The Vampire Files, Volume Three

by P. N. Elrod

  That called for a kiss. A peck on her forehead seemed the most appropriate, so I delivered.

  She straightened my tie a little. “Now, where Mr. Archy Grant is concerned, it is strictly business. I’ll charm his socks off, but that’s as far as the undressing goes. Besides, he’s sort of engaged to Adelle Taylor.”

  That surprised me. “Engaged? Jeez, the way he treats her I thought they were married.”

  “Oh, yeah? Tell me—no, never mind. Gordy’s waving. It’s show time.”

  She didn’t really square herself as others might have done to face an important situation, but a subtle change did take place in her. I could almost feel the electricity she could generate suddenly building to charge through and around her like a small, intense storm. I don’t know what it was she did or how she knew to do it, but when she went into it she seemed bigger and brighter than before. She radiated enthusiasm and energy and people got caught up in it in spite of themselves. Some liked it and hung around like moths wanting to burn themselves up, and others gave her a wide berth, but one way or another everyone felt it.

  She was different than she’d been when I’d first met her. The potential had been there, but she was so under the control of her mob lover she didn’t dare use it except onstage. Once clear of him, and once she understood I wasn’t about to make his mistakes, she cut loose and really pressed ahead with the serious business of being herself. It was a wonderful process to watch, and God help anyone, myself included, who dared to interfere.

  Of course, I still had a protective streak toward her that was a few miles wide. I couldn’t pretend otherwise, but kept it well in check. If there was one thing she couldn’t stand, it was having anyone looking over her shoulder for her own good.

  With this in mind I hung back by half a step once we reached Gordy’s table. As host, he presented her to them. The men stood and acted suitably impressed, even Dalhauser. Adelle shook hands with a big, sincerelooking smile and complimented her on the show, giving the rest the signal to fall over themselves delivering their own praise. Ike had the most to offer, comparing her to Ginger Rogers and Carole Lombard, both of whom he just happened to know. We took our seats, and Grant spared us from another of Ike’s involved reminiscences.

  “This is a quite a change from that jungle review you did for the Top Hat Club a few months ago,” he said to Bobbi.

  “Goodness, you saw that? Thank you for remembering.”

  “Not at all. You showed then that you have the rare quality of good comedic timing; that’s something you have to be born with.”

  “So I’ve been told.”

  “After this club date, what are your future plans?”

  “That depends on what my agent turns up for me.” It was her standard reply for anyone who bothered to ask. This time she did not follow it up with further information, such as what she expected would come her way. That was to be Grant’s job if things worked right.

  “What would you like to do?” he pressed.

  “Anything that pays.”

  “Well, now . . .” he began, doing an Eddie Cantor roll of the eyes.

  She picked up on it and laughed. “Anything with singing and dancing, I mean.”

  “You are versatile.” He milked it for exactly two seconds, then damped it down to a more serious level. “Would you be interested in singing on my show?”

  “Who wouldn’t, Mr. Grant?” She beamed him her sunniest smile.

  “Archy, please. If we’re going to work together it has to be first names all around. Isn’t that right, Adelle?”

  “Perfectly right, darling,” she said, unconcernedly taking a cigarette from a gold case with her initials engraved on it. Gordy, sitting between her and Grant, offered her a light.

  “So, Bobbi, you think you could have something ready by this Tuesday? I know it’s very short notice, but—”

  “Oh, I could do it, but I don’t know how to work it into my schedule. Your show’s on at the same time I’m doing mine.”

  “You don’t have to sing in the studio. We could set something up to broadcast right here from the club. With Gordy’s permission,” he added.

  Gordy gave a slow nod. “It’d be good publicity for everyone.”

  Things moved pretty fast after that; even though I was stone-cold sober, I couldn’t keep up with it. I had better luck paying attention to what was going on beneath the negotiations and planning.

