Beery sat down, smiled down his nose.
“Now we don’t have to worry about kicking any of our crowd in the tail,” Kells went on, “because we haven’t got any.”
Beery raised his brows, said: “Crowd?”
“Uh huh — crowd.”
Beery glanced around the room, back to Kells. “Since this joint was Fenner’s suggestion,” he said, “wouldn’t it be a swell time to move?”
Kells shook his head slowly. “What for? Any of ’em can find me if they want me — and they’ll all be wanting to before long. This is as good a spot as any...”
Granquist came in with coffee and toast on a small tray, Beery stood up, bowed, took the tray and sat down.
Kells said: “I’m going to turn on the heat — Shep — only this time I’m going to make it pay. It’s been for fun up to now — now it’s for dough.”
Borg was playing solitaire at the table. He looked up, said, “Hooray,” dryly.
“The lady” — Kells inclined his head toward Granquist — “picked up all the stuff I lost at Crotti’s. Fenner thinks Crotti’s got his confession, but I’ve got it — and Fenner’s going to find out about that. So is Woodward, who ought to be willing to give his eye teeth — and the mayor’s eye teeth — for it. He’s on his way up here now.”