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bein’ out of your pit?’ Frank asked.
    â€˜Jack’s thinkin’ about creating a new job for me,’ I said. ‘Casino host or somethin’ like that. Leave me free to do stuff for people.’
    â€˜What do you think of that?’
    â€˜I like bein’ in the pit,’ I said. ‘We have to talk about it, after …’
    â€˜After what?’ Frank asked. ‘Somethin’ else goin’ on? Come on, kid, spill. Tell your Uncle Frank everything.’
    So I did …
    By the time I was done, so was the antipasto. Frank had a third martini, but I nursed my second beer along.
    â€˜So, the cops are sayin’ she killed herself, but you and Jack don’t believe it.’
    â€˜Jack doesn’t want to,’ I said. ‘I just don’t see how she could’ve.’
    â€˜Because of the sink and the key.’
    â€˜Right.’
    â€˜Sounds like you know what you’re doin’, Eddie,’ Frank said. ‘You gonna be able to work on that while you’re dealin’ with Eddie? Or should we get somebody else to show him the ropes?’
    â€˜No, no,’ I said, ‘I wanna do that, Frank. I’ve already got Danny looking around at Helen’s apartment, asking some questions of her neighbors.’
    â€˜And what about bringin’ Jerry in?’
    I smiled and said, ‘The big guy’s on his way. He’s gettin’ the first available flight.’
    â€˜I’ll foot the bills, Eddie G.’
    â€˜You don’t have to—’
    â€˜Listen,’ he said, ‘you’re doin’ a lot, for me, for Eddie, and for Jack. It’s the least I can do.’
    â€˜OK,’ I said. ‘I won’t argue with you.’
    He checked his watch, then downed the last of his martini.
    â€˜I gotta get back and sleep off these martinis,’ he said. ‘You set up dinner tonight with Eddie, anywhere you want, and let me know.’
    â€˜OK.’
    â€˜How’d you leave it with him?’
    â€˜That we’d pick him up from his suite.’
    â€˜What floor’s he on?’
    â€˜Two below you.’
    â€˜OK.’ We stood up. ‘You go out and get the limo and I’ll settle up.’
    There wasn’t much to getting the limo, but I got the feeling Frank didn’t want me to see him settle up. I went outside, found the driver leaning against the car.
    â€˜Where to, Eddie?’
    I looked at him. More and more lately it seemed that people knew me, even when I didn’t know them. Or maybe I just didn’t remember.
    â€˜What’s your name?’
    â€˜Lou.’
    â€˜We’re headin’ back to the Sands, Lou, as soon as Frank comes out.’
    â€˜Right. Should I open the door for him?’
    â€˜Naw, just get behind the wheel. I’ll get the door.
    â€˜Right, boss.’
    As Lou slid behind the wheel, Frank came out and I opened the door for him. He slid into the back, I got in next to him and slammed the door.
    â€˜Home, Lou.’

NINETEEN
    O n the way back to the Sands, Frank got quiet. Not depressed again, just quiet. When we got out of the car in front of the hotel he said, ‘I’m gonna go see Jack. Pick me up at my suite for dinner, and then we’ll get Eddie. OK, pally?’
    â€˜OK.’
    Inside we split up. He went to see Jack, I went to my car. Driving to my house I tried to compartmentalize my thoughts, my tasks. I had to take care of Edward G. Robinson and help him with his research for
The Cincinnati Kid
; and I had to find out if Helen had killed herself or not. If not, did Jack also expect me to find her killer? And then, of course, there was Howard Hughes.
    When I got home I showered and was picking out a suit for dinner when the phone rang.
    â€˜Eddie?’
    â€˜Yeah, Danny? What’s up?’
    â€˜I found something,’ Danny said. ‘We need to talk.’
    â€˜When?’
    â€˜Now.’
    â€˜I’m getting