  It seemed clear to me that Grant was attracted to Bobbi, but smart enough not to move on her in an obvious way. All he really had to do was play up his brand of charm, flash the perfect teeth, and be vastly amused at anything witty she said, using his familiar laugh. It went without saying that he was very famous and in a position to do her a lot of professional good. Most other girls would have been dazzled and eager, but Bobbi wasn’t of their number. If any dazzling was to be done, that was her job. Ike was thoroughly caught up in her spell, and even Dalhauser looked more animated than was usual for him.

  Throughout it all she would occasionally slip her hand under the table, find my knee, and give it an affectionate squeeze. It was an unconscious gesture on her part, for her concentration was on Grant, but because it was unconscious it meant more to me than anything she could have done on purpose.

  I also got the impression that Grant was out to annoy Adelle in a not-too-subtle way. She tried hard to pretend not to notice anything. Gordy wasn’t blind and leaned over to whisper something in her ear, which resulted in a smile from her. Not a big one, but after that some of the stiffness left her shoulders. When the business talk died down Gordy signaled someone behind me, and one of the staff brought over a tray stacked high with fancy sandwiches and caviar. Someone else delivered more drinks. Bobbi had another grape juice, this time chilled.

  “Aren’t you eating, Mr. Fleming?” asked Adelle, sliding black fish eggs onto a cracker. I wondered if it had been baked by Miss Sommerfeld’s family.

  “I had something earlier.” Actually, I’d fed heavily at the Stockyards last night, but she didn’t need to know that. Bobbi’s hand happened to be on my knee again. She gave me a playful pinch.

  “That’s a very smart outfit, Adelle,” she said. “Is it a Schiaparelli?”

  “No, a Banton. Is yours a Greer?”

  “An Adrian.”

  This set off an intense discussion as they batted names like Chanel, Irene, Orry-Kelly, West, and Tree back and forth. The men, myself included, looked either bewildered, bored, or blank. The end result for the women was a date for lunch and shopping tomorrow.

  One of the braver chorus girls, egged on by her giggling sisters, approached Grant and asked for an autograph. He flashed her his public smile and troweled on the charm. This brought more girls, one by one, all smiling, maybe hoping to do what Bobbi had just accomplished. Things were too crowded, and the stink of the food was getting to me. Bobbi still had more talking to do, so I quietly excused myself and slipped away to more open spaces. Gordy managed to do the same thing and joined me.

  “That went like you wrote the dialogue,” I said, straddling a chair up on the empty second tier.

  “Better than planned,” he agreed, leaning on a rail to watch things a few steps below.

  “What if Grant hadn’t been interested in putting Bobbi on the show?”

  “Then I’d drop a word in Ike’s ear so he could suggest that Grant get himself interested.”

  “Ike doesn’t strike me as the kind who would have much influence with too many people.”

  “He’s got plenty.”

  “How so?”

  “Ike’s cash and connections is what got Grant started back in New York in the first place. They been thick for years.”

  “So that’s why Grant puts up with him.”

  “Don’t underestimate Ike. He’s starstruck and likes dropping names, but he knows how to do tough.”

  “And I should be friends with this guy?”

  “He’s a handy shortcut to a lot of talent.”

  “Ho
w much of that talent owes him?”

  “A few, but not in money. For them, he mostly does favors.”

  “When he’s not setting up crap games?”

  “You got it, kid.”

  “What kind of favors?”

  “Nothing too illegal.”

  That covered a wide range of possibilities “Such as . . . ?”

  He thought a minute. “There was some Broadway singer playing around with his costar in a show, only his wife in California don’t know it. She comes to New York for a surprise visit. Ike got wind of it, got to the hotel first, and had the girl dressed and down the back stairs as the wife was getting out of the elevator. It saved the production from looking for a new leading man.”

  “So he and the costar are Ike’s good friends now?”

  He opened his hand, palm out, in a “what do you think?” gesture.

  “Did Bobbi know you planned to have Ike promote her with Grant?”

  “I told her. She didn’t like it.”

  “But she went ahead anyway.”

  “She told me if she didn’t get a job on Grant’s show on her own, then I was to tell Ike to forget it.”

