Ask for Me Tomorrow

“As long as the money held out, she put on a show of affection. She even came to see him in jail a few times for what they call in polite society ‘connubial privileges.’ That’s probably where she got the idea of taking up the work professionally. On visiting days the hustlers flock around the jail like starlings. Tula just naturally followed the flock. There wasn’t much else she was prepared to do, she couldn’t read or write. I used to see her once in a while, all gussied up hanging around the cheap bars. She pretended not to recognize me. Good old Uncle Harry found himself de-uncled.”

“You don’t think she might have paid B. J.’s fine, or put up bail or bribe money?”

“Not in a million years would be my guess. But what’s that worth? Women are not reasonable creatures, so how can a reasonable man like me tell what they’re going to do?”

“Let’s assume,” Aragon said, “that Tula is still in town and you have the right connections for finding her.”

“Consider it assumed. And then?”

“I’d like to ask her some questions. Given enough time, I might be able to find her myself. But I don’t know the city, what name she’s using, where her hangouts are, or even what she looks like.”

“So how much is it worth to you if I ask around?”

“Two hundred dollars.”

Jenkins ran an expert eye up and down the J. C. Penney suit, the Sears, Roebuck shirt and the orange birthday tie from his cousin Sandoval, who was color-blind.

“You can’t afford that kind of money, laddie, unless the job is real important. Two hundred is pretty small potatoes for something real important. Let’s raise the ante to three hundred, fifty in advance.”

The deal was settled at $250. Gilly might squawk, but Aragon had the feeling that if she and Jenkins ever met, at the Domino Club or El Alegre, they would understand each other immediately.

Jenkins put the bills Aragon gave him in his coat pocket. “I could walk out of here with this fifty and you might never see me again. Did that occur to you?”

“Certainly. You won’t do it, though. You need the rest of the money to help you get out of town. There’s Emilia and the turnip mashing, remember?”

“Hell, how could I forget. One of those relatives of hers is probably standing right outside the hotel this very minute waiting for me to come out. It’s not fair. Me, I don’t have a relative in the world unless it’s a kid some place where I got careless... Did you know B. J. and Tula had a kid?”

“I’ve heard of him.”

“Crazy as a coot. Makes funny noises.”

“We all make funny noises. Some may be just a little funnier.”

“Is that philosophy or bullshit, laddie?”

“A little of both.”

“No matter. I try to avoid stepping in either.” Jenkins stood up. He was unsteady on his feet, and small round patches of red had appeared at the tip of his nose and on both cheekbones like the make-up of a circus clown. “I’d better start to work. That two fifty ought to set me up in Mexicali. Mexicali’s full of tourists, it’ll be a gold mine.”

“Stay out of real estate.”

“Oh, I can’t truly regret Jenlock Haciendas. It was a great place while it lasted.” It sounded like a fitting epitaph.

Aragon said, “Suppose you come back here tomorrow night and give me a progress report.”

“If that’s how you want it.”

“I’ll be waiting for you. Good night, Jenkins.”

“I have a nice feeling about you, laddie. You’re going to bring me luck.”

Eleven

Twenty-four hours later Aragon was still waiting in his hotel room to hear from Harry Jenkins. It was after eleven when the phone finally rang.

“It’s me, laddie.”

“Where are you?”

“Never mind about that. Listen, I said you were going to bring me luck, and by God, you did. I met this pigeon. He came down to Mexico to scout around for investment opportunities and I happen to have one for him. Me.”

“I’ve already invested in you, fifty bucks, two hundred more coming. I’m expecting a report.”

“All in good time. This other matter is more urgent. The pigeon’s due to leave town pretty soon and I’m trying to nail him down.”

“What are you nailing him to?”

“The chicken tortilla business. He thinks it’s a winner.”

“How many drinks has he had?”

“That’s not a nice implication,” Jenkins said reproachfully. “But I won’t hold a grudge. Maybe you got something against chickens, maybe you just lack financial vision.”

“Did you find Tula?”

“I’m on her heels. By tomorrow night I’ll be able to take you straight to her.”

“Why not tonight?”

“I told you, tonight I’m involved in a new business venture.”

“Where are you?”

“Now, why do you want to know that?”

“Because wherever it is, I’m coming. I want to protect my investment.”

“Oh hell, laddie, don’t do that. You’ll blow it for me. This may be my chance of a lifetime. He’s fat and juicy and ready for plucking.”

“Let’s get back to Tula.”

“Sure, sure, whatever you say. Only I’m in kind of a hurry.”

“I think you’re bulling me,” Aragon said. “You already know where the girl is, don’t you?”