I'm a fool to kill you

FIFTY-THREE

‘We need to get out of here,’ I said.

Jerry and I were sitting in the kitchen. We had the items we had taken from the dead guys spread out on the table in front of us, and we had coffee cups.

We went through the wallets, found Chicago driver’s licenses for each man — Aldo Camanitti and Tony Del Grosso — but there was no guarantee that these were their real names. They each had over two hundred dollars and several books of matches in their pockets from local strip clubs. One of them had a hotel key, but there was no telling which hotel. But since only one of them had a key they must have been sharing a room.

They each had plane tickets from Chicago to Las Vegas. They arrived the night before on a red-eye. Somebody had sent those two jokers to Vegas in a hurry.

‘Two guns from Chicago on a red-eye,’ I said. ‘We gotta get out of here, Jerry, before somebody comes lookin’ for these guys, or sends replacements.’

‘Hold up, Mr G.,’ he said. ‘Nobody’s gonna replace ’em until they’re found. We’re OK for now, but I agree we gotta get Miss Ava outta here soon.’

‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘soon, like tomorrow. But first we gotta find out if she did call her sister.’

‘She was still asleep last time I checked.’

It was later in the afternoon, and I could hear Jerry’s stomach growling.

‘That diner down the block still open?’ he asked.

‘Yeah.’

‘How about I go grab us some food?’ he asked. ‘I think better on a full stomach.’

‘Fine.’ I gave him some of the money Ava had given me. ‘Get whatever you want, bring me and Ava some burgers and fries.’

‘High class lady like her must be useta eatin’ better than we been givin’ her,’ he said.

‘She hasn’t complained about the food yet, Jerry.’

‘Maybe I’ll bring her a club sandwich,’ he said. ‘Classy people like club sandwiches.’

‘Whatever you think, pal.’

He grabbed my car keys. The Caddy had driven fine on the way home, betraying no damage other than some scratches to the back.

As the front door closed I thought I heard Ava stirring in the bedroom. She had been asleep for about three hours. I got up and walked to the doorway. She was moving around, then suddenly the blanket spread open and she rose up into a seated position.

‘What the hell happened?’ she asked.

I entered the room and approached the bed. She looked better, more color in her face and focus to her eyes.

‘You went into shock after the shooting,’ I said. ‘What do you remember?’

‘I remember Jerry shooting the shit out of those two bastards,’ she said. ‘Did you fire my gun?’

‘I didn’t have time,’ I said. ‘Jerry was too fast.’

I had the distinct feeling that she was happy her gun hadn’t killed anybody.

‘Don’t look at me,’ she said, suddenly. ‘I must look like shit.’ She leaped from the bed, ran to the bathroom and slammed the door.

I walked to the door and said, ‘Jerry went for some food.’

‘Good,’ her muffled voice said, ‘I’m starving.’

That, at least, was a good sign.

‘I’ll see you in the kitchen.’

No answer, so I left the room.

When she came into the kitchen she had applied her make-up and combed her hair, was still wearing the sweater and jeans from that afternoon but was barefoot. I couldn’t help thinking, the Barefoot Contessa is barefoot in my kitchen.

But I had to put aside all my feelings for Ava — lust, affection, awe — and be kind of tough with her, because I needed to know.

‘Ava, some coffee?’

‘Sure. Where’s Jerry with that food?’

‘Any minute.’ I poured a cup of coffee and she sat at the kitchen table.

As I slid it over to her I said, ‘I have to ask you a question.’

‘Go ahead.’

‘You told me this morning you wanted to call your sister,’ I said. No comment. I went on. ‘I have a feeling you already called her.’

She stared at me, then lifted her chin and asked haughtily, ‘What if I did?’

‘Then you may have almost got us killed today.’

She tried to hold my eyes, but in the end she looked away and bit her lip. I gave her a minute. Yeah, I know. Real tough guy.

‘OK,’ she said, looking at me, ‘OK, I called her yesterday.’

‘Did you tell her where you were?’

She hesitated, then said, ‘I didn’t tell her I was in your house.’

‘But you did mention Vegas.’

‘Yes.’

I shook my head.

‘She wouldn’t have told anyone,’ she said. ‘I swear!’

‘She might not have to, Ava. If someone is lookin’ for you bad enough, they may have bugged her phone, or her house.’

‘Jesus,’ she said, as that realization set in. ‘So it might be my fault those two men are dead?’

I was afraid she might get upset again. If she went into shock this time we might have to take her to the hospital.

‘Ava, those men got themselves killed,’ I said. ‘Anybody who pulls a gun on Jerry is an idiot.’

‘Eddie. . I’m sorry,’ she said, sincerely.

‘I know, Ava.’

‘So now what?’ she asked.

‘Tomorrow we’ll find someplace else for you.’ At that moment I heard Jerry come in the front door. ‘Right now, we eat.’