FIVE

I had become the ‘go to guy’ for Frank, Dean and Sammy when they had a problem they needed handled discreetly. It was my own fault, really. Jack Entratter, my boss, had put me in that position a couple of times and I had come through. At the same time I liked to think I had formed a friendship with those guys, specifically Dino and Frank. Of course, I was never friends with each of them the way they were friends with each other, but when they were in town – together or separately – they usually invited me to dinner.

This time, however, Dean calling and inviting me to play golf was a surprise. More of a surprise to find that the invitation included Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

Something was up.

When I got word in the afternoon that Entratter wanted to see me in his office I figured this was it.

‘Go right in,’ his girl said to me as I entered. For some reason I didn’t rate the usual look of disdain I got from her.

‘Jack,’ I said, as I entered.

Jack and I had always had a cordial boss/employee relationship, during which I had never referred to him as anything but ‘Mr Entratter.’ But ever since I had become ‘that guy’ for him – the one who kept his ‘friends’ safe – I had become much more comfortable calling him ‘Jack’. Sometimes.

‘Siddown, Eddie,’ he said. ‘I heard you played golf with Dino, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.’

‘That’s right,’ I said, taking a seat. ‘Dean invited me.’

‘You didn’t beat them too bad, did you?’

‘One stroke.’

‘Yeah,’ he said, ‘I heard they gave you a thirty handicap and you beat ’em by one.’ He shook his head. ‘You almost blew a thirty shot head start?’

‘Hey,’ I said, ‘I just started playin’ a few months ago. I think I did pretty good.’

He started laughing.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘I can just see you struttin’ around the course like you accomplished somethin’.’

‘Did you bring me up here just to laugh at me?’

‘Pretty much. Want a drink?’

‘I’ve got to get back to my pit—’

‘Bourbon?’ he asked, getting up.

‘Sure.’

He poured two bourbons, added ice and handed me one.

‘Dean’s in town and he’s not playin’ anywhere,’ I said. ‘What’s that about?’

‘Frank Junior,’ he said, sitting back down.

‘What?’

‘Frank Junior is opening next door,’ Entratter said, ‘at the Flamingo.’

‘Why is he opening there and not here?’ I asked.

‘Frank didn’t want any favors for the kid,’ he said. ‘He made Frankie get his own deal.’

‘And he got it next door? Kid’s got balls. Is that why Hope and Crosby are in town?’

‘That’s about the only thing that would bring Crosby here,’ Entratter said. ‘He doesn’t play Vegas. Doesn’t want to play gaming establishments. But he’s stayin’ with us. So is Hope.’

‘So if Dean, Bing and Hope are here for the kid’s opening,’ I said. ‘Where’s Frank?’

‘Frank’s playin’ a gig in Atlantic City for Skinny D’Amato. He’s comin’ to Vegas in a few days to play two nights here, and see the kid’s last performance.’

‘I didn’t know he was comin’ here.’

‘It wasn’t planned,’ Entratter said. ‘We’re movin’ Vic Damone back two nights to make it work.’

‘Vic doesn’t mind?’

‘Not when I told him it was Frank.’

I sipped my drink. So I was wrong about something being up. Dean wasn’t here to ask for my help. He was just here to support Frankie.

‘Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘How old is the kid?’

‘Nineteen.’

‘Isn’t he a little young?’

‘Wayne Newton was younger when he started,’ Jack said. ‘And the first time Frank Junior came here he was ten. He grew up in this business.’

‘You goin’?’

‘Openin’ night,’ he said.

‘When is that?’

‘Tomorrow.’

‘Maybe I’ll go.’

‘If I’m not mistaken,’ he said, ‘you’re workin’.’

I stared at him.

‘Nah, I’m kiddin’,’ he said. ‘You can go. Now get back to work.’

‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘right.’

I left the office, wondering why I was so uncomfortable with the fact that Jack Entratter had suddenly developed a sense of humor.