When Somebody Kills You

by Robert J. Randisi

  ‘Then I guess I should’ve asked him from the start,’ I said.

  ‘There aren’t too many people who’d have the nerve to ask Momo somethin’ like that,’ Frank said. ‘I got a lot of respect for you, but it’s gonna double if you do that.’

  ‘I’ll try to suck it up.’

  He reached out, patted me on the arm, then left the room. I turned and looked at Jerry.

  ‘You got balls, Mr G.,’ he said, ‘if you’re gonna ask Mr Giancana about the contract.’

  ‘I don’t know, Jerry,’ I said, ‘but maybe we’re gonna find out, huh?’

  SIXTY-FOUR

  On the one hand, it wouldn’t be unusual for someone like Judy Garland to be spotted in Las Vegas. On the other hand, how safe was she with me?

  ‘Jerry,’ I said, while we waited for Judy to come out of the bathroom, ‘why don’t you take Judy to dinner?’

  ‘Without you?’

  ‘She’ll probably be safer that way.’

  ‘Mr G.,’ he said, ‘I gotta stay with you.’

  ‘I’ll be OK,’ I promised. ‘I’ll stay inside—’

  ‘A pro ain’t gonna let somethin’ like that stop him,’ Jerry said.

  ‘Maybe not.’

  ‘I gotta watch your back, Mr G.,’ he said in a no-nonsense tone.

  ‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘well … my other idea is we have dinner right here.’

  ‘Room service?’ he said.

  ‘Right.’

  ‘I like room service.’

  ‘Did somebody say room service?’ Judy asked, entering the room. ‘I’m hungry.’

  We turned and looked at her. She appeared neat in a white shirt, black capri pants and a pair of black slippers. Her hair looked wet, as if she’d washed her hands and run them through it. Her eye make-up and red lipstick had been meticulously applied.

  ‘Were you on the phone?’ I asked.

  ‘I – uh, no.’

  Who would have thought that an actress of Judy Garland’s caliber would be such a bad liar.

  ‘You called Herron?’

  ‘I just had to talk to him, Eddie,’ she said. ‘I just had to.’

  ‘Did you tell him where you are?’

  ‘No. He asked, but I didn’t tell him, honest I didn’t.’ Her wide-eyed innocence convinced me.

  ‘All right,’ I said. ‘Jerry and I figured to have a room service dinner.’

  ‘We can’t go out?’

  ‘I think we’re all safer inside, Judy,’ I said, ‘for now. Believe me, I can get a helluva spread brought up here.’

  She smiled and said, ‘Prove it!’

  ‘Ah,’ I said, ‘A challenge. OK, wait and see.’

  I went to the phone. When room service picked up, I said, ‘This is Eddie G. in Judy Garland’s suite. I want the works.’

  The works was shrimp cocktail, soups, salads, steak-and-lobster, all kinds of vegetables – and champagne. It took three bellhops and three carts.

  I had called Jack, but he said he couldn’t join us for dinner. I told him we would get over it. I also asked him to have the house doctor come up and change our bandages. He said he’d get him right there.

  Dr Abe Sandborn came up and got us cleaned and rebandaged before the food got there. In fact, he passed the bellhops on the way out and looked longingly at the trays.

  ‘I’m impressed,’ Judy said as we sat down to eat.

  Jerry made a bigger dent in the fare than Judy and I did, but that was to be expected. I ate my share, but Judy just picked and stared into her plate, despite professing her hunger earlier.

  ‘How’s Herron?’ I asked.

  Her head jerked up. ‘Hm? Oh, Mark? He’s … confused. He thought we’d be married by now.’

  ‘He’s in a hurry,’ Jerry said.

  ‘Actually,’ she said, ‘we got married once already, on a ship. Only I was foolish – I hadn’t realized that my marriage to Sid hadn’t been dissolved.’

  Jerry and I exchanged a glance. How could she have not known that? Maybe it was just wishful thinking.

  She shrugged, as if it was of no importance. ‘I told him not to worry,’ she said. ‘We’ll be getting married – for real.’

  Jerry and I didn’t look at her.

  ‘You boys don’t approve of Mark, do you?’ she asked.

  ‘Honest?’ Jerry asked.

  She nodded. ‘Honest.’

  ‘I don’t like him.’

  ‘Why not, Jerry?’

