We dressed and went downstairs. I put my coat on the back of the kitchen chair just as the phone rang.
"Oh, damn it, Carter. I forgot to tell you something. Look at the paper. Right where it's open." As he went to look at the paper on the kitchen table, I picked up the phone.
"Yeah?"
"Mr. Williams?"
"Yeah."
"This is Robert from Mr. Klein's office."
"Good morning, Robert. Have you seen the paper?"
"Yes, and it's awful." He didn't sound upset, however, which I thought curious.
"Have you talked to Jeffery?"
There was a pause.
"Well, Mr. Williams..."
"Oh, Robert. Please tell me you didn't sleep with him last night."
No reply.
I sighed. "So, when did you last see him?"
"He went out to get the paper and some coffee since I was out. I haven't seen him since."
"What time was that?"
"About 7."
It was now 8:15.
"Robert! What have you been doing for the last 75 minutes?"
"Crying, mostly."
"I bet. Well, buck up, kid. Get dressed and get to the office as soon as you can. We'll meet you there and figure out what to do next."
. . .
I pulled the Buick into the garage of The Shell Building. We had packed an overnight bag for each of us, just in case. They were stowed in the trunk. This time, for whatever reason, I decided to bring my gun. It was stowed in the glove compartment under a stack of maps.
I left the keys with the kid on duty. "I don't know how long we'll be." I handed him a folded five. "Can you keep it close and handy in case we need to leave in a hurry?" He looked at the five and then at me. He smirked. "Sure thing, Mr. Williams."
We walked into the building through the back entrance and then on through to the lobby. Tony was on duty at the elevator. He nodded but didn't smile as he turned the lever to "10" and closed the door.
"How are you Tony?"
He said, "Not good, Mr. Williams."
"What seems to be the trouble?"
"It's Anna. Now the doctor says she won't ever walk again."
Carter said, "That's tough. Sorry to hear that."
Tony looked up at Carter, who towered above the man by at least a foot, if not more. He nodded. "Yes. It is."
Then, looking at me, he said, "That son of a bitch Hearst deserved everything you gave him and more." It was a very dark statement, with menacing undertones.
Neither of us responded. The door opened and, as I lifted my hat, I said, "See you on the way down, Tony."
He nodded and closed the door behind us.
. . .
There was a mild ruckus going on around Robert's reception desk when we walked in. Secretaries were dining on the dish as Robert poured out his heart. Carter and I walked right up, causing a stir, and I said, "Good morning, ladies. Don't you all have things to do this morning?" A couple of them twittered in nervous laughter but they all dispersed in various directions and soon we were alone with Robert.
I looked at him evenly and said, "You need to keep your trap shut, Robert. Don't tell anyone else, unless it's me or your own attorney, anything about what you and Jeffery were doing last night."
He looked startled when I said that. He started to speak when Carter interjected, "Sodomy is against the law. Anyone of those ladies could run to the police. You and Jeffery could go to jail and he could lose his law license."
Robert turned pale. "I hadn't thought about that."
I nodded and said, "Well, now is the time. I don't suppose you've heard anything?"
Robert shook his head and turned even more pale. In a voice like death he said, "Eddie Mannix left a message with the service this morning. They wouldn't repeat it, it was so vulgar, but they said he wants to hear from you or Jeffery."
"Do you have an extension I can use in a private room somewhere?"
Robert nodded. "The first office on the right is empty. Just pick up the extension and I can make the call for you."
Carter and I walked down the hall and made ourselves at home. Carter leaned against the wall. I sat on the edge of the desk and waited for Robert to pick up. "Yes, Mr. Williams?"
"Get me Prospect 7777."
"Right away." There was a click, a pause, and then I heard Marnie say, "Nick Williams, Private Investigator."
"It's Nick."
"Oh, Nick! Where are you?"
"I'm at Jeffery's office."
"Mannix has called three times!"
"How bad?"
"I think I learned a couple of new words today and I thought I knew them all!"
"When did he last call?"
"About ten minutes ago. He said Taylor has disappeared again."
I sighed. I pulled out my wallet. I found the card he'd given me on Monday night.
"What about the Bureau?"
"Nothing."
"Good. Jeffery says it's just harassment."
"That's a relief."
"We'll see. OK. I need to find Mike and then we'll decide whether we're going back down to that godforsaken place or not. If he calls the office and you haven't heard from me, tell him to call over here. Got that?"
"Got it."
"You're the tops, Marnie."
She giggled.
I dropped the handset back on its cradle.
Carter asked, "I suppose that was Mannix you were talking about?"
"Yeah. He's called over there three times." I looked at the card and said, "The last thing I want to do is call him without having anything to tell him."
"Where do you think Jeffery would go?"
I sat on the edge of the desk and pondered that question.
"Damn it, Carter. He's probably walking across the Golden Gate Bridge. That's always been his favorite place to go in times like this. Used to scare the shit out of me when he would tell me that's what he'd been doing."
Carter whistled. I nodded. "Exactly."
We walked back out to the front. "Robert, I think I know where Jeffery is."
He looked up, hope in his eyes. "Where?"
