Big Al came for me. Amos would have been a softer match, but Amos was no longer in sight. “Franky!” Angelo shouted, and came over to help Al. Two against one. … They were muckers, like Otis. What has happened to American tradition? I would have gone up clean against Al, man to man. John Wayne was...
Mrs. Casey made us popovers and a cheese omelette for breakfast. Harley phoned after breakfast to tell me he was staying at the Travis Hotel. He had visited a couple of area bars the day before but had learned only that he should have worn shabbier clothes. I told him I had gone the route of them...
I said. I rubbed my stomach tenderly. “Talk is his biggest weapon. What’s he saying about me?” McGill gave it the theatrical pause. “He’s saying you paid off Target and Josie Gonzales.” I shook my head. “That’s reaching, isn’t it? Did he say who furnished the money?” “He did from Rickett’s accoun...
The two-engine prop plane that took me and eleven other passengers from San Valdesto to Los Angeles reaffirmed my lifelong belief in the dominance of gravity. I won’t name the company; the local residents refer to it as Humpty-Dumpty Airlines. It was a rocky ride, tight seat belt all the way. The...
Were they connected? Somewhere on the periphery there had to be a connection. So far they were connected only through Tip Malone; he had been Selina’s lover and a friend (?) of Frank’s niece. Why was I covering for Miss Stone? I had promised Gina Ronico I wouldn’t reveal her to the police, but Mi...
“Cowboy Hovde now has egg all over his ugly face. I wish I had been there to see it.” I held my tongue. “Another dead end,” he said. “Dennis,” I explained to him patiently, “most of the murder cases I worked on were loaded with dead ends. They are not credit checks or divorces or guard duty, like...
“Those could apply to a lot of pugs today,” he said, “including the cocaine. But I’d better warn Jeff.” “Wait until you cool off,” I suggested. “There’s no rush. He hasn’t bought the boat yet. Maybe you should talk with Mike about it.” He shook his head. “I’ve said my last word to him. I’ll talk ...