Now he turned to face me head-on.
“So how do we find the meeting place?”
“Same way we got the car and this room,” I said. “My buddy Jim Rooker.”
“Ain’t he gonna wanna know why?”
“He’s not going to ask any questions,” I said.
“Why not?”
“Because I know some stuff his wife doesn’t know.”
“Ah …” He nodded with a knowing look.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go and find Jim.”
Jim was in his pit and he agreed to meet us outside in half an hour. He wanted a cigarette and some fresh air.
Outside, on the street in front of the casino, I said, “Jim, this is Jerry.”
They nodded at each other.
Jim was ten years younger than I was. I had trained him at the Sands and he ended up getting married, moving to Reno, and landing this job at Harrah’s. I knew two things about him that he didn’t like people to know. One, he was unfaithful to his wife, and two, he loved her. He could not reconcile the two things, except to tell me once that a “new piece of ass” was too much of a challenge to him.
“Walk with me, guys,” he said, and we started down the street, me next to him, Jerry behind us.
“Here are your directions,” he said, handing me a slip of paper. “That’s in the middle of nowhere, you know. That area gets used for lots of, whatayacallit, clandestine meetings? Sex? Drugs? The whole shebang. But I guess that’s why you’ve got Jerry with you.”
We got to the end of the block and he stopped. Across the street, on the corner, were three streetwalkers in skimpy tops, short skirts and high heels. He waved and they waved back, laughing and calling out his name.
“How’s Enid?” I asked.
“She’s fine,” he answered, still waving. “I told her I’d be seeing you and she sends her love.”
I had introduced him and his wife while they were both working at the Sands.
“She also wanted to know if we could have dinner together, the three of us,” he said. “I told her you would be in and out real quick and didn’t have time.”
“Is it me who doesn’t have the time,” I asked, “or you?”
“Does it matter?”
“No.”
He checked his watch.
“I only took a ten-minute break. How’s your room?”
“Fine.”
“And the car?”
“Crap,” Jerry said.
“It’s no Caddy, but it was the best I could do on short notice.”
“It’ll do,” I said.
He took a last drag on his cigarette and tossed it into the gutter.
“Is your friend gonna gamble while he’s here?” he asked.
“No,” I said. “We’re not here to gamble. I’m just gonna show him some of the casinos.”
“And drive out into the middle of nowhere,” he said.
“Jim-”
“I know, none of my business. Stop by the pit and say good-bye before you leave.”
“I don’t know if that’ll be tonight or tomorrow,” I said.
“Whenever.”
“Okay.”
As Jim walked away Jerry said, “We better not find no bodies this time. He’s gonna remember we went out there.”
“I know,” I said. “We’ll just have to hope that this time we just make the buy.”
Forty-three
“We ain’t heard nothin’ from any of them people you talked to,” he said. “The girl, the kid, uh, that car jockey-”
“They’d only call if they knew something,” I pointed out.
We didn’t go back into the casino right away, just stood there on the corner. The hookers called out to us but Jerry waved them away with a big hand.
“We should take a drive and check out the location,” I said.
“You never told me what you found out about the girl, back in Vegas,” Jerry said.
“She had a boyfriend who picked her up every day,” I said. “Anthony said he was in his late twenties with dark hair.”
“Big guy?”
“Average.”
“Good-lookin’?” he asked. “He’d have to be good-lookin’ ta get a dame like that.”
“Maybe,” I said. “Anthony didn’t say.”
“He know anything else, this Anthony?”
“No,” I said, “nothing helpful.”
“You’ll never see her again,” he said, “unless she’s at the meet.”
“How likely is that?” I said. “Her job was probably to get that note to me, and that’s it.”
“So they put her in the hotel just in case they had to use her?”
“Seems like it.”
“That means they were prepared for somethin’ ta go wrong.”
“And it did. Jerry, would that mean they were pros?”
“Naw,” he said, “this’s all been way too messy for pros. Just means they been thinkin’, plannin’.”
“Well, their plan seems to have a lot of flaws in it. Let’s hope this part of it goes right.”
Jerry didn’t look too convinced.
That made two of us.
Jerry read the directions while I drove. We left the Reno strip behind and drove out into the country. I wondered what it was that made the area so bad. It was a far cry from the warehouse where the first meet had been set.
Then we passed by homes badly in need of repair and I started to see what Jim had meant. This section was no doubt populated by people who kept rifles in their homes. I could feel them eyeing us with suspicion as we drove by.
Eventually, we reached a point where the street turned to gravel.
“Supposed to be at the end of this road,” Jerry said. We soon left gravel for a dirt road.
As we reached the end of the road we came to a freestanding barn, with the burnt-out remnants of a small house standing-if you could use that word-next to it.
I stopped the car in front of the barn and we got out.
“Plenty of cover here,” Jerry said, looking around. There was brush he could hide behind, as well as hills and dips.
“I’d have to drop you where the road begins,” I said, looking behind us. “The rest of this ride is in plain sight.”
