Chaos: A Tale of Murder and Conspiracy (The Daniel Levin Mysteries Book 4) by Epstein Lawrence J

Author:Epstein, Lawrence J. [Epstein, Lawrence J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fig Hollow Publishing
Published: 2017-05-01T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

It was as sunny in Los Angeles as my soul felt dark. We were on Canon Drive heading east going along Wilshire Boulevard through Beverly Hills. There were trees at the edges of the sidewalks. It wasn’t a sight I was used to from New York, but it was comforting. I saw a sign that read “Beautiful Single Apt’s” and wondered who would be able to afford them. This was really Beverly Hills. There was a large billboard that read: “Beauty Shoppe.” We stopped at a Standard Station right after the billboard, got some gas, and asked directions. There weren’t many benches on the sidewalks and nobody was sitting on those I saw. It was a city of cars. I saw a lot of those.

We were on our way to see Emmett “Dead Eyes” Alden, the chief rival to Jack Dragna, the “Capone of Los Angeles,” the head of the city’s crime empire. The two men hated each other, and both knew every gangster in the city. Miss London had arranged the meeting. She had interviewed Alden and it went well, according to her anyway. She said she may have mentioned my name and contacts a few times.

“I think he’s a nice gentleman,” she said.

“He hates Jews. On the other hand, he hates everyone else, too.” I said.

“He was nice to me, and I’m someone.”

“I don’t think women count as real people in his world.”

“I know what you’re thinking, Daniel. I just wrote a nice story about him. Nothing else.”

“Good.”

We got to the house. Alden’s brother, Timmy, met us and took us into the room where Dead Eyes sat eating. His hair was slicked back. He wouldn’t have won any beauty contests. I looked. His eyes showed absolutely no feeling. Someone had given him a good nickname.

We introduced ourselves to him. Then Miss London started to talk, but he held up his hand to stop her. He liked to be in control.

“This is a favor to the boys in New York. They heard of you, Levin. I didn’t want you to come here. I don’t trust you. The boys in New York, they’re living in a different place. They got Lansky and Siegel. Me, I’m polite to everyone. Except Jack Dragna. But that don’t mean I got to like it. Now tell me, Levin, what do you want to know?”

Miss London began to speak.

Another hand.

“I said Levin. You wrote a good story. You look like you’d be good upstairs. But this here is business. Let the man speak.”

I thought Miss London might throw one of the candlesticks on the table at Emmett Alden. Now that would have made a story. But she just sat there. Jack Bell must have thought he was watching a movie. He looked astonished and interested at the same time.

“I’m desperate to save my son, Mr. Alden. He’s only nine years old. I’m really scared and worried. He’s the boy Bobby Kyle escaped with from jail.”

Alden took a bite of food. I couldn’t figure out why criminals were so popular with American audiences.

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