Chicago Boogie Woogie
Page 21
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Alfano sat alone at a small table near the stage at D’s Café Delite. The same blind kid and his sister from Jackson, Mississippi, had just finished their second set. The last song, “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” hung in the air along with the thick smoke of a hundred cigarettes. Deacon Smith stood at the door welcoming folks and turning back the riffraff.
It had been a week since the sharpshooter next to Sergeant McDunnah had taken out Henry Bucci at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery. Bucci had known what was coming. It had been all on his terms. Alfano tried to dredge up a tear for any of them; none came.
McDunnah was able to confirm that during the past eleven years, fourteen killings could be tied to the gun that was vacationing in California. Due to Bucci’s skill, all were bad guys, not one innocent bystander. The mayor was pleased. Again his guy Alfano had solved crimes, tied up the loose ends, helped to make good the mayor’s promise to clean up the city. Alfano poured another glass of Canadian Club and grimly saluted himself in the back mirror of the bar.
Detective Suarez had called him to say that Maxime Durant had been formally charged by the DA for the premeditated murders of Hines Melnik, Adam Roberts, and Wells Barker; theft of money; and public indecency. Suarez laughed at the last charge; half of Hollywood could be indicted on that charge. He thought Tuttle had enough grease to slide on any charges that might be brought, assuming any were brought. He had a lot of friends in Los Angeles city hall.
“One must have friends, Alfano,” Suarez said. “No matter who or where they are. Do you want the gun when this is all over?”
“No need. Let it stay in Tinseltown. It would be like a kid from Chicago making it big in California.”
“The DA asked if I thought having you testify in the Durant trial was a good idea. I told him no. He mentioned something about a character witness for Durant.” Alfano laughed at that.
“Try and keep me out it, if you could,” Alfano said. “I don’t want to come back to California.”
“It’s turning into the crime of the century.”
“Suarez, there’s a lot of century left. Don’t cut it too short.”
The Los Angeles Times had reported that Durant asked Clarence Darrow to be her attorney, Suarez told Alfano. Darrow politely declined, though he did admit it would have been the most glamorous of his victories. He recommended Jerry Geisler—“Shit, with him, she’ll walk, and the city will buy her new shoes. We are a screwed-up world here, Tony, a screwed-up world.”
Gloria Downs called just to say hello. She was seeing David, it might turn into something, she had a chance at a studio job at MGM, and she was going after it. She said that the few days she spent with Alfano had been the best days of her life. He told her to have a long life; things were bound to get better. He asked her to say hello to Tony at Bay Cities Deli.
The newly elected president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had toured the Century of Progress World’s Fair the day before Bucci was shot. And it had just been announced that the fair would reopen in May 1934, for another summer. McDunnah told Alfano that he might retire early if this same crap went on for another year.
“You doing okay, Detective?” Deacon Smith said as he pulled up a chair. “Where you been? You got some color to your face.”
“Deacon, I’ve been to the mountain and looked over the top.”
“And what did you see?”
“The future, Deacon. California, the future.”
“And did you like it?”
“No.”
The End
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About the Author
Gregory C. Randall
Mr. Randall is Michigan born, Chicago raised and Californian by choice. He makes his home in Northern California.
Mr. Randall is the author of fiction and non-fiction works available through the usual outlets and the Windsor Hill Publishing website.
For more on future Tony Alfano thrillers and information on the Sharon O’Mara Chronicles and planned sequels, please visit and connect with Greg online:
http://www.gregorycrandall.info
Read his blog:
http://www.writing4death.blogspot.com
Other books by Mr. Randall available both in print and as ebooks:
Fiction
The Cherry Pickers
The Alex Polonia Thrillers
Venice Black
Saigon Red
St. Petersburg White
The Tony Alfano Thrillers
Chicago Swing
Chicago Jazz
Chicago Fix
The Sharon O’Mara Chronicles
Land Swap For Death
Containers For Death
Toulouse For Death
12th Man For Death
Diamonds For Death
Limerick For Death
Non-fiction
America’s Original GI Town, Park Forest, Illinois
These books can be purchased in paperback through all bookstores.
I hope you enjoyed this story!