The Way You Die Tonight Read online

  I started walking back to the Sands when Jerry pulled to the curb in my Caddy.

  ‘What are you doin’ here?’ I asked, leaning in.

  ‘I saw those two overdressed goons take you out of the hotel, and I saw you get into the limo. I grabbed the Caddy. Thought I’d cut the car off. What happened? Who was it?’

  ‘I thought it was the bouncers from the Happy Devil, which was stupid, because I was never at the club. Anyway, it turned out to be Howard Hughes.’

  ‘Hughes? Really? In the limo?’

  ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘He looked like he wanted to jump out of his skin, but he was there.’

  ‘What’d he want?’

  I hopped over the door into the passenger seat and said, ‘Drive, brother. Back to the Sands.’

  Jerry made an illegal U-turn, with style.

  ‘What’d he want?’ I said. ‘I guess he was threatening me.’

  ‘Because you won’t work for him?’

  ‘Exactly. He’s not used to being turned down.’

  ‘Well,’ Jerry said, ‘you’re the man, Mr G. Everybody in Vegas knows it, and now maybe Howard Hughes knows it.’

  ‘I don’t think he does, Jerry.’

  ‘Well, mark my words,’ Jerry said, giving me a look, ‘before he leaves Vegas, he will.’

  FORTY-FIVE

  Back at the Sands Jerry parked the car and said, ‘Whatever you’re doin’ next, Mr G., I’m gonna be with you.’

  I didn’t argue with him. All the way out to the limo I was planning my escape. If it hadn’t been Hughes inside I might have still been running.

  ‘I feel like a piece of pie,’ Jerry said.

  ‘That’s all?’

  ‘Well, I’m just a bit peckish.’

  ‘I’ll have some coffee,’ I said. ‘I need to catch my breath.’

  We went into the Garden Café and Lily was working again.

  She came over and turned the full wattage of those green eyes on Jerry.

  ‘Hey, big guy, couldn’t stay away, huh?’

  ‘Uh, no, I guess not.’

  ‘Hi, Eddie.’

  ‘Lily. My big friend wants a big hunk of pie.’

  ‘Really?’ She looked at him, again. ‘Just what kinda hunk of something sweet do you need?’

  ‘I think, uh, cherry,’ he said, keeping his eyes down.

  ‘And you, Mr Eddie?’ she asked.

  ‘Just coffee.’

  ‘Coffee with your pie, Big Jerry?’

  ‘Yeah … uh, please.’

  ‘Comin’ up.’

  When she walked away Jerry lifted his eyes and watched her.

  ‘What’s with the shy act, Jerry?’

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘It’s like you can’t even look at her.’

  ‘She’s … different.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Jerry said. ‘She ain’t a whore, but she ain’t …’

  ‘… an angel, either?’

  ‘That’s it!’

  I reached into my pocket and took out the matchbook from the Happy Devil that Danny had given me. I put it on the table between us.

  ‘I’ll have to go in there tonight,’ I said. ‘There’s no point in waiting.’

  ‘I don’t know how you’re gonna find out anything without askin’ questions.’

  ‘I don’t either, but if I ask too many I’ll get the same treatment Danny got.’

  ‘And I’ll be there to bail you out.’

  ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.’

  Lily came back with the pie and two coffees and set them down, then stopped short.

  ‘Who’s is that?’ she asked, pointing at the matchbook.

  ‘Why?’ I asked. ‘Do you know that place?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Are you a member?’

  ‘Do you know what kind of place it is?’

  ‘We do.’

  She eyed us for a few moments, then said, ‘Well, yeah, I’ve been there a few times, and yes, I’m a member.’

  I slid over, ‘Lily, sit down for a minute, will you?’

  She looked around. It wasn’t busy, so she sat next to me. I could feel the heat from her body.

  ‘Did you know Helen Simms?’

  ‘The girl who hanged herself in the fourth floor ladies’ room?’

  ‘Yes, only she didn’t hang herself.’

  Her eyes widened and she said, ‘She was murdered?’

  ‘Yes, by someone who wanted it to look like she did it to herself.’

  ‘I knew her on sight,’ Lily said, ‘but we weren’t friends. I don’t think we ever even spoke.’

  ‘You never saw her at the club.’

