Neon Mirage Read Free Page B

couldn’t look you in the eye doing it. “I trusted Serritella.”
    “That does sound like a mistake,” I said. “He’d sell out God if the devil was buying.”
    “I know, I know,” Ragen said, waving it off. Wearily, he said: “Couple years back, I went partners with the senator, on a tip sheet.”
    “The Blue Sheet?”
    “Yeah. I thought he was operating for himself, but he was playing his usual tricks, fronting for Guzik and company. I don’t mind doing business with those wops, but I don’t want to be in business with ’em.”
    “A fine distinction, don’t you think?”
    “Not at all, my lad. Not at all. As customers, I got ’em where I want ’em—putting their money in my pocket. As partners, I wouldn’t trust ’em far as I could throw ’em.”
    “You think they’ve been using Serritella to worm their way into your business? Into Continental Press?”
    “Hell yes. They’ve had their hand in my pocket ever since I went with Serritella; bilking me right along. Of course, I can’t lay my hands on the books to prove it. And that’s why I’m suing the bums. Serritella and Guzik both.”
    “Suing them? Outfit guys?”
    “It’s the only way I can get an accounting.”
    I shook my head. “Sounds dicey to me.”
    “Where would they be without Continental? They’re making noises about starting up their own wire—let ’em try it!”
    I sat forward in the booth. “I don’t know where you think I fit into this, Jim, but I don’t do mob-related work. I gave that up the day Frank Nitti blew his brains out.”
    He smiled his tight smile. “You played intermediary in the Guzik kidnapping, I hear.”
    “Yeah, but it wasn’t my idea.”
    “I hear Greasy Thumb thinks you’re aces.”
    “Let’s keep it that way. And let’s keep him a distant admirer.”
    He frowned. “They’re trying to spook my lawyer, Nate. He’s been getting threatening calls; nasty notes.”
    “Telling him to drop the case.”
    “Yes.”
    “Sounds like swell advice to me.”
    “His secretary’s been getting the calls. It’s a small office— there’s no receptionist; just one girl, and him. And they’ve threatened her, too.”
    “That’s a little nasty, I’ll grant you.”
    He leaned forward; spoke softly. “The secretary is my niece. I feel a responsibility, here: I got her this job. Her father died last year, and the family business went with him. I’m trying to help the lass out.” He sighed. “She’s a good girl, though she has a bit of a wild streak that gets away from her sometimes.”
    “And you mean to straighten her out,” I said.
    “Yes. But my concern right now is her safety. Her family’s had enough tragedy…they lost the only son in the war.”
    I sucked some air in. “Yeah, well.”
    “Bataan,” Ragen added.
    I winced. “What do you want me to do?”
    “Spend some time with her.”
    “If you’re looking for a bodyguard, I’ll put one of my men on it…”
    “I want you , Nate. What’s your rate these days?”
    “Twenty-five a day, unless you insist on the boss himself, in which case it’s thirty-five. And even if you do, I still have to run the office; I can’t be on her all the time. I’d talk to the girl, spend the first day with her, then put an op on it. I don’t work just one job at a time, you know—we have sixty-some clients, at the moment.”
    “Make it hundred a day, with a week’s retainer.”
    That raised my eyebrows and lowered my standards. “What do you expect to accomplish? What do you expect me to accomplish?”
    He shrugged elaborately. “I think the threats are so much hot air. Those dagoes can’t afford to fuck with Jim Ragen. They’re just makin’ noise.”
    “So do guns.”
    He smirked humorlessly and waved that off as well. “We go to court next week. That’ll be the end of it.”
    “You didn’t answer me, Jim. What do you want from me, exactly?”
    “Be at her side. Make her feel safe. Make her safe.”
    “Have you talked to her about