You came to Paradise Palms because you knew it was a gold mine, and you planned to clean up at the gambling tables.”
“Aw nuts!” I said. “I came here for a vacation.”
“And yet you ain’t been in town a few hours when you rush around to the Casino,” Flaggerty sneered.
“I was invited by Speratza,” I said, “and not having anything better to do, I went.”
“How long have you known Speratza?”
“I don’t know him.”
Flaggerty raised his eyebrows. “So you don’t know him? Ain’t it odd Speratza should invite you over to the Casino when he didn’t know you?”
“Most odd,” I said, grinning at him.
“Yeah,” Flaggerty said. He took a step forward. “Maybe he didn’t invite you. Maybe you invited yourself because you wanted to horn in and clean up fast.” He was wagging his finger in my face and yelling at the top of his voice.
“Don’t do that,” I said gently, “unless you want a poke in your pan.”