‘Well, OK,’ I said. ‘We can do that.’
‘I’ll have a car pick us up in the front of the hotel,’ he said. ‘Eight o’clock OK?’
That was two hours away. ‘I’ll check with the big guy, but it should be fine.’
‘This may sound cold,’ he said, ‘but I’m still interested in that horse. I came all this way to see her.’
‘I suppose Chris Arnold might have a wife, or family,’ I said. ‘You want me to check?’
‘No,’ Bing said, ‘that might bring you into contact with the cops. I’ll have my lawyer check on it.’
‘OK,’ I said. ‘We’ll meet you in the lobby.’
‘I’ll pick the place, OK?’
‘You’re the host.’
He walked me to the door and we shook hands again.
‘Sorry to get you mixed up in all this, Eddie.’
‘That’s OK, Bing. Listen, I’ll check in with Jack so he knows what to expect.’
‘OK.’
I grabbed the elevator and took it to the second floor to Jack’s office. His girl’s desk was unoccupied, so I knocked on his open door.
He looked up from his desk, waved and said, ‘Eddie, come on in.’
I walked to his desk and sat down across from him.
‘What’s goin’ on?’ he asked. ‘Or am I gonna regret askin’ that question.’
‘Um, yeah,’ I said, ‘you pretty much are, Jack.’
‘Two dead bodies?’ he repeated after I’d finished my story.
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘You bring Jerry in from Brooklyn and find two dead bodies?’
‘First of all, Jerry’s got nothin’ to do with either one,’ I said. ‘Me and Bing were with him when we found Chris Arnold. And Danny found Fred Stanley for Bing.’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ he said, waving his hands, ‘forget I said that. It just seems when you and him get together—’
‘That’s the way the cops are thinkin’, Jack,’ I said. ‘I don’t need for you to be thinkin’ the same way.’
‘OK, I said forget it!’ he snapped. ‘Look, I’m sorry. Where’s Jerry?’
‘Bing got him a suite.’
‘Great,’ Entratter said. ‘Glad to hear he’s comfortable.’
‘Jack—’
‘OK, OK,’ Jack said. ‘So, the Vegas cops don’t know about Jerry yet.’
‘Right.’
‘And when they find out, they’ll come callin’.’
‘Right again.’
‘Is he heeled?’
‘He is.’
‘Well, tell him for Chrissake to leave the piece in his room somewhere.’
‘I’ll tell him.’
‘And you know Hargrove is gonna be all over you.’
‘It’s not his case.’
‘That don’t matter,’ Jack said. ‘If he sees a chance to come down on you and Jerry, he’ll take it.’
‘Bing’s gettin’ his lawyer involved.’
‘I’ll call our lawyers, too,’ Jack said. ‘Keep them on call.’
‘Probably smart.’
‘Just try to keep your ass and Jerry’s ass clean on this.’
‘So far we haven’t done anything we could be faulted for, Jack,’ I said. ‘All we did was ride out there with Bing.’
‘Is he stayin’ in town?’
‘The cops want him to stay,’ I said, ‘plus he’s still interested in that horse.’
‘Is there family he can deal with?’
‘He doesn’t know,’ I said, ‘but he’s gonna have his lawyer find out.’
‘Well, I guess you won’t be goin’ back to your pit any time soon,’ he said. ‘How’s your replacement doin’?’
‘He’s doin’ great.’
‘You better hope he don’t do that great.’
‘Why?’ I asked. ‘You’ll promote me?’
‘Yeah, right,’ he said. ‘Look, clear this up as soon as you can.’
‘Clear what up?’ I asked. ‘The cops are investigating both murders. I’m just gonna try to stay out of the way.’
‘Funny,’ he said, ‘tell me another one.’
I started for the door.
‘Oh, by the way.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Aren’t you supposed to be showing Frank Junior a good time?’
‘Oh, crap,’ I said. ‘I forgot. Hey, you think he’d like to have dinner with Bing Crosby?’
‘When are you going?’
‘About an hour.’
Jack shook his head.
‘He’ll be on stage. Give him a call and arrange to meet him after.’
‘I’ll do that.’
