Robert Randisi - It Was a Very Bad Year

Rudin nodded, backed out. The room was significantly larger with the other men out in the hall, but this was hardly the caliber of place Frank Sinatra usually stayed in. This was a weekend warrior’s room, the folks who came to Reno to make a killing at the casinos during their vacation. Double bed, end table with phone, dresser, ice bucket and glasses, one cheap armchair and a TV. Not much more.

The door opened and Jack Entratter entered, followed by Jilly Rizzo. Jack filled the room with his bulk, but Jilly hardly took up any. They both rushed to Frank, who barely had time to stand before they were hugging him.

‘Anythin’ you want done, Frank, just say the word,’ Jack told him.

‘Same here, buddy,’ Jilly said.

‘I know I can count on you guys,’ Frank said. ‘It’s those clowns in the hall I ain’t so sure about.’

‘Are we keepin’ this quiet, Frank?’

‘We’re not lettin’ it out,’ Frank said, ‘but it’ll get out. It’s too damn big not to.’

‘Biggest kidnapping since the Lindbergh baby,’ Jack said.

I thought about that for a minute, then figured he just might be right.

Jack looked at me, ‘Thanks for comin’, Eddie.’

‘I figured you knew.’

‘Frank asked for you, but he didn’t tell me why.’

He and Jilly both looked at Frank.

‘He wants me to make the pay-off,’ I said.

Jack thought a moment, then said, ‘Well, why not? He knows he can trust you.’

I had expected Jack to maybe get upset that Frank hadn’t asked him to deliver the money, so his reaction surprised — and pleased — me.

‘Do we know how much they want?’ Jilly asked.

‘No,’ Frank said. ‘They haven’t made that call yet.’

‘How did this happen?’ Jack asked.

‘We heard from Joe Foss, one of Dorsey’s musicians. He was in the room with Frankie when the kidnappers knocked on the door, pretending to be from room service. They tied Foss up at gunpoint and took Frankie out. Foss got loose and called the cops. They put up road blocks right away, but they came up empty. I heard from Tino — ’ That was Tino Barzie, Frank’s manager who was also handling Frankie — ‘in Palm Springs. Then I got a call and a guy told me they had Frankie, and I was to come here and wait for their call.’

‘That’s it?’ Jack asked.

‘That’s it.’

The door opened again and this time it was Bill Raggio who came in.

‘Mr Sinatra, we need to talk.’

‘Yeah, yeah, OK, come on in,’ Frank said. He looked at all three of us and said, ‘I got you rooms on this floor. These bozos will show you where.’

The bozos in question were the FBI agents. One of them told the other three to show us to our rooms, as Raggio, Rudin and Mahoney once again surrounded Frank.

Jack, Jilly and I walked down the hall with the three FBI men. We each had a room, identical to Frank’s.

‘Can we get room service?’ Jack asked.

‘Tell me what you want,’ one FBI man said, ‘and I’ll have it brought up.’

‘A bottle of bourbon, and some ice.’

‘Comin’ up.’

‘You guys join me in my room in a few minutes,’ Jack said.

Jilly and I both nodded, and went into our rooms. I had only brought one change of clothes, so I didn’t bother unpacking. I went to the bathroom, ran some cold water, washed my face, then left and went to Jack’s room.

The two FBI agents eyed me in the hall but didn’t stop me from knocking on Jack’s door. He opened it and let me in. I was surprised that the bottle and the ice were already there.

‘Drink?’ he asked.

‘I could use one.’

He poured and handed me one. Jilly wasn’t there, yet.

‘This is insane, Eddie.’

‘I know it.’

‘I don’t know if Frank can handle this.’

‘He looks pretty rattled, but he seems OK.’

‘He’s right on the edge,’ Jack said. ‘Believe me, I know.’

There was a knock. He let Jilly in and handed him a drink. We shook hands, which we hadn’t had a chance to do earlier.

‘Been a while, Eddie,’ he said. ‘Sorry it’s under these circumstances.’

‘Agreed.’

‘I was just tellin’ Eddie how close to the edge Frank looks,’ Jack said.

‘You might be right,’ Jilly said, ‘but Frank’s pretty tough.’

‘Yeah, but this is Frankie,’ Jack said. ‘This is his kid, you know?’

‘Jesus,’ Jilly said, ‘Nancy must be a wreck over this.’

‘You think he called her?’ Jack asked.

‘I’m damn sure of it,’ Jilly said. ‘Nancy and Dolly, both.’

I knew Nancy was Frank’s ex and Dolly was his mother, but I had never met either.

Jack was sitting on his bed. Jilly sat next to him. I pulled a chair over and sat down.

‘To Frankie,’ Jack said, lifting his glass.

‘And his safe return,’ Jilly said.

I raised my glass and said, ‘Amen.’

‘Frank called me this morning,’ I explained, ‘told me to get my ass here fast, but didn’t tell me what it was about. You guys know more than I do. Fill me in.’

‘Well, he told me Frankie got snatched, but not the particulars,’ Jack said. ‘I only know what he told all of us a few minutes ago.’

‘Poor Frank,’ Jilly said. ‘He still hasn’t gotten over JFK’s death, and now this.’

‘And the funeral snub,’ Jack said. ‘You’d think they could’ve at least let him attend the funeral. After all, he did help get JFK elected.’

‘Help?’ Jilly said. ‘He got Kennedy elected, plain and simple.’

‘I’ve spoken to him since the twenty-second, but he insisted he was fine.’

‘That sure don’t look like fine to me,’ Jilly said.

‘Hey, I didn’t ask, Eddie,’ Jack said. ‘Did you agree to make the drop for Frank?’

‘Well, yeah,’ I said. ‘I was kind of surprised, but how could I say no?’

‘I don’t know how much they’re gonna ask for,’ Jack said, ‘but the Sands will stand for it. I got to tell him that.’

‘I’m sure he’ll appreciate it,’ Jilly said.

Entratter leaned forward and filled our glasses again. We all grabbed some more ice.

‘You gonna make the drop alone?’ Jack asked.

‘I guess. .’

‘I mean,’ he went on, ‘I suppose they’ll want someone to make it alone, but it would probably be smart to have some back-up. Know what I mean?’

‘Yeah you’re probably right.’

‘What about Bardini? He in town?’

I shook my head.

‘He left a few days ago on a case.’

‘Well,’ Jack said, ‘that leaves Jerry.’

I hadn’t thought of that, and wondered why. I guess I simply wasn’t thinking straight since the moment Frank woke me.

I stood up.

‘I’m going to go to my room and make a call.’

‘We’ll meet you in Frank’s room,’ Jack said.

‘OK. I’ll only be a few minutes.’

I went to my room and called Jerry. He didn’t answer. Damn, if I was going to use him as back-up he’d have to catch a plane fast. I’d need to talk to Frank about what was bound to be a heavy airfare on account of the short notice. I was sure he’d cover it.

Since Jack had brought up Jerry I realized I’d automatically agreed to make the drop for Frank without even considering what I was agreeing to. Drops of this kind don’t always go smoothly. The kidnappers could kill me and take the money. I needed somebody to back me up and keep me alive, and if it couldn’t be Danny, it had to be Jerry. I wouldn’t have trusted anyone else.

I decided to go ahead to Frank’s room and see what was happening. I’d try Jerry again.

I walked down the hall under the scrutiny of the two FBI men. I wondered how long it was going to take for the kidnappers to call Frank and make their demand. Where was Frankie being held and how was he doing? And I wondered who would be crazy enough to do this, because there was no way Frank would rest until he found them, regardless of whether or not Frankie was returned.