  ‘He ain’t good enough for you,’

  ‘That’s sweet,’ she said, ‘but you must have a reason.’

  We had a reason, but it wasn’t one we wanted to reveal. I also believed it was one she already knew. It was a known fact she’d already been married to one homosexual man.

  ‘He rubs us the wrong way,’ I said, hoping she’d accept that.

  She looked at me. ‘I guess I understand that. I’ve heard the same from other friends of mine. But I’ve made up my own mind about Mark. I’m going to marry him.’

  ‘Well,’ I said, ‘after this is all over and we all return to our everyday lives, the wedding can go on.’

  Jerry grabbed another lobster tail. ‘These are better than anythin’ I’ve had in Sheepshead Bay,’ he announced.

  ‘Only the best for the Sands,’ I said, cutting into my steak.

  SIXTY-FIVE

  After dinner, Jerry played gin with Judy while I got on the phone. Jack wasn’t in his office this late, so I called his suite.

  ‘Where are you?’ he asked.

  ‘Judy’s room.’

  ‘And Frank?’

  ‘He had somethin’ to do,’ I said. ‘He’s goin’ back to Tahoe in the morning … unless I ask him not to.’

  ‘And why would you do that?’

  ‘I might want to talk to Momo, Jack.’

  ‘Momo? About what? Oh, wait. You’re not thinkin’ he put this hit out on you, are you?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said, ‘but I think I’d like to ask him. That is, unless you already have?’

  ‘I don’t have those kind of balls, Eddie,’ Jack said. ‘I’ve asked around, but nobody seems to know anything.’

  ‘All the more reason for me to ask him,’ I said. ‘Frank said he’d arrange it.’

  ‘Eddie … Sam Giancana is … unpredictable.’

  ‘Tell me somethin’ I don’t know.’

  ‘If he put out this contract, he had a reason. And if you confront him, he might kill you on the spot.’

  ‘Well, at least I’d know why.’

  ‘But if he didn’t commission this contract, he’s gonna be pissed that somebody did.’

  ‘And maybe he can find out who.’

  ‘And you think all you have to do is ask him?’

  ‘I think,’ I said, ‘I don’t have any other choice.’

  After talking with Jack, I tried Danny’s office.

  ‘I’m sorry, Eddie,’ he said, sounding sadder than I’d ever heard him. ‘I’m just comin’ up empty. Somebody put the lid down on this contract.’

  ‘That’s OK, Danny,’ I said. ‘I’ve pretty much decided what I have to do.’

  ‘You goin’ straight to the horse’s mouth?’ he asked.

  ‘Yep,’ I said. ‘Giancana.’

  ‘Want me to go with you?’

  ‘Thanks, but no. Frank’s gonna arrange it.’

  ‘You takin’ Jerry?’

  ‘That depends,’ I said. ‘I might want to leave him here with Judy.’

  ‘Well, if you decide to take ’im, I can look after her.’

  ‘Now that offer is one I might take you up on. I’ll call you tomorrow, when I know more.’

  ‘I’m sorry again, Eddie.’

  ‘Hey, man, you did your best,’ I said. ‘The info’s just not out there.’

  ‘Gimme a call, Eddie,’ Danny said. ‘I’ll do whatever I can to help.’

  ‘Stay by a phone,’ I said, and hung up.

  I looked over to where Judy was laughing at Jerry because she’d schneided him.
The big man was frowning. I picked up the phone and dialed the front desk.

  ‘Hey, Eddie, what can I do for you?’ a desk clerk named Brandon asked.

  ‘I have to leave a message for Mr Sinatra,’ I said, ‘and he needs to get it before he checks out.’

  ‘OK. What’s the message?’

  ‘Just have it say “I’ll take you up on the offer of your plane”,’ I said. ‘He’ll know what it means.’

  ‘And where will you be?’

  ‘I’ll be stayin’ over,’ I said. ‘He’ll find me in the building.’

  ‘OK, Eddie. I’ll make sure he gets it.’

  ‘Thanks, Brandon.’

  I hung up, looked over at Judy and Jerry. Now they were both laughing. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen Jerry laugh like that. I caught his eye and beckoned him over to me.

  ‘Judy, would you like some coffee?’ I asked.

  She collected the cards and said, ‘I think I’d like some tea.’

  ‘I’ll take coffee,’ Jerry said, ‘and some pie.’

