The Way You Die Tonight

by Robert Randisi

  How many of the female staff in the Sands were large enough and strong enough to have done it? I knew of a few right off the top of my head, including Marcy, who had found the body.

  Marcy. She had run into Jack’s office in a panic. What had she been wearing? I couldn’t remember. I hated to think of her as a suspect. She had been working at the Sands for a long time. We had dated a few times, and she had even gone out with Danny.

  For want of something better to do I got up and walked down the hall to the office where Marcy worked. I turned on the lights and sat behind her desk. There were other women I could think of who the belt might have fit, but they were a little older than she was, and heavier. Big women, for sure, but not fit. Even with Marcy’s weight gain, she was fit and strong.

  I started to sweat.

  Could Marcy have killed Helen, hung her up, and then come running into Jack’s office, playacting at being in a panic? Was she that cold? In my experience, that didn’t fit her character at all.

  But look at how much we didn’t know about Helen’s character.

  I started going through Marcy’s drawers. One was filled with chocolate, and hard candies. Another with envelopes and paper. A third was stuffed with photos. I went through them. Most were of celebrities, and some with Marcy posing with celebrities. There was one of her and Dean, another of her and Sammy. A few of her and Jack Jones, who I knew she liked a lot.

  The top center drawer had paper clips, various types of bulletin board pins, pens, pencils, a pack of cookies, some keys … I paused, and looked at the key. I knew that the ladies’ room was kept locked and anyone needing to use it had to get a key, either from Marcy or Helen. The keys in the desk were loose. Marcy probably knew the restroom key on sight, but I didn’t. I took the keys and went to the ladies’ room door.

  I had five keys in my hand. As I tried them the third key opened the door. I almost went back to the office at that point, but decided to try the other two keys, anyway. The last key opened the door, also.

  What was Marcy doing with two keys to the ladies’ room?

  Was the other one Helen’s missing key?

  Why would Marcy have Helen’s key?

  My heart sank, I got a sick feeling in my stomach. Had all the investigating, all the surmise and effort been for nothing? The killer was right there the whole time?

  I went back to the office and sat behind her desk again. I put the other keys back in the desk, held the two ladies’ room keys in my hand. The fact that Marcy had two keys did not make her a killer. It wasn’t even a sure thing that the second key had been Helen’s. Maybe Marcy had had a second key made since the murder.

  I jingled the keys in my hand for a few more minutes, then put them back in the drawer. If Marcy had killed Helen I needed to prove it, needed to draw her out, somehow.

  An extra key, and a belt that would probably have fit Marcy. Not a lot to hang a theory on. And it really wasn’t worth mentioning to anyone else – not Danny, not Jerry or Jack, and certainly not the cops.

  I had to do this myself, because if I was wrong I was going to feel like a fool, and I was going to owe Marcy a huge apology.

  SEVENTY-FIVE

  I went home and spent a fitful night. I wasn’t feeling good about what I was going to do, and hoped I was wrong – dead wrong.

  I got two calls that morning. The first was from Jerry.

  ‘Where are ya, Mr G.?’

  ‘I’m home, Jerry.’

  ‘Well, I know that. Why didn’t ya tell me where you were goin’?’

  ‘I was tired,’ I said. ‘I just decided to drive home and go to bed.’

  ‘You remember what happened the last time?’

  ‘I do,’ I said. ‘I’m gonna get dressed and come right back to the Sands this morning.’

  ‘OK, then I’ll wait for you to have breakfast.’

  ‘I’ll meet you in the café.’

  I hung up, and it rang again even before I got my hand off of it.

  ‘Eddie? Where you been?’ Danny asked.

  ‘I came home to go to sleep, Danny.’

  ‘Jerry with you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Remember what happened last t—’

  ‘I remember,’ I said. ‘I’m heading back to the Sands. What have you got?’

  ‘Nothin’,’ he said. ‘I checked out the female staff, there’s a few women big enough to have done the job – even Marcy fits – but I don’t see a motive. No secret lives for these women, either.’

  Good, that meant Marcy wasn’t a member of the Happy Devil club.

  ‘OK, Danny,’ I said.

  ‘I figured I’d check out some of the male staff today, unless you got something else for me.’

  ‘No, go ahead – but wait. Yeah. Maybe check out Walter Spires again.’

  ‘The wimp?’

  ‘Being a wimp doesn’t mean he can’t be a killer, Danny,’ I said. ‘Maybe he flipped out.’

  ‘I’ll take a look, Eddie,’ he said.

  ‘Good. I’ll talk to you later. I should be at the Sands all day. I’ve got to set up a poker game for Edward G. Robinson tonight.’

  ‘High stakes?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Is he ready?’

  ‘He and Madge say he is. I guess we’ll find out.’

  ‘I hope he does OK,’ Danny said. ‘See you later.’

  I hung up, took my hand off the receiver quick, but it didn’t ring again. I went to shower and get dressed.

  Jerry was staring into a cup of coffee when I got to the café.

  ‘You look like you lost your best friend,’ I said, sitting across the booth from him.

  ‘Huh? Oh, no, I’m OK.’

  I looked around, didn’t see Lily working. I figured that was what had Jerry down in the dumps.

  The waitress who came over was Nell. Jerry and I both ordered bacon and eggs.

  ‘What’s the idea of goin’ home without me, Mr G.?’ he asked.

  ‘I’m not gonna let anyone make me afraid to go to my own house, Jerry,’ I said. ‘Besides, I think we handled the Howard Hughes problem.’

  ‘I hope you’re right.’

  ‘And I’m settin’ Robinson up in a poker game tonight,’ I went on. ‘That leaves us only with the murder.’

  ‘What’s the shamus doin’?’

  ‘Checking into some of the male employees who might have wanted Helen dead, but I don’t think he’s going to find anything.’

  ‘So we’re thinkin’ it was a woman? Alone? Because of that belt?’

  ‘It would seem so.’

  ‘She’d have to be big, and strong – not like me, but bigger than the dead woman.’

  ‘Right.’

  He studied me for a minute then said, ‘You got somebody in mind.’

  ‘Am I that easy to read?’

  ‘I know you pretty well, Mr G.’

  ‘Yeah, I guess you do,’ I said. ‘OK, I wasn’t going to share this with anyone, Jerry, but I’ll share it with you. Not a word to Danny or Jack Entratter. Agreed?’

  ‘Sure, Mr G., whatever you say.’

  I told him about finding the second ladies’ room door key in Marcy’s desk.

  ‘And the belt,’ I said, ‘it would fit her.’

  ‘What about the clothes she was wearin’ that day?’ Jerry asked. ‘Would they match the belt?’

  ‘I don’t know. To tell you the truth, I can’t remember what she was wearing. But if it did match she’s probably gotten rid of it by now.’

  ‘If she’s smart.’

  ‘I think Marcy’s kind of smart.’

  ‘Then what is she doin’ with the second key in her desk?’ Jerry asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Maybe she didn’t think anybody would look. And even if somebody did, it’s sitting there among all those other keys.’

  ‘So what are you gonna do?’

  We sat back at that moment and allowed Nell to put down our plates.

  ‘I’ve got to figure out a way,’ I sa
id, ‘to get her to move that key. Maybe even try to put it back in Helen’s desk. Then if we catch her in the act, she’ll have to explain. Maybe she’ll break down and confess.’

  ‘You and her are friends, ain’tcha?’

  ‘We are,’ I said, ‘but that doesn’t mean I can let her get away with murder.’

  ‘I guess not.’ He picked up a piece of bacon and popped it into his mouth. ‘How you gonna get her to do it?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Let’s eat and try to figure it out.’

  SEVENTY-SIX

  Marcy was at her desk when I entered the office. She was busy with something and didn’t see me come in. I watched her for a few moments, wondering if I was doing the right thing. She must have finally sensed me there, for she looked up, saw me and smiled.

  ‘Good morning, Eddie.’

  ‘Morning, Marcy,’ I said. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘I’m fine, I guess,’ she said. ‘It’s still hard … I’m trying to forget, but every time I go into that ladies’ room …’

  ‘I know,’ I said. ‘I understand.’

  ‘Do you know … have the police finished with their investigation?’

  ‘They’re almost convinced that she committed suicide.’

  ‘Almost?’ she asked. ‘W-what do they need to make up their minds?’

  ‘Well, they’re kind of hung up on her key.’

  ‘Her key?’ I saw her hand go to her desk drawer, but she pulled it back quickly. ‘What key?’

  ‘The key to the ladies’ room,’ I said. ‘They’re wondering how she got in there without her key.’

  ‘Well … maybe she unlocked it, and then put her key back in her desk.’

  I rubbed my jaw and said, ‘That would work, but only if they managed to find it there. Yeah, I’m sure if they found her key in her desk, that might do it.’

  ‘Well,’ she said, without looking directly at me, ‘maybe they should just try … looking again. Maybe it’s tucked under something, or caught somewhere … I don’t know?’

  ‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘yeah, maybe it is. They should look again. Maybe I’ll suggest it.’

  I didn’t leave right away. ‘Is there … was there something else?’

  ‘No,’ I said, ‘I was just checking to see how you’re doin’. I have to go and talk to Jack. I’ll see you around, huh?’

  ‘Sure, Eddie,’ she said. ‘See you around.’

  I walked down the hall to Entratter’s office, having planted the seed.

  ‘Did she bite?’ Jerry asked.

  He was waiting for me in Jack’s outer office.

  ‘I hope so,’ I said, ‘and then again, I hope not.’

  ‘What’s goin’ on out there?’ Jack yelled from inside.

  Jerry looked at me. He knew I was trying to keep my suspicion of Marcy just between him and me.

  ‘What are ya gonna tell ’im?’

  ‘I’ll tell him what I did,’ I said, ‘just not who I did it to.’

  ‘You don’t think he’ll figure it out?’

  ‘He might,’ I said. ‘Let’s see.’

  We went into his office and, as usual, Jerry left the talking to me.

  ‘So you’re expectin’ this person to come to Helen’s desk when they think nobody’s lookin’?’ he asked. ‘That’s gotta be after hours.’

  ‘If they try it during the day,’ I said, ‘they could run into you, or somebody from one of the other offices. So yes, I think it’ll be after closing.’

  ‘How are you gonna catch ’em?’

  ‘Jerry’ll be here when I’m not,’ I said.

  ‘What else do you have to do?’ Entratter asked.

  ‘I need to set up a game for Eddie Robinson to play in, and be there when he starts.’

  ‘You used Madge to coach him, didn’t you?’

  ‘I did.’

  ‘How’d they get along.’

  ‘Great! They really clicked,’

  ‘Then use her again,’ Jack suggested. ‘Get the game started and leave her there with him so you can get down here.’

  ‘Good idea.’

  ‘What will you do after you catch Marcy?’ Jack asked. ‘What? Did you think I was stupid.’

  ‘No, Jack,’ I said, sighing. ‘I just …’

  ‘I understand,’ he said. ‘She’s your friend. I’m disappointed, too. I was actually considering her as Helen’s replacement.’

  ‘If she shows up,’ I said, ‘I’ll have to turn her over to the cops.’

  ‘Hargrove?’

  I shook my head. ‘I’ll call Martin.’

  ‘Hargrove won’t like that,’ Jack said.

  ‘Let him take it up with his partner.’

  Jack sat back and shook his head.

  ‘Having Helen killed is bad enough, but if Marcy did it … what’s happenin’?’

  ‘Let’s hope we can find out soon.’

  ‘Yeah, OK,’ Jack said. ‘Get it done, boys, get it done.’

  ‘Go home early, Jack,’ I said.

  ‘Yeah,’ he agreed. ‘Call me when it’s over, no matter what time.’

  ‘Gotcha.’

  SEVENTY-SEVEN

  I was able to find five high-stakes gamblers who didn’t mind playing poker with Edward G. Robinson.

  ‘But no backsies, right?’ one of them asked.

  I grinned and said, ‘No, definitely no backsies. If he loses his stake it’s just part of his research.’

  The five gamblers assembled in the private room at the Sands first, awaiting Robinson’s arrival.

