Fly Me to the Morgue (10 page)

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Authors: Robert J. Randisi

Tags: #Suspense

BOOK: Fly Me to the Morgue
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‘Because, detective,' I said, ‘when we got to the place, we found the horse owner, Chris Arnold, dead.'
‘Dead?' Freeman asked. ‘How?'
‘He had been beaten to death.'
Both detectives turned to face me.
‘Did you call the police?'
‘Of course we did,' I said. ‘Two Sheriff's detectives responded.'
‘You have their names?'
‘I do,' Bing said. ‘I wrote them down.'
He took a slip of paper from his pocket, walked up to Freeman and handed it to him.
‘I don't know these guys,' Freeman said, ‘but we'll get in touch.'
‘But we do know you, Gianelli,' Moore said.
‘Well, I don't know you guys.'
‘We know a friend of yours,' Moore said. ‘Detective Hargrove?'
‘Hargrove's no friend of mine.'
‘We heard,' Moore said. ‘So you just happened to find a dead body, huh?'
‘Hey, hey, what's this about?' Bing asked. ‘The only reason Eddie was even out there was as a favor to me. So why's he being badgered?'
‘You don't know who you're dealin' with, Mr Crosby,' Freeman said. ‘Gianelli's got a history here in Vegas with the police, and it's not a good one.'
‘I don't care about that,' Crosby said. ‘Eddie's a friend of mine, has been for some time. I certainly do know who I'm dealing with. And I think any further dealings I have with you guys will be through my lawyer.'
‘That's the way you wanna play it?' Moore asked Bing.
‘Easy, Ray,' Freeman said to his partner. ‘If Mr Crosby wants us to talk to his lawyer, that's his privilege.'
‘I'll have him get in touch with you, Detective Freeman,' Bing said. ‘Today.'
‘That'll be fine, sir,' Freeman said. ‘Let's go, Ray.'
They headed for the door, but before he could leave, Moore decided to get in my face. He got almost nose to nose with me.
‘This ain't over for you, boyo.'
‘Boyo?' I repeated. ‘That's the best you got?'
‘Why you—'
‘We're leavin' Ray,' Freeman said, grabbing his partner's arm, ‘now!'
As they headed for the door Bing's wife, Katy, decided to use her key to enter. She stopped short as the two men almost bowled her over.
‘Oh, excuse us, Ma'am,' Freeman said. ‘We're so sorry.'
‘Sorry, Ma'am,' Moore said.
Kathryn Crosby's beauty drained the two men of all their animosity.
‘That's quite all right,' she said to them. ‘Good day.'
‘Good day, Ma'am,' Freeman said, closing the door behind them.
Kathryn, holding several shopping bags, looked at the three of us and said, ‘Would anybody like to tell me who the men were who almost trampled me?'
‘Katy, this gent is Danny Bardini, a friend of Eddie's.'
‘The detective who's looking for Red Stanley?' she asked.
‘That's right, honey. Why don't you take your bags into the bedroom,' Bing suggested. ‘I'll be right in to explain everything to you.'
‘Did you find him?' she asked Danny.
‘Ma'am—' Danny said, somewhat tongue-tied.
‘Katy?' Bing said. ‘Honestly, I'll explain everything. Just let me finish with Eddie and Danny.'
TWENTY-THREE
‘They never asked about Jerry,' Bing said, when Kathryn had gone into the bedroom.
‘So you didn't have to lie,' Danny said.
‘But once they talk to the Sheriff's detectives,' I said, ‘they'll know about Jerry. And when they talk to Hargrove, they'll come lookin' for him.'
‘I can fly him back to New York,' Bing offered.
‘Probably not a good idea,' Danny said. ‘They'd make him come back, even if they had to call the NYPD to do it.'
‘And Jerry probably wouldn't go back,' I said to Bing.
‘Why not?'
‘It's not his style,' I said. ‘He'd feel like he was runnin' out on both of us.'
‘So what do we do?' Bing asked.
‘We wait and see what happens,' I said. ‘Meanwhile, you better stick to your guns and have your lawyer contact all the detectives involved.'
