seated alone at the near end of the table, his ancient hands folded on top of a black leather file folder Like the room, the inhabitants also were richly appointed, each in a suit that cost s Truth be told, I would have been impressed with both the room and the men if not for a persistent odor that for some reason reminded me of the inside of a shoe store

My escort said, "Here he is," and shoved h is enough, I decided

I pivoted swiftly on ht fist just as hard as I could into Norman’s solar plexus The shock and pain doubled him over I stepped behind hiainst his body, reached into his pocket and pulled out the 38 I shoved hiainst the table, hitting his face on the glea top, and slid to the floor

I pointed the 38 more or less at the table The fourhelpless The fifth man never stirred from his chair He looked at ed to free hiled to his feet He didn’t want to take me on, but he would have if he were told to The old ainst the far wall and sat down He fingered his nose, apparently relieved that it wasn’t broken

I held up the gun for everyone to see The four htened I liked that I broke open the wheel gun and du a production of it, then flicked the gun shut and tossed it on the table I arrangedposture in a chair opposite the oldon the ar an expression that I hoped said, "Bored"

"Mister Muehlenhaus, I presu but fit--or at least as fit as sohty years could be His face was the color of old paper and fra eyes of a ot it, yet when he s now--he became the kindly uncle who always had toys and candy hidden in his pockets for the kids

He said, "Was that necessary?"

"Given the nature of our relationship, I thought it was prudent to ain, but they didn’t seem comfortable Three of them were in their sixties and looked like the only exercise they ever engaged in alking to their liuessed late forties

One of the oldera politician’s uniform--dark blue suit, white shirt, and solid red tie He said, "What statement?"

The old man answered for me

"He’s not afraid of us"

"He should be," the politician said

I grabbed the 38 and skipped it hard across the table It bounced twice before slass shards spilled over the tray, table, and the four men They jumped to their feet and brushed at the debris like it was acid

"I’m sorry," I told Muehlenhaus "Was that crystal?"

"Your behavior is inappropriate, Mr McKenzie"