"I said I'd call either way," I told her. "I don't think I'm going to drop over tonight. Maybe tomorrow."
"Sure, Matt. Was it anything important?"
"You remember what we were talking about before. If you could find out some more on that subject I'd make it worth your while."
"I don't know," she said. "I don't want to stick my neck out. I like to keep what they call a low profile. I do my work and I save my pennies for my old age."
"Real estate, isn't it?"
"Uh-huh. Apartment houses in Queens."
"Hard to see you as a landlady."
"The tenants never set eyes on me. This management firm takes care of everything. The guy who handles it for me, I know him professionally."
"Uh-huh. Getting rich?"
"Doing okay. I'm not going to be one of those old Broadway ladies with a dollar a day to feed themselves on. No way."
"Well, you could ask a few questions and make a few dollars. If you're interested."
"I suppose I could try. You'll keep my name out of everything, right? You just want me to come up with something that'll give you an opening."
"That's right."
"Well, I could see what happens."
"Do that, Elaine. I'll drop by tomorrow."
"Call first."
I went upstairs, kicked off my shoes, stretched out on the bed. I closed my eyes for a minute or two. I was just on the verge of sleep when I forced myself to sit up. The bourbon bottle on the bedside table was empty. I dropped it into the wastebasket and checked the closet shelf. There was an unopened pint of Jim Beam just waiting for me. I cracked it and took a short pull from it. It wasn't Wild Turkey but it did get the job done.
Eddie Koehler wanted me to call him but I couldn't see any reason why that conversation couldn't wait a day or two. I could guess what he was going to tell me and it wasn't anything I wanted to hear.
It must have been around a quarter after eight when I picked up the phone and called Anita.
We didn't have too much to say to each other. She told me the bills had been heavy lately, she'd had some root-canal work done and the boys seemed to be outgrowing everything at once, and if I could spare a couple of bucks it would be welcome. I said I'd just landed some work and would get a money order off to her in the morning.
"That would be a big help, Matt. But the reason I kept leaving messages for you, the boys wanted to talk to you."
"Sure."
I talked to Mickey first. He didn't really say much. School was fine, everything was okay- the usual patter, automatic and mindless. Then he put his older brother on the line.
"Dad? They got this thing in Scouts, like for the Nets' home opener against the Squires? And it's supposed to be a father-son deal, you know? They're getting the tickets through the troop, so everybody'll be sitting together."
"And you and Mickey would like to go?"
"Well, could we? Me and Mick are both Nets fans, and they ought to be good this year."
"Jennifer and I."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
"The only thing, it's kind of expensive."
"How much is it?"
"Well, it's fifteen dollars a person, but that includes the dinner first and the bus ride out to the Coliseum."
"How much extra do you have to pay if you don't have the dinner?"
"Huh? I don't- oh." He started to giggle. "Hey, that's really neat," he said. "Let me tell Mick. Dad wants to know how much extra you have to pay if you don't have the dinner. Don't you get it, stupid? Dad? How much extra if you don't ride on the bus?"
"That's the idea."
"I bet the dinner's chicken a la king."
"It's always chicken a la king. Look, the cost's no problem, and if the seats are halfway decent it doesn't sound like too bad a deal. When is it?"
"Well, it's a week from tomorrow. Friday night."
"That could be a problem. It's pretty short notice."
"They just told us at the last meeting. Can't we go?"
"I don't know. I've got a case and I don't know how long it'll run. Or if I can steal a few hours in the middle of it."
"I guess it's a pretty important case, huh?"
"The guy I'm trying to help is charged with murder."
"Did he do it?"
"I don't think so, but that's not the same as knowing how to prove it."
"Can't the police investigate and work it out?"
Not when they don't want to, I thought. I said, "Well, they think my friend is guilty and they're not bothering to look any further. That's why he has me working for him." I rubbed my temple where a pulse was starting to throb. "Look, here's how we'll do it. Why don't you go ahead and make the arrangements, all right? I'm sending your mother some money tomorrow and I'll send an extra forty-five bucks for the tickets. If I can't make it I'll let you know and you can just give one ticket away and tag along with somebody else. How does that sound?"
There was a pause. "The thing is, Jack said he would take us if you couldn't."
"Jack?"
"He's Mom's friend."
"Uh-huh."
"But you know, it's supposed to be a father-son thing, and he's not our father."
"Right. Hang on a second, will you?" I didn't actually need a drink, but I couldn't see how it would hurt me. I capped the bottle and said, "How do you get along with Jack?"
"Oh, he's okay."
"That's good. Well, see how this sounds. I'll take you if I possibly can. If not, you can use my ticket and take Jack. Okay?"