TWENTY-EIGHT

I asked the waitress – whose name, I finally remembered, was Jeannie – to bring a phone to the table. When she did I called Bing. When he answered I told him we’d had a visit from the police, and they had something up their sleeve.

‘Why would they have it in for me?’ he asked. ‘I hardly ever come to Vegas.’

‘Well, you had the misfortune of gettin’ mixed up with Jerry and me,’ I said. ‘We would have warned you, but we had no idea that your wanting to look at a horse would lead to two dead bodies.’

‘No, that’s not your fault.’

‘Maybe not, but it’s us that Hargrove has it in for,’ I said. ‘That’s got to spill over on to you, and that’s what I’m apologizing for.’

‘OK, look,’ Bing said, ‘I had my lawyer make some calls. He found out there’s a family and they’re still willing to sell that horse.’

‘Don’t tell me you want to go back out to Red Rock Canyon,’ I said.

‘That’s the only way for me to see the horse,’ Bing said. ‘If I don’t at least take a good look at the animal, my trip here is wasted. I mean, as much as I like Frank, and want to support Frankie, I came here to try and buy a horse. Is Jerry still willing to do it?’

I looked at Jerry, who had been listening to my end of the conversation while working on some bacon and toast he’d ordered after he finished with his pancakes. He simply nodded.

‘Jerry’s willing.’

‘What about you, Eddie?’

‘I’m with you, Bing.’

‘OK,’ he said. ‘I made an appointment – I mean, an actual appointment – to meet with Chris Arnold’s sister, Adrienne, at noon today. We got time to make that, right?’

‘Just about,’ I said.

‘OK, then I’ll meet you guys in the lobby in ten minutes. After we see the horse I’ll buy lunch someplace expensive. How’s that?’

‘Jerry’s always up for lunch.’

‘Great. While we’re driving out there I’ll tell you what else my lawyer said.’

‘OK,’ I said. ‘See you in ten.’

‘Ten?’ Jerry asked as I hung up.

‘Finish your bacon,’ I said. ‘I want to make a quick call to Danny.’

I dialed and got Penny.

‘It shocked me,’ she said, ‘but yeah, he’s here this early. Hold on.’

‘What’s up, Bud?’ he asked, coming on the line.

I told him about our visit from Hargrove, and warned that he should be on the lookout.

‘He’s got something up his sleeve,’ I said. ‘He was way too calm, which makes me think he’s confident. Which makes me real uncomfortable.’

‘Can I point out that this time we’re actually in the clear?’ Danny said. ‘What could he possibly be confident about?’

‘I don’t know,’ I said, ‘but a smug Hargrove is not a pretty sight, so be careful.’

‘I will. What’re you guys up to?’

‘Going back to Red Rock Canyon to see a horse,’ I told him, knowing what he would say.

‘Again? You’re a glutton for punishment.’

‘Hey, it’s Bing’s call.’

‘Well, look out for falling bodies,’ Danny said. ‘Call me if you need me.’

‘Hopefully, we won’t,’ I said.