"For God's sake, Jake! I'm not up yet."
"Did Kit go downtown this morning?"
"I think so. Yes. He did. Now get lost. You're stunting my growth."
"Can you write?"
"I forget."
"Well memorize this. A call for 'Who He?' next Sunday. Show-time nine to nine-thirty at the Venice Theater. Pick up your script at the office tomorrow and they'll give you the rehearsal schedule. The job pays two bills. Can you fit it into your schedule?"
"Can I!" Robin exclaimed.
"Pleasant dreams," Lennox chuckled and hung up. He knew how to pay for a favor.
He took a cab uptown, bought a beret and smock in Saks and a calabash pipe in Dunhill's, and had them delivered to Gabby Valentine at Houseways, Inc. Then he went up to the network studios and walked in on the morning rehearsal of "The People Against—" the radio show produced and directed by Ned Bacon, his partner on "Who He?"
Bacon was a short, stocky Irishman in his mid forties. He had an impudent boyish face on which he had superimposed an expression of pugnacious cynicism. He seemed to regret that he had not been a bad boy and spent his life making up for it. There is an ancient and honorable association of Fire-Buffs, amateurs who are fascinated by firemen and run after fires. Bacon was a Thief-Buff. He spent his nights on 3rd Avenue running after crooks, cops and crime.