Fly Me to the Morgue (5 page)
âI don't mind at all, Bing.'
He nodded, turned and left, being nice enough to throw a wave at Didi on his way out.
I stuck the notepad back into my jacket pocket and looked up at Didi, who came over to me, shaking her pretty head.
âOh my God!' she said.
I looked at my watch. It wasn't late, but I didn't really feel like driving home.
âDidi,' I asked, âwhat time do you get off?'
NINE
I stayed in a room at the Sands that night, after grabbing a change of clothes I kept in a locker. When I woke up there was a firm rump pressed into my crotch, which was not an objectionable way to start the day.
When Didi turned into me I got a glimpse of her pubic hair, as fiery red as the hair on her head. She also had the green eyes and pale, freckled skin of a real redhead.
âGood-mornin',' she said.
â'Mornin'.'
âYou workin' today?' she asked.
âBright and early,' I said. âI've got to shower and change, then go home before I come back and start. Also got some phone calls to make. So . . .' I slapped her on her bare ass.
âYou tellin' me to get up and out?' she asked.
I rubbed her butt where I'd smacked it, then ran a finger up and down the crease between her cheeks.
âNope,' I said, ânot just yet.'
Eventually we both got up and out. She also had to go home, shower and change, run some errands and then come back for a shift. I told her I'd see her later in the lounge.
Before she left she put her hand against my chest and said, âDon't worry, Eddie. This doesn't mean we're goin' steady, or anythin'.'
I kissed her on the tip of her nose and said, âI'll try to console myself.'
I put on chinos and a t-shirt, tossed my suit into the back seat of my car, then drove toward my little house. I stopped first to get some take-out breakfast from a diner down the street â bacon and egg on a bagel, and coffee.
I hung the suit up in the closet, figuring I'd get it cleaned before I wore it again. After that I ate my breakfast, took a shower and dressed, again. This time trousers and a polo shirt. I'd be changing still again before I went to work later.
I called my buddy, Ted Silver, at McCarran Airport and gave him Fred Stanley's name. He said he'd check flights for me.
Next, I called Jerry.
âHey Mr G.,' he said. âYou caught me havin' a second cup of coffee. What's up?'
âHow'd you like an all expense paid trip to Vegas, Jerry?' I asked.
âWhat's the beef?' he asked. âYou got trouble?'
âNot me,' I said. âSomebody else asked for you.'
âWho?'
âBing Crosby.'
âYou shittin' me?'
âI shit you not.'
âWhat's he want with me?'
âHe was impressed with the way you handled yourself last year at Del Mar. He wants you to go with him and help him buy a horse.'
âAin't he got trainers for that?'
âHis trainer didn't show up. He doesn't want the trip to go to waste. Says he can fly you here today and cover all your expenses.'
âJeez . . .'
âYou got somethin' else to do?' I asked.
âNothin' important,' he said. âHell, Bing Crosby, huh?'
âYup.'
âWhataya think, Mr G.?'
âHell, come on out, man,' I said. âHelp the guy buy a horse and then we'll do the town.'
âYou got it, Mr G.,' he said.
âI'll get Bing to make the arrangements, then call you and let you know where to go.'
âI'll be here. See you soon, Mr G.'
I hung up and called Bing right away. He said he'd arrange for a plane to pick Jerry up at Idlewild Airport, which had actually been changed to New York International Airport, Anderson Field in 1948, but most people in New York still called it Idlewild.
I called Jerry back with the info and he had just enough time to get out of his place. Apparently, Bing had assumed he'd say yes, and the plane was standing by.
I hung up, all the plans made. Now all I had to do was wait for Jerry to arrive, then let him accompany Bing to Red Rock Canyon.
I was about to leave my house to run some normal errands â laundry and groceries â when the phone rang.
âHello?'
âEddie, Ted Silver.'
âTed, so quick?'
âYour man was booked on an early flight yesterday from San Diego.'
âAnd?'
âAccording to my info he used the ticket.'
âWell then,' I said, âhe disappeared somewhere between the airport and the Sands.'
âLooks like. You gonna call the cops?'
âNot yet,' I said. âI've got somebody better. Thanks, Ted.'
I immediately dialed a number and waited two rings.
âBardini Investigations.'
âHey, Penny, it's Eddie. Is he in?'
âWell, hello to you, too. And yes, he is.'
âSorry, honey,' I said. âI'm just in kind of a hurry.'
âTrouble?'
âMaybe.'
âI'll put him on.'
She did, and we arranged to meet near his office, in the coffee shop in Binion's Horseshoe. I'd learned from Jerry that there was always room for another breakfast.
TEN
Danny was waiting for me when I got to the Horseshoe Coffee Shop.
âHow come,' he asked, when I sat opposite him, âyou never invite me to meet you up in the steak house?'
âNext time,' I promised. âI guess I probably owe you that after all this time.'
âJesus,' he said, âI was just kiddin'. You don't owe me a thing, Eddie. We're friends. We do things for each other. Sometimes, you even pay me.'
âWell, maybe this will be one of those times.'
âNot with your money, though,' Danny said. âBing Crosby's dime, right?'
âWe'll see,' I said.
A waitress came over and I ordered bacon and eggs. Danny wanted pancakes.
I took out my notebook and passed it over.
âThat's his name, and his addresses. Home and barn.'
âFred âRed' Stanley,' he read. âWhat's red about him?'
âNothin', according to Bing. It's just a nickname.'
âWell, maybe when I find him I'll ask him,' he said. He tore the page out of my book and put it in his pocket. âWhat else is goin' on?'
âWell, Bing is flyin' Jerry in to help him buy a horse.'
âI know the big guy plays the horses, but what's he know about buyin' them?'
