It Was a Very Bad Year

FIFTY-FOUR

Rather than drive back to my house or the Sands, Danny suggested I call Evans in LA from his office. Jerry and I walked there with him. I sat at Penny’s desk and made the call. It was after hours, but I got through to somebody at the DA’s office and told them it concerned the Frank Sinatra Jr. kidnapping.

‘I’m sorry, sir, Mr Evans isn’t here at the moment.’

‘I need to know where he is,’ I said. ‘I have information that could lead to the capture of the kidnappers. Can you give me his home number?’

‘He’s not home, either, sir. Why don’t you give me your name and I’ll have District Attorney Evans call you as soon as-’

I broke the connection and swore, ‘Damn!’

‘What happened?

‘Evans isn’t in his office and they say he’s not home,’ I said.

‘Then where is he?’ Danny asked.

I looked at Jerry and at the same time we said, ‘Nancy’s house.’ Well, I said Nancy, he said ‘Mrs S.’

I had the number of Nancy’s house in my pocket. I called and the phone was answered by Ed Pucci.

‘Ed, it’s Eddie G., from Vegas.’

‘Hey, Eddie. What’s up?’

‘Is Evans still there?’

‘Yeah, he’s across the room from me. Hold on.’

After a few seconds Evans came on the phone.

‘What is it, Mr Gianelli?’

‘I’ve got some information I think you should have, Mr Evans. .’

I hung up and looked at Jerry and Danny.

‘What’d he say?’ Danny asked.

‘He said “thank you”.’

‘Is he gonna tell Frank?’ Danny asked.

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘He listened to me, I assume he took notes, then he thanked me and hung up.’

Danny laughed.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘He’s gonna catch those kidnappers, and take all the credit.’

‘I don’t really care,’ I said, ‘as long as they get caught.’

‘Make sure you let Frank know it was you who gave Evans the information,’ Danny said. ‘Don’t let him take the credit with him.’

‘Yeah, OK.’

Danny looked at Jerry, and saw Jerry nod once. If I didn’t tell Frank, the big guy would.

‘What are we gonna do now?’ Jerry asked.

‘I’m gonna talk to Hargrove,’ I said.

‘What for?’ Danny asked.

‘To find out if they tracked down Wayne’s killer,’ I said. ‘If they’re still lookin’ at me for it.’

‘That Irwin guy wouldn’t have the balls to do it himself,’ Jerry said.

‘Right. He sent those two guys to Reno to do me, and three to Brooklyn to do you,’ I said. ‘He’s got the nerve for that, he had the nerve to have Wayne killed. And maybe Hargrove managed to identify them as the killers.’

‘You walk into Hargrove’s arms, he just might hang on to you,’ Danny said.

‘I’ll take that chance,’ I said. ‘I didn’t do anything, and he can’t prove I did.’

‘I’ll go with you,’ Jerry said.

‘No chance,’ I said. ‘He sees you he’ll throw you into a cell.’

‘Don’t go to his office,’ Danny suggested. ‘Have him meet you somewhere.’

I thought about it, then said, ‘Yeah, OK. I’ll have him meet me.’

‘Us,’ Jerry said.

I looked at Jerry, saw that he meant it.

‘Yeah, OK, Jerry. Us.’