The Way You Die Tonight by Robert Randisi Page A

‘Don’t know if I could turn that down.’
    â€˜Somehow I don’t think you’d have a problem turning money down, Jerry,’ I said. ‘I don’t think you do what you do strictly for money.’
    â€˜I do lots of things for money, Mr G.,’ he said. ‘But forget about that. It sure sounds like he don’t think Hughes is gonna be real happy.’
    â€˜Fuck it,’ I said, ‘I’ve got too much to do to help him take over somebody’s casino, because you know that’s what he wants. He wants me to tell him what property is ripe for the pickin’. These people in Vegas are my friends, Jerry. Howard Hughes is nothing to me.’
    â€˜Well,’ Jerry said, ‘I just hope he takes your turn down in stride.’
    â€˜What’s he gonna do, send some muscles to convince me?’
    â€˜I dunno, Mr G.,’ Jerry said. ‘Does Howard Hughes hire muscle?’
    I shrugged.
    â€˜Well, then we better keep our eyes open,’ he said. ‘It’s a good thing you called me.’
    â€˜Never mind Howard Hughes,’ I said to him. ‘How would you like to meet Edward G. Robinson?’
    â€˜I would love that,’ he said, his eyes going wide. ‘Him and Cagney – and Bogey, of course – they’re the best!’
    â€˜OK, then,’ I said, ‘let’s go and get that done right now.’

TWENTY-EIGHT
    â€˜I thought we were gonna meet Mr Robinson,’ Jerry said as we entered his suite.
    â€˜I’ve got to make some calls, first,’ I said. ‘I don’t want to go to the fourth floor to use the phones, I don’t want to use the phones in the lobby because it’s too much like Grand Central Fucking Station, and I don’t want to go home.
    â€˜I was just askin’.’
    â€˜It’s OK,’ I said.
    He went to the bar and I went to the phone.
    â€˜I just have to set it up for Robinson to watch a poker game tonight.’
    â€˜That’s what he’s here for, right, just to watch?’
    â€˜Watch, observe, learn,’ I said.
    â€˜A movie with him and Steve McQueen oughtta be real good,’ Jerry said. ‘Especially with Ann-Margret in it. Hey, is she gonna—’
    â€˜You met her last year,’ I said. ‘You’re not gonna get that lucky two years in a row.’
    â€˜Just askin’,’ Jerry said, as I dialed. ‘Want a drink?’
    â€˜Uh, yeah, I’ll have a beer.’
    Jerry brought me a bottle of Piels while I talked on the phone. I knew there was a high-stakes game in the hotel again that night. What I needed was permission to bring Edward G. Robinson up to watch. I started with Billy Pulaski, Jack’s Head of Security.
    â€˜I don’t know, Eddie,’ he said. ‘After what happened with Kendrick the other night—’
    â€˜What did happen with him?’ I asked. ‘I mean … did you fire him?’
    â€˜Oh yeah,’ Pulaski said, ‘so I’ll be sittin’ in on this game myself until I hire a new man.’
    â€˜Well, that’s great, Billy,’ I said. ‘With you there we know things’ll go OK.’ I didn’t mention the fact that it was me who kept the game from being robbed the other night.
    â€˜I think I gotta check with Jack, Eddie.’
    â€˜Sure, you do that.’ I knew Jack would tell him to make it happen.
    â€˜And the players?’
    â€˜They wouldn’t care as long as they get to play.’
    â€˜Do that, too, and I’ll get back to you,’ I said, and hung up.
    â€˜Problem?’ Jerry asked. He was standing behind the bar with a bottle of beer in his big hand.
    â€˜Security,’ I said. ‘I told you about the attempted robbery. Pulaski is worried about it. He thinks bringing Robinson to the game might be a risk.’
    â€˜Ain’t you his boss?’
    â€˜No,’ I said. ‘Jack’s his boss. He’ll call