Robert Randisi - It Was a Very Bad Year

‘Huh? Where?’

Jerry reached out, settled one big paw on the back of Irwin’s neck.

‘You’ll see,’ he said.

Irwin looked down at Wayne and asked, ‘Is. . is he dead?’

‘Naw, he’s just asleep.’

Irwin looked at me, his eyes pleading.

‘The pictures are here,’ he claimed. ‘I was gonna make the exchange. Wayne was just back-up.’

‘Where are they?’

‘There.’ He pointed. I walked over to a table where a brown envelope lay. It had stains on it, which it had acquired that afternoon in Clipper’s. It was the same envelope, with the same photos in it. No nudes.

‘Not good enough, Barney,’ I said. ‘Where are the nudes?’

‘How many times I gotta tell you-’ he started, but Jerry tightened his hand on the back of Irwin’s neck, which took away his ability to speak.

‘Come on, Barney,’ I said. ‘We’re going for a ride.’

Danny found us a downtown warehouse that had seen better days and had been empty for a while.

He was waiting for us when I pulled the Caddy up in front. I drove so Jerry could sit in the back with Irwin, making sure that Barney didn’t try anything.

We got out and Irwin asked, ‘Who’s he?’

‘Shut up,’ Jerry said, and cuffed him on the back of the head.

Danny opened the door.

‘Thanks, Danny.’

‘It’s all set,’ he said. ‘Just some chairs and a table.’

‘Good enough.’

I let Jerry drag Irwin inside.

‘Here’s the keys,’ Danny said, handing them to me. ‘Lock up when you leave.’

‘What’s in here to steal?’

‘Nothin’,’ Danny said. ‘Just lock it, OK? I’m borrowin’ the place.’

‘OK, I’ll lock up.’

‘And I promised the owner you wouldn’t leave any bodies behind.’

‘That’s a promise I can keep.’

‘Sure you don’t want me to come in with you?’

‘No, Jerry can handle it,’ I said.

‘Keep him on a short leash, Eddie,’ Danny said. ‘He can do some real damage.’

‘I know it,’ I said. ‘Don’t worry.’

Danny slapped me on the shoulder. ‘I won’t worry. Let me know what happens.’

I slapped his back and went inside.

Jerry already had Irwin in a chair, his hands tied behind him. He was watching us with wide eyes, his face already slick with sweat. His skin had a yellow cast, because of the naked yellow bulb above him.

‘What’s goin’ on?’ he demanded.

‘Barney, my friend does this for a living, so make this easy on yourself.’

‘What are you talkin’ about?’

‘I want the nude photos of Abby Dalton.’

‘I already toldja,’ Irwin replied. ‘I never took no nude photos.’

‘I can’t buy that, Barney,’ I said. ‘The way Abby looked back then, young and fresh? No way you’d let her get away without a few nudies. Somebody’s threatening to take those photos public, and you’re the only one who ever took any.’

‘That’s what she said?’

‘That’s what she said.’

He thought about it for a minute, then said, ‘She’s a liar.’

I stared at him for a few seconds. ‘OK, Jerry. He’s all yours.’

‘What? No, hey, wait a minute-’

I went out the front door, closed it behind me and leaned against it. Danny had picked a good place. I couldn’t hear anything that was going on inside. I checked my watch, and after five minutes I went back in.

Irwin was still in his chair, but his head was hanging down, his chin on his chest. I looked at Jerry.

‘I think he’s ready to deal,’ he said.

I checked Irwin out, critically. It didn’t seem that any of his appendages were broken.

‘What’d you do to him?’ I asked.

‘Nothin’,’ Jerry said, ‘I just kinda. . asked him nicely.’

‘Asked him nicely, huh?’

He nodded.

I walked over and stood in front of Irwin.

‘Barney.’

He looked up at me. His eyes seemed haunted, but he didn’t look like he was in pain.

‘The nude photos of Abby,’ I said. ‘Where are they?’

‘I got ’em. . in the bank.’

‘A safe deposit box?’

‘Y-yes.’

‘What bank?’

‘The Bank of Las Vegas.’

‘What branch?’

‘The one on Simmons.’

‘OK,’ I said, ‘how about we go there and get ’em tomorrow?’

‘Sure,’ Irwin said, ‘OK.’

I turned and looked at Jerry.

‘He’ll be there, Mr G.’

‘OK,’ I said, turning back to Irwin, ‘so let’s meet in front of the bank at nine a.m.’

‘Yeah, OK.’ Irwin lowered his eyes, as if he couldn’t meet mine. Whatever Jerry had done to him had made him feel. . ashamed.

I walked behind him, untied his hands. He didn’t bring them around in front until Jerry said, ‘It’s OK, Barney.’

He rubbed his wrists.

‘Let’s get you home,’ I said. I went to grab his arm and help him up, but he flinched and pulled away.

‘Come on, Barney,’ Jerry said. ‘We’re just gonna drive ya home.’

Once again I drove while Jerry sat in the back with Irwin. When we got to his house they got out of the car together.

‘I’ll just walk him to the door,’ Jerry said.

I watched as they walked, Jerry with his arm around Irwin’s shoulder, Irwin looking completely crestfallen. At the door they stopped. Jerry turned Irwin to face him, spoke to him briefly, at which point Irwin nodded miserably, and went inside.

Jerry came back and asked, ‘Can I drive?’

‘Sure.’

I shoved over and allowed him to get into the driver’s seat.

‘Jerry, he seems like a completely broken man.’

‘I know.’

‘But. . he’s not. You didn’t break anything. . right?’

‘Only his spirit, Mr G.,’ Jerry said, ‘only his spirit.’

By the time we got back to the Sands, Lee Harvey Oswald had been arrested and charged with the murders of a police officer, and the President of the United States. The images of Oswald in handcuffs were played over and over on the screen.

We went to Jerry’s suite. He let me in and then said he was going to look for his cousin, Billy. First, I asked him to stash the five grand for me because I didn’t want to carry it around, then I used the phone to call Abby Dalton’s room.

‘Isn’t it horrible?’ she asked me. ‘I’ve been watching all day.’

‘Yes, I know,’ I said. ‘It’s hard to believe. Listen, Abby, I’ve been workin’ on your problem and I think I’m gonna get those photos tomorrow.’

‘From Irwin?’

‘Yes, apparently he has them in a safe deposit box.’

She hesitated, then said, ‘Maybe I should be flattered.’

‘I’ll come back here right away when I have the photos,’ I said. ‘You’re probably anxious to leave Vegas and get home.’

‘I do have to get back to work.’

‘OK,’ I said, ‘just be patient one more day.’

‘I’d be more patient if I had some company.’

‘I’ll come by in an hour and take you to dinner.’

‘Wonderful! That will be so much better than sitting here watching the television.’

‘I’m gonna bring a friend who’s helpin’ us,’ I added. I figured Jerry would like to meet Abby.

‘The private detective?’

‘No, another friend. I think you’ll find him. . interesting.’

I hung up and dialed Entratter’s office.

‘Any word on Frank?’ I asked when he answered.

‘He was on the Warner Brothers lot shooting Robin and the 7 Hoods with the rest of the guys. I talked to Dean. He said Frank went directly to church, then called the White House.’

‘Did the Kennedys talk to him?’

‘He spoke with Pat Lawford.’

‘Not Peter?’