‘I'll call him as soon as you gents leave,' Bing said, ‘and I finish explaining everything to Katy. I don't know if you fellas noticed, but she ain't happy.'
‘We'll leave you to it, then,' Danny said. He shook hands with Bing.
‘Thanks for everything, Danny,' Bing said. ‘You'll send me the bill, huh?'
‘Not a chance,' Danny said. ‘This one's on Eddie. He owes me.'
‘Well, if you're ever in Palm Springs give me a call. We'll have you out to the house.'
‘I'll take you up on that,' Danny said. ‘You comin'?' he asked me.
‘In a minute.'
‘I'm headin' back to the office. See you later.'
I nodded, and he left.
‘This is a mess,' Bing said.
‘It'll take some cleanin' up, that's for sure,' I said.
‘Can you stay with it?' Bing asked. ‘I mean, the cops'll be back.'
‘You'll have your lawyer.'
‘I want you, Eddie.'
‘You'll have to clear it with Jack, Bing.'
‘Jack won't be a problem,' he assured me.
‘As long as you're in Vegas, Bing, you can count on me.'
‘Good man!' He grabbed my hand and pumped it warmly. ‘Why don't you plan on having dinner with me and Katy tonight.'
‘Oh,' I said, ‘will that go over OK with her?'
‘Sure, sure,' Bing said. ‘She likes you. And bring Jerry. She's real interested in him.'
‘Well, OK,' I said. ‘We can do that.'
‘I'll have a car pick us up in the front of the hotel,' he said. ‘Eight o'clock OK?'
That was two hours away. ‘I'll check with the big guy, but it should be fine.'
‘This may sound cold,' he said, ‘but I'm still interested in that horse. I came all this way to see her.'
‘I suppose Chris Arnold might have a wife, or family,' I said. ‘You want me to check?'
‘No,' Bing said, ‘that might bring you into contact with the cops. I'll have my lawyer check on it.'
‘OK,' I said. ‘We'll meet you in the lobby.'
‘I'll pick the place, OK?'
‘You're the host.'
He walked me to the door and we shook hands again.
‘Sorry to get you mixed up in all this, Eddie.'
‘That's OK, Bing. Listen, I'll check in with Jack so he knows what to expect.'
‘OK.'
I grabbed the elevator and took it to the second floor to Jack's office. His girl's desk was unoccupied, so I knocked on his open door.
He looked up from his desk, waved and said, ‘Eddie, come on in.'
I walked to his desk and sat down across from him.
‘What's goin' on?' he asked. ‘Or am I gonna regret askin' that question.'
‘Um, yeah,' I said, ‘you pretty much are, Jack.'
‘Two dead bodies?' he repeated after I'd finished my story.
‘I'm afraid so.'
‘You bring Jerry in from Brooklyn and find two dead bodies?'
‘First of all, Jerry's got nothin' to do with either one,' I said. ‘Me and Bing were with him when we found Chris Arnold. And Danny found Fred Stanley for Bing.'
‘Yeah, yeah,' he said, waving his hands, ‘forget I said that. It just seems when you and him get together—'
‘That's the way the cops are thinkin', Jack,' I said. ‘I don't need for you to be thinkin' the same way.'
‘OK, I said forget it!' he snapped. ‘Look, I'm sorry. Where's Jerry?'
‘Bing got him a suite.'
‘Great,' Entratter said. ‘Glad to hear he's comfortable.'
‘Jack—'
‘OK, OK,' Jack said. ‘So, the Vegas cops don't know about Jerry yet.'
‘Right.'
‘And when they find out, they'll come callin'.'
‘Right again.'
‘Is he heeled?'
‘He is.'
‘Well, tell him for Chrissake to leave the piece in his room somewhere.'
‘I'll tell him.'
‘And you know Hargrove is gonna be all over you.'
‘It's not his case.'
‘That don't matter,' Jack said. ‘If he sees a chance to come down on you and Jerry, he'll take it.'
‘Bing's gettin' his lawyer involved.'
‘I'll call our lawyers, too,' Jack said. ‘Keep them on call.'
‘Probably smart.'
‘Just try to keep your ass and Jerry's ass clean on this.'
‘So far we haven't done anything we could be faulted for, Jack,' I said. ‘All we did was ride out there with Bing.'
