EIGHTEEN

Bing and I walked to the house and called the police. It took a while but eventually some deputies arrived, and then they called for two detectives from the Sheriff’s Department. Thankfully, we weren’t in the city limits, so Jerry and I wouldn’t be seeing any familiar faces. It would take the detectives some time before they found out our history.

As it was they seemed impressed by Bing Crosby, and treated him and – by extension – us with respect.

‘So, Mr Crosby,’ Detective Harry Lewis said, ‘you didn’t have a definite time for your appointment with Mr Arnold?’

‘We just said it would be this morning,’ Bing said.

He gave us all a look.

‘And none of you saw the driver of the car that sideswiped you?’

‘It didn’t exactly sideswipe us,’ I said, ‘but no, there was too much dust and dirt bein’ kicked around.’

‘That’s right,’ Bing said.

Jerry just nodded.

‘You don’t say much, do you, Mr Epstein?’ Detective Lewis said.

‘I guess not.’

Lewis’ partner, a man named Perry, came out of the barn and walked over to us.

‘The M.E. says he was bludgeoned to death,’ he said. ‘Also said the killer would have been covered with the victim’s blood.’

Pointedly, the two detectives looked the three of us over.

‘Clean as a whistle,’ Bing said.

‘Yes, it would seem,’ Lewis said. He was the older of the two men – forties as opposed to thirties – and also seemed to be the man in charge.

‘Well, we can reach all three of you at the Sands Hotel in Vegas?’

‘That’s right,’ Bing said.

‘Did any of you touch the body?’ Detective Perry asked.

‘I looked at his wallet,’ Jerry admitted.

‘Why?’

‘We wanted to be sure who he was,’ Bing said. ‘I asked Jerry to look.’

Bing effectively took the pressure right off Jerry with that admission.

‘Not exactly what you’re supposed to do when faced with a body, Mr Crosby,’ Lewis said. ‘We prefer witnesses don’t touch the victim.’

‘Well,’ Bing said, ‘we didn’t really witness anything, did we?’

‘It’s . . . just a word we use,’ Lewis said. ‘You found the body, and saw the car hurrying away.’

‘I see,’ Bing said.

‘And the house?’ Perry asked.

‘What about it?’ Bing asked.

‘Did anyone go in?’

‘Well, yeah,’ Bing said. ‘Eddie and I went in to look for Mr Arnold. Jerry went to look in the barn.’

‘Touch anything in the house?’ Lewis asked.

‘Just the front doorknob,’ I said.

Lewis made a note.

‘We’ll be bringing the body out in a few minutes,’ Perry said. ‘If you don’t want to see it, you’re free to go.’

‘You won’t be leaving Vegas anytime soon, will you, Mr Crosby?’

‘We should be here a couple of more days,’ Bing said. ‘If there’s family around I might still want to buy the horse.’

‘I see,’ Lewis said.

‘Is that a little cold-blooded?’ Bing asked.

‘Not at all, sir,’ Lewis said. ‘After all, you didn’t know the man . . . did you?’

‘Never met.’

‘All right, then,’ Lewis said. ‘The three of you can leave. We’ll need to take formal statements from you at some point.’

‘We’ll be available.’

We started for the car and then Lewis called, ‘Mr Crosby?’

‘Yes?’ We all turned.

‘You said you never met the deceased.’

‘That’s right.’

‘What about your trainer, Mr . . . Stanley?’ he asked, referring to his notebook. ‘Had he ever met him?’

‘They spoke on the phone,’ Bing said, ‘but they never met.’

‘Would I be able to question Mr Stanley about it?’ Lewis asked.

‘That might be a problem,’ Bing said.

‘Why’s that?’

‘We don’t know where he is,’ Bing said. ‘He was supposed to meet me at the Sands, but he never showed up. We’re pretty worried.’

‘I see. Have you made a report to the Vegas police?’ Lewis asked.

‘No,’ Bing said, ‘we thought he might show up today. Still might, I guess.’

‘All right,’ Lewis said. ‘We’ll be in touch.’

We got in the car with Jerry behind the wheel. And drove away.

We rode a while in silence and then I said, ‘Thanks, Bing, for taking the lead.’

‘I noticed how they reacted to me,’ he said. ‘Respectful. Thought I might as well trade on that.’

‘Once they get back to their offices and check on us, they’ll come around a little less respectfully,’ I said.

‘Well, if they do, let me know if I can help.’

‘When they’re less respectful,’ I said, ‘it’ll probably be best if you’re not around.’

‘I wonder,’ Bing said, ‘if Red Stanley showed up, yet?’