You're nobody 'til somebody kills you

Six

Back in Vegas, driving from McCarron Airport to the Sands, I asked Dean about his relationship with Marilyn.

“I met her before Joe DiMaggio, and before Frank did. It was back in ‘53, when I was still making films with Jerry. She was a sweet kid. She’s still a sweet kid, Eddie, but there’s something … broken about her. She’s been taken advantage of … a lot! I’ll really appreciate it if you can help her. Even if you just ease her mind some.”

“What about this new picture she’s supposed to make with you?” I asked. “Something’s Got to Give?”

“Jesus, what a mess,” he said, shaking his head. He lit a cigarette, let the smoke drift out his nose, then held the cigarette between the first two fingers of his right hand. “I’d love to make a film with Marilyn and Cyd, but this one’s a mess. We’re on our second producer and third writer. Everybody involved with this film feels trapped.”

“Including you?”

“Hell, not me, pally,” he said, picking a piece of tobacco from his tongue, “I don’t even think it’s gonna get made.”

“Why not?”

“Because as soon as they try to replace Marilyn,” he said, “I’m gonna walk.”

When we reached the Sands, Dean went to see if the guys had checked in.

“You gonna rehearse?” I asked.

He laughed. “Pally, I’m gonna pretend you didn’t ask that. And don’t forget, we’re havin’ dinner tonight with Frank and Sammy. Nine sharp. Be out front, we’ll pick you up in a limo.”

In the lobby of the Sands we split up. I didn’t have an office of my own, so whenever I needed to sit down and use a phone I’d go to Marcia Clarkson’s office. Marcy-which was what her friends called her-made sure everybody at the Sands got paid.

As I entered her office, she pointed without looking and said, “Use that desk over there.”

“What makes you think I need-”

She looked up at me and smiled. She was pretty, with frizzy hair and thick glasses. We’d dated a few times and, when she was dressed for the evening, she was downright beautiful. We never clicked romantically, but stayed friends-even after I introduced her to my buddy, Danny Bardini. He was a bigger player than I was and had the added cachet of being a private eye. 77 Sunset Strip, Peter Gunn and Hawaiian Eye had made private eyes cool and romantic.

“Eddie, you never come to my office just to say hello, do you?”

“Well … no, but I’ll start.”

“Yeah, sure,” she said, “right after today.”

I stopped to kiss the top of her head and then went to the desk she’d offered. Dialing Danny Bardini’s number, I reminded myself to keep my voice down. Even though she’d stayed friends with me, Marcy’s opinion of Danny wasn’t very high. That was because he’d slept with her before deciding to move on. I keep telling myself it pays to be a gentleman.

“Bardini Investigations,” Penny O’Grady answered.

“You haven’t quit on him yet?” I asked.

“Have you got a job for me at the Sands?”

“Of course.”

“One where I don’t have to wear fishnets?”

“Well …”

“What do you need, Eddie?”

“The man, if he’s there.”

“Hold on.”

After a click Danny said, “Hey, buddy, what’s shakin’?”

“I’m gonna tell you, Danny, but you’ve got to promise you won’t go off the deep end.”

“Uh-oh,” he said, “one of your big stars in trouble again?”

“Maybe.”

“And you need ol’ Danny Boy to help clean it up,” he said. “I’m there, ol’ buddy. Which one we talkin’ about? Frank? Dino?”

“Well, Dino asked me to help a friend of his.”

“He’s the coolest cat on earth,” Danny said. “Count me in. Who’s the pal?”

I hesitated. Did I really want Danny in on this? That was the question. The answer was, who else could I trust?

“Marilyn Monroe.”

Silence on the other end.

“Danny?”

“I’m here,” he said, “I’m just tryin’ to think if I heard you right.”

“You did.”

“I get to meet her?”

“If you’re professional about it,” I said. I used Dean’s word. “She’s pretty fragile.”

“She remember you from last year?” he asked. I’d told him about my one meeting with her.

“That’s why Dean called me in,” I said.

“What’s his relationship with her?”

“He’s known her a long time,” I said. “They’re friends.”

“And not like Frank and she were friends, right?”

“Right.”

“Okay, kiddo, fill me in.”

I told him about my meeting with Marilyn that morning, and about the promises I made.

“Doesn’t sound like you promised much more than that you’d try,” Danny said. “She okay with that?”

“She was when I left her,” I said.

“Okay, where do you want me? Vegas, or Tahoe?”

“Tahoe,” I said. “Nose around, see if anybody’s watching her cottage. I’ll check the airport here, see if anyone was on her when she came in.”

He knew my contacts at the airport were as good as his, maybe better, so he agreed.

“I’ll get right on it, kid,” he said. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks, Danny.”

“You’ll get my bill.”

“Yeah, right.”

I wish he would bill me when he helped. I’d have the Sands pay him.

I broke the connection without hanging up, then called somebody I knew in security at McCarron Airport. I explained what I needed from him.

“Well, there sure were a bunch of folks watching that broad walk through the airport, Eddie,” Ted Silver said. “I don’t know how we could tell which one was followin’ her.”

“Do me a big favor, Teddy,” I said. “I’d check with the cabbies myself but I’m jugglin’ a lot of stuff here.”

“I’m pretty busy, too, Eddie.”

“Come on, be a pal,” I said. “We’ve got a new blackjack dealer I think you might be able to handle.”

“And I get the name after I do you this favor?”

“And tickets to a show, if you want.”

“Sammy Davis this week?”

“I think I can do that. Actually, all three of them are here this week.”

“Them other two guys are okay, but that Sammy. He’s the best, and I ain’t never seen him live.”

“I’ll arrange it.”

“Okay, Eddie,” he said, “lemme see what I can scare up for ya.”

“Great, Teddy. Thanks.”

I hung up and saw Marcy looking at me like I was crazy. I guess my voice must have gotten louder during the conversation.

“What?” I asked.

“Are you nuts?”

“Why?”

“You’re gonna trust Danny Bardini around Marilyn Monroe?”

“Hey,” I said, “if he couldn’t handle you, he’s not going to be able to handle her.”

“Me?”

I walked behind her desk and leaned down to gather her into my arms.

“I’ve been alone in a room with Marilyn, and alone in a room with you,” I whispered in her ear. “You’ve got it all over her.”

“Me?”

“You.”

I kissed her cheek. She blushed scarlet.

“Get out of here, Eddie,” she said.