I'm a fool to kill you

TWENTY-FIVE

‘Jerry, what the hell-’ I said, shocked.

‘Mr S. called me and said you need help,’ the big man said. ‘He got me on a red eye and told me to come here. So here I am.’

‘Come on in, Jerry. It’s good to see you, big guy.’

‘Good to see you, too, Mr G.,’ he said, pumping my hand. ‘I was surprised when Mr S. said I had to come out to L.A. I thought you’d had enough of this place since Miss Monroe died.’

‘Yeah, I did,’ I said, ‘but something came up. Did Frank tell you what’s going on?’

‘Nope. Just told me to get here. Said you was staying here with some broad named Lucy Johnson.’

‘Well, Jerry,’ I said, walking him to the table where Ava was sitting in her silk robe, ‘meet Lucy Johnson.’

‘Pleased ta meet ya, Miss Johnson. Jeez, you sure look a lot like that broad who was in that movie — the one in the jungle with Clark Gable?’

‘Mogambo,’ I said.

‘Yeah, right,’ Jerry said. ‘That’s it. Ya look like. . Ava Gardner!’

‘Really?’ Ava asked, playfully. ‘Don’t you think I’m prettier than her?’

‘Uh, well. .’ Jerry looked at me for help. He wasn’t very good talking to women, unless they were waitresses or whores. ‘. . sure, sure, you are. . Mr G.?’

‘Jerry,’ I said, ‘this is Ava Gardner.’

Jerry gaped at me, then at her.

‘You was playin’ games with me,’ he said to her, finally.

‘Yes, I was,’ she said, ‘and I’m sorry, Jerry.’ She stood up and Jerry averted his eyes because the flimsy robe was clinging to her. ‘Eddie, I’ll go get dressed and you can talk to Jerry.’

‘OK, Ava.’

We both watched her walk to the bedroom door, closing it behind her.

‘Jesus, Mr G.,’ Jerry said, ‘are you nuts? You shackin’ up with Mr S.’s wife?’

‘Ex-wife,’ I said, ‘and it’s not what you think. Frank sent me here. Frank sent me to help Ava. She’s in some kind of trouble.’

‘Mr S. knows you’re here with her?’

‘Well, he sent you here, didn’t he?’

‘Uh, yeah, I guess he did.’

‘Sit down, Jerry,’ I said. ‘Let me fill you in. .’