You're nobody 'til somebody kills you

Sixty-six

I laid it out for the attorney general of the United States and he listened quietly.

“I think I am most surprised by Marilyn’s reaction,” Bobby Kennedy said when I finished.

“Not quite the delicate flower everyone thinks she is,” I said, “at least not with a frying pan in her hand.”

I told him about the whole ordeal, but not that she had killed the man. I still maintained I had killed them both.

“Eddie, I think you should give me a little time, and then go over to the Lavender Club to find your friend.”

“What about the FBI?” I asked.

“It seems you’ve taken care of their freelancers,” RFK said, “but, Eddie, I really think you should leave Edgar to me.” It sounded like he said “Edgah.”

“I think I know what you’re tellin’ me, sir.”

“Let me make it clear,” RFK said. “I’m telling you to be satisfied to get your friend back. Be satisfied that Jerry is alive. And be satisfied that you’ve taken care of the two freelancers who, in all probability, were watching Marilyn. And I don’t think there will be any charges brought against you.”

“So I just let it go that the FBI was behind the whole thing?”

“As I said,” Kennedy repeated, “Edgar must be left to me. I’m used to dealing with him.”

“And what do I tell Marilyn?”

“That she won’t be bothered anymore.”

“Is that true?”

He hesitated, then said, “It’s the best thing you can tell her.”

I fell silent. I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with what he was telling me.

“Eddie?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Believe me, this is the best way,” he said. “Let me make some calls, and then you go over to the Lavender Club-which will probably be padlocked by tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

“My father and brother tell me you’re a reasonable man.”

“I have been.”

“Well then, continue to be,” Kennedy said, “and everything will go your way.”

“My friend, Danny, has to be alive, sir, for me to be reasonable in even the smallest way.”

“Just give me some time and then you can go pick him up.”

“Yes, sir.”

I hung up and stared at Otash.

“Bobby Kennedy?” he asked.

“He says we can go and pick up Danny in a little while.”

“Where?”

“The Lavender Club, which he says will be closed down by tomorrow.”

“And?”

“And then everything is over.”

“And the FBI’s involvement?”

“The attorney general asked me to leave them to him. He says he’s used to dealing with Hoover.”

“That’s all over my head,” Otash said. “You’d better go along, Eddie.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said, “it’s always better just to go along, isn’t it?”