  ‘This club?’ She touched the matchbook. ‘She was a member?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She shook her head. ‘I never saw her there, but it’s a big place, lots of people, and …’

  ‘And what?’

  ‘Well … I was going to say you don’t really look at people’s faces while you’re there, if you know what I mean.’

  ‘I think I do,’ I said.

  ‘Also,’ she said, ‘you don’t use your real name.’

  ‘You don’t?’

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘You need to come up with one just for the club.’

  I decided not to ask her what hers was. At that point it really wasn’t my business.

  ‘Are you thinking of joining?’ she asked.

  ‘No,’ I said, ‘but we know something happened there within the past week that involved Helen. I need to go there and find out what it was.’

  ‘How are you going to get in?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘I can’t use Helen’s name. I don’t want them to know that I’m there because of her.’

  ‘You can use mine,’ she offered. ‘I mean, you only need to mention a member’s name to get in.’

  ‘That would be great,’ I said, ‘thanks. Uh, I’d be using what name?’

  ‘Sasha,’ she said. ‘Tell them you were sponsored by Sasha.’

  ‘Sasha?’ Jerry said.

  She looked at him. ‘Don’t you like it?’

  ‘I like Lily better.’

  ‘You’re sweet.’ She stood up. ‘Would you want me to go with you and get you in?’

  ‘Well,’ I said, ‘that would probably be help—’

  ‘No,’ Jerry said.

  ‘Why not?’ Lily asked.

  ‘It’d be too dangerous.’

  ‘Aw, you’re worried about me?’ she asked.

  ‘A friend of ours got beat up there,’ he said. ‘I don’t want anything to happen to you.’

  ‘He’s right,’ I said, feeling foolish that I had even considered it.

  ‘Well,’ she said, ‘use my club name, and let me know if you change your mind.’ She stepped to Jerry’s side of the booth and stroked his face. ‘You’re cute,’ she said, and walked away.

  ‘I told you,’ I said, ‘she’s a little wild – maybe wilder than I thought.’

  ‘I like ’er,’ Jerry said, and cut into his pie.

  FORTY-SIX

  I had to check in with Edward G. Robinson, see what he wanted to do. Even with trying to find out who killed Helen I couldn’t lose sight of the fact that I was supposed to be taking care of Eddie. I had Lily bring me a phone and called his room.

  ‘Hey, Eddie G.,’ he said, happily. ‘I was just thinking about you and Jerry.’

  ‘Eddie,’ I asked, ‘what did you have in mind for later tonight?’

  ‘I was just going to call you,’ he said. ‘Frank wants to have dinner. Do you want to join us? You and Big Jerry?’

  ‘Actually, this works out good,’ I said. ‘We’ve got something to do tonight, so I think you should have a good dinner with Frank and catch up.’

  ‘Well, all right,’ Eddie said. ‘Will I see you fellas tomorrow?’

  ‘Definitely,’ I said. ‘We’ll call on you in the morning for breakfast.’

  ‘Swell.’

  ‘By the way, what’s hap
pening with you and the studio lady?’

  ‘Oh, I gave in and agreed to have lunch with her today,’ he said. ‘She’s a nice kid. I really don’t want to give her a hard time.’

  ‘That’s good,’ I said. ‘Bring her down to the Garden Café. I’ll make sure they make a fuss.’

  ‘Thanks, Eddie G.,’ he said. ‘I’ll do that.’

  ‘OK, then. Tell Frank we’re sorry we missed him, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’

  ‘Be careful, Eddie G.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘Whatever you and Big Jerry are doing tonight,’ Robinson said. ‘Just be careful.’

  ‘We will,’ I promised.

  ‘Sounds like there’s no problem,’ Jerry said, as I hung up.

  ‘Nope,’ I said, ‘he’s having lunch with the studio girl and dinner with Frank.’

  ‘Then we’re free until tomorrow?’

  ‘Free as can be.’

  ‘So what now?’

  ‘Now,’ I said, ‘I guess I’ll have to come up with a new name for the Happy Devil.’

  ‘A new name?’

  ‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘something that would go along with … Sasha.’

  When Lily came by again Jerry said, ‘That was a really good meal.’

  ‘Glad you liked it,’ Lily said. ‘I’ll tell the cook.’ She looked at me. ‘So, you goin’ to the club tonight?’

