I'm a fool to kill you

SEVENTY-SIX

We pulled up in front of the Sands. There was some commotion, people complaining, valets running around. I spotted Kenny, and Hargrove spotted the car.

‘That’s Holman’s,’ he said.

‘Kenny! What’s happening?’ I asked.

‘Some guy drove up and ran inside with Ava Gardner,’ the valet said. ‘Just left his car here with no key in it. Now we’re blocked.’

‘I’ll take care of it,’ I said.

Hargrove and I ran toward the front door while Kenny called out, ‘You can’t leave yours here, either.’

Hargrove turned and tossed Kenny the keys.

We ran into the hotel lobby with Hargrove harping in my ear.

‘I don’t know why I’m goin’ along with this, Gianelli,’ he said. ‘My own partner-’

‘You saw the ring, Hargrove.’

‘Yeah, but why would he wear the ring on the job?’

‘How about arrogance?’ I asked. ‘You’ve run into that on the job, haven’t you?’

He ignored my theory.

‘Where do we look?’ he asked.

‘All over,’ I said. ‘You go into the casino, I’ll check the hotel. Napolitano put a man in here to spy on us. It’s my bet he’s still here.’

‘I hate to have to gamble on you. .’ Hargrove said, but he didn’t go on. We split up.

I turned and looked toward the front desk. I couldn’t very well go floor by floor, checking rooms. I noticed Rose was on duty, and something occurred to me.

I walked to the desk, caught her attention and waved her over.

‘Yes, Eddie?’

‘The man we talked about the other day,’ I said. ‘The one flirting with you?’

‘Yes?’

‘He works here, doesn’t he?’

‘Well, yes.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me that before?’

‘Y-you didn’t ask me.’

She was right, I hadn’t asked.

‘Do you know what his job is?’ I asked.

‘I–I think he works in the office.’

‘What office?’

To the front desk staff of a hotel everything else was ‘the office.’

‘I’m not sure. Employment?’

A job that gave him access to employees’ records would be very helpful to a spy. For instance, he’d know what room I was staying in so that he could slide a threatening message beneath my door.

‘OK, Rose. Thanks.’

She started to return to her position when I called, ‘Rose?’

‘Yes?’

‘You said you noticed his pinky ring,’ I said. ‘Does he wear any other jewelry?’

‘Oh, yes,’ she said, ‘he has a silver ring on his right hand. I didn’t get a close look, though.’

‘That’s OK,’ I said. ‘Thanks.’

I left her and took the elevator to Entratter’s floor. I needed something from him.

Jack’s girl’s desk was empty. She was probably still at home recovering. I barged into Jack’s office, saying, ‘Jack, I need your gun-’ I stopped short when I saw Frank sitting at the desk, Jack standing nearby.

‘Hey, Frank.’

‘I just came in to see what was going on with Ava,’ he said. ‘I didn’t hear from you after Chicago. Whataya need a gun for?’

‘Ava’s in the building,’ I said, quickly, ‘and she’s in trouble. She was snatched from the police station.’

‘By who?’ Frank demanded, jumping to his feet.

‘A cop,’ I said, ‘but I think he brought her here so one of Napolitano’s men can kill her.’

‘The damn spy of his?’ Entratter said.

‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘but they’re gonna be armed, and I’m not.’

‘Well, I’m not,’ Entratter said. ‘The cops still have my gun.’

‘Well, I am,’ Frank said, and took a.38 out of his pocket. I wasn’t surprised to see he had a gun. He’d once showed it to me in the steam room. ‘Let’s go!’

‘Frank, you can’t-’ Entratter started, but Frank ignored him. If he weighed a hundred and fifty pounds every bit of it was vibrating.

‘Forget it, Jack,’ I said, firmly. ‘This is Ava we’re talking about.’

We took the elevator to the second floor, where the business offices were. Marcia Clarkson pretty much ran the offices there, and was a good friend of mine. When I entered her office she looked up from behind her wire-framed glasses and smiled. Under normal circumstances I would have told her how pretty she was, but I had no time

‘Marcy, I’m looking for a man who works here. Dark-hair, hawk nose, pinky ring.’

She recognized the urgency in my manner, but she also recognized Frank and it threw her.

‘Mr Sinatra?’ she said, catching her breath.

‘Hiya, doll,’ he said. ‘Answer Eddie’s question, OK?’

‘Oh, uh, his name’s Jeff Smith,’ she said.

‘How long has he worked here?’

‘A few weeks.’

‘Where does he work, Marcy?’

‘Across the hall.’

‘Is he there now?’

‘He was a few minutes ago.’

We rushed out of her office into the one across the way. It was empty. Marcy came in behind us.

‘What’s going on, Eddie?’

‘We’ve got to find him, Marcy,’ I said. ‘Where would he be if he’s not here?’

She hesitated.

‘Come on, Marcy!’

‘I don’t want to get him in trouble,’ she said. Jesus, she had a thing for the guy?

‘He’s already in trouble, Marcy,’ I said. ‘He doesn’t belong here. He was sent to spy on Entratter. There’s a good chance he’s about to kill Ava Gardner. If you know something, tell me.’

She stared at me as if I’d gone crazy, but said, ‘Well, I know he likes to go to the roof when he has a break-’

‘The roof!’ Frank said, and he took off.

‘Call down to the casino,’ I told Marcy, ‘find Detective Hargrove and get him up here. And tell Entratter where we went.’

‘But, Eddie, what-’

‘Do it now!’ I said.

I started after Frank.