I'm a Fool to Kill You (15 page)

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Authors: Robert Randisi

BOOK: I'm a Fool to Kill You

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âI'm lookin' to rent, Freddy, not buy.'

âRent? How do I know where you're goin' or if you'll bring it back?'

âWell, I thought since your brother sent meâ'

âFuck that, man,' Freddy said. âI ain't in business for my health.'

âI don't think we can do business, Freddy,' I said.

âYou got cash on ya?'

I didn't answer.

âYeah, you got cash on ya.'

I stayed quiet, but my pulse was racing. Shoulda went to Hertz, I thought. Shoulda taken Jerry's gun, or even Ava's.

âFreddyâ'

âYou're on the run from somebody, man,' Freddy said, cutting me off. âMaybe the cops, maybe not. You can't be fussy. But if you don't want my car we can just take your cash and dump you someplace for somebody to find.'

âOr not,' one of the other men said, and suddenly he had a crowbar in his hand. I turned. Another man had a wrench, and a third was holding a pry bar.

When I looked back at Freddy, he was holding a gun, a long barreled revolver.

âJust in case you're heeled,' he said.

âI'm not.'

âThat's good,' he said. âThat might be the thing that lets you come out of this alive.'

âGuys,' I said, âthere's no need for this. What would your brother say, Freddy?'

âMy big brother's an idiot,' Freddy said. âWhy do you think he's a fuckin' dispatcher?'

And what are you, I thought, but I didn't say it. Instead, I started looking for a place to run, or something to use as a weapon.

âLet's start with the cash, man,' he said, âand then we'll get to the pain.'

I started to sweat.

FORTY

I
'd been in some tight spots before, even been shot at a time or two, but it occurred to me that this time I could really get busted up.

âFreddy, take it easyÂ .Â .Â .' I said.

âShut up, man!' Freddy said. âJust take out the cash!'

âI'd take his advice if I was you,' Jerry said from behind Freddy.

I had no idea where he had come from, but was more than relieved to see the big guy step out.

âTake it easy.'

Freddy froze, then turned. He saw Big Jerry standing there with that cannon in his hand.

âHey, man, what's the idea?' he said, as if he was accusing me of something. âWe were just supposed to do business.'

âSounded to me like you were about to hurt our Eddie,' Ava said, from behind me.

I turned and saw her standing there, overdressed for her surroundings in a jacket and pants that cost more than most of the cars around us. She was standing hipshot, holding her gun out like she was posing for a movie still.

âWhat the hellâ' Freddy said.

âHey!' Jerry snapped. âThat's no way to talk to a lady.'

He walked up to Freddy, who was still holding his gun, although loosely now. Still, Jerry grabbed his hand and, without removing the weapon, broke his wrist. We all heard the bone snap, and then Freddy screamed and the gun hit the dirt floor.

âJesus!' one of the other men said.

âHere comes the pain,' Jerry said.

The other three men exchanged a glance, then dropped their iron and ran for the door. Freddy sat on the ground, cradling his damaged wrist, whimpering.

âShould I shoot 'em?' Ava yelled.

âLet 'em go!' Jerry called back.

âI don't know how you two got in here,' I said, âbut I'm glad you did.'

âHey, Mr G.,' Jerry said, âyou had 'em right where you wanted ' em.'

âThe hell I did,' I said. âI was about to get my ass handed to me. I can't thank you two enough.'

âSo the next time I offer you my gunÂ .Â .Â .?' Jerry said.

âI'll take it!'

We pulled Freddy over to one side and tied him up, just to keep him out of the way. He cried when Jerry pulled his hands behind him, but Jerry ignored it.

âWhat have we got here, Mr G.?' he asked, then, looking at the Chrysler.

âForget it, Jerry,' I said. âThat's too much car for what we want.'

âLemme just look under the hood,' he pleaded.

âWe don't have time,' I said. âLet's see what's under these other tarps.'

