LAdies' Night by Naomi Hirahara
Author:Naomi Hirahara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: short stories, los angeles, crime anthology
Publisher: Down & Out Books
It was an open secret that the Clipper Club belonged to Nicky Rivers. Maxâs name was on the paperwork because he trusted Max almost as much as he trusted me. But it was my house. I ran the operation, Nicky Rivers provided the real estate. We lined up a joint around the corner from Central Station, so we had plenty of traffic. I came up with âLadiesâ Night,â first drink free, the rest half off, to give a girl cover for walking in alone. Every night was Ladiesâ Night at the Clipper Club.
It was never Nickyâs plan to gussy up the place. He liked to keep a low-profile base of operations. For high-profile he showed his face at the Quadrille out on Sunset, which had a bandstand in the big room downstairs, and gaming tables upstairs. The Clipper gave us a place to bring some talent off the street and put them in front of the impatient gentleman who didnât have time or inclination for dancing or dice.
Nicky was enjoying a laugh with Max and Giorgio when I walked into the office. Nicky had his revolver out, a nickel-plated .38, and was demonstrating how he once pressed it against Big Lou DiParmaâs head.
âHonest to God, he was so ashamed to be pissing his pants. I said, âDonât you know how much more of a mess your brains are gonna make?ââ
No matter how many times Iâd heard that story, Max must have heard it fifty times more. And still he played up the guffaws. Giorgioâs eyes twinkled in my direction and he made polite chuckles.
âYou have a visitor,â I said.
Nicky slipped the gun back into his coat pocket and said, âI donât see people in here, Jessie, you know that.â
âI know it, you know it. Tell her.â
âSend her over to the Hedges house. If you think sheâs someone I want to see.â
âYouâll want to see her now. Iâm not sending her anywhere.â
He started to get that look in his eyes, the one that the smart ones knew to be afraid of. It was a look I was always able to find the right words for.
âYouâre a movie fan, Nicky. Donât tell me you want to say no to a star like Eve Larraine.â
No, he didnât. I set up fresh drinks from Nickyâs private bar and went out to retrieve our guest. As I walked back to her table, she had a cigarette going, and was poised to look oblivious, the better to allow the admiring stares of her public.
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