Fenner wished he knew. He stalled. “I guess I gotta get into the money again,” he said. “Maybe one of your crowd could use me.”
“Crotti says you’ve got quite a reputation. He says you’ve got notches on your gun.”
Fenner tried to look modest and cursed Ike’s imagination. “I get along,” he said casually.
“Maybe Carlos could use you.”
Fenner tried a venture. “I thought Noolen might be good to throw in with.”
Nightingale’s watery eyes suddenly flashed. “Noolen? Noolen’s the south end of a horse.”
“So?”
“Carlos has Noolen with his pants down. You won’t get any place with a piker like Noolen.”
Fenner gathered that Noolen was a wash-out. He tried again. “You surprise me. I was told Noolen was quite a big shot around here.”
Nightingale stretched his neck and deliberately spat on the floor. “Nuts,” he said.