  ‘One other thing,’ I said to them, ‘he’s going to be playing as Lancey Howard. That’s the character he’s playing in the movie he’s researching. Got it? Don’t treat him like a movie star.’

  ‘But we can still take his money, right?’

  ‘Take it all, if you can,’ I told them.

  That made them happy. They thought ‘Lancey Howard’ was going to be easy pickings.

  I walked over to the bar, where the well vetted bartender was standing with Billy Pulaski. The Sands head of security hadn’t been very helpful when it came to Helen’s case, so he volunteered to help with security for the ‘Lancey Howard’ game.

  ‘Billy,’ I said. ‘I have to go, but I might be back.’

  ‘I’ll be here the whole time, Eddie.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  When Eddie Robinson arrived he was in full ‘Lancey’ mode, complete with cigar. Madge was with him. She was not wearing her uniform, but she was also not dressed to the nines. The Lancey character was not a womanizer, so Madge was dressed in slacks and a jacket over a powder blue blouse. Not exactly dressed down, she looked good and I told her so.

  ‘Thank you, sir.’

  I shook hands with ‘Lancey’.

  ‘Thank you for this, Eddie,’ he said. ‘The experience will be invaluable to me.’

  ‘I hope you win.’

  ‘That’s not the point,’ he said, with that smile and twinkle, ‘but it would be nice. Will you be watching?’

  ‘I have to leave to take care of something,’ I said, ‘but I may be back.’ I slapped him on the shoulder. ‘Good luck.’

  It was almost midnight when I got down to Jack’s office. Jerry was there, waiting.

  ‘Nothin’?’ I asked.

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘OK,’ I said, ‘you can go.’

  ‘I figured I’d stick around.’

  ‘Get some sleep, Jerry,’ I said. ‘I’ll call you if I need you.’

  ‘Mr G.—’

  ‘I think I can handle Marcy.’

  He considered that, then said, ‘OK, I get it. She’s your friend.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  He started to leave, then turned and said, ‘I hope she don’t turn up.’

  He left.

  ‘So do I,’ I said.

  But I wouldn’t get that lucky.

  Marcy probably figured the later she showed up, the less chance she’d have of being caught. She’d attract no attention walking through
the lobby to the elevators. Everybody knew she worked there.

  I heard the elevator stop, and the door open. I stood off to the side, peering around the door frame. She must have crept down the hall slowly, just to be sure, but she finally appeared. She stepped into the room, dressed in a sweater, T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. When she got to Helen’s desk she opened the top drawer, put her hand in her jeans pocket and came out with the key.

  Helen’s key.

  As she opened the top drawer to put the key back I stepped out from hiding.

  ‘Oh, Marcy.’

  She caught her breath and turned her head quickly.

  ‘Eddie!’

  ‘Put the key down.’

  She still had it in her hand, so she dropped it on top of the desk, then turned to face me.

  ‘Y-you don’t understand,’ she said.

  ‘I guess not,’ I said. ‘Why don’t you tell me why you killed Helen?’

  ‘I-I didn’t mean to,’ she said, her eyes filling with tears. ‘She was just … such a bitch!’

  ‘You killed her because she was a bitch?’

  ‘N-no, not exactly,’ Marcy said. ‘She, uh, caught me.’

  ‘Caught you doing what?’

  She wet her lips, took off her glasses and wiped her eyes.

  ‘I … I took some money from petty cash.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I needed some extra cash,’ she said.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter, Eddie,’ she said. She put her glasses back on. ‘She saw me. We were in the ladies’ room and she said she was going to tell Mr Entratter.’

  ‘You would have been fired.’

  ‘And arrested.’

  ‘Probably not,’ I said. ‘Jack wouldn’t have prosecuted you for petty cash, Marcy. In fact, he may not have fired you, if you had good reason to take it.’

  ‘I didn’t think of that,’ she said. ‘Helen’s never liked me; we never liked each other. She laughed when she said she was going to tell Jack. She turned to leave the bathroom and I-I snapped.’

  ‘You took off your belt and strangled her with it.’

  She frowned.

  ‘You knew that?’