TWENTY-FOUR
I found Jerry in his suite, watching TV. He was sitting on the big, overstuffed sofa. I had the feeling he was really comfortable in his suite. Going back to his little apartment in Brooklyn might not be so easy.
On the bar was a demolished tray of food, so he’d availed himself of room service.
‘Just a snack,’ he said, when he saw me looking. ‘Don’t mean I don’t want dinner.’
‘That’s what I came to see you about,’ I said. ‘Bing wants us to have dinner with him and Kathryn.’
He sat up straight.
‘You and me?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Jeez, Mr G., I don’t know. Mr C.’s wife is a real lady.’
‘So? You managed to choke down your food last year with Ava Gardner.’
He smiled.
‘Miss Ava ain’t no lady. She’s a broad, if you know what I mean.’
‘I know.’
‘When’s dinner?’
‘About an hour.’
He leaped off the sofa.
‘I gotta take a shower and get dressed.’
‘Yeah,’ I realized, ‘so do I. I’ll stop by here and pick you up in about fifty minutes.’
‘OK, Mr G.’
‘Oh, and Jerry?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Leave the rod home.’
‘I’ll feel naked.’
‘Do it, anyway.’
‘OK,’ he said, glumly.
I went to the room I was using at the Sands and took a quick shower. I’d already grabbed a suit out of my locker first. Checking myself out I had to admit, I was cooking.
Before I left I called the Flamingo and got Frank Junior’s room. I asked him if he wanted to meet me in the lounge at the Sands after his show. He told me he already had a date, but if he could make it he’d meet me there. I hung up, thinking that Junior was apparently seeing to his own good time.
I knocked on Jerry’s door and he answered, looking very proud of himself. He was wearing a suit, his hair was slicked down, and I smelled cologne.
I stared.
‘What?’
‘Nothin’,’ I said. ‘I’m just . . . not used to seeing you so . . .’ I waved my hands, words failing me.
‘I look OK?’ he asked, worried.
‘You look great, Jerry.’
I frisked him.
‘I left the gun in the room, Mr G.,’ he said.
‘Hidden?’
‘Naturally. I always figure some cop is gonna toss my room, even if it’s just for the practice.’
I frowned. He may have been right. Once Hargrove heard from Freeman – or the Sheriff’s detectives – that Jerry was in town, that wasn’t something I’d put past him.
‘We better go,’ he said, looking at his watch.
I was wearing a sports jacket and no tie. Jerry made me feel underdressed as we walked to the elevator.
We got to the lobby before Bing and Kathryn, which suited us. We didn’t want to make them wait for us.
Bing was wearing a jacket and tie, a fedora and his ever-present pipe. Kathryn wore a dress that showed bare shoulders and great legs, and looked stunning.
‘Jerry,’ Bing said. ‘I didn’t recognize you. You look . . .’
‘He looks very handsome,’ Kathryn said. ‘Hello, Jerry, good to see you again. How about you call me
Katy?’
Jerry was speechless. Kathryn had extended her hand so he took it and shook it delicately.
‘Ma’am,’ he finally managed.
‘Shall we go?’ Katy further flustered Jerry by sliding her arm into his and having him walk her to the car.
‘If she gets him to call her Katy it’ll be a miracle,’ I said.
‘She’s pretty good at miracles,’ Bing said.
We went to the Sahara to eat in the Congo Room. Sheckey Green was playing and he introduced Bing from the stage, then came by to say hello.
This was Katy’s first trip to Vegas, so Bing wanted to show her the town. We began with the Congo Room, then started to hop from casino lounge to casino lounge. Finally she claimed she was tired, but I figured she wanted to get Bing back to the hotel fairly early.
We drove back to the Sands in the limo. As we got out Katy said, ‘Oh, I’ve lost an earring.’
Bing turned but Katy waved him off and said, ‘Eddie can help me find it, Sweetie. Go on inside.’
I knew this was a ruse, because I noticed both her earrings were right where they belonged, on her ears. She wanted to talk.
‘Eddie,’ she said, putting her hand on my arm, ‘Bing told me about the . . . the dead men. I’m worried about him being involved in this.’
