It Was a Very Bad Year

SEVENTY

Barney Irwin was a kidnapper, and a producer of stag films. I wondered how many young girls who came to him for portraits ended up on film with their clothes off?

‘What do we do?’ Jerry asked.

‘There’s a lot of stuff here, Jerry,’ I said. ‘I doubt he’d want to leave it behind. In fact, I doubt that he’s even leavin’ town.’

‘He ain’t as scared, or as stupid, as we thought,’ Jerry said.

‘No, he’s still stupid. Or else why leave this stuff lyin’ around?’

‘It ain’t lyin’ around,’ Jerry said. ‘It’s under lock and key.’

‘Still,’ I said, ‘this kidnap stuff, and the note I found in his desk drawer. . not smart.’

‘OK,’ Jerry said, ‘but he’s tougher than we thought. He tried to have us both killed, tried to set us up again in that warehouse.’

‘He’s still in town,’ I said. ‘Maybe the Rienzas know where.’

‘How do we find out?’

‘We ask ’em.’

‘I hope that don’t mean goin’ to a police station?’ Jerry said.

‘No,’ I said, ‘I’ll just call Hargrove. Come on, let’s lock up and get out of here.’

The combination lock wouldn’t close again, but we managed to hang it on the door so it looked locked. Only Irwin, when he came to get inside, would know.

As we went down the back stairs I said, ‘We’re gonna need somebody to sit on this place and watch for Irwin to come back.’

‘Not me.’

‘No,’ I said, ‘I’ll ask Danny to find somebody.’

We took the kidnap folder and a roll of film with us. I put them in the back seat while Jerry got behind the wheel.

‘Where to?’ he asked.

‘Phone.’

‘Pay phone?’

I thought a moment, then said, ‘My house.’

‘Is that smart? I mean, what if Irwin sends somebody after us again?’

‘You’ll take care of ’em.’

‘As long as there’s not more than three.’

When we walked into my house Jerry got a beer from the frig while I called Danny.

‘Yeah, I got a guy who can sit on the place,’ he said, after I told him everything we found. ‘Stag films, huh? I hate those things. Most of the girls look strung out on somethin’.’

‘For all we know Irwin’s dealin’ in drugs, too. The guy’s real good at playin’ dumb.’

‘Well, maybe he’s a pro when it comes to fuck films and drugs, but he’s still an amateur when it comes to kidnapping.’

‘Ain’t that the truth. Listen, give your guy all my numbers and have him call as soon as he sees Irwin.’

‘I’ll have him tail him, and then call.’

‘OK. Thanks, Danny.’

I hung up, called Hargrove at his office. He was there.

‘You’re running out of time, Eddie.’

‘What about the Rienzas?’ I asked. ‘How are they doin’ on time?’

‘Better than you,’ he said. ‘They’re out.’

‘What?’

‘Hit the streets hours ago.’

‘How did that happen?’

‘Their alibi checked out.’

‘You said yourself about alibis-’

‘Hey, if it checks out, it checks out,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing I can do about it. I had to cut them loose.’

‘That’s great.’

‘Watch your back,’ Hargrove said. ‘I think they were pretty mad at you.’

I hung up.

‘So?’ Jerry asked. ‘They’re out?’

‘Yup.’

‘Want a beer?’

‘Yup.’

He tossed me a can. I caught it one handed.

‘Now what?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know, Jerry,’ I said. ‘We got the word out on Irwin, and we got his storage unit covered. I seriously don’t know what else we can do. You got any suggestions?’

His eyes brightened and he said, ‘Get somethin’ to eat?’