“My point is, I do that sort of thing for a living... not always very well, obviously. It doesn’t mean I’m a mobster or that I have any particular insights into the breed. Look, I testified at the Ragen inquest; it’s all in the public record.”
“Ragen was your wife’s uncle, I understand.”
“She was my girl friend, at the time. She’s my ex-wife, now.”
O’Conner said to me, “Bill Drury thinks the way to bring the racing wire mobsters down is to crack Ragen’s murder. After all, Ragen was murdered so the Capone crowd could take over his racing wire business.”
I didn’t respond; I mean, it wasn’t a question.
Frustrated, O’Conner pressed on: “Back in ’46, you and Bill Drury searched out the eyewitnesses, Nate. You helped Bill!”
“We did find the eyeball witnesses,” I admitted, “and they ID’d the shooters — a trio of West Side bookies.”
Robinson read from his notebook: “David Finkel, Joseph Leonard, and William Yaras. Yaras is still a Chicago resident, and Mr. Drury would very much like to see him brought to justice. The whereabouts of Finkel and Leonard are unknown, though I’m sure Mr. Drury would like to see them brought to justice, as well.”
But I decided not to share that tidbit with the Crime Committee’s representatives.
“The witnesses recanted,” I said. “Except for the one that was murdered.”
Robinson blinked. “Doesn’t that make you... angry?”
“It makes me... cautious.”
“Mr. Heller, do you really want us to call you as a witness?” Halley lisped. “Wouldn’t you prefer to help us, behind the scenes?”
“Gentlemen, call me to testify if you like. My answers will fall into two categories: taking the fifth amendment, against self-incrimination; and invoking attorney-client privilege.”
Halley reacted like I’d thrown a drink in his face. “You’re not an attorney!”
“Individuals you might assume are clients of mine are, in most instances, actually the clients of attorneys I represent... The attorney-client privilege pertains.”
All three of them were lawyers; none of them disagreed with me.
Kurnitz, though — who had stayed silent, thus far — seemed vaguely amused; his arms were folded — he was leaning back. “Where
“You do criminal law around these parts, Mr. Kurnitz. I would imagine you just do your best to serve your clients’ interests and keep your head above these murky Chicago waters.”
Kurnitz smiled, arching an eyebrow.
“We can seriously embarrass you, Mr. Heller,” Robinson said, “if you force us to.”
“Mr. Robinson,” I said, “let me explain a couple things. First, the more sleazy and connected to gangsters you make me sound, the more desirable and glamourous I’ll seem to potential clients. Second, I’m a decorated veteran of the recent war, a Bronze Star winner. Maybe
“You were mustered out on a Section Eight,” Halley said.
I sat forward. “I was honorably discharged, after fighting on Guadalcanal — what’s your war record, Four-Eyes?”
Halley huffed, “I served my country,” but he didn’t say how.
“But thanks for reminding me,” I said. “I had amnesia, induced by battle fatigue, what they used to call shell shock. How’s that for a reason not to be able to recall this and that?”
“You’re a very unpleasant man, Mr. Heller,” Halley said.
“You’re not exactly Norman Vincent Peale yourself,” I said, and got up. “Thanks for the Coke... By the way, that fella out in the hall, getting on the elevator when I arrived?”
They all frowned, but they knew who I was talking about.
“Jake Rubinstein?” I reminded them. “Is he the kind of informant you’re counting on?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your concern,” Robinson said.
“Just be careful, is all. Whoever advised you to fly that guy in from Dallas, take a close look at.”
Halley sneered. “And why is that, Mr. Heller?”
That sneer deserved a smirk in return. “Here’s one free tidbit I will give you. My understanding is Jake is the liaison between the local mob and the Dallas boys. I’ve known Rubinstein for years... or, what is it he’s calling himself these days?”
“Jack Ruby,” Kurnitz offered.
The other two lawyers glared at him.
“A rose by any other name,” I said. “Never take a guy like that at face value. Any ‘informing’ Jake’s doing is likely a cover for what he can find out about what you fellas are up to.”
“That’s the chance we take when we deal with these kind of people,” Robinson said stiffly. “By necessity, informers come from the ranks of the gangsters themselves.”
Pompous ass.
