I went.
6
On the outskirts of Paradise Palms a few tumbled-down huts, side by side, sprawled into the darkness. Further along, standing alone, was the only building of importance.
Over its arched doorway, a sign flickered against the night sky. Forty-six.
I had parked the Mercury convertible in a vacant lot some way back, and I approached the building cautiously, keeping in the shadows. Through the open doorway I could hear dance music. The shuttered windows revealed chinks of light.
A man moved out of the shadows, came towards me. I stopped, waited, my liand on my gun butt.
It was Hoskiss.
“Hi, G-man,” I said. “Seen this morning’s Morni ng Star?"
“Oh, it’s you,” he said, peering at me. “Yeah, I saw it all light. I bet Killeano’s doing a little thinking.”
“I bet you are too,” I said. “All ready for some relaxation?”