You're nobody 'til somebody kills you

Forty-six

We stopped at a pay phone. I laid my change out, inserted it and dialed Frank’s number.

“Can Marilyn hear you?” I asked, when George put him on.

“No, she’s outside. What’s goin’ on?”

“We’re dealin’ with a murder now.”

“Whose?”

“The desk clerk in the motel where Danny was stayin’,” I said, “only they claim he was never there.”

“Maybe he wasn’t.”

“He’s been wiped from their registration records, but he was there.”

“What do you need from me?”

“To keep me and Jerry out of jail you need to make a statement that we were there with you last night.”

“Where do I go to make this statement?”

“We’ll bring the investigating detective to you,” I said. “Him and his partner.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Fine.”

“Frank, I’m sorry I got you involved-”

“Hey, murder’s murder, kid,” he said. “I’ll do what I can to keep you and Jerry out of jail.”

“Well,” I said, feeling bad at that moment, “maybe I overstated the case, but it would go a long way toward keepin’ us from bein’ suspects.”

“It’s okay, kid,” Frank said. “Just bring ‘em up tomorrow.”

“We’ll be there early, I’m sure,” I said. “Frank, they want to take a statement from Marilyn, too. Only I didn’t tell them she’s stayin’ with you. I only told them she’d be there tomorrow.”

“I get it. You want to talk to her now?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

He put the phone down and it was picked up moments later by Marilyn.

“Eddie? What’s wrong?”

As gently as I could I told her that there’d been an unfortunate murder, that the police wanted statements from her and Frank to confirm Jerry’s and my alibi.

“The police are coming here?” she asked, her voice quavering.

“Yes, they’ll be comin’ with us, tomorrow.”

Her voice got calmer when she heard I’d be there.

“Okay, Eddie.”

“They just need some things confirmed.”

“Okay, Eddie,” she said again. “I’ll talk to them.”

“It won’t be hard to do,” I said. “I think they’re fans of yours.”

“Really?”

Maybe, I thought.

“Really.”

“You haven’t found your friend yet?” she asked.

“No. We’ll get you back home as soon as we can.”

She lowered her voice then, and I knew Frank was nearby.

“Eddie, what about that … other thing?”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Kay Gable yet, Marilyn,” I said, “but I will. I promise.”

“I know you will, Eddie.”

“Let me talk to Frank again.”

“Okay,” she said, and handed the phone to him.

“Everything set?” he asked.

“Frank, try not to make it look like Marilyn is staying there,” I said. “Tell George-”

“Don’t worry, kid,” Frank said, cutting me off, “we’ll treat you all like guests.”

“Okay, good,” I said. “Thanks, Frank. Thanks a lot.”

“Don’t mention it, pally,” he said. “I still owe you, remember?”

“Once we get Danny back it might even out.”

“We’ll see.”

We hung up and I looked at Jerry.

“What now?” he asked.

I stepped out of the phone booth.

“I don’t seem to be gettin’ many good ideas,” I said. “I might even think about going back to Vegas and leavin’ this to Otash, except for one thing.”

“Miss M.”

“Right,” I said. “She’s become dependent on me, which is not a good thing for either of us. I mean, when this is over I’ll be going back home. I’ll just be another man who left her.”

“It ain’t like you guys are romantic or nothin’,” Jerry said.

“No, but that might even make it worse,” I said. “I mean, she’s used to havin’ romances break up.”

“You thinkin’ you’re more like a father to her?” he asked.

“Nooo,” I said with conviction. “It’s like we said before, I’m more like a big brother at this point.”

“She needs to start workin’ again,” Jerry said. “Maybe she’ll be … better then.”

“Yeah,” I said, “maybe.”

I picked up the phone, dropped in a dime, dialed Stanze’s number and waited.

“Might as well get us set up for tomorrow now,” I said. “This way we’ll know what time we have to get up.”

“Good,” Jerry said, “when you’re done with that we can talk about what’s for dinner.”