"That doesn't matter right now. I need you to do two things for me."
He picked up a pencil and prepared to take notes.
"First, call my secretary back. Her name is Marnie Wilson. Tell her we're going to find Jeffery and that we think we know where he is. When she asks you where, and she will, tell her that I said it was none of anyone's goddam business."
Robert smiled slightly as I said that last part.
For some reason, I remembered Anna.
"Next, when you talk to her, ask her to call her friend who works at the city hospital and to find out anything she can about anyone who is doing experimental work in the area of helping polio kids walk again. I want anything and everything, no matter how wild the treatment is."
Robert looked up and asked, "Anna?"
I looked confused. "Who's Anna?"
He smiled that small smile again. "No one."
"Third. When Eddie Mannix calls back, and he will, tell him that I am getting Jeffery and that I will call him back as soon as I have found him." I leaned over the desk. "Impress upon him that I don't want him calling back here. We will call him."
Robert was writing these things down in shorthand. He was fast.
"Repeat my instructions back about Mr. Mannix."
Robert read them just as I'd said them.
"Good boy. Tell him that I told you to read them to him just like that. Got it?"
"Yes sir."
"Be sure to give the same script to Marnie when you call her. Also, call her as soon as we are gone. Don't take any calls until you talk to her."
Robert, looking much better now that he had some marching orders, nodded.
I leaned down, took his chin in my right hand, and said, "And, keep your goddam trap shut, kid."
He nodded solemnly. I put my hand against his face and said, "Good boy."
. . .
>
As we were walking down the hall towards the elevator, Carter said, "I should have gone out with you on a case years ago, Nick. You're good."
I smiled up at him and said, "Thank you, kind sir."
I pressed the "Down" button for the elevator. Very quickly, Carter reached down, took my chin in his hand like I'd done with Robert, and whispered, "Good boy." I shivered as he kissed me.
Chapter 8
The Shell Building
100 Bush Street
Wednesday, May 20, 1953
About half past 9 in the morning
The elevator was packed going down so I didn't get a chance to ask Tony any more questions about Anna. He probably didn't want to talk about something that was laying on him so heavy, anyway.
As we entered the lobby, I said to Carter, "Mike."
He nodded. We went over to the bank of payphones next to the shoeshine stand. I sat down in the booth while Carter leaned against the door. I dropped my dime and dialed Mike's number. I looked at my watch and it said 9:30. After his phone rang ten times, I put the receiver on the hook.
I thought for a moment and then I scooped out the returned dime and dropped it again. This time I called the office.
"Nick Will--"
"It's Nick."
"That Robert just called. Boy, is he efficient!"
"Yeah. Look. I'm going to tell you where we're going to find Jeffery but you can't tell anyone. Not Robert and certainly not Mannix."
"OK. My lips are sealed."
"Good. We're going to the Golden Gate Bridge. And to the north side over in Marin County. Call Mike at home and keep trying until you get him. Tell him where we've gone and tell him to get there as fast as he can."
"Got it Nick. Gee--"
"I know. Thanks doll."
I dropped the receiver down again and stood up. I looked up at Carter and said, "Let's go big guy." He smiled.
. . .
As we drove up the southern approach to the bridge, I told Carter to start looking for Jeffery. He would be on the eastern side, so I hugged that lane and drove more slowly than the motorists behind me cared for. They let me know by honking and swerving around from behind. After we'd passed the south tower, I saw Jeffery. He was looking over the side. Carter saw him at the same time and opened his door.
"Are you sure?" was as much as I could get out, before he put his legs out on the pavement. I was slowing but hadn't stopped and then, to my astonishment, he was on the roadway, then leaping over the railing (courtesy of his good left knee), and up on the sidewalk. I reached over, pulled the door closed and sped the hell up trying to get to the far side quickly.
I pulled the car into the small lot, jumped out, and started running down the walkway. It took about ten minutes of pushing the pavement before I even got to the north tower, so I re-doubled my effort and started to sprint. After a moment, I could see the two of them walking towards me. Jeffery was smiling. I stopped running and took a moment to catch my breath. I decided, in fact, to stop right there and do a little bay-gazing of my own.
I looked out over the azure blue of the San Francisco Bay. It was another of the clear days we'd been having so many of and I could even see the hills behind Oakland and Berkeley.
Jeffery came up and stood next to the railing. "You remembered," he said.
I turned and looked at him. "What is happening with you, friend?"
He turned and looked at me closely. Carter was standing at a discrete distance doing his own bay-watching. "My heart's broken. That's what is happening." But he seemed to be free, or at least not in pain.
"I see." This was irritating me mightily, but on this bridge, on a day like today, I didn't really care.
"Are you ready to go back to work?"
"No." Jeffery smiled. "I'm going to L.A. and don't try to stop me, Nick."
I took a deep breath and just shook my head.
"Then, as your punishment, you have to call Eddie Mannix."
"No, actually, I don't." He turned and looked out at the water. I watched him from the side. I had always thought Jeffery had the best profile. His aquiline nose was just prominent enough to be interesting. I loved the way his brown hair waved in the wind, even as short as he cut it, it still waved, as if it would not be denied. He was right. He didn't have to call Eddie. I was only involved in all this mess because Eddie was Jeffery’s client.
