The Crooked Way Page #3

That depends on how nervous you are.

I was always thought nervous

guys bit their nails?

Now, let me see...

Nick was a little bit hazy about

who Jane Doe was.

I thought you might be able to tell me.

Never heard of the girl.

Then there's Petey.

And how certain people got know where

and just when to bail him out.

Now...nobody knows anything.

But, we'll find him.

We;ve got all exits out of town plugged.

And I got a hunch he'll

be real cooperative.

You see...

I don't think he knows

anything about this.

Kelly.

He's gone and gotten himself killed.

Just like Kelly...

You never know what he'll do next.

That goes for a lot of guys.

Take you and...

Then again, take Eddie Riccardi...

You boys forgive and forget,

and back in business again.

You and Riccardi got a lot in common,

why don't you ask him?

At the moment, you're number one.

And, it won't be any...manslaughter

charge and out in two years.

I put you away this time...

it'll be for keeps.

You got all the answers figured

out, haven't you?

I might have, sooner than you think.

So sorry!

Me, I never had a complaint.

You call my old boss.

He'll tell you my bringing in 500

a night at the gambling tables

was a small bag of tell.

Oh, Mr Alexander! I just came in looking

for a job and I was telling Ms Martin...

Get rid of her.

Vince, we need some new talent...

-Okay! Okay! Come back at eight tonight.

She'll tell you what to do.

-Oh, gee! Thanks!

You know Eddie's still in town?

Yes.

Been around to see you?

When?

Late last night.

Did he tell ya I gave him

24 hours to get out?

No.

Well, I changed my mind.

I want him to stay.

I want you to make sure he does stay.

My job's to work the tables

for you here, Vince, and...

I don't even mind setups like the one with

Petey or...other deals like that, but...

Vince...

Stay out of my personal life!

Listen you...

When Eddie dropped you, who picked

you up and gave you your health?

Who gave you your job?

Everything you got?

Vince Alexander!

I won't do it, Vince.

Forget Eddie.

When I get through with him.

But, now you're gonna meet him.

And, I want you to make sure

he does stay in town.

What'll it be?

Did five years make you

forget that easily?

I told you...in five years you

can forget a lot of things.

Something for the lady?

-Rob Roy, please.

The same.

What made you change your mind

about seeing me again?

You know, finding out I was married

to you kind of threw me.

It was even something the boys at

the hospital used to rib me about.

They had me fixed up with a

wife and four or five kids.

They didn't know how close the

gag came to being true.

You still don't believe me, do you?

Maybe this'll convince you it was Eddie

Rice that rang your doorbell last night.

Call Dr Kemble at Letterman's

Hospital in San Francisco.

He'll tell you the whole story.

Tha cigarette case...

Doesn't it mean anything to you?

Should it?

Suppose I did believe you, then what?

Then, I'd try and make you forget that

Eddie Riccardi was ever in your life.

You think you can do that?

Eddie Rice can.

Eddie, leave town.

Now you're talking like Vince.

-Maybe I was yesterday.

Don't ask me why, but go.

-Nina, I don't frighten easily.

You can take that message back to Vince.

Tell him I'm staying!

That's what he wants you to do. That's

why I'm here, to keep you from leaving.

I'd hate to disappoint him then.

Eddie, don't be stubborn, I know Vince.

He doesn't do anything without a reason.

Neither do I.

Stay then! Get yourself beaten up again,

or killed. Do anything you want.

Riccardi.

-Very interesting.

Scotch over water.

Lose something, Charlie?

Tell Nina Martin, Eddie wants to see her.

-Eddie who?

Just Eddie.

Wait here.

What'll I need?

A thousand might bring you luck.

-A thousand?

Give me a thousand.

A character called Eddie's outside,

wants to see you.

Eddie here?

Get rid of him!

That's not what Vince had in mind.

All right, come on.

6...9...12!

All bets down.

It's a nice layout. Vince ought to be

able to pick up some fast money.

You're crazy to come walking in here.

Maybe I'm just hard to convince.

My dressing room is back there.

I'll be back before the

wheel stops turning.

Yeah?

Okay, thanks.

So, she wanted to get rid of him.

I wonder if that dame is trying

to pull a double cross.

Get down to the Golden Horn and pick up

Eddie Riccardi, you'll find him with Nina.

Just him?

Just him.

I'll get around to her later.

I started to leave...

but I kept thinking about

everything you told me.

If I'd of left I'd been all the

things you said I was.

So, I'm staying.

And, I'm taking you out of here.

Nina.

We could have a decent life together.

You got it all figured out.

Well, you're not taking me anywhere.

You pushed me into this life and I like it.

I'm top bait around here steering nice,

fat, pigeons to the gambling table.

I'm one of Vince's kind now and I'm keeping

my life and my job just the way they are.

No matter what I have to do!

Come on.

Thanks.

Now, how about some champagne?

Excuse me for a minute, honey.

I forgot I got to call my wife.

Williams, Homicide.

Yeah, Barnes.

Yeah!

Thanks a lot!

What's exciting?

I said, what's exciting? Or, don't

you want to wake me up?

Barnes casing the Golden Horn for vice

intel, tells me Riccardi just walked in.

Trouble maybe?

I could think of plenty of reasons why

there might be for Eddie Rice.

You'll hear from me later.

How you coming with that

Kelly report, Ben?

Just finishing up for you.

-Okay, I'll wait.

Somebody must've believed in that

old gag about an apple a day.

Yeah, but they didn't know it would pin

a murder on them. -Quite an appetite.

Psychological, it creates

a false hunger.

Well, here you are, Joe.

I can go home now.

Thanks a lot, Ben. See you tomorrow.

-Okay, see ya tomorrow.

Yeah?

I'm interested in Eddie Riccardi,

not in what's going on in there.

We don't know from Riccardi.

-I do, open up.

Place your bets, folks. Place your

bets. Bet high/low...odd or even.

Yes?

Miss Martin? Williams, Homicide.

May I come in please?

Come in.

Eddie was just picked up by Danny.

-Where'd he take him?

You'll hear from me later.

You know, Williams?

I'm not used to cops with insomnia.

What's on your mind?

-It won't take long.

Danny picked up Eddie Riccardi.

Where are they?

You're in an awful rut.

Always asking questions.

All right...let's start over.

Eddie was at the Golden Horn

with Nina Martin.

Suddenly, he wasn't there anymore.

So...

So...I don't mind waiting.

While we kill a little time...

This might interest you.

And, after we pick up Riccardi...

we're going down to police headquarters.

You're gonna have a manicure...on me.

You know, you're gonna look awful

silly when I get through with you.

If I'm wrong...I'll apologize.

Say hello, nothing more.

Hello.

Vince, we're at the shop. Do we

stay or bring Riccardi up there?

Tell him you'll be down.

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