  “Would you have?”

  He grimaced and finally nodded. “You gotta be honest with a gal like her. On the other hand, Ike would have gone ahead and told Grant anyway. Just look at him. He’s goofy for her.”

  “That would let you off the hook.”

  There was a look of definite satisfaction on his mug. “I win both ways.”

  “So does Bobbi.” Of course, singing “Chinatown, My Chinatown” on Grant’s show was probably not going to make her an overnight sensation. She’d had more to do on another national broadcast last fall and nothing had come of it. But with Grant backing her she might get more recognition than before. I could hope so.

  Down on the dance floor some of the band members brought their instruments out and started an impromptu session. They’d been fed and watered and this time were playing for the love of their craft, not the money.

  “That’s good,” I remarked. “Seeing ’em do that.”

  “How so?”

  “It means they like it here, feel comfortable enough to hang around to have some fun. It didn’t used to be that way.” The atmosphere of the club was different with Gordy running things. There was still an air of risk about the joint, but now it was more in the line of forbidden fruit, rather than the imminent danger of getting killed.

  “I guess,” he said, watching the dance floor. Some of the men were leading girls onto it. Those girls left over danced with each other.

  “What guess? It’s all your doing. This has become a class place. It’s because of this club I want to try my hand at having one.”

  “Huh. It’s because of Bobbi.”

  No disagreements there. If not for her, a lot of things would be different for me, and Gordy wouldn’t still be alive. We both owed her.

  “She won’t be doing clubs forever,” he added.

  “So you’ve said.” I felt a tug inside. Sadness and pride rolled around in my gut. I loved her, and knew she loved me, but if she was going places and moving up, I couldn’t hold her back. To do so would be to lose her.

  Archy Grant had Bobbi on his arm and was taking her down to the dance floor. I kept a wary eye on things, but he behaved himself and didn’t hold her too closely. Good. He was either too smart to try anything with her, or had determined that she was unavailable. Or maybe he’d wait until her inconvenient boyfriend was out of sight. If he thought by having her on his show he could expect her to be grateful beyond just saying thank you, he had another think coming.

  At the table Adelle kept Gil Dalhauser company; Ike was busy dancing with a chorus girl.

  “Is Dalhauser in their group?” I asked.

  “In a left-handed sort of way.”

  “I heard he’s in the trucking unions.”

  “He works one. Coal hauling. Almost legit. His company sponsors Archy’s show. Ike was the one to talk Gil into backing the Variety Hour.”

  That explained all the coal commercials during the station breaks. “Everyone in each other’s pockets.”

  “It’s the way things work, kid.”

  “Dalhauser don’t look like he’s having much of a good time.”

  “He don’t have to. He’s just keeping an eye on his assets.”

  “Then he must be blind. A woman like Adelle Taylor sitting right there and he looks like he swallowed a bad lemon.”

  “He’s not moving in on Grant’s territory, is all.”

  But Grant didn’t act like he cared and seemed oblivious to everything but Bobbi as he floated across the floor with her. I couldn’t blame him much, she was a knockout and then some. Adelle’s gaze strayed to him now and then, but not in an obvious way. She would make an extraordinary poker player with that air of supreme indifference, except that a sharp person could see she was wearing it like a fur coat in the summer. All I saw in her eyes was pain.

  “Later,” said Gordy, excusing himself. He went back to the table and spoke to Adelle. She smiled up at him in a brittle way and took his offered arm. The music was down to a slow waltz, which suited him. For a big man he moved well, but anything faster might have strained his dignity. He led her around the floor, managing to look graceful rather than ponderous. Adelle’s tension eased, and by the end of the dance she was laughing again. Who’da thought he had it in him?

  I thought of cutting in on Bobbi and Grant, but held off. She looked past him and caught my eye, but only winked and smiled. If she’d wanted a rescue she would have mouthed the word “help” and made a face.

