The Cold Six Thousand - James Ellroy [266]
“I ran into her, about two years ago. We had a few drinks and discussed certain men.”
Wayne smiled. “I wish I could have been there.”
“You were.”
“That’s all you’re saying?”
Janice zipped her lips. “Yes.”
Barb segued dreamy—Jimmy Rogers’ “Secretly.”
Janice said, “I love that song. It reminds me of the man I was with then.”
“Was it my father?”
“No.”
“Did he find out?”
“Yes.”
“What did he do?”
Janice touched his lips. “Be still. I want to listen.”
Barb sang. Her voice held. She segued. She went upbeat. Reverb killed the mood.
Wayne killed the volume. Wayne rolled close to Janice. He kissed her. He touched her hair. He got her eyes close up.
“If I told you I could help you settle the one score that counts, would you want to do it?”
Janice said, “Yes.”
She slept.
She ate pain pills. She drifted off. Wayne fluffed her hair on a pillow. Wayne pulled a quilt over her.
He checked his watch. It was 6:10 p.m.
He walked to his car. He grabbed two laundry bags. He grabbed a scratch pad and pen. He walked back. He bolted the door. He walked the living room. He pat-checked the walls. He patted and touched.
No hollow thunks/no wall seams/no panels.
He walked the bedroom. He worked around Janice. He patted and touched. No hollow thunks/no wall seams/no panels.
He walked Littell’s study. He slid out a cabinet. He saw a wall seam. He found a catch and flipped it. A panel slid back.
He saw shelves. He saw a .38 snubnose. He saw ledgers stacked.
He opened the blue ones. He saw Teamster nomenclature. He opened the brown ones. He saw typed notes and hand scrawl. He skimmed the text.
Arden-Jane indicts Teamsters. Arden-Jane indicts mobsters. Arden-Jane culls anti-Mob facts.
Book 2—page 84:
Arden-Jane rats “Chuck the Vice” Aiuppa. Arden-Jane rats Carlos M. She heard a rumor. She confirmed it. She transcribed.
March ’59. Outside New Orleans. Carlos gives “Chuck the Vice” work. A “cajun fuck” fucked Carlos. Carlos says clip him.
“Chuck the Vice” obeys. “Chuck the Vice” kills said fuck. “Chuck the Vice” buries him.
Across from Boo’s Hot-Links—six miles from Fort Polk. Look there—you’ll find the bones.
Wayne pulled page 84. Wayne grabbed his scratch pad. Wayne wrote a note:
Mr. Marcello,
My father bought Arden Breen–Jane Fentress’s file from her before she left Ward Littell. Ward has no idea that such a file exists.
My father plans to extort you with information contained in the file. Can we discuss this? I’ll call you within 24 hours.
Wayne Tedrow Jr.
Wayne checked Littell’s desk. Wayne found an envelope. Wayne dropped the page and note in.
He sealed the envelope. He addressed it: Carlos Marcello/Tropicana Hotel/Las Vegas.
He grabbed the ledger books. He filled a laundry bag. He walked out. He killed the bedroom lights. He kissed Janice.
He touched her hair. He said, “I love you.”
119
(Lake Tahoe, 6/4/68)
News flash! It’s over! Bobby K. wins!
The TV ran figures. Percentage points and precincts. It’s Bobby decisive. It’s Bobby’s big win.
Pete watched. Ward watched near-comatose. Ward watched shell-shocked.
They got Wayne’s tip. They jumped him. They spiked him with Seconal. Pete drove him up. They hid in Wayne Senior’s lodge.
Wayne was in Vegas. Fred O. was in L.A. Fred O. was priming Sirhan.
Ward slept crypt-style. Ward slept sixteen hours. Ward slept cuffed to a bed. He woke up. He saw Pete. He knew. He refused to talk. He said zero words. Pete knew he’d want to see.
Pete cooked pancakes. Ward ate zero. Pete ran the TV. They waited. Ward watched election news. Pete twirled his cane.
He’d called Barb. She said Fuck You. I won’t run. I won’t hide.
Pete babied Ward. Pete said talk to me please. Ward shut his eyes. Ward shook his head. Ward cupped his ears.
News flash! The Ambassador live! Bobby proclaims victory!
A camera cut to close-up. Bobby’s all tousle-haired. Bobby’s grinning all teeth.
The phone rang. Pete grabbed it.
“Yeah?”
Wayne said, “It’s me.”
Pete watched the TV. The picture skipped and settled. His pulse skipped. Bobbyphiles cheered