It must have been Chrysler day at Freddy's Car Lot. We pulled the tarps off two more. One of them had been painted dark green, the other was covered with primer, ready to be painted.

The green one was a 1960 model and if the key was in it, we'd found our car â if it had an engine.

âLook under the hood of this one, Jerry,' I said.

âThese cars have all been boosted, Mr G.,' he said, raising the hood.

âI'm sure this one's had more done to it than a fresh paint job,' I said.

âYou're right,' he said. âThe VIN number's been changed. Nice job, too.'

I looked inside and saw the keys in the ignition.

âHow's the engine?' I asked.

âAin't been souped,' he said, âbut it's had some work.' He stood up straight and looked at me. âIt'll get us where we're goin'.'

âThis is our ride, then.'

Jerry looked over at Freddy.

âShould we give him some money?' Jerry asked.

âAre you serious?' Ava asked. âHe was going to kill Eddie.'

I remembered Ava saying my name in front of Freddy. That wasn't good, but I didn't mention it.

âHere,' I said, peeling a hundred dollar bill from the sheath of cash Ava had given me, âgive him this for the emergency room.'

Jerry took the bill, walked over to Freddy and shoved it into his mouth. Freddy looked up at Jerry, too afraid to spit it out.

âLet's go!' I said.

Ava helped me open the garage doors while Jerry got behind the wheel. He drove it through the doors and we got in. He continued through the lot to the entrance, where we moved our bags from the cab to the Chrysler.

âWe gonna leave the cab here?' he asked.

âYeah,' I said, âLarry works for Freddy's brother, Louie. Let them work it out.'

We got back in the car.

âYou looked pretty good in there, Ava,' I said. âLike you were made for that part.'

âThat wasn't acting,' she said, âthat was real life â and you know what? I liked it.'

âWell, I gotta thank the two of you again. You saved my ass.'

âAnd what a cute ass,' Ava said.

âHere,' I said, holding the money out to her and ignoring the comment, âtake your money back.'

âKeep it,' she said.

âI'm not doin' this for money, Ava.'

âI know that, Eddie. Keep it for expenses. I don't want Frank footing the bill for you helping me. Or the Sands. I pay my own way.'

âWhere we goin', Mr G.?' Jerry asked. âI'd like to get outta this neighborhood.'

âHead for the highway, Big Jerry,' I said, tucking the cash back into my pocket, âwe're goin' to Vegas.'

âNow you're talkin'.'

FORTY-ONE

T
he main run from L.A. to Las Vegas was Highway 15 and that was where Jerry decided to let the car out.

âHey,' he said, âthis thing runs pretty good.'

âJust remember it's got phony plates and an altered VIN,' I said. âDon't get stopped.'

âGotcha, Mr G.'

The place to stop to eat during that journey always seemed to be Barstow. True to form, that's where Jerry got hungry.

âI could eat, too,' Ava admitted.

âOK,' I said. âGet off at Barstow. Plenty of places to eat right by the highway.'

âA diner's good enough for me,' Jerry said.

âMe too,' Ava agreed.

âI still owe you guys for saving my bacon,' I said. âI'm gonna buy you lunch.' I looked at Ava. âWith your money, of course.'

She laughed throatily and said, âSuits me.' She looked better than she had in days. Holding a gun on some hoods seemed to agree with her.

Right off the highway Jerry spotted a diner and pulled into the parking lot.

âHang on a minute, Mr G.,' he said, as he put the car in park. âI wanna have a look around.'

âGood idea.'

He got out of the car and slammed the door.

âDoes he think we're being followed?' she asked. âOr that somebody got here ahead of us?'

âJerry's just bein' careful.'

âBut how could anybody have gotten here ahead of us?' she asked. âWe didn't even know we were coming here.'

âI know,' I said, and then repeated, âJerry's just bein' careful.'

âI guess that's wise.'

We waited until Jerry took a turn around the parking lot and peered in the window of the diner, then returned to the car. He opened the back door for Ava.