  Which left me at loose ends, but not bored. From this perch it was like watching a fishbowl. People were still grazing at the food table and making serious headway in exhausting the supply of booze. This inspired louder-than-normal talk and laughter, but no one seemed to mind, even the bouncers looked relaxed, and a few of them had already paired off with some of the chorus. One little redhead was receiving more than her share of attention from two of the bigger guys and seemed to be having trouble making up her mind.

  When the waltz ended and the band started up with something faster, Gordy escorted Adelle toward the wings. I wondered if he was going to give her a tour of the renovated backstage or give her the business. Maybe both. I wished him luck.

  Ike LaCelle cut in on Grant and took Bobbi away for a few turns. Some of the extra girls threw hopeful looks at Grant, but he headed back to the table to finish his drink. He nodded at Dalhauser, who had not moved, and said something to him. Dalhauser’s eyes flashed once in my direction, then moved on. Grant was a little too careful about not glancing my way.

  I could figure that Grant was wondering who the hell I was in the setup of things, and any interest he had in me was linked to his interest in Bobbi. Dalhauser couldn’t tell him much, only that I was a regular at the joint and for reasons unknown could see Gordy anytime I wanted. There were plenty of other wiseguys who would like to know how I managed that.

  Fine, let ’em all guess. No one would believe the truth of it, anyway.

  I saw Bobbi’s face as she peered past Ike LaCelle’s shoulder. He wasn’t doing the fox-trot so much as dragging her around in time to the music. She raised both eyebrows high and showed her teeth at me in a kind of sickly grimace.

  Jack-to-the-rescue time.

  The song ended just as I made it down there; my cutting-in operation went so smoothly Ike didn’t know what hit him. Before he could get wise, one of the hardier—or more-determined-to-further-her-career—girls found her way into his grip and off they went. Between the two of them I wasn’t sure who was trying to lead.

  “You drifted clear in a quiet way,” said Bobbi, melting into my arms as we made slow turns.

  “From the table? Well, yeah. You and Adelle started speaking in that foreign language.”

  “On the fashion designers?”

  “Sounded like a bunch of passwords to get into a speakeasy to me.” I led
her gently to the left, looking over her head. Grant and Dalhauser were still talking. “How did you get on with Archy?”

  “Do you mean did he ask me for a date?” She giggled at my reaction. “Yes, he did.”

  “And him engaged and all. He should be ashamed of himself.”

  “I don’t think he knows the meaning of the word, but he did ask very nicely.”

  “What was your answer?”

  “That I don’t date guys I’m working for, and I gave Gordy as an example.”

  “Grant might think you’ll date him after the singing job is finished.”

  “No, he was smart enough to get my meaning. After that he changed subjects. We talked about his work, then about my work, and eventually he brought it around to talking about you.”

  “He brought it around?”

  “Took him a while, but he managed. Once I was onto his game it was quite entertaining to see him play.”

  “What’d you tell him?”

  “Only that I thought you were terrific, but he wasn’t interested in that.”

  “What then?”

  “Where you came from, what you do. I said you were a writer from Ohio; it seemed the most harmless answer.”

  “Don’t bet on it.”

  “I don’t think he believed me, anyway. Did I do wrong?”

  “Never. He probably thinks I’m a jobless gigolo living off my rich and famous girlfriend.”

  “I’m not rich and famous.”

  “Not yet, you aren’t. After next week, who knows?”

  “I can hope so. You going to tell him different?”

  “No, if he’s so interested in my life, he can ask me for himself.”

  “Maybe he wants to date you,” she joked.

  I gave her a cockeyed look. “Then you should introduce Archy to your costar.”

  “Not necessary. He does all right for himself.” She nodded toward the remnants of the band. “Bill” was crooning a love song, but directing it toward the trombone player, not the dancers.

  “Are they. . . ?”

  “Yes, dear. That’s why they didn’t want to go home. Lonely is lonely no matter who you are.”

  She had that pegged solid. I held her closer and counted my blessings. Somehow they all had to do with Bobbi. “This shopping with Adelle, is it part of your business deal?”