Shoot the Piano Player Read Online Free PDF Page A

you ain't." Plyne showed a thick wet smile that widened gradually. "You handled that stunt like you'd planned it on paper. The timing was perfect."
Eddie blinked several times. He told himself to stop it. He said to himself, Something is happening here and you better check it before it goes further.
But there was no way to check it. The bouncer was saying, "First time I ever saw you pull that kind of caper. In all the years you been here, you never butted in, not once. No matter what the issue was, no matter who was in it. So how come you butted in tonight?"
Another slight shrug, and the words coming softly, "I might have figured he could use some help, like I said, I'm not really sure. Or, on the other hand, you see someone in a jam, you remind yourself he's a close relative--I don't know, it's something along those lines."
Plyne's face twisted in a sort of disgusted grimace, as though he knew there was no use digging any deeper. He turned and started away from the piano.
Then something stopped him and caused him to turn and come back. He leaned against the side of the piano. For some moments he said nothing, just listened to the music, his brow creased slightly in a moderately thoughtful frown. Then, quite casually, he moved his heavy hand, brushing Eddie's fingers away from the keyboard.
Eddie looked up, waiting.
"Gimme some more on this transaction." the bouncer said.
"Like what?"
"Them two men you stalled with the beer cases. What's the wire on them?"
"I don't know," Eddie said.
"You don't know why they were chasing him?"
"Ain't got the least idea."
"Come on, come on."
"I can't tell you, Wally. I just don't know."
"You expect me to buy that?"
Eddie shrugged and didn't reply.
"All right," Plyne said. "We'll try it from another angle. This brother of yours. What's his line?"
"Don't know that either. Ain't seen him for years. Last I knew, he was working on Dock Street."
"Doing what?"
"Longshoreman."
"You don't know what he's doing now?"
"If I knew, I'd tell you."
"Yeah, sure." Plyne was folding his thick arms high on his chest. "Spifi," he said. "Come on, spffl'
Eddie smiled amiably at the bouncer. "What's all this courtroom action?" And then, the smile widening, "You going to law school, Wally? You practicing on me?"
"It ain't like that," Plyne said. He was stumped for a moment. "It's just that I wanna be sure, that's all. I mean-- well, the thing of it is, I'm general manager here. Whatever happens in the Hut, I'm sorta responsible. You know that."
Eddie nodded, his eyebrows up. "That's a point."
"You're damn right it is," the bouncer pressed his advantage. "I gotta make sure this place keeps its license. It's a legitimate place of business. If I got anything to say, it's gonna stay legitimate."
"You're absolutely right," Eddie said.
"I'm glad you know it." Plyne's eyes were narrowed again. "Another thing you'd better know, I got more brains than you think. Can't play no music or write poems or anything like that, but sure as hell I can add up a score. Like with this brother of yours and them two engineers who wanted him for more than just a friendly chat."
"That adds," Eddie said.
"It adds perfect," Plyne approved his own arithmetic. "And I'll add it some more. I'll give it to you right down the line. He mighta been a longshoreman then, but it's a cinch he's switched jobs. He's lookin' for a higher income now. Whatever work he's doing, there's heavy cash involved--"
Eddie was puzzled. He was saying to himself, The dumber you play it, the better.
"Them two engineers," the bouncer was saying, "they weren't no small-timers. I gandered the way they were dressed. Them overcoats were hand-stitched; I know that custom quality when I see it. So we take it from there, we do it with arrows--"
"With what?"
"With arrows," Plyne said, his finger tracing an arrowline on the side of the piano. "From them to your brother. From your brother to you."
"Me?" Eddie laughed lightly. "You're not adding it now. You're stretching it."
"But not