It Was a Very Bad Year

SIXTY-FIVE

When we got back to the Sands, Entratter had once again put the word out that he wanted to see me.

‘Where is he?’ I asked the bellman. ‘In his office?’

‘No, sir, I just saw him go out on the casino floor.’

‘OK, thanks.’

‘I’m gonna go to my room and wash up,’ Jerry said. ‘I’ll meet ya out there.’

‘OK.’

We split up and I went looking for Entratter. I found him watching two middle-aged women playing blackjack at a high stakes table.

‘They’re cleanin’ up, and I can’t figure out how,’ he said.

‘Maybe they’re lucky.’

‘Gotta be more than luck.’

‘You wanted to see me,’ I reminded him.

‘You didn’t come see me when you got back.’

‘I figured Mickey would tell you what happened.’

‘Mickey doesn’t know what happened,’ he said. ‘He thinks he got you out just by bein’ there.’

‘You don’t think he did?’

‘Mickey’s a good guy, but he gets a little puffed up about himself,’ Entratter said. ‘He ain’t no criminal attorney.’

‘No, he’s not.’

‘So what happened?’

‘You wanna get a drink?’

‘No,’ Entratter said, ‘I’m watchin’ these two broads. Tell me here.’

‘Hargrove and I came to an understanding.’

‘How the hell did that happen?’

‘He still thinks Barney Irwin had a hand in the kidnappin’, and if he catches him, he cashes in on some of the glory.’

‘And you let him think that?’

‘Why not? What can it hurt? I’m thinkin’ Irwin had somethin’ to do with his man Wayne’s murder. So I help Hargrove catch him, he charges him with the killin’ and the kidnappin’. Where’s the harm?’

‘And how are you gonna find him?’

‘I’m already workin’ on it.’

‘I suppose you’re usin’ your pals Jerry and Bardini?’ he asked.

‘Among others.’

Suddenly, Jack’s face changed. He looked away from the two women and directly at me for the first time. Then he put his big hand on my shoulder and squeezed.

‘You know, you really came through on this kidnappin’ thing,’ he said. ‘Maybe it’s time to think about givin’ you a promotion.’

‘To what?’ I asked. ‘I’m pretty happy with my job, Jack.’ I was hoping he wasn’t thinking about putting me in a position of more authority. I was pretty pleased with the amount of freedom my job gave me.

‘Well,’ he said, dropping his hand from my shoulder, ‘it’s just somethin’ we can talk about later.’

‘Sure,’ I said, ‘later.’

He turned his attention back to the women. I watched for a few moments, and of the five players at the table, they seemed to be the only ones who were winning consistently.

‘I don’t get it,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘But I will.’

As I walked away from Entratter I saw Jerry coming toward me. He’d changed his shirt and jacket, looked very casual with no tie.

‘Hey, Mr G. What’d Mr Entratter want?’

‘Just to be filled in. Apparently lawyer Rudin let Jack think he rescued me from the big bad police.’

‘Mr Rudin ain’t no criminal guy.’

‘No, he’s not,’ I said, ‘but if he wants to think he got me out, let ’im. I don’t care. All I know is we have a small window that’s closing by the minute.’

We’d spent most of the day driving around, hitting my contacts. We had about thirty-eight hours left.

‘So now we just wait?’

‘There’s got to be more that we can do than wait,’ I said.

‘Like what?’

‘Give me a minute.’

I figured we could go back to Irwin’s studio and house and search again, but we’d been pretty thorough the last time.

‘Irwin owns his house,’ I said, ‘but he doesn’t own the studio. He rents it.’

‘So?’

‘So maybe we should talk to the landlord. Maybe even some of his neighbors. The stores on either side of him.’

‘And ask ’em what?’

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘I’m wingin’ it, Jerry. I just don’t want to sit here and wait.’

‘OK, then let’s go.’