It took longer than it should have because Jerry did keep his speed down. But Judy was right. We weren’t in any hurry.
I told him to pull the limo around the back. I wanted to take Judy inside without anybody seeing her.
‘What about the car?’ Jerry asked. ‘We can‘t just leave it. I mean … that’s a car!’
‘I’ll have one of the valets look after it,’ I promised.
Partially mollified, he followed us inside. I led the way directly to the elevators.
‘Where we goin’?’ Jerry asked.
‘Right to Jack’s office,’ I said. I looked at Judy. ‘He’ll get you a suite with no fuss.’
‘Whatever you say,’ she said. She’d been very quiet the last couple of hours of the ride. I figured she had a lot on her mind. How much she was willing to tell me, I hoped to find out later.
We took the elevator to Entratter’s floor and entered his office. We passed two employees in the hall, and they both gaped at Judy. The same thing happened when we entered Jack’s outer office. I didn’t know anything about the girl sitting there, except that she was pretty and new. But she knew Judy when she saw her.
‘Oh my God,’ she said.
‘Is Jack here?’ I asked.
‘Uh …’ She pulled her eyes away from Judy. ‘Who are you?’
‘Eddie Gianelli.’
‘Eddie G.!’ she said. ‘Yes, I was told about you. Yes, Mr Entratter is in his office.’
I looked at his closed door. That was unusual.
‘Thanks,’ I said and walked over to knock on the door.
‘Come!’ Jack yelled.
I held the door, allowed Judy to go in first. Jerry followed me in.
‘What the—’ Jack jumped up from behind his desk. ‘Miss Garland. I didn’t know … Eddie? What the—’ He stopped himself again.
‘Jack, I don’t know if you’ve ever met Judy Garland before,’ I said.
‘Once or twice,’ Judy said, before he could speak. ‘How are you, Mr Entratter?’
‘I’m fine, Miss Garland. Eddie, you wanna explain?’
‘Judy needs a suite, Jack, and I don’t want anyone to know. You’ll have to tell your whole staff, because a couple of them have seen her already, but I don’t want them to talk.’
‘The first one who talks gets fired,’ he said. ‘I’ll see to it. But what’s this about?’
‘I’ll have to tell you later,’ I said, ‘but it’s important. Are Dean and Frank in town?’
‘No, but Frank’s in Tahoe. He can be here in a hurry if you need him.’
‘I’ll call him there,’ I said. ‘Meanwhile, Jerry and I have some other things to do.’
‘Leave Miss Garland with me,’ Jack said. ‘I’ll see that she’s taken care of.’
I looked at Judy. She said, ‘Go ahead. I’m sure I’ll be fine with Jack.’
‘All right,’ I said. ‘I’ll check back in with you after you’re settled.’
‘Take me to dinner,’ she said. ‘Maybe Jack can join us?’
‘Deal,’ I said. ‘Jack, I’ll be back.’
‘You better,’ he said. ‘You’ve got a lot of explainin’ to do.’
‘I can fill you in on some of it,’ Judy said, then looked at me for approval.
‘Sure,’ I said, ‘tell him as much as you know.’
She nodded and smiled.
‘I’ll take you to a suite personally,’ he told Judy.
‘Come on,’ I said to Jerry.
We went out past the girl, who was still awed by Judy’s presence.
‘Where to?’ Jerry asked in the elevator.
‘Well, first we’ll get that car you’re so worried about taken care of, then we’ll make some calls – get ahold of Danny and see what he’s got.’
‘And then?’
I looked at him. ‘You’re worried about eatin’, aren’t you?’
‘Well …’
‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘We’ll get somethin’, and then we’ll come back later to have dinner with Judy.’
‘And Mr Entratter.’
‘I doubt he’ll be there,’ I said, ‘but Frank might. Once he knows Judy’s here, he’ll probably chopper in.’
‘Where are we gonna make them from?’
‘Jesus, Jerry,’ I said, as the elevator doors opened on the main floor, ‘all right, we’ll make the calls from the Garden Café.’