  ‘In a minute,’ I said, lowering my voice. ‘I’m gonna have Frank arrange a meet with Giancana. His plane will take me there.’

  ‘Will Mr S. go with you?’

  ‘I doubt it,’ I said. ‘I don’t want him stickin’ his neck out.’

  ‘I’ll go with you, then,’ Jerry said. ‘But what about Miss Garland?’

  ‘Danny offered to sit with her.’

  He shrugged. ‘Suits me. When do you wanna go?’

  ‘As soon as Frank can arrange it.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘Jerry … are you sure you wanna go with me?’

  ‘Sure I’m sure, Mr G.,’ he said. ‘Why would you ask?’

  ‘It’s possible Momo put the contract out on me,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t want to put you in a … bad position.’

  Jerry frowned. ‘Are you sayin’ you think I’d pick up that contract?’ he asked.

  ‘That’s not what I’m sayin’, at all,’ I replied. ‘I just … I know who you work for, Jerry. I don’t want to get you into trouble.’

  ‘I may work for Mr Giancana, Mr G.,’ Jerry said, ‘but you’re my friend.’

  I stared at him, looked into his eyes, then touched him on the arm. ‘Apple or cherry?’

  SIXTY-SIX

  When the phone rang the next morning, I checked the time before answering it. It was six a.m.

  ‘Yeah?’ I held the receiver in my right hand. I sat up gingerly, because my new bandages were pulling on my skin.

  ‘Be in the lobby at eight,’ Frank said. ‘Momo is expecting you.’

  ‘Frank—’

  ‘I won’t be going with you.’

  ‘I didn’t think you would.’

  ‘Will someone?’

  ‘Jerry.’

  There was some hesitation, then Frank asked, ‘Do you trust him?’

  ‘Completely.’

  ‘You know who pays him.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Eddie.’

  I sat up in bed and rubbed my other hand over my face vigorously. ‘So do I, Frank.’

  I woke Jerry and he made it down to the lobby before I did.

  ‘How do you do that?’ I asked.

  ‘Do what?’ he asked.

  ‘Look awake at this time of the morning.’

  ‘Awake ain’t a problem,’ he said. ‘I’m hungry. Do we get to eat?’

  ‘On the way,’ I said, starting through the lobby to the front door.

  ‘On the way where?’ he asked, rushing to catch up.

  Before I could answer the question, things started to happen. I didn’t see the beginning, but Jerry did …

  I was heading for the door. Jerry was coming up behind and saw a man across the lobby raising a gun. Some other people saw him, too, and hit the floor, but Jerry started running. He dove for me, hit me in the small of the back and took me down as the man started firing. The shots went over us, I heard glass breaking and then I got a good bump on the head when it came in contact with the floor …

  ‘Mr G.? Hey, come on, wake up!’

  Somebody was slapping me on the cheek – hard. I opened my eyes.

  ‘Jerry? What happened?’

  ‘I’ll tell you later,’ he said. ‘We gotta get out of here.’

  ‘Wha—’ He grabbed me by the front of my jacket and pulled me to my feet. I looked around at the hotel lobby, which was in a state of disarray. ‘What the fuck?’

  ‘Somebody took a shot at you, Mr G.,’ he said. ‘In fact, more than one shot.’

  I looked around. ‘Who? Where?’

  ‘He’s gone.’

  ‘Did you see him?’

  He shook his head. ‘I didn’t get a good look. I was too busy takin’ you down.’

  ‘You – you saved my life?’

  ‘I dunno,’ Jerry said. ‘He was a pretty bad shot. Not a pro.’

  ‘Anybody get hurt? I thought I heard glass—’

  ‘Yeah, he broke some windows, but nobody got hit. Look, we gotta get outta here before the cops show up. Where were we goin’?’

  ‘To the airport,’ I said. ‘We’re takin’ Frank’s plane to see Sam Giancana.’

  ‘Then we better hurry, or the only thing we’re gonna see over the next few hours is the inside of a police station.’

  I opened my mouth to speak, but he practically carried me through the front doors.

  SIXTY-SEVEN

  Frank’s plane had taken us to O’Hare, where he had a car pick us up and take us to Oak Park, where Sam Giancana had lived with his wife in a two-story brick house, raised their three daughters, and still lived since her passing.

  ‘Mr Sinatra said I should wait,’ the driver said, as we pulled up in front.

