“That’s an unpleasant sound,” Perkins said.
I nodded.
You may be confused about wranglers. In movie talk, anybody who handles animals is a wrangler. There are dog wranglers and cat wranglers and even once a cockroach wrangler. That’s just what those people are called.
“I think it’s time to go back to the motel,” Perkins said, around that time. It was almost noon, and hot as hell. I said I didn’t mind.
As we drove back in the limousine, Perkins asked me, “What do you know about Mr. Chadney?”
“The stuntman? Not much. He’s considered a good one.”
“He seems a handsome devil.”
“They all are,” I said. “They’re all big ladies’ men.”
“Does Chadney have anybody in particular he’s fond of?”
“I haven’t paid much attention. I think I’ve seen him with a dark-haired girl several times.”
“I wonder how we could locate her,” Perkins said.
“We could ask Chadney.”
“Without asking Chadney.”
“Let me work on it,” I said. “I may be able to come up with something.”
Now, just between you and me, whenever a movie person says that, it means he’s already figured out how to do it. And yes, I had already figured out how to do it. I was pretty sure Chadney’s girl was a University of Arizona student, and there was one girl named Alice who was the head of some sorority and made a point of knowing everybody—you know, one of those premature social whizzes. She would know Chadney’s girl. I could ask her tonight.
“I’m sure you’ll do your best,” Perkins said. “By the way, did you know that Chadney has been arrested for narcotics possession?”
“No.”
“Yes,” he said. “In Alameda County in 1967. He was working as a stuntman and was apprehended for possession of one ounce of cocaine.”
“No kidding.”
“I never kid,” Perkins said. “By the way, what time is Greenblatt arriving?”
“Oh my God,” I said. I had completely forgotten about Greenblatt and Robinson. I had some arrangements to make before they showed up. A thought occurred to me: “How did you know he was coming? It was supposed to be a secret.”
“He called me,” Perkins said. “I’m working for him, after all. What time?”
“Six,” I said. “Flying in at six.”
“You look positively stricken,” Perkins said.
“I have some arrangements to make.”
We got back to the Holiday Inn. I noticed in passing that it was L-shaped, with some windows looking out on the corridor, but I couldn’t make any particular sense of that. I went to my room and immediately called my friend at the Sands.
“Herbie,” I said, glancing at my watch, “I need a couple of your friends with a lot of class.”
“All anybody wants is class,” Herbie said. “Nobody wants trash. And I suppose you want now?”
“Tonight, Herbie.”
“Tonight. He wants tonight. How many you want?”
