“Goddamn it, Joe, what you got up your sleeve?”
Joe looked startled. He sat silent and from time to time raised his eyes to glance at Rico, who was staring at him.
“Spill it, Joe,” said Rico.
“Well,” said Joe, “I been making pretty good money with my dancing. Olga and me has got a turn together that’s going over big. They want to put us in a show. Listen, Rico, I got enough of the racket. This last stand damn near fixed me. Jesus, but we was lucky.”
“We ain’t out yet,” said Rico, “and we don’t want no softies spoiling things.”
Rico and Joe stared at each other for a moment. Joe began to grow pale.
“You ain’t dumb, Joe,” said Rico, “what the devil! You mean to tell me you’re gonna quit the racket. Why, boy, you ain’t seen nothing yet. In a couple of weeks I’m gonna take over Little Arnie’s joint. The Big Boy even wants to be declared in. Listen, Joe, you’re a smart boy and I can use you. To hell with that dancing stuff. As a front it’s OK, but no man’s gonna make his living that way.”
Joe slumped down in his chair.
“I got your number, Joe,” Rico went on, “it’s that damn skirt. She’s making a softie of you, Joe.”
“Lord, Rico,” said Joe, “can’t a guy quit? I ain’t gonna spill nothing. You think I want to get my neck stretched?”
“Yeah? Look at Tony. He turned soft and they patted him with a spade. Once a guy turns soft he ain’t no good in this world. Didn’t Humpy get soft on Red Gus and turn State’s? Yeah! Who got the neck stretching? Red Gus. Humpy got fifteen years and he’ll be out in half of that.”
Joe slumped further down in his chair.
“Rico, you know I ain’t yellow.”
“All right,” said Rico, “if that’s the dope, I can use you. Ottavio and me has been figuring on a little stand that won’t be half bad. I need a good inside man, Joe. A cut will be worth two grand at least.”
Someone knocked at the door. It was DeVoss. He came over to Rico and said:
“Mr. Rico, there’s a couple of dicks out in the lobby. When I asked them what they wanted, they said they was just looking around.”
Rico said:
“Two bits it’s Flaherty. All right, Mr. DeVoss, thanks.”
DeVoss went out. Joe got to his feet and turned agonized eyes on Rico.
“What did you have to come clear across town for, Rico? Can’t you let me alone?”
Rico paid no attention to him.
“There’s one Irishman,” he said, “that ain’t long for this world.”
“Rico,” said Joe, “for God’s sake stay over in your own end of town. I don’t want the bulls coming here.”
“Listen,” said Rico, his eyes glowing, “if I hear any more of this softie stuff I’ll only be back once more.”
Willoughby and Olga came in.
“Didn’t you rap for us?” asked Willoughby.
“No, that was DeVoss,” said Rico, “but we’re done. Say Mr. Willoughby, I sure am sorry but I got to pass up that invitation of yours. I got some important business with a couple of guys.”
“Sorry,” said Willoughby.
“Yes, we’re sorry,” said Olga, trying to be affable on Joe’s account.
Rico shook hands with Joe.
“I’ll be seeing you.”
“All right, Rico,” said Joe.
When Rico emerged he saw DeVoss coming down the corridor. He looked somewhat agitated.
“They’re sure enough looking for you, Mr. Rico. For Lord’s sake don’t cause no trouble in my place.”
Rico grinned.
“There won’t be no trouble unless them damn dummies out there start it.”
Rico followed DeVoss back through the club. On the stage the orchestra was tuning up and few early couples were sitting at the tables. When they got to the lobby Rico saw Flaherty and another detective. Flaherty came over to him.
“Well, Rico,” he said, “kind of out of your territory, ain’t you?”
“What the hell of it?”
Rico buttoned his ulster and carefully arranged his muffler.
“Oh, nothing. Don’t you remember I told you I was keeping an eye on you? Sure thing. I’m interested in young guys that want to get up in the world.”
“Aw, can that,” said Rico.
He noticed that people were coming into the place; in the club the orchestra had begun to play. He remembered what the Big Boy had said about DeVoss.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said, “no use causing DeVoss no trouble. You bulls got about as much regard for a guy as a couple of hyenas.”
“You’re long on regard yourself, ain’t you, Rico?” said Flaherty, laughing.
Rico nodded to DeVoss and went out. Flaherty and the other detective followed him. Rico was standing at the curb under the canvas marquee. They came up to him. He stared at Flaherty.
“Listen, Flaherty,” he said, “did you ever stop to think how you’d look with a lily in your hand?”
“I never did,” said Flaherty, with a sneer. “I been at this game for twenty-five years and I’ve got better guys than you hung, and I never got a scratch.”
Rico took out a cigar and lit it. A taxi drew up at the curb.
“Well, here’s my wagon,” said Rico, “want to take a ride?”
“No,” said Flaherty, “when we take a ride together I’ll have the cuffs on you.”
“No Irish bastard’ll ever put no cuffs on Rico!”
Flaherty’s face was red, but he turned on his heel and was about to go when Rico said:
“And another thing, Flaherty, you was always OK with me, see, but now you ain’t. You ain’t got nothing on me and you ain’t got no business trailing me every place I go. Take a tip. Sam and me’re getting tired of seeing you guys climb the stairs. The first floor’s open to anybody, they even allow cops in there, but the upstairs is private.”
“Yeah?” said Flaherty, who had succeeded in controlling his temper.
“Yeah. Some day one of you wise dicks is gonna make a one way trip up them stairs.”
“Getting up in the world, ain’t you, Rico?” said Flaherty, “maybe you better run for mayor.”
Rico
