CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - On Duty

"Hey, kid, nice cover on the wire", I says to Eddie. I heard the whole thing and called him right after his near heart-attack. Now, Eddie started talkin' kinda funny, like, "oh, hey, yeah, how ya doin' - - uh-huh, yeah, well....uh-huh", you know, that kind of stuff, so I knew the slimeball was still hangin' around. Maybe he had that right, you never know, I mean, he does partly own the joint, although not by legal means. It's actually our boy, the Poor Sap who really owns it. "Mike, man, I'm sorry", but I wasn't really alone, if ya get my meanin' ". "I sure did, I'd act the same way myself if I was up against it. How's it goin' over there?" "It's okay - nothin' really big goin' on or nothin', I'm just checkin' ID and all that." "Well, this slimeball really seems to take a shine to ya - use that for what it's worth. People tend to break down and just gab anything when they think they can trust ya." "I don't know about all that", Eddie whispered. "Chesterton's fine and everything but the other guy keeps lookin' at me real funny like". "Funny in what way?" "Like he's tryin' to figure me out. He never says anything except noddin' to me and stuff. Chesterton does all the talkin'." "Well, you have heard of a silent partner, right? Listen, kid, now we know this guy ripped the Poor Sap to front this guy Chesterton the cash, hopefully he'll start yakkin' about why, if he gets to know ya a little. You're a nice, warm, friendly guy, this one'll be putty in your hands. Maybe start goin' on about partners, that kinda thing." "Sure thing, boss. This place closes at 1. I sure can't wait til then. I've really been missin' ya." "Remember what ya said about how I'm right there and ya carry me everywhere? Just look down between them smokin' pecs of yours." Eddie sounded like he was blushin'. "Aw, boss, ya heard that?" "Yep. Ya sure made my day, kid, ya sure made my day."