‘Good for Jerry,’ I said. ‘Definitely.’
‘What about you?’
‘I’m gonna have to talk to Hargrove sooner or later and see what he’s got,’ I said. ‘I can’t run from him. He’s not the kind to give up.’
‘So what are you going to do?’
‘I’ll have to drive back to Vegas, leave you guys stranded here.’
Suddenly, her hand tightened on my thigh and the situation became very sexual. She also leaned over so that her shoulder was against mine, she lowered her voice.
‘I’m getting pretty horny, Eddie,’ she said. ‘If we don’t do something about that soon your friend Jerry might be in jeopardy.’
I turned my head and looked into her eyes. I almost said that I’d bet she could not get Jerry into bed, but I didn’t want to challenge her. But I was pretty sure Jerry’s loyalty to Frank would keep that from ever happening — unless, of course, Ava pulled out the big guns.
So I just gave her a stern look and said, ‘Behave,’ and slapped her hand away.
‘Fine,’ she said.
FIFTY-NINE
I had something to eat with Jerry and Ava, then Jerry took a walk before it got dark, while Ava and I sat on the deck with glasses of wine.
‘Franks and beans,’ Ava said. ‘I can’t remember the last time I had that.’
‘Me, neither.’
‘It was good.’
‘Surprisingly good,’ I agreed.
‘But because I’m eating, and trying to keep up with you and Jerry, I’m getting fat.’
‘You’re not fat, Ava,’ I said.
‘What am I?’ she asked, sipping her wine. She batted her eyes at me over the rim.
‘Oh no,’ I said, ‘you’re horny enough without me making it worse by telling you how beautiful and sexy you are.’
A self-satisfied smile spread over her face.
‘Thank you, Eddie, for not telling me.’
We clinked glasses.
‘What’s he doing out there?’ she asked.
‘Making sure there’s nobody in the bushes with a gun,’ I said.
‘Really?’
‘Kinda,’ I said.
‘Are you staying here tonight?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘I was planning to, but now that the cops are lookin’ for me I should call the detective and see what he wants.’
‘And?’
‘He might want me to come back to town.’
‘Tonight?’
‘Maybe. If he does, it’s not that late, and only thirty miles.’
‘Why can’t it wait until morning?’ she asked.
‘Maybe it can,’ I said. ‘That’s what I’m going to find out. I’ve had trouble with him before,’ I said. ‘Me and Jerry both. He’s got it in for me.’
‘Fuck him, then,’ she said. ‘Don’t call him.’
‘Well, if it was just me I might do that, but there’s you and Jerry to consider.’
She tapped the nail of her forefinger against her glass.
‘Well then, why don’t you go and call him now and get it over with?’ she suggested.
‘You know what?’ I said. ‘That’s what I’m gonna do.’
‘Do you have his number?’
‘Yeah, Entratter gave it to me.’ I stood up, left my glass on the deck rail. ‘I’ll be right back.’
As I headed for the door Jerry came up the steps.
‘What’d you find?’ I asked.
‘Nothin’. Looks good so far.’
‘I’m gonna make a call,’ I said. ‘Go ahead and sit with Ava.’
‘OK, Mr G.’
I went inside. I’d left the number on a piece of paper next to the phone, so I sat and dialed.
‘Detective Hargrove,’ he said, after four rings.
‘If you’re lookin’ for somebody, Detective, maybe you should answer your phone on the first or second ring.’
There were a few moments of silence and then he said, ‘Fuck you, Gianelli. Where the hell are you?’
‘I’m around,’ I said. ‘Not far. What’s goin’ on? I heard you were lookin’ for me.’
‘I’m lookin’ to throw your good for nothin’ ass in jail, that’s what I’m lookin’ for,’ Hargrove said with not a hint of humor.
‘What for?’ I asked. ‘What did I do now? Or what didn’t I do that you want to pin on me?’
‘Never mind,’ he said, ‘just get your ass in here so we can talk.’
‘OK, I’ll be there first thing in the mornin’,’ I said.
‘No, not mornin’,’ he said. ‘Now, so I can call off my men and not waste their time lookin’ for you.’
‘What, you got an APB out on me? Am I gonna be charged with somethin’?’
‘I told you, I just wanna talk.’
‘No, you said you wanted to throw my ass in jail, but I thought you were just talkin’ like you always do, in general. You got somethin’ specific you wanna toss me in a cell for?’
‘Eddie,’ he said, ‘if you run I’ll find you.’
‘What the hell, Hargrove,’ I said, ‘what reason do I have to run? Look, I’ll be there in an hour.’
‘I thought you said you were nearby?’
‘I’m an hour away,’ I said. ‘I’m on my way. Call off your dogs so they don’t shoot me on the way.’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ he said. ‘If you need to be shot I’ll do that myself.’
SIXTY
Jerry wanted to go with me.
‘If this is about poppin’ those two Chicago goons I should tell ’em I did it,’ he said. ‘I can’t let them pin that rap on you.’
‘They’re not gonna pin anythin’ on me, Jerry, because I didn’t do it. And I’m not about to give you up.’
‘I never thought you would, Mr G.,’ he said.
‘OK,’ I said, ‘so I’m gonna drive back now, and I’ll return tomorrow.’
‘If you’re not in jail,’ Ava said.
‘I won’t be in jail.’
‘If you are,’ she said, ‘it’ll be my fault.’
We were sitting on the deck, staring out at the darkening sky.
‘I leave now I can make most of the drive before it gets dark,’ I said. I handed my wine glass to Jerry.
Ava stood up abruptly, set her glass down, and put her arms around me. Once again, what could have been a sexual situation was really just a warm one.
‘Be careful.’
‘I will.’ I hugged her back. ‘Look after the big guy.’
‘I will.’ She let me go and stepped back. ‘Call if you’re not in jail.’
I smiled.
‘See ya, big guy.’
‘Mr G?’
‘Yeah?’
‘You got Miss Ava’s gun on ya?’
‘I do.’
‘Don’t take it into the police station with you.’
‘Thanks for reminding me,’ I said. It was so light in my pocket that I might have done just that.
I drove to the police station on West Russell, just off Las Vegas Boulevard. Inside I asked for Detective Hargrove. When the desk Sergeant asked me my name I gave it to him, half expecting to be handcuffed moments later and dragged to the floor. Instead he said, ‘Wait here.’
Moments later Hargrove’s partner of the month came out. I recognized him from the casino. He was young, white and polite.
‘This way, Mr Gianelli,’ he said. ‘My name is Detective Holman.’
‘Really?’ I asked.
‘I’m afraid so,’ he said.
I followed him to an interview room where, I knew from experience, Hargrove would let me cool my heels for up to an hour.
‘Detective Hargrove will be with you in a minute.’
‘Yeah, sure,’ I said. ‘Tell him to bring coffee, black, no sugar.’
Holman nodded and backed out.
Fifty minutes later Hargrove came walking in. To my surprise he had two cups of coffee with him. To my further surprise, he pushed one across the table to me.
‘Black, no sugar.’
‘Thanks.’
He sat down across from me.
‘What’s this about, Hargrove?’ I asked. ‘It’s been awhile since you came lookin’ for me.’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘You been keepin’ your nose clean, huh?’
I shrugged.
‘I’ve pretty much been bein’ myself.’
‘Which, to me, is enough reason to throw you in jail,’ Hargrove said.
‘Luckily, you need more than that,’ I said. ‘You need evidence that I did something illegal.’
‘You’re right, I do.’
‘Do you have it?’
‘I have some questions.’
‘About what?’