It Was a Very Bad Year

FORTY-FOUR

I closed the door, locked it, and turned to face the DA.

‘What’s this about, Mr Raggio?’

‘You know what it’s about, Eddie,’ he said. ‘The exchange. We want it to go off without a hitch.’

‘Without a hitch is what I want, too,’ I said. ‘Who’s we?’

‘Me and the FBI.’

‘And why wouldn’t it go off without a hitch?’ I asked. ‘I’m going to do exactly what Frank wants me to do.’

‘That’s what we’re afraid of,’ Raggio said.

I stared at him, but he didn’t offer anything more than that.

‘I’m afraid I don’t understand, Mr Raggio,’ I said. ‘What are you getting at?’

He started to pace, as if forming his thoughts.

‘The kidnappers,’ he said, finally, ‘we want them alive.’

‘What are you-’ I started, then realized what he was saying. ‘Wait a minute. You think. . I’m not a killer, Mr Raggio. Where did you get that idea?’

‘You work at the Sands, don’t you?’ he asked. ‘For Entratter?’

‘Sure I do,’ I said, ‘as a pit boss.’

‘Come on, Eddie. I checked you out today. I spoke to Detective Hargrove with the Vegas PD. He filled me in on your history.’

‘My history?’

‘When you and some Brooklyn thug named Jerry are around, bodies pile up.’ Raggio pointed his finger at me. ‘Why else would Frank Sinatra send for you to get his kid back? Well, I’m telling you now, I want those kidnappers, and I want them alive.’

‘Mr Raggio-’

‘I can’t go to LA with you tomorrow. That’s out of my jurisdiction. But I’m going to call ahead to the DA there. The cops are going to be watching you.’

‘That’s fine with me, Mr Raggio,’ I said. ‘You tell ’em to do their job, and I’ll do mine.’

‘And what is your job, Eddie?’

‘Right now it’s to help Frank get his son back. And I don’t intend to kill anybody while I do it.’

‘So you say,’ Raggio said. ‘Now you take this as a warning-’

‘And take this as a warning,’ I said, too pissed to worry about consequences. ‘Get out of here before I throw you out.’

‘Just remember what I said, Gianelli.’

‘You remember what I said, Raggio,’ I retorted. ‘Get out.’

Without another word Raggio left. Moments later there was a knock on the door. I considered not answering it, just in case it was him again. Or maybe this time it was the FBI wanting to ‘warn’ me.

In the end, I opened it. It was Jack Entratter.

‘Can I come in?’

‘Sure.’

He entered, closed the door behind him.

‘I saw Raggio leavin’,’ he said. ‘He didn’t look happy.’

‘He was here to warn me.’

‘About what?’

‘He says he wants the kidnappers alive,’ I said. ‘Seems he thinks Frank is sendin’ me to kill ’em.’

‘What?’

‘I know. I told him to get out. But he’s gonna cause trouble, Jack. He said he’s going to call ahead to the LA District Attorney.’

‘Where did he get that idea?’

‘From Hargrove.’

‘That bastard! What’s he got to do with this?’

‘Raggio checked me out with him. He seems to think since I work for you and the Sands — and I’m friends with Frank — that I’m mobbed up.’

‘Then I guess it’s a good thing Frank didn‘t accept Mo Mo’s offer of help,’ Entratter said. ‘That would’ve sealed it for him.’

‘And maybe he should have accepted Bobby’s offer,’ I said. ‘That would have kept the cops at bay.’

‘Frank’s made his decision,’ Jack said. ‘All we can do is go along.’

I hesitated a moment, then said, ‘I agree.’

‘What about the other thing?’ he asked. ‘The two mugs who grabbed you?’

‘I’ve got Danny Bardini working on it,’ I said. ‘When I get back to Vegas we’ll take care of it.’

‘OK,’ Jack said, slapping me on the back. ‘Get some sleep. I’ll make some calls of my own to LA. Since Raggio checked you out, it might make sense for us to check him out.’