‘He hasn’t done anything, Katy,’ I said. ‘It’ll probably make the papers, and the wire services, but all he did was drive out to meet a guy who turned out to be dead.’
‘I know, but you also know how Hollywood can blow things out of proportion.’
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘I’ve heard Frank and Dean talk about you,’ she said. ‘They trust you. Can I trust you?’
‘Of course.’
‘Can you just . . . watch out for him?’ she asked. ‘Without telling him that I asked you to?’
She still had her hand on my arm, so I put my hand over hers and said, ‘Don’t worry, Katy. Everything will be OK.’
‘Thank you, Eddie,’ she said, squeezing my arm. ‘Thank you very much.’
TWENTY-FIVE
When we went inside, Bing Crosby asked, ‘Did you find it?’
She touched her ear and said, ‘Yes, it was in the seat. Eddie found it. Thank you, Eddie.’ She leaned over and kissed my cheek.
They said goodnight to us and went up to their suite, arm-in-arm.
‘They make a nice couple, even though he’s a lot older.’
‘Yeah, they do,’ I said. ‘Let’s get a drink in the lounge.’
‘OK, Mr G.’
On the way Jerry took off his tie, tucked it into his pocket and undid the top button of his shirt. When we got to the lounge Jack Jones was singing ‘Lollipops and Roses,’ his hit from the year before. When he saw me, he waved, never missing a beat. I waved back, then stopped to look the place over. In a corner booth sat Frank Junior with a young lady.
‘There’s Frank Junior,’ Jerry said.
‘I see him.’
‘Who’s that he’s with?’
‘I’m not sure,’ I said, ‘but it looks like . . . Joey Heatherton.’
‘Are either one of them twenty yet?’
‘Probably not. Come on, let’s just sit at the bar.’
We went to the bar, got the bartender’s attention and ordered two beers. Didi came over to say hello, and I introduced her to Jerry. Jack Jones did a few more songs, then came over to say hello, also.
Finally, just before Jack did another set, Frank Junior came over and introduced us to Joey Heatherton, who was a kittenish blonde with more sex appeal than one girl should have.
Frank agreed to have lunch with me the next day, and then he and Joey left.
Jerry finished his second beer and said, ‘I’m gonna go to my suite, Mr G.’
‘Already?’
‘Who knows when I’ll ever have a suite again,’ he said. ‘I’m kinda enjoyin’ it.’
‘Jerry,’ I promised, ‘I’ll get you a suite from now on whenever you come to town.’
‘Nah,’ he said. ‘This time is good enough. Makes it special, Especially knowin’ that Mr C. is payin’ for it.’
‘OK,’ I said. ‘Wanna meet for breakfast in the coffee shop?’
‘Sure,’ he said. ‘Eight?’
‘That’s good. We can talk about what we’re gonna do when the cops start comin’ after us.’
‘Mr G.,’ he said, putting his massive paw on my arm, ‘this time we didn’t do nothin’.’
‘You know it,’ I said, ‘and I know it . . .’
TWENTY-SIX
Rather than stay overnight in the hotel I decided to drive home and sleep in my own bed, even though I’d arranged to meet Jerry early for breakfast. It would only be about an hour’s drive from my house in the morning.
Because there had been more than one occasion over the past few years when I found some strangers in my house, I used my key and entered very carefully. I felt silly, though, and quickly switched on a light. What reason would anyone have to lie in wait for me in my own house? We’d said it more than once, Danny, Jerry and I, that we hadn’t done anything this time. We were actually in the clear, hadn’t shot at anybody, hadn’t killed anybody.
I shucked my clothes, hung up what had to be hung up and tossed the rest into the hamper and noticed that it was laundry time. Maybe Frank Junior would like to accompany me to the laundry when I dropped my clothes off the next day.
Yeah, that’d be the day.
I decided not to worry about anything until morning and went to bed.
I woke at six, wondering whatever possessed me to agree to meet Jerry for breakfast at eight.
I showered and brushed my teeth, put on jeans, a polo shirt with a collar, and sneakers. Real casual. Then I put all my laundry into a bag and carried it out to the car. On the way to the Sands I dropped it at a Chinese laundry.
