So was I, but I didn’t like to admit it. I told her again that I’d call her and kept on toward the Rustic. I didn’t think she’d tell Rucci anything about seeing me but there was that possibility. And even if she didn’t talk she was an added complication and I didn’t need anything more on my mind right then. I had plenty as it was.
I could see the front of the Rustic for two blocks before I got to it and I saw Joey drive up in his own car and go inside. Even at a distance like that there was no mistaking that big solid body and the way he carried himself. He strutted and swaggered and acted like an over-grown bantam rooster that was carrying too much weight around the middle. I waited until I saw Lester drive up in my car and go inside, then waited a while longer to be sure he hadn’t been followed and to give him a chance to go outside and warn me if anyone I shouldn’t see was inside.
He stayed in and I drifted up to the place and in. There was a young fellow back of the bar that I couldn’t remember seeing before and two customers that looked as though they hadn’t been home the night before. They were up to the bar arguing with the bartender about whether they’d been in the place the night before and he was telling them, patiently, that he hadn’t the least idea; that he hadn’t been on duty. He sounded as though he didn’t care, one way or the other. I went on past and he gave me an incurious look and just nodded. Joey and Lester were in the back booth and I sat down and Joey said:
“Jeese, Shean, I’m sorry you got in trouble over this case. I wouldn’t have dragged Wendel in to see you if I’d thought anything about it. I’m sorry, kid.”
“I can always quit it. Forget it. Can you dig up some dough, quick?”
He shot a quick look at Lester, who got red in the face and who said, very stiffly: “I gave Shean that money.”
I said: “I got it, Joey. This isn’t for me; it’s for Wendel. For bail. I may want to get him out in a hell of a hurry and it would take time for him to get it from New York. He’s in jail, and it’s always hard to get money when you’re in the gow.”
Joey laughed then. He said: “So old Tod’s in the sneezer again. Almighty Christ! I’ll bet he thinks these Reno cops have nothing to do but follow him around and throw him in the can. What did he do?”
“Talked with his wife.”
He whistled. “Did he get things fixed up at all?”
“He got thrown in jail, is all. I may want to get him out any time. Can you get the dough?”
“How much?”
“Probably five hundred for a peace bond. But it may be that Crandall will charge him with burglary and then the bail will run up. Can you get it?”
He said: “I’ve got it here. It’s his money. I wanted to explain that to you, Shean. I went over in my account when I was drinking and I didn’t want to sacrifice anything that I was holding. I wanted to wait until I had my regular money due. I didn’t realize I’d run over the account when I gave you that check.”
“Forget it.”
“Old Tod got some money from the East and I’m using it until my money comes in. I feel bad about that. I’ll go down and get him out now.”
“Let it go for now. I know where I can find him and if you get him out I won’t.”
“Well, I’ll go down and find out about it, anyway.” He laughed again. “I understand they don’t have much use for you down around the station.”
“Not one hell of a lot.”
“Maybe I can fix that, too.”
“How can you? The last time you were here they ran you out.”
He grinned and said: “And that last time Tod and I were here we were broke. Flat. This is a money town, Shean. I’ve got money in my pocket now and I’ve found that you’re treated a bit different when you have. I’ll see if I can fix it.”
“Try if you like.”
“No harm in it. Where you staying?”
I remembered about Macintosh not wanting me to tell where I was staying and stalled. I would have even if he hadn’t spoken of it. Joey drank too much to be trusted with that kind of information. I said: “Oh I duck around. I can’t stay any one place because I’m afraid of the cops getting jerry to it. So I just keep moving.”
He laughed and said: “Hey, we haven’t had a drink. That keeping moving is all right if you can hold up under it.” He called the bar man and said to me: “What are you drinking?”
I said: “Rye straight.”
The man came over and Joey said: “Scotch for me. Hell, Connell, I thought you always took Scotch.”
Lester said he didn’t want anything and I said I still wanted rye. The bird went back to the bar and I said: “I’m running along after this drink. I don’t like being out on the Street much. I’ll get in touch with you, Joey.”
“Can I depend on that?”
“You certainly can.”
The man brought us the drinks and I took mine down in a hurry and stood up to go. Joey looked disappointed and said: “Hell, I can’t see any reason you can’t stick around and tell me all that’s happened. After all, we’re in the back here and nobody would see you.”
“I don’t like to take the chance. You got the car keys, Lester?”
Lester gave me my car keys. I said to Joey: “I’m going past Lester’s hotel and I’ll drop him there, if you want to stay here and lush. Or if you want to go and find out if they’ve got Wendel’s bail set. Or he can stay with you.”
Joey said: “I’m going to the station right now,” and stood up with me. We all went out together and Lester and I went to my car while Joey turned up toward the station. Lester said:
“When I told him I was going to pick up your car he said he’d drive his own and meet us here. He got here before I did.”
“I know it.”
I started the car and got going down the street. I dropped Lester at his hotel, then went to the Palace. Half an hour later the landlady came up and said:
“Somebody on the phone for you. You in?”
“Sure,” I said, and went out to the phone.
It was Kirby. He said: “I’m glad I caught you. Joey Free, this friend of Wendel’s, is here and he wants Wendel out on bail. I told him bail wasn’t set yet and he’s throwing his weight around and demanding action plenty. I told him I wasn’t sure just what Wendel was going to be charged with and he’s demanding that I find out. That if he isn’t charged for me to turn him loose. What am I supposed to do?”
“Joey’s got it mixed, Chief. I just wanted him to find out what the bail would be and have it ready. That’s all,”
Kirby said: “Okey. I’ll stall him. I don’t know myself what it’ll be; it depends on Crandall.”
“Haven’t you heard from him?”
“He phoned me he’d be down shortly. That’s all.”
I said: “When he comes let him talk to Wendel. But you go to Wendel now and tell him not to have anything to say. About last night or anything. Get it? Tell him I said it’s very important that he don’t talk.”
Kirby said he understood and hung up.
I went back in the room and by and by the landlady knocked again. She came in, said: “Just in case you don’t know it you’re spotted here. First I thought I wouldn’t tell you. It’s no never mind to me. But you’re a friend of Mac’s so I’m talking.”
“How d’ya know?”
“Right after you came in I saw a car pass by slow. Like the guy was looking the place over. Now there’s a guy hanging around across the street and he’s been there for fifteen minutes. They’ve got the place staked just as sure as God makes little green apples.”
“Who’s the guy across the street?”
“I don’t know him. A big long rangy bird.” Macintosh and Kirby were on my side and I knew the stake wouldn’t be from them. Kirby would be saved trouble if I left town and Macintosh knew I wasn’t going until I had my business finished, one way or the other. That left Crandall, if the landlady was right. And I hadn’t forgotten Joey Free slipping out my name there in the Rustic bar. If the bar man had caught it, and knew his boss was looking for me, he might just possibly have put somebody on my tail. But then, I’d left so soon after that I couldn’t see where he’d had the time, if and providing he knew the score and had been quick enough on the trigger to catch the name. So I said: