He stayed, as usual, with his cousin Jeff Reggie and his family in Cheviot Hills. During the day he played uncle, taking his two young nieces shopping, to the movies or out to Venice to watch the roller skaters. Evenings he spent with Jeff and his wife, Rosie, often in the company of other movie executives and producers. The only time Herman Reggie was alone was when he was asleep in the guest bedroom, and even then he made sure to keep the door open so that the sound of his snoring would be audible throughout the house. Herman’s California routine was calculated to give the impression of a bachelor enjoying some time with relatives. In fact, he came to LA for an alibi. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas were always a rough time in his business. People were more reluctant than usual to part with their money, especially when it was supposed to go for Johnny’s new bike or Susie’s new dollhouse. But a debt was a debt, and Herman Reggie wasn’t Santa Claus. An unusual amount of coercion was needed during the holiday season, and sometimes accidents happened.
