The Way You Die Tonight by Robert Randisi Read Free Book Online

Luckily, it was right there in front of the top drawer.
    Her name was Helen Simms. According to her file she was single, just turned forty, had an apartment in a quiet neighborhood off the strip, which was only a few blocks away from being in Henderson.
    There was more, but I decided to take the file with me. If the cops hadn’t taken it by now, maybe they wouldn’t be looking for it. Especially if they were going to call it a suicide.
    I tucked the file underneath my arm and walked to the elevator.
    When I got home I dropped the file on the kitchen table. I’d stopped at a chicken place for take-out. I got a beer out of the fridge, knife and fork from a drawer and pried the top off my meal. While I ate I went through the file thoroughly. She had no family – or none that was in the file. She’d had nothing but good work reviews from Jack. And she got a good raise every year for the past eight years.
    That was all there was. If I wanted to ease my curiosity any further I’d have to go to her home. Did I want to do that? And take a chance of running into the cops?
    And why should I do it when I knew a perfectly good detective?
    I tossed my trash, washed my silverware, opened another beer, and called Danny.
    â€˜Sounds like you want to hire me to investigate this woman’s death,’ Danny said.
    â€˜Well, I was thinking of it as more of a favor,’ I said, ‘but if it comes to that, I suppose I could worm a fee out of Entratter.’
    â€˜And why would it come to that?’
    â€˜I think if the police call it a suicide, Jack’s not going to be happy.’
    â€˜So why not wait?’
    â€˜Because I’m curious,’ I said. ‘I’ve read her file. I think the only other way to learn anything is to go to her home.’
    â€˜Take a look around, talk to the neighbors,’ he said.
    â€˜Exactly.’
    â€˜That idiot Hargrove is bound to call it a suicide,’ Danny said. ‘To label it anything else would mean more work for him.’
    â€˜Look, I’m not asking for a lot of time,’ I said. ‘Just have a look around.’
    â€˜Yeah, I can do that for a buddy,’ Danny said.
    â€˜And get back to me as soon as you can.’
    â€˜You tellin’ Entratter about this?’
    â€˜I will, but not yet.’
    â€˜And what about Edward G.?’
    â€˜He’ll be here tomorrow,’ I said. ‘So will Frank.’
    â€˜Your ol’ buddy Frank.’
    Danny liked Dean, but he wasn’t crazy about Frank. There wasn’t much I could do about that, so I didn’t say anything.
    â€˜OK,’ Danny said, ‘what will you be doing tomorrow while I’m checkin’ on Jack’s girl?’
    â€˜I’ll be with Robinson, I guess,’ I said. ‘Right now that’s my primary job.’
    â€˜Why are you messin’ with this other thing, then?’ Danny asked. ‘Just curiosity?’
    â€˜Yeah,’ I said. ‘But Entratter said if the cops called it suicide, he wanted to know for sure. He wants somebody lookin’ into it.’
    â€˜And he picked you.’
    â€˜I think he did that because he knew I’d ask you for help,’ I said.
    â€˜What about the big guy?’
    â€˜Jerry? There’s no reason to bring him in. Don’t even know if Jack would go for it.’
    â€˜OK,’ Danny said, ‘but as soon as somebody’s arm needs to be twisted, or a leg has to be broken, I say bring in the big guy.’
    â€˜I’ll go along with that, Danny.’
    â€˜OK. I’ll call you tomorrow. Home or work?’
    â€˜Try both,’ I said. ‘I’m not sure where I’ll be.’
    â€˜Gotcha. Do me a favor?’
    â€˜Sure.’
    In the worse Edward G. Robinson impersonation ever, he said, ‘Ask Mr Robinson to say “where’s your Messiah now?” for me.’

FOURTEEN
    T he next day I was in the Sands at noon, when Edward G.