  ‘Yes, the sooner the better.’

  ‘Well,’ she said, ‘I guess I don’t know what it’s all about, but if I was you I’d go at midnight. That’s when things start jumpin’.’

  ‘Midnight,’ I said. ‘Thanks, Lily. Or should I say … Sasha.’

  ‘Call yourself … Errol.’

  ‘Like Errol Flynn?’

  ‘Exactly. Or Tyrone,’ she added, ‘after Tyrone Power. He’s real dreamy.’

  ‘Tyrone,’ I said. ‘I like that.’

  Somebody called out, ‘Hey, waitress!’

  ‘I gotta go to work, Eddie,’ Lily said. ‘Come back and see me, Jerry.’

  ‘Sure thing, Lily.’

  As she flounced away he asked, ‘Do you think she likes me, Mr G.?’

  ‘I do, Jerry,’ I said. ‘I think she likes you a lot.’

  ‘You wouldn’t kid me, would you, Mr G.?’

  ‘No, Jerry,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t ever kid you.’

  FORTY-SEVEN

  At a quarter-to-midnight Jerry pulled the Caddy in to the curb down the street from the club.

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

  ‘No,’ I said, ‘somebody might recognize you. Besides, it would look strange, the two of us going into a sex club together.’

  ‘Oh, yeah, right.’

  ‘Just keep your eyes on the front door,’ I said. ‘If I get in trouble I’ll try to find some way to let you know.’

  ‘We need a time limit, Mr G.’

  ‘Can’t do that, Jerry,’ I said, getting out of the car and leaning on the door as I closed it. ‘I don’t have any idea how long it’ll take me to find out something. Just be patient, big guy.’

  ‘Be careful, Mr G.’

  ‘Right.’

  I walked down the block to the club, paid the cover charge and was allowed inside after the bouncers checked out my sports jacket and sweater. I figured a tie was optional for sex clubs.

  ‘Darling, there you are!’

  I was surprised as a heavily made-up Lily came rushing toward me. She was wearing a dress that was very short, and very deeply cut – so much so that her breasts were threatening to spill out. She looked a helluva lot different than the other times I’d seen her at work in her uniform.

  She kissed me deeply, pushing her tongue into my mouth, and then hugged me and said into my ear, ‘Go along … Tyrone.’

  I struggled to remember her club name.

  ‘OK, boys, my date’s here,’ she said to the two bouncers.

  ‘OK, Sasha,’ one of them said, opening an inner door, ‘have fun.’

  ‘Come on, Tyrone,’ she said.

  ‘Yeah,’ the other bouncer said, ‘have a good time, Tyrone.’

  The two men laughed as they closed the door behind us.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ I demanded.

  ‘Keep your voice down, Tyrone,’ she hissed. ‘I’m here to help.’

  ‘Lily—’

  ‘Sasha!’ she said. ‘My name’s Sasha, remember?’

  ‘OK, Sasha. You have to leave.’

  ‘Leave?’ she asked. ‘I haven’t even gotten started, yet.’

  ‘Listen, Jerry is down the block in my Caddy,’ I said. ‘He’ll take you home.’

  ‘Oooh,’ she said, ‘goin’ home with Jerry. Now that appeals to me.’

  ‘It’ll appeal to him, too.’

  ‘Really? What did he say?’

  ‘Never mind,’ I said. I looked around. It was fairly dark, and there was a crush of bodies. ‘Give me the lay of the land before you leave.’

  ‘I’ll do better than that,’ she said, sliding her arm into mine. ‘I’ll show you around, big boy.’

  ‘Lil— Sasha,’ I said, ‘this isn’t a game.’

  ‘Is this about Helen getting killed?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know her, but she worked at the Sands. That makes her family, right?’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘So I’ll give you a quick once around,’ she said, ‘and then I’ll go play with Jerry.’

  ‘All right,’ I said. ‘Once around. And then you’re gone.’

  She kissed me on the cheek, then pulled me forward.

  Lily/Sasha took me to the bar where we got drinks, and then showed me the various rooms that were available for use. Also some booths on the main floor that supplied a small bit of privacy for those who didn’t want to use the rooms.

  ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘one more thing. Let me show you the Jungle Room.’