I found Jerry in the Garden Room, working on a pot of coffee and waiting for me, like the morning before. Only this time we didn’t have to drive to the desert. He was wearing a sports jacket and pants. I hoped the jacket wasn’t to hide his gun.
‘’Mornin’, Mr G.,’ Jerry said.
‘Jerry,’ I said, sliding in the booth across from him. ‘Pancakes today?’
‘You know it, Mr G.’
‘I think I’ll join you.’
When the waitress came over I told her two orders of pancakes for Jerry, and one for me.
‘Comin’ up, Eddie.’
I watched her as she walked away, but couldn’t remember her name.
‘They all know you, Mr G.’
‘Yeah, Jerry,’ I said. ‘I guess they think they do.’
‘What are we gonna do today?’ Jerry asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ I said. ‘I guess we should talk to Bing. His lawyer is supposed to find out if there’s any family for him to buy that horse from.’
‘He still wants to buy the horse?’
‘Is it worth buying?’
‘I don’t know, Mr G.,’ he said. ‘I never did get a real good look at it.’
‘So if Bing is still interested, he’ll want you to check it out.’
‘Hey, as long as he’s payin’ the freight, I’m willin’ to stay.’
‘Jerry, we’re gonna have to deal with the cops, pretty soon,’ I said. ‘Maybe even our old buddy Hargrove.’
‘Hey, I figured that, Mr G., when I found the dead guy. I even thought about coverin’ him and leavin’ him there.’
‘Without telling me?’
‘Well, it was a just a thought. What’s the dick doin’ today?’
‘Nothin’, as far as I know,’ I said. ‘There’s nothin’ for him to do.’
‘He could solve the murder.’
‘Not while the cops are workin’ on it,’ I said. ‘He’s got a license to consider. Besides, nobody’s payin’ him to solve it.’
‘What about Mr C?’
‘I think he’s happy to let the police work on it,’ I said. ‘He knew the man as a trainer, bu
t I don’t think they were friends.’
The waitress came with the pancakes, set them on the table in front of us, provided syrup and a fresh pot of coffee.
‘Anything else, Eddie?’
‘No, thanks a lot.’
She left and we dug in. We were only halfway done when a man I wasn’t looking forward to seeing, walked in the door.
‘Jerry.’
‘Yeah, Mr G?’
‘You don’t have your gun on you, do you?’
‘No, Mr G. It’s still hidden in my suite.’
‘That’s good.’
‘Why?’
‘Remember we were talkin’ about Hargrove before?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well, speak of the devil and up he pops.’
‘Damn,’ Jerry said, ‘is he gonna ruin my breakfast?’
Hargrove spotted us and came walking over.
‘I think he’s gonna give it the old college try.’
TWENTY-SEVEN
Hargrove stopped at our booth, another man behind him. He was younger, looked uncomfortable in his suit, like he hadn’t been out of uniform for very long.
‘Eddie,’ he said. ‘Looks like your Gunsel is in for another visit.’
‘You’re gettin’ older, Hargrove,’ I said. ‘Or are your partners gettin’ younger?’
‘Probably a little bit of both,’ he said. ‘You mind if I sit down?’
‘Sure, why not?’ I asked. ‘Have a cup of coffee. Want me to slide over?’
‘No.’ He grabbed a chair from another table. ‘This is good.’
His partner just sat at a chair at the table behind us. He knew his place, already.
‘Keep eatin’, fellas,’ Hargrove said. ‘I don’t want to ruin your breakfast.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Where’s your other buddy? Bardini?’
‘He doesn’t check in with me every day.’
‘No, huh? Off on a case maybe? Already?’
I shrugged.
‘I talked to a colleague of mine yesterday,’ Hargrove said. ‘Freeman. Know him?’
‘I know Freeman.’
‘Seems you and the Gunsel, here, got yourselves involved in another murder.’
‘We’re not involved,’ I said.
‘Your buddy Bardini is.’
‘He just found the body, that’s all,’ I said. ‘He was lookin’ for a missin’ person, and he found him dead.’
Fly Me to the Morgue Page 8