‘Is he stayin' in town?'
‘The cops want him to stay,' I said, ‘plus he's still interested in that horse.'
‘Is there family he can deal with?'
‘He doesn't know,' I said, ‘but he's gonna have his lawyer find out.'
‘Well, I guess you won't be goin' back to your pit any time soon,' he said. ‘How's your replacement doin'?'
‘He's doin' great.'
‘You better hope he don't do that great.'
‘Why?' I asked. ‘You'll promote me?'
‘Yeah, right,' he said. ‘Look, clear this up as soon as you can.'
‘Clear what up?' I asked. ‘The cops are investigating both murders. I'm just gonna try to stay out of the way.'
‘Funny,' he said, ‘tell me another one.'
I started for the door.
‘Oh, by the way.'
‘Yeah?'
‘Aren't you supposed to be showing Frank Junior a good time?'
‘Oh, crap,' I said. ‘I forgot. Hey, you think he'd like to have dinner with Bing Crosby?'
‘When are you going?'
‘About an hour.'
Jack shook his head.
‘He'll be on stage. Give him a call and arrange to meet him after.'
‘I'll do that.'
TWENTY-FOUR
I found Jerry in his suite, watching TV. He was sitting on the big, overstuffed sofa. I had the feeling he was really comfortable in his suite. Going back to his little apartment in Brooklyn might not be so easy.
On the bar was a demolished tray of food, so he'd availed himself of room service.
‘Just a snack,' he said, when he saw me looking. ‘Don't mean I don't want dinner.'
‘That's what I came to see you about,' I said. ‘Bing wants us to have dinner with him and Kathryn.'
He sat up straight.
‘You and me?'
‘That's right.'
‘Jeez, Mr G., I don't know. Mr C.'s wife is a real lady.'
‘So? You managed to choke down your food last year with Ava Gardner.'
He smiled.
‘Miss Ava ain't no lady. She's a broad, if you know what I mean.'
‘I know.'
‘When's dinner?'
‘About an hour.'
He leaped off the sofa.
‘I gotta take a shower and get dressed.'
‘Yeah,' I realized, ‘so do I. I'll stop by here and pick you up in about fifty minutes.'
‘OK, Mr G.'
‘Oh, and Jerry?'
‘Yeah.'
‘Leave the rod home.'
‘I'll feel naked.'
‘Do it, anyway.'
‘OK,' he said, glumly.
I went to the room I was using at the Sands and took a quick shower. I'd already grabbed a suit out of my locker first. Checking myself out I had to admit, I was cooking.
Before I left I called the Flamingo and got Frank Junior's room. I asked him if he wanted to meet me in the lounge at the Sands after his show. He told me he already had a date, but if he could make it he'd meet me there. I hung up, thinking that Junior was apparently seeing to his own good time.
I knocked on Jerry's door and he answered, looking very proud of himself. He was wearing a suit, his hair was slicked down, and I smelled cologne.
I stared.
‘What?'
‘Nothin',' I said. ‘I'm just . . . not used to seeing you so . . .' I waved my hands, words failing me.
‘I look OK?' he asked, worried.
‘You look great, Jerry.'
I frisked him.
‘I left the gun in the room, Mr G.,' he said.
‘Hidden?'
‘Naturally. I always figure some cop is gonna toss my room, even if it's just for the practice.'
I frowned. He may have been right. Once Hargrove heard from Freeman – or the Sheriff's detectives – that Jerry was in town, that wasn't something I'd put past him.
‘We better go,' he said, looking at his watch.
I was wearing a sports jacket and no tie. Jerry made me feel underdressed as we walked to the elevator.
We got to the lobby before Bing and Kathryn, which suited us. We didn't want to make them wait for us.
Bing was wearing a jacket and tie, a fedora and his ever-present pipe. Kathryn wore a dress that showed bare shoulders and great legs, and looked stunning.
‘Jerry,' Bing said. ‘I didn't recognize you. You look . . .'
‘He looks very handsome,' Kathryn said. ‘Hello, Jerry, good to see you again. How about you call me Katy?'
Jerry was speechless. Kathryn had extended her hand so he took it and shook it delicately.

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