You Make Me Feel So Dead by Robert Randisi Page A

drink. ‘I’ve never been there.’
    I didn’t know what to say to that, so I sipped my drink, too.
    â€˜The Colonel said that Elvis is comin’ in tomorrow.’
    â€˜I thought one of them would call and let me know,’ I said.
    â€˜Parker said Elvis tried to call you at home,’ Frank said. ‘So the Colonel decided to call me and leave you a message.’
    Apparently Frank didn’t object to being a message center the way Entratter did.
    â€˜He’ll be at the Riviera,’ Frank went on.
    â€˜I’ll call the hotel and see when he’s gettin’ in,’ I said. ‘I’ll be there.’
    Frank eyed me for a minute and then said, ‘What’s goin’ on?’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    â€˜There’s somethin’ else on your mind besides Elvis Presley.’
    â€˜What makes you say that?’
    â€˜Come on, Eddie,’ Frank said. ‘We’ve been friends long enough. I can tell when my friends have somethin’ on their minds.’
    â€˜Speaking of friends I heard Dino’s comin’ to town,’ I said.
    â€˜Don’t change the subject.’
    Caught.
    â€˜My buddy Danny Bardini’s havin’ some trouble and I promised to help him out.’
    â€˜So you’ll have to split your time between Elvis and Danny?’
    â€˜Looks like.’
    â€˜Get some help,’ he suggested. ‘I’ll fly Jerry in for you, if you want.’
    â€˜Actually, Jerry’s here and he’s already on the job.’
    â€˜Well, that’s good.’
    â€˜It should be, but I’ve already lost track of him.’
    â€˜He’ll turn up,’ Frank said. ‘Jerry can take care of himself.’
    â€˜I know that,’ I said, ‘it’s just that he hasn’t even had time to settle in, yet.’
    â€˜Well,’ Frank said, ‘you’ve got the rest of the day to find him and make your arrangements for tomorrow.’
    â€˜Then I better get to it.’
    I sipped the drink again and put the glass down. Frank walked me to the door with his arm around my shoulder.
    â€˜Let me know if you need any help,’ he said, as we opened the door, ‘with either problem. I’m available.’
    â€˜I’ll remember that, Frank.’
    â€˜And yes, Dino is comin’ in. In fact, he’ll be here tomorrow night.’
    â€˜Good,’ I said, ‘I haven’t seen him in a while.’
    â€˜Let’s try to all have dinner,’ Frank said, ‘if you can squeeze us in.’
    â€˜I’ll try,’ I promised.
    â€˜See ya, Eddie.’
    He closed the door and I went to the elevator. I had the rest of the day to find Jerry, and had no idea where to look.

SEVENTEEN
    I went down to the lobby and checked with the front desk for messages. Finding none, I asked the desk clerk – who had the name ‘DEREK’ on his name tag – ‘Can I use your phone?’
    â€˜Sure, Mr G.’
    He turned the phone around to me so I could make an outside call. I knew if Elvis was checking into the Riviera the next day they’d know exactly when he was coming in. I knew the concierge at the Riviera because he had once worked at the Sands.
    â€˜Hey, Eddie G.,’ Tommy Harper said, glad to hear my voice. ‘What’s shakin’?’
    â€˜Hey, Tommy, how you doin’?’
    â€˜Can’t complain,’ Harper said. ‘What can I do for you?’
    â€˜I need a favor, man.’
    â€˜Sure, anything,’ Tommy said. ‘But I can’t believe that Eddie G., who’s got this whole town wired, needs my help.’
    â€˜This has to do with a famous guest of yours,’ I told him.
    â€˜Uh-oh,’ he said, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial tone, ‘don’t tell me it’s about Elvis Presley.’
    â€˜It is.’
    â€˜Eddie, man,’ he said, ‘I can’t give out any information about