âI don't know,' I said, âbut he impressed Bing last year at Del Mar.'
âWhen I find the trainer I may be puttin' Jerry out of a job.'
âHe's gettin' an all expenses paid trip out of it,' I said. âHe won't mind.'
âThat is, if I find Red alive.'
âNow what made you go and say that?'
âMaybe it's our track record,' Danny said. âIt seems when you and me and Jerry get involved, there's a body close behind.'
âI guess I can't argue with you there.'
The waitress came with our plates, set them down, filled our coffee cups and hip bumped Danny when she turned to leave.
âThanks, Lacy,' he said. He looked at me. âGuess I better eat my fill here before Jerry gets here and cleans out the kitchen.'
Over breakfast I told Danny about playing golf with Dino, Hope and Crosby.
âWhat's Hope like?' he asked.
âSame as he is on the TV and in the movies,' I said. âGot a joke for every occasion.'
âAnd Crosby?'
âHe's funny,' I said, âbut it doesn't come as easily to him. I get the feeling he's got things going on in his private life that the public doesn't know about.'
âWhat's so bad?' Danny asked. âHe's married to a gorgeous woman thirty years younger than him.'
âWell, twenty-four or five, but I get what you mean,' I said.
âWhat is she like up close?' he asked. âHave you met her?'
âShe takes your breath away, Danny,' I said. âBeautiful skin, and her eyes.'
âBetter than bein' close to Ava Gardner?'
I grinned.
âNothin's better than that.'
I had spent some time the year before with Ava Gardner, and still didn't have my breath back from that.
âCome on, tell me the truth,' Danny said. âYou slept with her, didn't you?'
I didn't answer. He'd been asking me that for months, but that was my business, and Ava's.
âHow's Penny?'
âStill buggin' me to make her a detective.'
âWhen are you gonna give in?'
âI don't know,' he said, âbut I'll probably have to at some point.'
âAnd what about . . .'
âWhat?'
â. . . marryin' the girl.'
âAre you nuts?' he asked. âWhatever made you ask that?'
âShe's in love with you.'
âYou're crazy.'
âIf you don't know that, my friend,' I said, âthen you're stupid.'
He paused a moment, then said, âBesides, she's too young for me.'
âWhatever you say,' I replied.
âFinish your breakfast,' he said. âI've got work to do.'
ELEVEN
After breakfast I drove to the Sands and put in a few hours in my pit before heading to the airport to pick up Jerry. But before I left, Jack Entratter came down to the floor to see me.
âHad a talk with Bing Crosby this mornin',' he said. âSeems he wants to use you for a few days.'
âUse me?'
âYou know what I mean.'
âI'm supposed to be showing Frank Junior a good time.'
âYou can do both,' Jack said, âbut only if I give you time out of the pit.'
âAnd will you?'
âWhatayou think?' Jack asked. âI gotta keep both Frank and Bing happy.'
âDino's gonna be in town a couple of more days, too,' I said.
âLook, you do what you gotta do,' Jack said. âAnd do me another favor.'
âWhat's that?'
âYou pick your replacement in the pit,' he said. âYou know the talent down here better than I do.'
âAm I gettin' a promotion to management?' I asked.
âYeah, right,' Jack said, and walked away.
âI'll take that as a no,' I called out to his retreating back.
Due to the time difference, Jerry left New York late in the morning and arrived in Vegas early afternoon. He came into the terminal with a big smile on his face, dropped his carry-on and lifted me in a big bear hug.
âGreat to see you, Mr G.,' he said. âYa didn't have to come and get me.'
âDoor-to-door service, Jerry,' I said, picking up his bag.
âWith the Caddy?'
âWhat else?' I asked.
When we got to the car I tossed him the keys, dropped his bag into the back seat, and got into the passenger's seat. He slid behind the wheel, took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
âI love this car,' he said, caressing the steering wheel.
When we first met I'd had a '52 Caddy that he loved. After that one got blown up I got the '53, which he also loved. I always got a kick out of letting him drive.
He started the engine, admired the purr for a few moments, then put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb.
âWhere to?' he asked.
âThe Sands. Might as well meet Bing Crosby first thing.'
âAm I stayin' at your place?'
âSince Bing's footin' the bill I got you a suite at the Sands.'
âA suite? You mean, like Dino gets?'
âYup.'
âJeez,' he said.
We drove in silence for a while and then Jerry said, âSo whataya think about the Mets gettin' The Duke?'
âWhat?'
âDuke Snider,' he said. âThe Mets bought his contract from the Dodgers.'
The Mets had broken the record for losses in their very first season. They were about to start their second.
âIt's about time Snider went back to New York,' I said. âI mean, after LA stole the whole team from Brooklyn. The Mets are gonna need more than him to help them.'
âI guess so,' he said, glumly. âSo when does Mr Crosby wanna go see this horse?'
âI don't know,' I said. âWe'll have to ask him.'
âWhat about his trainer?'
âLooks like he made the flight,' I said, âhe just didn't make it to the hotel.'
âYou lookin' for him?'
âI got Danny on it.'
âThe Vegas Dick,' Jerry said. âHow's he doin'?'
âGood,' I said, âhe's doin' good.'
âHe make that little gal who works for him a dick yet?'
âNot yet.'
âMarry her?'
âNope.' Even Jerry could see how Penny felt about Danny.
We drove for a while, Jerry enjoying the feel of the power under his foot.
âWill you be comin' with us?' he asked. âTo look at the horse, I mean?'
âI don't know,' I said. âI guess that'll be up to Bing. I'm not the one who impressed him by pickin' so many winners.'
âYeah, that was a good day,' he said. âI ain't had a day at the track like that in a while.'
âIn a slump?'
He shrugged.
âGets like that sometimes.'
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