‘You feeling okay?’ Papa asked.
‘I’m fine.’ Only Domino knew that they had stopped at Grady Hospital on the way to the opening, where Twigs had given Sharky a shot of speed. ‘You gonna become a junkie now that you’re off the Narcs?’ Twigs asked him. ‘I just want to stay awake tonight,’ Sharky had answered. The stuff was good. He felt strong and alert and his maimed finger was just a dull ache at the end of his arm.
‘You got everything down pat?’ he asked Domino.
‘Sure,’ she said.
‘Remember, if I tell you to do anything, do it. Don’t ask questions, I may not have time to explain.’
‘Yes, sir,’ she said and threw a mock salute.
‘And knock that shit off too, pardon my French, ladies.’
‘I think Friscoe’s cute,’ she said.
‘He’s as peaceful as a split lip,’ Papa said.
‘We’ll go to the bottom of Ladder Street, check out the radio mikes. Could be a lot of interference in here. Put your hearing aid in your ear.’
‘It’s uncomfortable,’ Papa said.
‘Put it in anyway. Let’s. be ready when they get down here.’
Friscoe and Arch were outside, standing apart from the crowd in a doorway to keep out of the wind gusting from the plaza. Sharky’s voice came over the walkie-talkie loud and clear.
‘This is Vulture One to Vulture Two. You read?
‘This is Vulture Two,’ Papa answered. ‘Loud and clear.’
‘Vulture One to Nest. We coming in okay?’
‘You’re coming in clear,’ Friscoe answered. ‘What’s it look like up there?’
‘Bigger than the Astrodome,’ Sharky answered. ‘The place is unbelievable.’
‘Well, enjoy. It’s colder than.. uh, it’s very cold down here.’
‘Okay, let’s stay loose. They ought to be here any minute.’
In the crowded penthouse Hotchins eased DeLaroza out on the balcony.
‘What about Domino?’ he asked.
‘Nothing. I have not heard from Kershman all day. But then, it has been quite a day, eh? Besides, this Sharky was proving more stubborn than we planned.’
‘I’m worried. If she’s in police custody they probably know everything by now.’
DeLaroza smiled confidently. ‘Do not fall apart now. What does she know? Nothing. Relax. Enjoy yourself Within an hour we will have disposed of another problem — and given the police their killer at the same time.’
‘I hope there are no more mistakes,’ Hotchins said.
‘I don’t make mistakes,’ DeLaroza said vehemently. ‘I correct them.’
‘I hope you do,’ Hotchins said, and went back to the party.
DeLaroza walked along the balcony to his bedroom and took the private elevator down to his office. Chiang was waiting for him.
‘You know how to accomplish this?’
Chiang nodded.
‘Remember. He is fast and deadly. Forget his age. He hears like a rabbit and strikes like an asp. When you move, do it quickly. You will not have a second chance.’
Chiang nodded again.
‘Do not move the body until everyone has left. It would be dangerous with all these people about.’
‘Hai.’
‘Joy shan.’
‘Dor-jeh.’
He moved silently out of the room. DeLaroza returned to the party and began herding the guests towards the door.
‘All right,’ he said. It is time for Pachinko!’
In the guest suite Scardi was painstakingly painting a clown face over his own features. He had been cooped up too long, first on the junk, then in this fancy prison cell. He had to get out, hear people, feel like part of the human race again. This would be perfect. He was wearing an outrageous clown Suit, red-and-white striped with large red wool buttons. With his face painted no one could possibly recognize him and so he felt safe going to the opening.
He had finished applying the white chalk base and the blue mouth and was painting large, round eyes when the door chimed.
It startled him. He slid open the top dresser drawer and eased out the .22 Woodsman. He held it down at his side as he went to the front door and peered through the viewer.
