Brett Halliday - Million Dollar Handle

“I want to enjoy my old age as much as you do, Lou. I don’t want to be in jail or dead.”

Liebler started. “In jail-well, that’s a chance you take, but where does dead come into it?”

“Lou, you’re naive.”

“Keeping just to me, personally, I’m essential. It can’t be worked without me.”

Shayne laughed. “All over the state they’re reading that story, and everybody’s going to get the same idea. If the Surfside pad is that big, I want to get on it. You can’t really think there’s nobody else in the civil service who would like this assignment. I’m not trying to lean on you. Maybe you really are as trustworthy as you say you are.”

“Geary investigated me thoroughly. Did he ever have any complaints?”

“He considered you a replaceable part. When I said we were going to make reallocations, I didn’t mean you’d be cut. But don’t get any ideas about taking more than your share.”

“I’m satisfied,” Liebler assured him. “But the point I’m making, who can be satisfied with zero? I just want to get functioning again.”

“I’m hesitating,” Shayne said, “and I’ll tell you why. Painter didn’t announce the full list. Tony Castle is on it.”

“Who?”

“Castle. That shows you’re new in Miami. He used to consider this his town, and people who disagreed with him sometimes ended up with their heads and their bodies in different canals. If Castle is in on this, it’s smart to go slow.”

“I don’t see what you mean. What role would he play?”

“That’s what I’m hoping to find out. He has a casino in Nassau, and he gets along so well with the authorities there that he likes to stay put. He wouldn’t be part of a Miami deal unless the money was very good.”

“Nassau?” Liebler said thoughtfully. “I heard that’s where the money came from for the renovations.”

“The theater?”

“The whole thing. They stripped everything out and started with the shell.” He looked more closely at the TV monitor. “That guy up there now, waving his arms. He’s one of the ones wouldn’t loan Max a dime. A mortgage? Don’t be stupid. Surfside’s not making any money, so how would you pay it back?”

“I don’t like surprises,” Shayne said. “I didn’t know Castle was getting these payments, and I don’t know how he’s likely to react now that they’ve stopped. He doesn’t know his name was in the book. He may think it’s safe to come back with a few friends. With guns. You want to get back to normal. So do I. The sooner I get a clear picture, the sooner it’s going to happen. So work on it, Lou. Don’t stick your neck out, but ask around. I want everything you can get on his financing. Will Wolf talk to you?”

“He may be too scared.”

“Try him. One other thing. The beating that put Geary in the hospital. I can’t ignore that. The nurse sounded a little too goddamn believable. Check the dates. Anything you can give me about what was going on at the time, so I can have at least a half-assed alternative.”

Liebler was nodding. “I’ll get on it. I wouldn’t be feeling this pressure if I didn’t have a horrible hunch that the track’s going to be sold out from under us any minute. Mike-the daughter, Linda. She’s the one who’s been pushing the sale. Charlotte, the widow, I get the impression she’ll go with the strongest wind. Here’s what I was thinking. Strictly from the point of view of a return on invested capital, keeping the track open doesn’t make sense. But if you went to Linda and said, ‘Look, there’s more money here than shows on the books, and it’s the best kind, the kind you don’t pay taxes on.’ I couldn’t do it, but maybe you could, you don’t have that much to lose. And if you want to get started right away, you’ll find her in the clubhouse bar, unless I’m mistaken. She wouldn’t take part in the ceremony, but she wouldn’t stay home and miss it. She’s a character. Doesn’t have many dates, if you know what I mean.”

Shayne looked at him, and he said hurriedly, “Don’t get sore. Just trying to contribute. All I’m saying, she might listen to you. I didn’t say you had to go to bed with her. When she starts talking about money, which she’s sure to, tell her there are other kinds of money besides Harry Zell’s. Those big sums in her Daddy’s book-where did they come from? Not out of general admissions, that’s for damn sure.”

On the TV monitor, the speakers were changing. Liebler kept touching his empty glass, then quickly withdrawing his hand, as though it had burned him. He had apparently decided not to allow himself any more whiskey.

It cost more to get into the clubhouse than the grandstand, but compared to competing forms of entertainment, the price was still low. Drinks were a dime more, and the seats were more comfortable. There was a window selling $100 wheels and boxes.

When the bartender brought Shayne the drink he had ordered, Shayne said, “Linda Geary. Can you point her out to me?”

“Bound to be here somewhere.” He looked around. “Down there in the corner box. Aren’t you Mike Shayne?”

“I’ll have a statement on that after I talk to my lawyer.”

“Smart man. You got the only way to beat the house odds, that’s own a piece of the wheel.”

The speakers eulogizing Max Geary were running out of things to say, and the bettors were getting restless. Taking his drink, Shayne moved through the crowd to get a better look at Geary’s daughter. A man was beside her. He stood up, and Shayne saw that it was Harry Zell.

Shayne circled, intercepting Zell at the top of the aisle. He looked as though he was mourning something, but probably not the dead race-track owner. As soon as he saw Shayne his expression brightened drastically, going all the way back to normal without passing through any intermediate stages. Then he remembered the context, and he looked sharper and slightly hostile.

“We’ve been hearing about you.”

“Let’s not talk about it, O.K.?” Shayne said. “I’ve been standing here thinking what a great spot for a hotel.”

Zell looked at him suspiciously. “You’re touching a nerve, you know that? I’m trying to figure out how that payoff book fits in with the way Max always refused to listen to my presentation. No track, no payoffs. Look at all the money he’d save.”

“That’s true, Harry, but if he sold out to you, what would he do with his evenings? It’s funny, I don’t think I ever saw Mrs. Geary here before tonight. Have you got her signature yet?”

“We’re negotiating,” Zell said abruptly. “Excuse me, I’m getting a lady a drink.”

“I’ll take it down to her. What’s she drinking?”

“Scotch. But I’m the one she sent for it.”

“We’re all supposed to be grieving for a dead benefactor, not talking real estate with the benefactor’s daughter. For the first few days, the survivors should be thinking about higher things, and I don’t mean a high-rise hotel. Bow out, Harry. I’ll take it to her.”

“God knows I can’t stop talking about it. It’s been dragging on so goddamn long.” He came up to Shayne’s level, and said in a lowered voice, “How do you stand on the question, dog track or hotel?”

“I can’t get excited about it. Harry, you’re in the business, you ought to know. Who put up the money to rebuild? Was it Tony Castle?”

Zell stepped back, to bring Shayne’s face into better focus. “Max hated those people, with a passion. Castle? What is this?”

“To be honest with you, I’m feeling my way. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes. With Max dead, the situation is going to be different.”

“Is it? I hope so. This is definitely the queerest deal I was ever involved in. Tell Linda I had to make some phone calls.” He smiled suddenly, with what seemed to be real warmth, going back to his usual business manner. “Friend or foe, Mike? I wish I knew.”