You Make Me Feel So Dead by Robert Randisi Page B

that.’
    â€˜I’m supposed to meet with him at your hotel,’ I said. ‘I only need to know when he’s comin’ in. He tried to call me at home and I wasn’t there.’
    â€˜Elvis calls you at home?’
    â€˜This would’ve been the first time, but yeah.’
    He hesitated, then asked, ‘Is this on the level, Eddie? Because it could cost me my job.’
    â€˜It won’t,’ I said. ‘It’s totally on the level. All I need is his time of arrival, so I know when to be there myself.’
    He hesitated again, then said – lowering his voice – ‘OK, it’s noon. He’s due to check in at noon.’
    â€˜Thanks, Tommy.’
    â€˜Don’t hang me out to dry, Eddie,’ he said. ‘If I see photographers here—’
    â€˜You won’t,’ I said. ‘Not because of me, anyway.’
    â€˜Yeah, I know,’ Harper said, ‘it’ll leak out, anyway, but …’
    â€˜I won’t say a word, Tommy,’ I promised. ‘I swear.’
    â€˜OK, Eddie.’
    â€˜Thanks for helpin’ me out,’ I said. ‘Now I owe you one.’
    â€˜I’ll call it in,’ Harper said. ‘Take care.’
    I hung up and said to Derek, ‘Thanks for the use of the phone.’
    â€˜Any time, Mr G.,’ he said. ‘Hey, how come they don’t give you an office?’
    â€˜Pit bosses don’t get offices,’ I said, ‘but thanks for the thought.’
    I took a walk through the casino floor, exchanged some greetings with Red Skelton, who was not playing the Sands but had chosen to gamble there, and Alan King, who was watching.
    I went to the Garden Room for coffee, then checked back with the desk for messages. I was hoping Jerry would simply call the hotel, and not Jack Entratter’s number. Or maybe he’d call Frank, who would then call down to the desk looking for me.
    I went back to the Garden Room and decided to have a piece of pie this time with my coffee. I was finishing the last bite when the waitress came over with a phone, plugged it in and set it down on the table.
    â€˜A call for you, Eddie.’
    â€˜Thanks, Kitty.’
    She smiled and walked away. I watched her swaying butt as I picked up the receiver.
    â€˜Yeah, this is Eddie.’
    â€˜I told you,’ Jack Entratter said, ‘didn’t I tell you?’
    â€˜Tell me what, Jack?’
    â€˜Your buddy Jerry called here lookin’ for you.’
    â€˜You should’ve told him to call down to the front desk,’ I said. ‘He would’ve found me.’
    â€˜Well, he couldn’t do that,’ Jack said. ‘You see, he’s only allowed one phone call.’
    â€˜One call?’
    â€˜That’s right,’ Jack said. ‘He’s in jail.’
    I closed my eyes and thought, Jesus.
    â€˜For what?’ I asked.
    â€˜No half measures for your good buddy,’ Jack said. ‘He’s been arrested and charged with murder!’

EIGHTEEN
    D etective Hargrove had a self-satisfied look on his face as he came to fetch me from the front hall of police headquarters.
    â€˜So, one of you finally did it, huh, Eddie?’ he asked.
    â€˜I’ll need to see the evidence, detective, before I agree to that.’
    The look slipped and I knew he didn’t have the evidence he needed to make the charge stick.
    â€˜Come with me,’ he said.
    I followed him down several familiar halls. We were headed for the interrogation rooms. I’d been in them enough times before to know.
    He stopped in front of a door and turned to face me.
    â€˜OK, your buddy’s inside,’ he said. ‘It would benefit him if you could get him to talk.’
    â€˜Benefit you, you mean.’
    â€˜You want to talk to him, or not?’
    â€˜I do.’
    â€˜Then be smart, Eddie,’ Hargrove said. ‘I knew one of you would slip up one day. I sort of hoped it would be