“That’s okay,” he said. “I can hike it.”
I looked at him. Jerry was a city guy, and this was rough terrain.
“Don’t worry,” he said, as if reading my mind, “I’m in shape for a hike.”
“Let’s go have a look,” I suggested.
The inside of the barn was empty, and had obviously been empty for a long time. There were rusted tools and dried-out bales of hay strewn about.
“I’ve got an idea,” Jerry said. “I’m gonna have a look at the house.”
“You mean what’s left of the house.”
“I think there’s enough.”
“Enough for what?” I called after him, but he left the barn.
I walked around for a few more minutes. The back doors of the barn were falling off their hinges. There was no way anybody could possibly get locked in.
I walked over to the house. There were only two walls left, and they faced the barn. One wall still held the front door, and Jerry came walking through it.
“I can stay in here,” he said.
I looked up at the sky.
“Unless there’s a lot of moonlight you’re gonna need a flashlight.”
“Somebody’ll see it.”
“How will you find your way to that house in the dark?” I asked.
“No,” he replied, “I’m sayin’ now. I can stay here now so that I’m already here tonight.”
“Jerry, that’s hours away. And what happens if they get the same idea, to put a man in that house?”
“It won’t be big enough for the both of us.”
“I don’t like it.”
“It’s a good idea.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t,” I said. “I’m just sayin’ I don’t like it.”
“Mr. G., it’s the best way to go,” he said. “If somebody gets the same idea I’ll deal with it. But it’s your call.”
“I know it,” I said. “Just give me a minute.”
While he waited, Jerry walked completely around what was left of the small house.
“Jerry-”
“I’m good, Mr. G.,” he said. “I got my forty-five, and I just ate.”
I looked up at the sun, which was shining brightly.
“You have no water.”
“I won’t die,” he said. “The sun’ll go down soon.”
“And then it’ll get cold.”
“Cold don’t bother me.”
He was wearing a sports jacket over a short-sleeve shirt.
“You don’t know what cold is like in the desert,” I warned him.
“Let’s check the trunk of the car,” he said. “Maybe there’s a blanket.”
We walked to the car. As we approached it, we saw clouds of dust in the distance.
“A car,” he said, “comin’ fast.”
“I guess they got the same idea a few minutes after we did,” I said. “Let’s pull the car into the barn, just in case they haven’t spotted us, yet.”
“Let’s push it,” he suggested.
We put the Chevy in neutral and pushed it into the barn, then stayed in there with it while the car approached.
Jerry slid the.45 from his holster, and we waited-at least one of us with bated breath.
Forty-four
The car pulled to a stop outside the barn. The driver got out, then the back doors opened and two more men got out. They were all wearing suits and, since the dust had not yet settled, they started slapping at their jackets and pants.
“Feds,” Jerry said.
I turned my head quickly. We were watching them from between slats of wood in the barn wall.
“How can you tell that?” I whispered.
“The car, the suits, the hats,” he said, “an’ the ties.”
“Really?”
“They ain’t the sellers,” he said. “They’re too well dressed. An’ they ain’t the mob on account of they ain’t dressed good enough.”
I couldn’t argue with him. He had the experience edge on me.
I looked back outside. They were milling about, looking at the ground. One of them walked over to the half-a-house and took a look, then he turned and pointed at the barn. The other two nodded, and they all turned to face us.
“Come on, Mr. Gianelli,” one of them said. “We can see by the tracks your car made that you’re in the barn.”
“What the fuck-” I said. “Who are these guys, Daniel Boone?”
“Feds,” Jerry said again, and if possible he made it sound like an even dirtier word than when he said “Cops.”
“And if you or your big friend have a gun, please toss it out first,” a second man said. “We’d hate for any accidents to happen.”
I turned and looked at Jerry.
“I guess we better do it.”
“Yeah,” he said, then added, “unless you wanna shoot it out?”
“Gee,” I said, “I only wish I had a gun, then I would, but we’re a little outgunned here, don’t you think?”
“It was just a thought.”
He tugged his.45 free from his shoulder holster, walked to the door and tossed it out.
“Gonna have ta clean the damn thing when I get it back,” he muttered.
I walked to the door and shouted, “We’re comin’ out.”
“Come ahead. Hands in the air!” came the reply.
Jerry and I raised our hands and walked out of the barn.
The three men were identically dressed and, except for slight differences in height and weight, alike in appearance, as well.
“Frisk ’em,” one man said, and as the other two approached us the first took out an ID holder and flashed it.
“My name is Agent Sloane, these are Agents Simpson and Byer.”
“Agents?” I asked. “FBI?”
“No, sir,” Sloane said, “Secret Service.”
“Secret Service?” I repeated as Byer did a quick pat-down on me and Simpson did the same to Jerry-although it may have been the other way around. I was glad I’d left the money in the hotel safe.
I looked Byer-or Simpson-in the eye and said to the three of them, “Can I see all your IDs up close?”