âIt's OK,' he said.

âGood,' Ava said. âI'm starving. I don't think I've ever eaten as much as I have with you guys.'

âYeah,' I said, âthat's what happens when you're around Jerry.'

We went into the diner and got a booth away from the window. Jerry sat on one side, Ava and I the other. The middle-aged waitress came over, gave us menus, stared at Ava for a few moments, then went off to get coffee.

When she came back with a pot and three cups she filled them slowly, still staring at Ava.

âHoney, I swear,' she said, finally. âYou look like that movie actress? What's her name?'

âI get that a lot,' Ava said. âI don't see it myself.'

âJoan Crawford, right?' I said to the waitress.

âNo, no, that's not it,' she said. âI'll think of it before you leave, though. What'll ya'll have?'

Jerry ordered two stacks of pancakes, an order of bacon, four pieces of toast and a large glass of orange juice. Ava and I both ordered burgers and fries.

âWhat's with you and the pancakes?' she asked Jerry.

âWhat? I like pancakes.'

âAnd he makes really good pancakes, too,' I said.

âHe's cooked for you?' Ava asked.

âSure I did,' Jerry said. âMr G. stayed at my place for a few days earlier this year.'

âIn Brooklyn?'

âYeah,' Jerry said, âhe had to go back there forÂ .Â .Â . somethin'.'

He caught himself before saying I had gone back to Brooklyn for my mother's funeral, and one last meeting with my dysfunctional family.

She looked from his face to mine, back to his, and then said, âNot something we want to talk about?'

âNo,' I said.

âFair enough. Listen, I've had a thought about you taking me to Vegas.'

âWhat's that?' I asked.

âI don't want Frank to know where I am.'

âWhy not?'

âWe don't know what's going on,' she said. âWhat happened during those forty hours. If it's bad, if I'm involved in something really bad, I don't want him involved. Frank gets enough bad press as it is.'

âMakes sense to me,' Jerry said.

âI don't know,' I said. âI'm supposed to be keeping you safe for Frank.'

âYou can do that,' she said, âand you can keep Frank safe for me â and from me â until we find out what's going on.'

âOK,' I said, âOK, let's say I agree to that, for now.'

The waitress came with the food, setting the plates down while staring at Ava's face.

âRita Hayworth, right?' Jerry asked.

âNo, no, that ain't it,' she said. âI'll get it.'

âHave I been out of films that long?' Ava asked.

âA couple of years,' Jerry said. âWhen does your new movie come out?'

âI don't know,' she said. âMaybe never.'

âWhy do ya say that?' he asked.

âBecause I was awful in it,' she said. âI look awful and I performed awfully.'

âYou can't look awful, Miss Ava,' Jerry told her.

âI agree with Jerry.'

âYou two are sweet,' she said. She picked up her burger and bit into it. There's nothing like a good, big diner burger. And they make the best fries. I covered mine with ketchup.

We devoured our food and when the waitress came with the check she said, âI think I got it!'

Ava looked at her, smiled and said, âKathryn Grayson.'

âI knew it!' the waitress said. âThat's what I was gonna say!'

As we walked to the car I said, âKathryn Grayson?'

âI didn't think you wanted her broadcasting that she'd served Ava Gardner in her diner,' she explained. âKaty's a good friend of mine, and she's beautiful.'

âYou did
Show Boat
together,' Jerry said.

âThat's right.'

âShe ain't as beautiful as you.'

I nodded. âHe's right.'

âYou two are so good for my ego.'

We got to the car and got in. Across the street was a gas station.

âLet's gas up, Jerry,' I said.

âRight, Mr G.'

He pulled out of the parking lot and right into the gas station. He told the attendant to fill it up.

âCheck under the hood for ya?' the man asked.

âNo, it's fine.'

Ava sat back and kept her face averted so the attendant couldn't see her while he cleaned the windshield.