Dead Reckoning Page #3

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but I couldn't figure her out yet.

I wanted to see her the way Johnny had

and hear that song with his ears.

Maybe she was all right

and maybe Christmas comes in July.

But I didn't believe it.

- You've seen Johnny since he got back?

- Yes.

Where is he now?

I've been frantic for two days.

- He was frantic for three years.

- Was he?

In spite of the fact

you testified against him.

If you know Johnny, you know

he understands. I had to testify.

- When did you see him?

- Day before yesterday.

He was to call and let me know about

going to Mexico, so I could join him.

But he never called.

I've been staring at my phone.

I've been out of my mind.

I had to get out

just to keep from going crazy.

- I just saw him.

- Tonight?

- About 10:
00.

- Where?

We have a special treat

for you tonight.

As a favour, the lady

who was our star attraction...

...has agreed to give us the song

she made the sensation of the South.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Mrs. Coral Chandler.

I see what Johnny meant.

You and Johnny, you were together

all the time, weren't you?

We fought together.

And spent your leaves together.

London, Paris, Rome.

Me with a gal, him without one.

Just a picture of you in his eyes.

Where is he? Won't you tell me,

where did you see him?

- Let's dance.

- Please, I want to know.

I wanted her in my arms

when I told her.

My right hand on her spine would feel

the shock. She'd tested pure so far.

But so did another girl I knew.

Right up to the dollar point.

And it wasn't 4 million.

- Still wear the same perfume?

- Tell me where you saw him.

- "She wears jasmine," he said.

- Please.

He called you Dusty. It was a name

he had between the two of you.

Tell me where you saw him.

On a slab in the morgue,

burned to a crisp.

I think we'd better sit down.

Her whole body had gone soft

when I slugged her with it.

But I kept thinking,

she has to know something.

Take a couple of deep drags.

Thanks.

I won't do that again. Tell me

what happened. Please, I promise...

You're not feeling ill, Mrs. Chandler?

No, I feel fine, thanks.

It isn't often we have the pleasure

of seeing Mrs. Chandler dance.

Mr. Murdock, this is Mr. Martinelli,

who owns all this.

Mr. Murdock's an old friend.

Any friend of Mrs. Chandler's

is welcome.

I'm afraid I don't sing.

Perhaps you'd like

to try a little roulette.

It's not wise to tell you, but the

house is having a streak of bad luck.

Mrs. Chandler doesn't feel

like gambling.

Oh, I'm all right, really I am.

I'd like to.

You too, sir?

I'll just watch. Roulette wheels

have a way of running over me.

I was walking into something.

We were going to gamble, win or lose.

He hadn't asked her to, he'd told her

she had to. It was an order, but why?

I didn't like the feeling

I had about her.

The way I wanted

to put my hand on her arm.

The way I kept smelling

that jasmine in her hair.

The way I kept hearing

that song she'd sung.

Yeah, I was walking

into something all right.

Krause, have fresh drinks brought

for Mrs. Chandler and Mr. Murdock.

And some of those pt

de foie gras sandwiches...

...that Pierre makes so well.

Real pt from Paris. Prewar.

Right away, sir.

Number 11, black.

Two stacks, please.

Make your bets, ladies

and gentlemen. Make your bets.

No more bets. No more.

That way you'll get rid of it fast.

- It's a system I use.

- Ever try throwing it out the window?

Number 13, black.

Place your bets, ladies

and gentlemen. Place your bets.

No more bets. No more bets. No more.

- Eleven then seven. What next?

- I repeat. One then the other.

It won't work, Dusty. You got

the right numbers in the wrong game.

Number 4, black. Nothing on 4.

She lost fast and heavy.

Maybe it was her way of

easing off the pain of Johnny.

But I suspected there was more to it.

I decided to find out.

- How much is she on the rim for?

- Sixteen thousand.

Let's see what I can do

with the same numbers.

Did you ride in on the killing?

Her horse stumbled.

Give me the 7-11 dice.

They're all 7-11 dice.

It depends on the player's talent.

- Not the luck?

- I was returning your compliment.

You shoot honestly,

we give you honest dice.

Open up the table.

You won't mind if I watch, I hope.

Not at all,

if you think you can take it.

- What's the limit?

- For Mrs. Chandler, no limit.

We shoot 2000.

- Seven.

- Seven the winner.

- The 4000 rides.

- Ad infinitum, if you wish.

Eleven the winner.

Once more, and we're even.

- We'd better stop with what we have.

- No, we'll get even.

The house will change the dice.

That's your privilege, friend.

That squares you with the house.

You think there's something wrong?

I never think when I gamble,

I just feel. And I feel snake eyes.

Krause, give Mr. Murdock back

the dice he had before.

I'd be delighted to have you roll

for any part, or all of the 16,000.

Let's say all of it.

- Four.

- A difficult point, Mr. Murdock.

What man has done, Murdock can do.

- Please, Rip, I'm 16,000 ahead.

- Bother you?

A solid winning every now and then

is the best advertising for any casino.

- Can't we have a nightcap?

- It's your money.

We'll have it in my office.

If it's all the same to you,

I'd like that pair for a souvenir.

Much obliged.

With all that money on you,

I'd better see you home.

Snake eyes again.

Krause is a fool. My cutting him in

on the profits was a mistake.

He's becoming greedy.

I'll keep these to remind me

never to stretch my luck.

A judicious principle. I gather that

you've been around, as the saying is.

- East St. Louis is around enough.

- Ah, St. Louis.

In what business were you, may I ask?

I owned taxicabs,

but they got sunk at Pearl Harbor.

- Then you know Al Baretto?

- You know Al? Were you in St. Louis?

Many times, although

my headquarters were in Detroit.

I thought Al's Detroit

friends were all mobsters.

Where's Mike?

He mixed them, sir, but he got busy,

so I brought them up.

- Ramos gin fizz, madam.

- Thank you.

Our very best, sir.

Mr. Martinelli's private stock.

- Louis!

- Coming, sir.

I got it all right.

Something in the drink.

Also my private stock. That's all.

To the beauties of St. Louis.

- You disapprove of the toast?

- I'm thinking of a better one.

If I didn't drink, he might fall in

on Louis for tipping me off.

And if I did... But I kept remembering,

Louis had been Johnny's friend.

Maybe his only friend.

I needed Louis alive.

We await your pleasure.

Geronimo!

A lovely word, with the added charm

for me of being meaningless.

- A St. Louis expression?

- No. Just one I picked up.

Your expressions have

the Baretto flavour, almost medieval.

Baroque.

Mobster, as applied to me,

is more colourful than accurate.

I've always had a preference

for legitimate enterprises.

With a gambling racket on the side.

Scarcely a racket, Mr. Murdock.

More for my own amusement

than for profit, as you know.

Gambling is illegal, to be sure...

...but the city is aware of it

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