“Thanks.” Kells turned to go back into the room.
Sheedy caught his shoulder. “Rose and I do a little business together,” he said — “that’s all.” He was smiling slightly, looking very straight at Kells.
Kells said: “Liquor business?”
Sheedy shook his head.
“White stuff?”
Sheedy didn’t say anything.
Kells looked at the door to the cabaret, said: “Tell Taylor Lonny’s back here.”
Sheedy said: “I’m under one indictment here, Mister Kells. If there’s any trouble and it gets loud I’ll lose my license.”
“It won’t get loud.”
The door to the cabaret opened and a very light-colored Negro with straight blue-black hair came into the hallway. There was a white man behind him, and the white man took a stubby revolver out of his coat pocket.