Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime

Fifty-one

First came the sex, because I’m only human. I wasn’t about to kick a naked Judy Campbell out of my bed. We went at it like teenagers and I thoroughly enjoyed her and didn’t wonder until later if I had slept with Frank Sinatra’s girl, John F. Kennedy’s girl, or-according to some rumors I’d heard-Sam Giancana’s girl. When a broad is naked in your bed, nothing else matters at that moment.

“You really don’t remember?” she asked later, over coffee.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “but a lot of last night is missing.”

“That’s not something a girl likes to hear, Eddie.”

“Hey,” I said, “I was thoroughly conscious this morning.”

“Yes,” she said, “I did notice an improvement in your performance over last night.”

“That’s not somethin’ a guy likes to hear, Judy,” I complained.

She laughed and said, “Forget it. I’m, just kiddin’ you. We were both so tired and drunk last night that we went right to bed-to sleep.”

“Okay,” I said, “but what I’m wonderin’ is … how did you come to be with me?”

“If I remember correctly,” she said, “you invited me home.”

“Yeah, but … you were with Frank and Kennedy.”

“Frank doesn’t care who I fuck,” she said, “as long as he gets to fuck me when he wants.”

“And Kennedy?”

“Well, there were some sparks,” she said, “but nothing’s happened yet. It will, though.”

“And us?”

“Us?” She laughed again, but this time I had the feeling it was at me. “Eddie, this was just for fun. One night. No strings.”

“Oh,” I said, “suits me.”

She reached across the table and put her hand on mine. She was wearing a white shirt she’d taken from my closet. I’ve always thought a woman wearin’ a man’s shirt like that is sexy as hell. Judith Campbell wearin’ a man’s shirt like that was even sexier.

“You don’t seem as happy to hear that as most men would.”

“Well, face it, Judy,” I said. “You’re gorgeous. What man wouldn’t want you?”

“A lot of men want me,” she said, “just not for very long.”

“Why is that, do you think?”

She shrugged.

“I’m a party girl, Eddie,” she said. “I’m not ready to settle down with one man, so it doesn’t concern me.”

“You sure know who you are and exactly what you want,” I said. “I’ve got to admire that.”

She reached out with both hands now, grabbing mine, and said, “Right now I want you to do more than admire me.”

I squeezed her hands and asked, “What happened to just one night?”

“This is morning,” she said, “an extension of the night before. Don’t tell me you don’t want to lay me one more time? For old time’s sake?”

My answer was to drag her into the bedroom.

I called a cab for Judith and she went back to the Sands, to a room Frank had arranged for her. I’d been with a lot of women before JudithCampbell, but never with anyone quite like her. I hoped she’d get what she wanted when the time came.

Once she was gone I showered, got dressed and had some more coffee. Then I made a few phone calls. Penny told me Danny had already gone to the Sands to pick up the list. She didn’t mention his date to take Marcia to the Rat Pack show that night, so I didn’t either.

Next, I called Jack Entratter.

“Where are you?” he demanded.

“Home. I just woke up a while ago.”

“Well, you did good last night, kid,” he said. “I heard Kennedy never left the hotel, and I haven’t heard about any trouble on his floor. I guess you kept the lid on for me.”

“I guess I did, Jack. What about Jerry?”

“He’s out,” Jack said, “back here at the Sands. His gun didn’t match. They were pretty much able to tell that right away. They kept at him all night, though, and he gave them nothin’. Never mentioned your name, or any anyone else.”

“A stand-up guy.” Frank had said that about me, but it applied more to Jerry.

“Any cops lookin’ for me?” I asked.

“Not here,” he said. “I don’t know about anywhere else.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll be around in a while. Tell Jerry not to go anywhere without me.”

“He won’t leave until you get here. I upgraded him to a suite. Kind of like a reward.”

“Good,” I said. “He deserves it.”

I hung up, couldn’t think of anymore calls to make. Frank and Dean were probably still asleep in their rooms. If everything I’d heard about Frank was true, he had two broads with him.

I decided to go for breakfast, then head for the Sands. My car was out front, so I must have driven it home. As I turned the key to start the engine I realized I’d forgotten my wallet. I got out, left the car running, and started for the house. A moment later I felt something lift me into the air and toss me across the lawn. I didn’t hear the blast until later ….