Five Points by J. R. Roberts

protégés, Bethany and a kid called Red.”
    â€œI’ve met him,” Clint said. “I wasn’t off the train ten seconds when I found his hand in my pocket.”
    â€œThe kid’s got a great touch,” Delvecchio said. “I’m surprised and impressed you caught him.”
    â€œWhat about Bethany?”
    â€œShe’s got talent, but she’s not a natural like the kid.”
    â€œAnything romantic between her and Appo?”
    â€œNo,” Delvecchio said. “He’s only about ten years older than she is, but I don’t think anything’s goin’ on between them. He’s just her mentor.”
    â€œSo then she’ll go to him for help?”
    â€œI’m sure if she goes to anybody it’ll be him.”
    â€œOkay, good,” Clint said, “then you take me to see him, and maybe we can get him to tell her what we want her to hear.”
    â€œWhat makes you think George Appo is gonna help you?” Delvecchio asked.
    â€œHe and I have a mutual friend who will vouch for me,” Clint said.
    â€œSorry, friend,” Delvecchio said, “but me and Appo are acquaintances, not friends.”
    â€œI wasn’t talking about you,” Clint said. “I was talking about Red.”
    â€œThe kid? He might be hard to find.”
    â€œHe told me to put the word out on the street and he’d hear about it.”
    â€œOkay,” Delvecchio said. “I’ll put the word out. Where should I say he can find you?”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with right here?”
    Delvecchio looked down at his cup and said, “Well, for one, the coffee stinks.”

THIRTY
    Two hours and a lot of cups of weak coffee later, the kid Red came sauntering in.
    â€œSo, now you need Red’s help, huh?” he asked, looking at Clint and Delvecchio. “Hey, I know you.”
    â€œDelvecchio.”
    â€œRight, the private detective. You put the word out that Mr. Adams wanted me, right?”
    â€œRight.”
    Red looked at Clint.
    â€œSo what can I do for you, Mr. Gunsmith?”
    â€œI want you to take me to see George Appo.”
    â€œGeorge? Why?”
    â€œBecause I think a girl named Bethany needs help, and I think she’s going to go to him for it.”
    â€œWhatsamatter with Bethany? Why don’t she come to me for help? We’re friends.”
    â€œThen all the more reason you should take me to see George,” Clint said. “I want to help Bethany.”
    Red looked at Delvecchio.
    â€œIs he tellin’ me straight?”
    â€œYeah, kid,” Delvecchio said. “He wants to help the girl.”
    â€œWell, okay,” Red said. “I gotta talk to George first. Where will I find you?”
    Clint looked down at his weak coffee.
    â€œRight here.”
    â€œRight,” Red said. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
    As Red left, Clint suddenly slapped his forehead with his palm.
    â€œWhat?” Delvecchio asked.
    â€œI was supposed to be picked up this morning by Captain Byrnes.”
    â€œOh, yeah. To go talk to those other fences. Well, now you don’t have to do that.”
    â€œI know,” Clint said, “but Byrnes doesn’t know it.”
    â€œSo he probably went without you,” Delvecchio said. “It’ll keep him busy.”
    â€œIt’ll probably make him mad.”
    â€œMore coffee?”
    â€œDo they serve beer here?”
    â€œNo.”
    Clint shrugged.
    â€œI’ll have some more weak coffee.”
    True to his word, Red was back in an hour.
    â€œOkay,” he said. “George says he’ll talk to you.”
    â€œNot here, I hope,” Clint said.
    â€œNo,” Red said. “George has class. He wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.”
    â€œWhere then?”
    â€œThe Metropole.”
    â€œThey have good coffee there,” Delvecchio said.
    â€œOkay,” Clint said, standing up.