"Suit yourself. I'm gonna need an attorney, however, to handle the incorporation of this new company."
Jeffery smiled and said, "Try Polk's."
"You're serious? You're done with the law?"
"Yes."
"But what about all those men who supported you when you started?"
"Like you?"
"No. Not like me. I had millions of dollars already when I first met you. I'm talking about the little guys, who are still little guys, who depend on you. You have a big suite of offices, but I know you, Jeffery. You're doing the same kind of business that you've always done. You look out for the Joe and the Jane who can really use your help. And what about the Tenderloin and Polk Street crowd?"
Jeffery sighed and looked out at the water, not looking at me. "I dunno Nick."
"Is that all you got?"
"Yep. That's all I got."
I reached out my hand and said, "Good knowin' you then, Jeffery Klein."
He didn't shake. He looked shocked. "What do you mean?"
I looked at him and said, "Try Polk's." With that, I turned away and walked briskly under the clear sky of a beautiful day and couldn't believe how much it hurt to have a broken heart.
. . .
On the way back to the house, Carter and I had one of our rare fights. It wasn't as much a fight as it was a sulky disagreement. He disagreed with my approach and I sulked over it.
We pulled up in the driveway and there, for the third time in less than ten days, was Mike. He was smoking a cigar. This one was new. He was reading some book. And his battered '41 Ford was parked in front of the house.
I was in no mood. So, without stopping, I unlocked the door, banged it open, threw my hat on the chair and stomped my way up the stairs.
As I sat on the edge of the bed, I was in a lot of pain. I didn't understand what Jeffery was doing and I felt like I had to walk away from the madness. But I didn't want to. I wanted to pull him into a big hug right there on the bridge and tell him everything was going to be OK. He was in another world. And I couldn't reach out to him. And he couldn't tell me what it looked like there. It was as if we didn't have a language that could describe this indescribable thing that was happening with him.
I fell back on the bed and closed my eyes. Before I knew it, the phone was ringing downstairs. I sat up and could feel a crick in my neck from staying in the same position for so long.
I looked at my watch. It was 1:30. I'd been out for a while.
I heard a hobbling giant coming up the stairs. He knocked on the door. I said, "Come in."
He opened the door and leaned against the frame. "Eddie Mannix has called for you twice. I thought this time I would let you know."
I shook my head and said, "How did he get our home number?"
"He's Eddie Mannix. That's how."
I could smell my breath, so I got up off the bed, took off my wrinkled coat, and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth.
As I was sprinkling the powder on my wet toothbrush, Carter came in and stood behind me. He watched in the mirror as I brushed thoroughly.
I spat out and rinsed and I was done.
I turned around and asked, "Do you still love me?"
His eyes got wide. "Of course. Now and forever." He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead.
"What do you think I should do about Jeffery?"
He shrugged. "Nothing." That took about four syllables, it was so slow and drawn out. "It's his decision to make."
I knew he was right. I just felt like my old friend was flying away into the sunset and leaving everyone behind to pick up the pieces. I was feeling agg
rieved on behalf of his clients. But I knew most of them would pull out their massive Polk's and quickly find a new attorney. Or call up a friend they knew through the V.F.W. to get a reference.
But, once again, I kept coming back to the fags and the dykes. They were the ones being harassed by the cops and by the Examiner. These were the people I was more aggrieved about than any of the others.
Carter asked, "What are you thinking?"
"About all the queers who will be losing one of their best advocates in this city. The rest will cope. But--"
Carter looked at me closely. "Do you really believe that?"
"Sure."
He looked dubious. "So, the future of all these lives rests on Jeffery's shoulders?"
I shrugged.
"And there are no other attorneys in this town packed with lawyers that can step in and take his place?"
I started to tear up. Carter noticed and put his index finger on the side of my right eye to catch the tear. He did and then tasted it. He smiled.
"It's not everyone else you're concerned about. It's you."
I looked down and realized Carter needed a shoeshine. I wondered why we didn't get one when we were at The Shell Building this morning. It would have made sense. But we had to go run out and rescue Jeffery.
"You're right. I'm being selfish."
Carter shook his head. "No. Not selfish. You're hurt. Jeffery is leaving you. And maybe for good."
I looked up. "What do you mean?"
"Jeffery was telling you on the bridge that it's over. You're relationship is kaput. And you're hurt."
"I am hurt. It's bad."
Carter pulled me into an embrace. He slowly rocked me. "You're probably going to hurt for a while. This is the break-up you never had before. You were going with him, off again as I remember, and then we met. It was that 'Some Enchanted Evening' and you rushed to my side and have never left it." He whispered, "Thank God."
I nodded in his shoulder. He was right. I had left Jeffery for Carter. But we still had our friendship and business relationship, so we never really ever ended anything. And now we were doing just that.
And, as if by magic, the phone downstairs started ringing again. I pushed my face deeper into Carter's big shoulder. He just patted me on the back and rocked me from side to side.
The Amorous Attorney (A Nick Williams Mystery Book 2) Page 5