The Cats Pajamas

Chapter 19

Three days went by with Jeff performing every task Manchester gave him. He collected numbers money and protection money, he ran two hoodlums out of Boyle Heights and scared them enough that they'd never come back, and he 'killed' one of Manchester's enemies. That was almost a magic trick in itself. He locked the perp in the basement of an old tenement, then found a pay phone and called Gil to come get him. Since Gil had two outstanding warrants on the man, he did. Fifteen minutes later the foe was 'dead' and 'disposed of.' Manchester was pleased when Jeff told him.

"Well, you seem to have accomplished everything I've asked of you. This deserves a promotion. Take Smallwood's place at the door and send him upstairs. When I go to dinner, you can go with me."

"Fine. You wanna see anybody?" Spencer asked, lighting a cigarette.

"No." Glen wanted to see exactly how well Joey did on the door.

By six o'clock Jeff had turned seven people away from seeing 'the boss.' One of them took a swing at him and lived to regret it. Spencer wasn't thrilled with some of the things he'd had to do, but they were all done as a way to gain Manchester's trust. What he didn't know was that four of the seven were sent there deliberately, to see just how 'Joey' handled himself. When Glen came downstairs for dinner that night, he was certain Joey Francini would benefit the organization as long as Manchester remained in California. He took his new enforcer to dine with him.

The boss liked to have someone to talk to when he ate. Joey proved to be the perfect companion. He listened to everything Manchester wanted to tell him and asked almost no questions. Soon he was accompanying the crime lord to every meal. Four more days passed the same way before Manchester began telling tales about the men Georgie Weston had actually 'taken care of.' Joey listened attentively, but Manchester was careful enough not to disclose who actually ordered the hits. Joey was left to use his imagination. Akin and Bailey were not mentioned.

At the end of Joey's second week, Manchester decided it was time to finalize his move to Miami, and left Joey alone at the warehouse. He used the downstairs phone to call Gil. "Lieutenant Gilmore."

"Francini here. I think it's time to make our move. Manchester seems to trust me; he's told me all kinds of tales. Can you get me wired?"

"Tonight? Can you get away around five?"

"I can get away now. How fast can you get somebody up here?" Jeff knew this might be his only chance without raising suspicion.

"Twenty minutes," Gilmore answered.

"I'll leave the back window in the warehouse cracked. Once they're inside, make some small noise. I'll come down to investigate. And tell whoever it is he has to take care of it fast. I've got five minutes at the most."

"You've got it."

Now all Jeff could do was wait and pray. It was going to be a very long twenty minutes.

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"Did you forget something?" It was Roy Gilmore, alright, but he must have just hung up from a conversation with someone else.

"Gil?"

"Stu? What are you doing calling me?" The last voice he'd expected to hear on the phone was Stuart Bailey.

"You know I've only got a couple minutes, so don't lie to me. What's going on with Jeff? Is he alright?"

"He's fine. I just got off the phone with him."

"Is he still with Manchester?" Stu asked.

"Yes."

"And he's alright?"

"Yes, Stu. Where are you?" Gil asked, knowing that Stu wouldn't reveal his location.

"I'm coming home, Gil. I don't care if you do arrest me. He's got to get out of there."

"He's . . . " and Gil heard a distinct click. Stu was gone before Gil could explain what was happening. He should issue an all-points bulletin for Bailey, but he didn't. He just hoped Jeff could get a confession before some gung-ho police officer shot his partner.

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Manchester was back before the technician Gil sent could get there. Jeff played it cool until some ten minutes after the arrival there was some kind of a commotion in the warehouse below. Manchester's ears perked up. "Go see what that's all about, Francini."

"Yes, boss," Joey answered and immediately headed downstairs. There he found Bill Dolling, Gil's tech man, and they hurried to get Jeff 'wired up.' When everything was ready, Jeff whispered, "How far?"

"Sit within three feet of him. We'll be parked around the back. Oh, and see if you can keep him within a mile of this place," Dolling answered.

Jeff gave him a thumbs up and then yelled, "Get out of here! Go on, you mangy cat! Scram!" Then he hurried back upstairs.

"Sorry, boss. Alley cat got in and I couldn't get him out."

"Is he gone now?" Manchester asked, showing no concern.

"Yeah. Closed the window, too. Somebody left it open."

"Probably Smallwood. He was down there last. Well, now that all the excitements over, how about dinner?"

Joey nodded. "Sure, boss. Anything you want."

"Let's go to Il Fornia. We haven't been there for a while."

"Uh, sure, boss. You ready?"

"Of course."

They went out the front door, and soon Joey Francini was driving Glen Manchester to Il Fornia Italian Restaurant. Two miles away.

To Be Continued