  ‘Then you should,’ I said, opening the door.

  ‘How long?’

  I had one foot out, turned to look at him again. ‘Until we come out,’ I said, ‘or until you hear shooting.’

  ‘Shooting?’ he said as we got out of the car.

  We walked up to the front door and knocked. Two torpedoes opened it. I don’t know if they and Jerry knew each other, but they recognized each other for what they were and nodded.

  ‘Sorry,’ one of them said to Jerry, not me, ‘got to pat you both down.’

  ‘No problem,’ Jerry assured him.

  The speaker checked Jerry while his partner patted me down thoroughly. All they came up with was Jerry’s .45.

  ‘Get it back when you leave,’ the first one said, tucking it into his belt.

  ‘Right,’ Jerry said.

  ‘OK, this way.’

  They led us through the house to Giancana’s den, where the man known as Sam Gold, Mooney and Momo – among other names – waited, wearing his trademark dark glasses and a suit. He had a drink in his hand and turned to face us as we entered.

  ‘Eddie,’ he said, and nodded at the big guy. ‘Hello, Jerry.’

  ‘Mr Giancana,’ Jerry said.

  ‘Momo,’ I said, trying to establish us as friends from the beginning.

  ‘OK, boys,’ he said to his men, ‘you can a-go.’

  ‘But sir—’ one of them started. Momo cut him off with a wave of his hand.

  ‘I am very safe with these two gents,’ Giancana said, ‘especially Jerry, who I know carries a very big forty-five.’

  ‘They took it away from me,’ Jerry said.

  ‘Did they?’ He stared at his men. ‘Who’s got-a his gun?’

  ‘I do,’ the first gunsel said.

  ‘Give it back to him.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Give-a him his gun, stronzo!’

  The man lowered his head, removed Jerry’s gun from his belt and handed it over. Jerry ejected the cylinder to check the loads and then stuck it in his belt.

  ‘Now get out!’ Giancana snapped.

  The two men slunk out.

  ‘Testa di cazzo!’ Giancana swore, for good measure. Jerry told me later it meant ‘dickhead�
�.

  ‘You guys wanna drink?’ he asked us. ‘Jerry, you know where the bar is.’

  ‘Yes, sir. Bourbon, Mr G.?’ he asked me.

  ‘Sure.’

  As Jerry walked to the bar to make the drink, Giancana took off his jacket and put it on the back of a chair. He had his sleeves rolled up by the time Jerry handed me my drink, and stood next to me holding his own.

  ‘Frank says-a you need to talk to me, Eddie,’ Giancana said. ‘So talk.’

  I figured he knew why I was there, but wanted to hear it from me, so I told him about the attempts on my life and how word had gone out that there was a contract.

  ‘Somebody tried for you right in the Sands?’ he asked.

  ‘The lobby,’ I said, ‘this morning.’

  ‘Pezzo di merda,’ he said. That one I’d heard before in my youth, from my father. Piece of shit.

  ‘I don’t know who wants me dead that badly – except maybe a cop.’

  ‘What cop?’

  ‘This Vegas detective named Hargrove.’

  ‘That one! He is cagacazzo. So dumb! And no balls.’

  ‘That’s what I thought,’ I said. ‘And the only other one I could think of was …’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Jimmy Roselli.’

  ‘Now that cretino – he’s-a just idiot enough to do it.’

  ‘You haven’t heard anything about it?’ I asked.

  ‘It was-a not cleared through me, Eddie,’ he said tightly. ‘I’ll check on Jimmy Roselli. If it was-a him, I’ll have-a his balls.’ You knew Momo was getting agitated when his accent thickened.

  ‘And if it wasn’t?’

  ‘Do you want me to find out who it is?’ Giancana asked. ‘Is that what-a you askin’ me?’

  I knew that if I said yes, I was asking Momo for a favor, and I’d owe him one in return.

  ‘Yes, Mr Giancana, that’s what I’m asking you.’

  ‘Menache!’ he said. Oh, hell. ‘Of course I will help you, Eddie.’ He waved his arms in a magnanimous gesture. ‘What are friends-a for? Besides, Frank already asked me to help. How could I ever tell-a him no, eh?’ He stood up. ‘So, you stay to eat? We’re having spaghetti and-a meatballs.’

  ‘Oh, we can’t,’ I said. ‘Frank’s plane is waiting to take us back. He needs it—’