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“Take her to Gordy,” I finished. “He’ll want to talk with her. Riordan, bring that grenade pin. I’m going to shove it down Foxtrot’s throat.” I took a step toward the washroom, and my foot caught on something. Emma’s purse. It hadn’t been there before. Myrna again, now in a helpful mood.
I picked up the little bag and looked in on Emma. She’d set the flashlight on its end on the floor like a candle. She had apparently heard everything and looked anxious.
“You ready to travel?” I asked, voice low.
“Guess I have to be. But those men . . .”
“Are gonna behave. I’ll stick by you. If I have to be someplace, you get next to the Irishman out there named Riordan. He’s crazy, but he’ll look after you. He’s got a soft spot for women.”
“I know him. He’s kind of scary.”
“Right now you need scary friends.”
She gave a brief, blotchy grimace, accepted her handbag, pulled on her gloves, and stood straight. Not much height to her, but plenty of poise. I got the flashlight and backed out like a knight making way for his lady.
“Gentlemen,” I said, certain none would take exception to the irony, “Miss Emma Dorsey needs a safe escort to the Nightcrawler Club.”
Riordan’s eyes flickered with amusement as he swept off his hat. “It’s my specialty and privilege to be of service to ye, missy. Shamus Riordan, me name is me game, spell it the same.”
Desanctis growled under his breath, then spoke aloud. “Where’s your boyfriend, Emma?”
“I don’t know. That’s God’s honest truth.”
“He ain’t hiding in your flat, we checked, so where else would he go?”
She shook her head, glancing at me.
“The lady doesn’t know,” I said. “You’re familiar with how he does business. Where do you think he’d go?”
“We checked those places. He ain’t in any of ’em.”
“Then figure he’s on a train, bus, or car with a hell of a head start. You cover the stations?”
“In this town and all stops between here and both oceans. With eight hundred grand running loose, we got more eyes than J. Edgar Hoover.”
“You didn’t tell them about the money, did you?”
“Of course not.”
“Foxtrot can buy his way past anyone with it.”
“That he can,” said Riordan, looking pleased.
“You’re after the money,” I said, unsurprised.
“Why, Jacky-lad, on the life of my sainted aunt Murgatroyd, of course I am. A man can go far and live high forever on that much lolly.”
“Until we find you,” Desanctis pointed out. He didn’t sound worried that Riordan would get anywhere near the cash.
“Well, life’s uncertain, Gino. I’d live well for as long as I could. That’s all any of us have till Saint Peter whispers in your ear.”
It was an impossible quest. Foxtrot had time to put himself anywhere, either to hole up until the initial search slacked off or to get as far away as possible. If it had been me, I’d have hired a pilot and flown south to a whole different continent.
“Been watching Emma’s place?” I asked as we trooped unhurriedly down to the lobby.
“We went by to see if she’d join up with her boyfriend,” said Desanctis.
“Why didn’t you talk to her sooner?”