  ‘OK, I’ve got the lay of the land, Sasha. Time for you to go.’

  ‘Sasha!’

  We both turned to see who had said her name. A man came walking toward us, with a beautiful woman on each arm. Both were statuesque, one blonde, one brunette, both spilling out of their tops. And both very young. I wondered if they were showgirls, and where they worked.

  ‘Hello, Derek,’ Sasha said. ‘Who are your friends?’

  ‘This is Petal,’ he said, indicating the blonde, ‘and this is Storm.’ Derek himself was well over six feet tall, rangy, handsome, wearing a black suit and no tie.

  ‘Meet my friend,’ she said, ‘Tyrone.’

  ‘Tyrone,’ Derek said, ‘haven’t seen you here before.’

  ‘That’s because it’s my first time.’

  ‘Really?’ Derek said. ‘That’s so groovy, man. Hey, why not let my ladies show you a good time? Ladies?’

  On cue they detached themselves from him and attached themselves to me, one on either side. I’m no prude. Under normal circumstances I would have welcomed their attention, but I wasn’t there for sex games.

  ‘I’d love to take you up on that, Derek, man,’ I said, gently disengaging the ladies, ‘but I think for my first time I’ll stick with Sasha, here.’

  ‘Well, I can’t blame you for that,’ he said. ‘She’ll show you a good time.’

  I put my arm around Sasha and walked her away.

  I later realized that ‘Derek’ was really John Holmes, who went on to be a famous porn star named ‘Johnny Wadd’, also known as ‘the Sultan of Smut’. In 1965 he was just starting to become involved in the industry. One of the girls with him was his girlfriend, Sandy Dempsey, who appeared in some of his movies with him.

  ‘This ain’t the only time you’re gonna get hit on, Eddie,’ she said to me.

  ‘It’s Tyrone,’ I corrected her, ‘and I don’t have time for this kind of nonsense tonight, so Sasha, don’t you dare leave me alone.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Tyrone,’ she said, sliding her arm around my waist, ‘I’ll protect you.’
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  FORTY-EIGHT

  I didn’t think I was putting Lily in any real danger. If anything, she was protecting me from being dragged into the Jungle Room by some sweet, wild young thing. Yeah, I said it. Protecting me.

  Of course, I’m sure Danny felt the same way when he was there. He was just asking questions, and got bounced around the alley for it. If not for Jerry, he might have been seriously hurt.

  In the end I decided that Sasha/Lily had to get out of there.

  I walked her to the front door.

  ‘Are you sure?’ she asked. ‘The women in here are gonna be on you like bears on honey.’

  ‘I’ll fend for myself,’ I said. ‘I want you in the car with Jerry, safe and sound.’

  ‘Yeah,’ she said, with a lascivious grin, ‘but will Jerry be safe in the car with me?’

  I patted her fanny and said, ‘Go.’

  She went.

  I turned and surveyed the room. I decided since I’d been introduced to Derek and his two honeys that maybe that was where I should be concentrating my efforts – even if it meant letting Petal and Storm violate my body.

  I found them at the bar, the two ladies still hanging on their escort, who seemed to be working on a busty, older brunette.

  ‘Tyrone, my man!’ he exclaimed when he saw me. ‘Get on in here, man. I want you to meet Jewel. Jewel, this is my friend Tyrone.’

  ‘Tyrone,’ she said, turning the full wattage of her deep blue eyes on me. At thirty-five or six she was at least ten years older than Storm and Petal, but to my mind she trumped them, easily. She had packed a lot of curves into a tight fitting jumpsuit, and was obviously not wearing a bra. It was cold in the club and she was nipping out to beat the band.

  ‘Tyrone,’ she said, running her hand up my arm and then placing it on my neck. Her skin was warm – no, hot. ‘What are your plans for the evening?’

  ‘How long have you been a member here?’ I asked.

  ‘Years,’ she said. ‘It’s my second home.’ She stroked my neck and my pulse quickened. I moved in closer, stood next to her at the bar. She pressed her hip against mine. I could feel the heat through our clothes.

  ‘So, you come here every week?’ I asked.

  ‘Almost.’ She wore blood red lipstick, licked her lips so that they glistened.

  ‘Were you here a week or so ago when something happened?’

  ‘You wanna talk about all the fuss?’