You Make Me Feel So Dead by Robert Randisi

would’ve,’ he said. ‘Wait, does she think that I—’
    â€˜No, she doesn’t think that.’
    â€˜Who do the police think did it? Besides Jerry, I mean?’
    â€˜The police don’t know about Penny yet – but they will.’
    â€˜How?’
    Jerry and I exchanged a glance.
    â€˜No point keepin’ anything from me now.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, this is something Penny might want to tell you herself.’
    â€˜But will she?’ he asked. ‘Come on, Eddie. I know she probably made you promise but we go back a long way.’
    â€˜Brooklyn,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜Yeah,’ Danny said, ‘Brooklyn.’
    â€˜OK,’ I said. I told him about Penny’s priors and the likelihood that the cops would find her by going through Reynolds’ known associates list.
    â€˜Jesus,’ he said, ‘you think you know somebody …’
    â€˜She was just a kid,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜Oh, I know that,’ Danny said. ‘I’m not gonna hold it against her. I just thought it was something I shoulda known already.’
    â€˜She was afraid,’ I said.
    â€˜Yeah, I know,’ Danny said. ‘There’s a lot of that goin’ around. Well, I guess I better go and see her.’
    â€˜Danny—’
    â€˜Eddie, don’t worry,’ he said, standing up. ‘I’ll go easy. I just want her to know … well, there are just things I want her to know.’
    â€˜Are you sure I shouldn’t come along?’
    â€˜Positive,’ Danny said. ‘You guys have done enough, and I appreciate it. I’ll call you.’ He looked at Jerry. ‘Take it easy, Gunsel.’
    â€˜You too, Shamus.’
    He walked out of the Garden Room with Jerry and I watching him go.
    â€˜Think we did the right thing, lettin’ him go alone?’ he asked.
    â€˜They have a special relationship,’ I said. ‘It’ll be OK.’
    Jerry had finished his food. He pulled Danny’s unfinished plate over and started in on it. I realized I was hungry and started in on mine in earnest.
    â€˜What’d he mean?’
    â€˜About what?’
    â€˜That thing about everybody bein’ afraid. What’s he afraid of?’
    â€˜Oh, that,’ I said, chewing. ‘I think he’s afraid of letting Penny know how he really feels about her.’
    â€˜Don’t he know she’s crazy about him?’ he asked. ‘Anybody can see that.’
    â€˜Yeah, well,’ I said, ‘Danny’s not anybody.’
    â€˜Well, I hope they talk to each other tonight,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜So do I, big fella,’ I said, ‘so do I.’
    â€˜So what do we do now?’ Jerry asked.
    â€˜Oh, I didn’t tell you,’ I said. ‘Elvis is getting in tomorrow.’
    â€˜That’s great, Mr G., but since you don’t need me no more for this thing with Penny maybe ya wanna ship me back to Brooklyn?’
    â€˜You came all this way, Jerry,’ I said. ‘You should at least get to meet Elvis … if you want to, that is.’
    â€˜Well, sure,’ he said. ‘Who don’t wanna meet Elvis, huh?’
    â€˜OK then,’ I said, ‘you can come with me tomorrow when I go to the Riviera.’
    â€˜Breakfast first?’ he asked.
    I laughed and said, ‘Yeah, of course, breakfast first.’

TWENTY-FOUR
    E lvis’ scheduled check-in time was ten a.m. I gave him time to settle in and showed up at the Riviera at eleven, with Jerry in tow.
    The front of the hotel was already mobbed with fans who had somehow gotten word of Elvis’ arrival. We drove around the back. There was a crowd there, too, but not as many. Still, we had to fight our way through to get inside. There were security men on the door holding the crowd out. Luckily, one of them knew me from the Sands and allowed us to enter, which raised the ire of the crowd.
    â€˜Must be nice to have people know