Kells said: “It isn’t dated.”
Beery signed and folded the paper and handed it to Kells.
Kells glanced at it, turned to Fenner. “Now I want you to call your Coast Guardian man, Dickinson, and any other key men you can get in touch with, and tell them to be at your joint at the Knickerbocker in a half-hour.”
Fenner went into the bathroom, washed his face. He came back in a little while and sat down at the telephone.
Kells held the folded paper out to Beery. “You’re going downtown anyway, Shep,” he said. “Stick this in the safe at your office — I’ll be down in the morning and take it to the bank.”
Beery said: “Do I look that simple? I’ve got a wife and family.”
Kells put the folded paper in his own pocket.
“Anyway, I’m not going downtown. I’m coming along,” Beery picked up his hat. Kells nodded abstractedly, glanced at his watch; it was twenty-two minutes past ten. Outside, there was a long ragged buzz of faraway thunder and the telephone clicked as Fenner dialed a number.
Chapter Four
Five men sat in Fenner’s apartment at the Knickerbocker.