It Was a Very Bad Year

THIRTY-SIX

The two FBI agents eyed me in the hall but didn’t stop me from knocking on Jack’s door. He opened it and let me in. I was surprised that the bottle and the ice were already there.

‘Drink?’ he asked.

‘I could use one.’

He poured and handed me one. Jilly wasn’t there, yet.

‘This is insane, Eddie.’

‘I know it.’

‘I don’t know if Frank can handle this.’

‘He looks pretty rattled, but he seems OK.’

‘He’s right on the edge,’ Jack said. ‘Believe me, I know.’

There was a knock. He let Jilly in and handed him a drink. We shook hands, which we hadn’t had a chance to do earlier.

‘Been a while, Eddie,’ he said. ‘Sorry it’s under these circumstances.’

‘Agreed.’

‘I was just tellin’ Eddie how close to the edge Frank looks,’ Jack said.

‘You might be right,’ Jilly said, ‘but Frank’s pretty tough.’

‘Yeah, but this is Frankie,’ Jack said. ‘This is his kid, you know?’

‘Jesus,’ Jilly said, ‘Nancy must be a wreck over this.’

‘You think he called her?’ Jack asked.

‘I’m damn sure of it,’ Jilly said. ‘Nancy and Dolly, both.’

I knew Nancy was Frank’s ex and Dolly was his mother, but I had never met either.

Jack was sitting on his bed. Jilly sat next to him. I pulled a chair over and sat down.

‘To Frankie,’ Jack said, lifting his glass.

‘And his safe return,’ Jilly said.

I raised my glass and said, ‘Amen.’

‘Frank called me this morning,’ I explained, ‘told me to get my ass here fast, but didn’t tell me what it was about. You guys know more than I do. Fill me in.’

‘Well, he told me Frankie got snatched, but not the particulars,’ Jack said. ‘I only know what he told all of us a few minutes ago.’

‘Poor Frank,’ Jilly said. ‘He still hasn’t gotten over JFK’s death, and now this.’

‘And the funeral snub,’ Jack said. ‘You’d think they could’ve at least let him attend the funeral. After all, he did help get JFK elected.’

‘Help?’ Jilly said. ‘He got Kennedy elected, plain and simple.’

‘I’ve spoken to him since the twenty-second, but he insisted he was fine.’

‘That sure don’t look like fine to me,’ Jilly said.

‘Hey, I didn’t ask, Eddie,’ Jack said. ‘Did you agree to make the drop for Frank?’

‘Well, yeah,’ I said. ‘I was kind of surprised, but how could I say no?’

‘I don’t know how much they’re gonna ask for,’ Jack said, ‘but the Sands will stand for it. I got to tell him that.’

‘I’m sure he’ll appreciate it,’ Jilly said.

Entratter leaned forward and filled our glasses again. We all grabbed some more ice.

‘You gonna make the drop alone?’ Jack asked.

‘I guess. .’

‘I mean,’ he went on, ‘I suppose they’ll want someone to make it alone, but it would probably be smart to have some back-up. Know what I mean?’

‘Yeah you’re probably right.’

‘What about Bardini? He in town?’

I shook my head.

‘He left a few days ago on a case.’

‘Well,’ Jack said, ‘that leaves Jerry.’

I hadn’t thought of that, and wondered why. I guess I simply wasn’t thinking straight since the moment Frank woke me.

I stood up.

‘I’m going to go to my room and make a call.’

‘We’ll meet you in Frank’s room,’ Jack said.

‘OK. I’ll only be a few minutes.’