Sloane came closer, while Byer and Simpson-mine did turn out to be Byer-opened their ID holders. They all had credentials imprinted with UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE on them.
“Can we put our hands down now?” I asked.
The three of them backed away a safe distance and Sloane said, “Sure. And while you’re at it produce your own IDs.”
We lowered our hands, took out our wallets and handed them over.
“Edward Gianelli?” Sloane asked, looking at me.
“That’s right.”
He gave Byer our wallets so he could hand them back to us.
“Who was carrying?” Sloane asked. Byer went over, retrieved the.45 and carried it to Sloane, who tucked it into his belt.
“I was,” Jerry said.
“You got a permit?”
Jerry took it out and handed it to Byer, who carried it back to Sloane. There was absolutely no doubt who was in charge, here.
“This is for New York and New Jersey.”
“That’s right.”
“I don’t know if you’re aware of it, Mr. Epstein, but you’re in Nevada.”
“I’m visiting.”
“Why were you carrying?”
“For protection.”
“Against what?”
“You didn’t need my wallet to know who I was,” I said, interrupting. “You called out to me by name.”
Sloane looked at me, then handed the permit back to Byer, who gave it to Jerry. Apparently, the head man had decided to let Jerry off the hook for a while.
“You’re right, Mr. Gianelli,” Sloane said, “I do know who you are. What I’d like to know, however, is what you and your friend are doing here.”
“What are you doing here, out in the middle of nowhere?” I asked.
“We heard there was a buy going down,” he said, candidly. “So what are you doing, sir, buying or selling?”
“Damn, you guys are polite,” Jerry said.
Sloane looked at Jerry.
“I’m sure you’re used to dealing with New York and New Jersey cops, Mr. Epstein. We could’ve shot you in the kneecaps and we’d still be more polite than they are.”
“You got that right.”
“But don’t think for a moment that means you can fuck with us.”
“Wait a minute,” I said. “Nobody’s tryin’ to fuck with you, but isn’t your job safeguarding the President of the United States?”
“That’s right.”
I looked around and said, “I don’t see JFK anywhere around here.”
“The man doesn’t have to be here himself for us to be investigating a danger to him.”
“You think we are a danger to Jack Kennedy?”
Sloane’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m sure the President wouldn’t like you calling him Jack, Mr. Gianelli.”
“Well, you might ask him that when you see him, Agent Sloane. It happens I know Jack Kennedy personally.”
Jesus, but I was stretching the truth. I’d met Kennedy through Frank, and that was a year ago in Vegas. I wasn’t even sure Kennedy would remember.
“Be that as it may,” Sloane said, “I still need to know why you’re out here.”
We still had some hours before we were due to make our buy, but I didn’t want to stay out there any longer than we had to.
“Do we have to do this here?” I asked. “I don’t know what you came out here lookin’ for, but you found us, and I’ll bet we’re not it.”
None of the agents replied.
“It’s hot out here,” I said, “you guys are wearin’ suits and we’re wearin’ sports jackets
. Why don’t we go back to town and do this where it’s cool, and we can get something wet?”
“Suits me,” Jerry said.
After a few seconds Agent Byers said, “Me, too,” and then seemed to realize he’d said it out loud.
“Okay,” Sloane said, “let’s go get something wet.”
Forty-five
I did some convincing that I was very proud of.
First, I convinced them that we had to bring our car. Sloane put us in the backseat of their sedan and Byers drove our rental.
Second, I convinced them that we had driven there directly from the airport, and had not checked into any hotel. It was the same with them.
Third, I convinced them that the bar in Harrah’s would be the best place to talk and get a drink. They didn’t know anything about Reno, so they went along with it.
“But don’t try anything until we’re finished talking,” Sloane said. I smiled from the backseat and said, “We’ve got no reason to try anything, Agent Sloane.”
“Yes, well,” Sloane said. “I guess you’ll have to convince us of that.”
We got a table in the back of the lounge and pulled some extra chairs over. We weren’t exactly blending into the background, but that didn’t seem to bother our Secret Service friends.
A pretty waitress showing lots of leg and cleavage came over.
“What can I get for you gentlemen?” she asked.
“Five cold beers,” Sloane said.
“Any particular kind?”
“Just whatever you have on draft will do,” he said.
“Comin’ up.”
“You mind if I ask the first question?” I said to Sloane.
“Yes.”
“How did you know my name?”
“I said I minded.”
“Oh, sorry,” I said. “I thought you meant yes, I could ask the question.”
“I understand you’re a bit of a wise guy, Gianelli,” he said. “That doesn’t impress me.”
I wasn’t exactly sure which definition of “wise guy” he was referring to.
The waitress returned with five draft beers and leaned over, showing lots of skin while she set them down, attracting the eyes of the other two agents. But not Sloane.
“Anything else?” she asked.
“No,” Sloane said, “can you just run a tab for us, honey?”
Hey There (You with the Gun in Your Hand) rp-3 Page 13