Page 96 of Lion & Lamb

“Half a million,” Veena suggested.

“Honey, please.” Red waved his hand like he was trying to swat away the very notion. “Archiewishedhe owed me only half a million bucks. He was into me for about a million three.”

“Wait, wait,” Cooper said. “One point three million just to you alone?”

“Easily that much,” Red said. “Word was that he owed something like seven million between here and Vegas. Mostly here.”

Cooper whistled in horror or surprise—or maybe both.

“Why didn’t he just pay?” Veena asked. “The man’s contract with the Eagles earned him at least fifty million a year.”

“That’s the funny thing about high rollers like Archie,” Red replied. “They really, really don’t like to pay.”

“And what happens when someone like Archie doesn’t pay?” Veena asked.

“That’s the thing. Nobody would be stupid enough to put out a hit on the GOAT. I mean, that’s just bad for business.”

“Ben E. Franco seemed to think that’s what happened.”

“Ah, Ben E. Franco is full of shit. That guy has been recycling jokes since the days of JFK, and half of those were lifted from Joey Bishop.”

“Okay,” Cooper said. “But let’s take your case, Red—how doyoumake your displeasure known?”

“Well, for one thing, I stop taking their bets.”

“Let’s say you do that. What’s next? I mean, no offense, Red, but you’re up my ass sideways when I’m, like, a day late.”

“I can’t believe I’m listening to this,” Veena said. “What are you two, thirteen?”

“Small-timers like you, Lamb—no offense—always pay up quick. They know that word travels fast, and if they screw up a few times, they’re done.”

“And with Archie?” Veena asked. “Plenty of people were still taking his bets.”

“Yeah, how could they refuse, right? I mean, they were counting on him paying up eventually.”

“Except he died before he paid up,” Cooper said. “Can’t imagine you’re too happy about being down a million and a half bucks.”

“Eh, it’ll sort itself out. Always does.”

“I don’t think the Mob was so philosophical about being owed millions of dollars by Archie when he was alive.”

“No, they weren’t.”

“So what did they do?”

Red shook his head. “Look, they wouldn’t send a shooter. No way, no how. But they would send someone serious. Someone who specialized in reluctant clients, let’s put it that way.”

Veena leaned forward. “You’re talking about the Quiet One.”

Chapter103

RED TURNEDpale. “How do you know about that?” he whispered.

“You think you’re my only source?” Cooper said, taking the baton from Veena. He kind of relished these moments when he had a leg up on know-it-all (and seen-it-all) Red Doyle.

“You two—you really like sticking your pricks in the hornet’s nest, don’t you.”

“That’s what I’m known for,” Veena said, deadpan. “Sticking my prick wherever I want.”

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