The Way You Die Tonight Read Free

that night I sat on my sofa and shook for a while. What was I thinking, going after two men with guns – and then talking Landry out of his? Who did I think I was, Jerry Epstein? Well, my big Brooklyn buddy probably would have gone after the first two the way I did, but he never would have dealt with Landry the same way. He would have taken it away for sure, probably breaking Landry’s arm at the same time.
    Jack Entratter called me into his office the next day.
    â€˜Are you crazy?’ he demanded.
    â€˜What are you talking about?’
    â€˜You were there last night to keep the peace in the game,’ Entratter said, ‘not to go up against three hoods.’
    â€˜I don’t know what I was thinking, but when I saw the security guy go down—’
    â€˜The bartender told me that Kendrick opened the door, and you tried to stop him.’
    â€˜That’s true,’ I said. ‘I thought we should check who it was, first.’
    â€˜Well, at least that was good thinking,’ Entratter said. ‘Look, all the players were very impressed with you. They said you saved the game, saved all the money and – oh yeah, by the way – might have saved some lives.’
    â€˜I was an idiot.’
    â€˜No argument there,’ Entratter said. ‘I never said I pay you to get killed.’
    â€˜What happened to the gunmen? And Landry?’
    â€˜All under arrest,’ Entratter said. ‘And I fired Kendrick.’
    â€˜Can’t say I’m sorry to hear that,’ I said. ‘He was useless.’
    â€˜That was quick thinking on your part, getting Landry to go to the cashier’s cage.’
    â€˜He wasn’t thinking straight,’ I said. ‘That was obvious. Who were the two guys with him?’
    â€˜Just two mugs he convinced to try to pull the job,’ Entratter said. ‘He promised ’em a cut.’
    â€˜Hollywood must’ve really chewed him up and spat him out,’ I said.
    â€˜Looks that way,’ Entratter said. ‘His last three pictures tanked at the box office. No studio will work with him, anymore.’
    â€˜He shouldn’t have come here to try and solve his problem.’ I started to stand up. ‘I’m going back to my pit.’
    â€˜Sit down,’ Entratter said, ‘I wanna talk to you about that.’
    â€˜About what?’
    â€˜Your job.’
    I froze halfway out of my seat.
    â€˜Siddown, Eddie,’ he said. ‘I’m not firin’ you.’
    I sat down, relieved.
    â€˜But I am thinkin’ about makin’ a change.’
    â€˜What kind of change?’
    â€˜Somethin’ that would free you up a little more for special jobs.’
    â€˜Are you taking me out of the pit?’
    â€˜Would that be so bad?’ he asked.
    â€˜Kinda.’ I had always liked my job.
    â€˜It seems like I need you more out of the pit than in it, these days,’ Entratter said. ‘For instance, you know this poker movie Steve McQueen’s doin’ with Eddie Robinson?’
    â€˜Yeah, they talked about it at the table last night.’
    â€˜Well, I heard from Frank,’ he said. ‘He’d like you to show Eddie around, and help him do some research into the poker playin’ end of it.’
    â€˜When?’
    â€˜Later this week.’
    â€˜I can do that,’ I said. ‘I’ve never met him. That would be great.’ Edward G. Robinson was one of the greatest actors of all time, as far as I was concerned. I wouldn’t mind helping him research his role. ‘But what’s that got to do with taking me out of the pit?’
    â€˜I told you,’ Jack said, ‘it’s just something I’ve been thinkin’ about. Maybe we could create a new job title for you. You know, somethin’ like … a freelancer. Or a … host.’
    â€˜Freelancer?’ I said. ‘Would that be a promotion? With a raise?’
    â€˜Well, I