I'm a Fool to Kill You Read Online Free PDF Page B

for me if she took a cab. I’m flying in as soon as I can get a flight.’
    â€˜Need help with that?’
    â€˜I can get help on this end, but thanks.’
    â€˜No problem. Call me any time, Eddie.’
    â€˜You let me know when you’re in Vegas, Ben,’ I said, and hung up.
    I had options: take a flight, get Jack to set it up for me, pay for the ticket; get Frank to do it; call Ted Silver at the airport, have him do it; use the Sands helicopter.
    I decided to let Jack do it. I didn’t want to bother Frank anymore while he had his kids with him, while Ted Silver probably could have gotten me on a flight, I’d still have to pay for it and then get the money back from Jack. So, cut out the middle man, let Jack get me the ticket.
    I waved thanks to the desk clerk for the phone again and headed for Jack’s office.

NINE
    I had to see Jack and Frank before I left. Jack’s girl gave me a disapproving look as I breezed past her into his office. I had come to terms with the fact that she didn’t like me and never would, so I just stopped trying.
    â€˜You got somethin’ for me already?’ Jack asked as I sat across from him.
    â€˜I need you to get me on a flight to L.A.,’ I said.
    â€˜Why are you goin’ to L.A.?’ he asked. ‘Last time you went there you almost got killed.’
    â€˜According to both airports, Ava Gardner flew to Vegas and back, but didn’t fly out of L.A. So she’s still there.’
    â€˜Where?’
    â€˜That I don’t know,’ I said. ‘I’ve got to go and find out.’
    â€˜Wait, wait,’ he said. ‘Hold your horses. So Ava was here this mornin’?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜And did she see Frank?’ ‘No.’
    â€˜Well, then . . .’ Jack said, sitting back and spreading his hands.
    â€˜Well then . . . what?’
    â€˜Why are you going to L.A.?’ he asked. ‘You did what I asked you to do. You found out if it was her, and it was. And she’s gone. Go back to work.’
    â€˜I can’t do that, Jack.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Frank wants me to find her, and see what she was doing here.’
    â€˜So you had to talk to Frank?’ he asked.
    â€˜Yes,’ I said, ‘don’t worry, I trod lightly, as you suggested.’
    â€˜I’m sure you did.’
    â€˜I’ll go talk to Frank now,’ I said. ‘Would you call him and see if he’s in his suite?’
    â€˜And if he isn’t I’ll locate him for you,’ he said. ‘And I’ll get you your flight.’
    â€˜Which the Sands will pay for?’
    â€˜Of course,’ he said, with the phone in his hand. I heard a buzz from the outer office and then he said, ‘See if you can locate Frank Sinatra for me. Thanks.’ He hung up without saying his girl’s name. I wondered if I’d ever heard it, then decided I didn’t care enough to ask.
    â€˜I’ll get packed,’ I said, rising from my chair. ‘I’ll check in with you to see where Frank is.’
    By the time I packed an overnight bag, using just what I had in my locker, Jack had found Frank and arranged for me to meet him for a drink in the Silver Queen Lounge. Frank was sitting at the bar, having just signed autographs for a couple of middle-aged broads. There was a drink on the bar in front of him.
    â€˜Glad to see you, Clyde,’ he said. ‘Do you know that most of the time, if I’m sitting with somebody, folks don’t bother me for autographs? It’s when I’m sittin’ alone they think they can come over.’
    â€˜Guess they figure they’re not interruptin’ anything, Frank,’ I said.
    â€˜You wanna drink?’
    â€˜Just a beer,’ I said. ‘I’m headin’ for the airport.’
    â€˜This about Ava?’ he asked, after waving at the bartender to bring me a beer.
    â€˜Yeah,’ I