Shades of Blue by Bill Moody Read Free Book Online Page B

taps some keys, the screen flickers and changes several times. She leans in closer. “Lapsed member. No wait, he caught up his dues a month ago and was reinstated. There’s a listing for here in Hollywood.”
    “Uh huh. What about the life insurance? Who is the beneficiary?” Union membership comes with a small term life insurance policy at group rates. She looks at me as if to say, are you kidding? “He just died last week. I’m the executor of his estate.”
    Her expression changes to one of mild sympathy. “Sorry,” she says, “but I still can’t give out that information without authorization. The beneficiary will have to file a death certificate with the union. See one of the business agents. They can help you.”
    “I understand. Thanks.” I start to turn away, then step back to the window. “Any of the business agents from way back. You know, 50s or 60s?”
    She shrugs. “You might try Harvey Douglas.” She nods toward the stairs.
    “Thanks.” I go up the stairs and turn down a hallway of offices for the business agents. Harvey Douglas is halfway down and on the phone. I tap on the open door. “Got a minute?”
    Douglas crooks his finger at me “Be right with you.” I take a seat opposite him and look around the office. It’s not much. Small and most of the space taken up with Douglas’ desk, file cabinets, couple of chairs, and a window facing Vine Street. A few photos hang on the wall.
    “Look, let me get back to you on this. If there’s no contract there’s no way we can do anything.” He rolls his eyes at me as he listens. “Okay. Yes, I promise I’ll look into it.” He hangs up the phone, shaking his head. “Some lady complaining about the band at her daughter’s wedding. They didn’t play all the right music she wanted.”
    He puts his hands flat on his desk and looks at me. “So, what can I do for you?” Douglas is wearing a short sleeved white shirt, dark knit tie, and black framed glasses. His thick hair is all white.
    “My name is Evan Horne. I’m trying to track down some info on a former member, friend of mine. Calvin Hughes. I checked downstairs at directory. She said his membership lapsed but he caught up his dues and still has the life insurance.”
    “Was he a piano player,” Douglas says. “I knew a Cal Hughes. We went way back. I always wondered what happened to him.”
    “You knew him? He’s been living right here in Hollywood for over twenty years.”
    “No shit,” Douglas says. “I was still playing trombone then.” He jerks his thumb at one of the photos. “That’s me with Les Browne. USO Tour.” The photo is of a big band and Douglas is standing up in the trombone section. “We might have done some rehearsal bands together. That was a long time ago. Cal was a hell of a player if it’s the same one. Nobody could figure out why he just kind of disappeared.”
    I take out the photo and show it to Douglas. He takes it, removes his glasses, and opens a desk drawer and takes out a magnifying glass. He studies the photo. “Yep, that’s Cal all right.”
    “Do you know if he was married or had kids?”
    He looks up at me. “Are you a relative?”
    “No, just his friend, but he named me executor of his estate. He just died last week. I’m trying to find out who the beneficiary is for the life insurance.”
    “If Cal was married or had kids I never knew about it, but then we weren’t close.” Douglas hands me back the photo. “The beneficiary, whoever it is, will have to file a death certificate for payment.”
    “I understand.” I show him the other photo from Cal’s bedroom.
    “Son of a bitch. Cal and Miles Davis. I didn’t know about that either. When was that taken? Miles looks pretty young too.”
    “Do you know who the other man is?”
    Douglas squints at the photo again. “No can’t say I do, but…hang on a minute. I’ll be right back.”
    While Douglas is gone I study the baby carriage photo, using the magnifying glass. Cal has