It Was a Very Bad Year

SEVEN

We left the studio and walked to the car. Along the way we passed a buxom redhead walking quickly toward the place.

‘Next,’ Jerry said.

‘Probably.’

‘I coulda squeezed him, ya know,’ Jerry said.

‘I know it, Jerry. Let’s see what my offer gets us first.’ I had the uncomfortable feeling I had played it wrong.

‘You really think he’ll sell you nudie pictures of Miss Dalton?’

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘It depends on how greedy he is. If he’s the one harassing it’s more likely he’ll come up with a bunch of cheesecake photos, just for the money, but no nudes.’

‘But you said nobody asked Miss Dalton for any money, yet.’

‘That’s right.’

‘So maybe it ain’t him.’

‘Even if he’s not the one contacting her,’ I said, ‘he’s still the one who took the photos. She didn’t say anything about posing for anyone else.’

‘What about pictures from movies?’ Jerry asked.

‘She hasn’t been naked in any movies.’

‘Yeah, but maybe on the set, or in her dressing room? Maybe somebody caught her when she wasn’t looking?’

‘Maybe.’

We got to the Caddy and got in, Jerry behind the wheel. He started the car and pulled away from the curb.

‘Where to?’ he asked.

‘Back to the Sands.’

‘What about somethin’ to eat?’

‘It’s not lunch time,’ I said.

‘I was thinkin’ about a snack.’

‘We just had breakfast.’

‘That was a couple of hours ago,’ he said.

I gave in and directed Jerry to a diner. I had coffee while he polished off a burger, fries and a large Coke.

‘I got an idea,’ he said.

‘What?’

‘Why don’t we take a look in Irwin’s studio before he has a chance to get rid of anything.’

‘You mean break in?’

He nodded. ‘Tonight.’

‘He might have gotten rid of everything by then.’

‘Well then, right after he closes up,’ Jerry said.

‘He might still take the photos home, or destroy them. I think I might’ve played this wrong, Jerry.’

‘All we need to do is have somebody watch him,’ Jerry said, ‘then follow him. See what he leaves with. Once we get inside we should be able to tell if he burned anything.’

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Breaking and entering. .’

‘We done worse before.’

‘I know it.’

‘What about the private eye?’ he asked. ‘Can he watch him?’

He meant Danny Bardini, my buddy the private eye.

‘I’ll give him a call, see if he’s around and available.’

‘Then we’ll do it?’

‘Yeah, sure,’ I said. ‘Why not? Let’s take a look and see what ol’ Barney’s got.’

‘When Danny finds out where he lives, we can check that out, too.’

‘Jerry,’ I said, ‘why don’t we handle one break-in at a time.’