general idea. But before I can make a stab at it, I ought to know how much it is.”
“I thought you represented him.”
“His guardian.”
Stanley raised his eyebrows, scowled. “He’s in me for fifty grand.”
“Fifty thousand?” Muggsy whistled softly.
The gambler jumped lightly from the corner of his desk, walked around it, took a small key ring from the top drawer. He selected one key from it and walked to an oil painting on the far wall. Under it was a small safe that opened to the key. He fumbled in the interior of the safe for a moment, came up with a bundle of papers held together by a rubber band. He tossed them to Liddell. They were IOU’s in varying amounts covering the period of a year.
“Count it yourself,” Stanley growled.
Liddell flicked through it with his thumb and dropped the notes back on the desk. “I believe you. But Richards will never go for fifty grand.”
The mask of good nature on the gambler’s face slipped. “Look, pal. If you were sent here to chisel, forget it.” He picked up the bundle of IOU’s, tossed them back into the safe, locked it, slid the painting into place. “Richards is a sucker thinking he can pull that stuff. And so’s the kid.”
“Why not make a deal? It’s a lot easier on everybody,” Liddell suggested. “Richards had no idea the kid was in that deep. He won’t stand still for a tap like that. I might be able to talk him into — ”
“Look, pal. Fifty gees he owes me and fifty gees he’ll get up. When I get hit, I pay off a hundred cents on the dollar. That’s the way I expect to get paid when I hit. I’m not running this joint for experience.”
“Well, you’re the boss. When I see the kid I’ll tell him what you said.”
Stanley walked over to the padded leather chair behind the desk, dropped into it. “What’s that supposed to mean? When you see the kid?”
Liddell shrugged. “He’s taken a powder. Nobody knows where he is.”
The gambler bared his teeth in a humorless grin. “You look like you been around too long to pull one like that, pal,” he chided. “This is no penny-ante crap game. We got ways of finding people who powder. I got two boys of my own who could find a tear drop in the ocean.”
“Would one of these boys of yours be a big guy with a nasty disposition?”
The cold grin was still pasted on Stanley’s thin lips. “All of my boys have nasty dispositions, pal. Be good to yourself and don’t get them mad at you.”
“What do you intend to do to Shad if you do find him?” Muggsy wanted to know.
Stanley rolled his eyes from Liddell to the girl. “What are we going to do?” He dropped his eyelids to half veil his eyes, pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. When we find him, you’ll read all about it.” He reached over, pressed a button on the corner of his desk.
The door to the office swung open; Stack’s two hundred pounds stood framed in the doorway.
“Our guests are going, Stack. Don’t bother to have them stop at any of the tables on the way out. They don’t think they’re playing for keeps.”
• • •
The pealing of the phone at his ear was shrill, discordant. Johnny Liddell groaned, cursed softly, and dug his head into his pillow. But the noise refused to go away. He opened one eye experimentally, peered at the half-lowered blinds, noted it was not yet light. He rubbed the heel of his hand in his sleep-heavy eyes and glared at the phone. The glare had no noticeable effect; the phone kept ringing. Finally he reached out, lifted the receiver off its hook.
“Liddell? Is that you, Liddell?” The voice was heavy, gurgling.
“Who’s this?”
“Richards. I’ve got to see you. Right away.”
Liddell swore under his breath, squinted at the luminous dial of the clock on his stand. “It’s only four o’clock. I just got to bed.”
“I’ve got to see you,” Richards persisted.
“Make it in the morning, will you?” Liddell protested.