Manhunt. Volume 14, Number 1, February/March, 1966

Wrath by Peter Brandt

The act was vicious and violent. The vengeance was bitter-sweet.

* * *

The bar was empty.

The customers were either at the tables or in the hard-backed chairs on either side of the bandstand. Most of them were young and very serious and they listened quietly to the musicians. There was no dancing.

Three men came in and sat down at the bar. All three wore pinstripe suits that were a size too small. Two of the men were short and heavy set. The other was tall and well built. There was a constant twitch in his left eye. He ordered three old fashioneds.

“What the hell, Carl,” said one of the men. “What kind of spook joint is this?”

Carl’s eye twitched rapidly. “Take it easy, Rocco. The smog’s getting you.”

The other man laughed. Rocco grunted.

“Besides,” said Carl. “This is the only joint in town where you can get a decent drink.” He nodded towards the bartender. “Joseph comes from Milan. He makes a real drink.”

Joseph smiled and set the old fashioneds on the bar.

“Here’s to business,” said Carl. They drank.

“Not bad,” said the other man. He had short kinky hair and he wore horn-rimmed glasses.

“The liquor’s okay,” said Rocco. “But I wish to hell I was out of L.A. and back in K.C. listening to real jazz. This cool stuff turns my stomach.”

“You mean you miss that dumb broad of yours.”

“Shut up, Frank.”

Carl stuck a cigar in his mouth and Joseph fired it with a silver lighter and moved off to the other end of the bar.

“You’ll both forget Kansas City when this blonde chick comes out to sing.”

Rocco nodded eagerly. “Nice stuff, huh?”

Carl blew a smoke ring. “Long blonde hair and a sharp figure. Yeah, she’s a nice package.”

Rocco licked his lips. “You know, Carl, I’m real hot for a dame.”

“That’s why we’re here.”

Frank scowled. “Lay off the women. We got a business deal to talk over.”

“Pipe down, Frank. What do you say, Carl? Do we meet her?”

Carl studied his reflection very seriously in the mirror behind the bar. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“That’s swell. And lay off me, Frank. Pleasure first and then we talk deals.”

Frank laughed contemptuously, but said nothing.

The three men ordered another round of drinks. And then another. They were feeling very good. They laughed at each other’s jokes. A few of the jazz lovers gave them cold stares and then turned hastily away when they saw Rocco.

Carl turned on the bar stool as a tall, extremely thin man approached them. He had a large hawklike nose that gave him the look of a carnivorous bird.

“Hello, Carl.”

“Evening, Harv. Meet a couple friends of mine from back East. Rocco Cavoli and Frank Misano. Boys, this is Harvey Dunn. He runs The Black Cat.”

Harvey smiled and stuck out a bony hand. It remained empty. Rocco and Frank looked at him without smiling.

“Nice place,” said Rocco.

“Say, Harv...” Carl leaned forward with a confidential air. “You know this chick you got singing here. Well, the boys would like to meet her.”

“You mean Cathy Rain? I don’t know, Carl. There isn’t suppose to be any fraternizing between patrons and employees.”

Carl nodded. “Yeah. That’s the way it is. We want a nice table ringside. And after she finishes a set you introduce us to the chick.”

“But, Carl...” Harvey Dunn pulled his nose with a nervous gesture.

“You’re a nice guy, Harv. You’re gonna stay that way ain’t you?”

Harvey Dunn led them to a table by the bandstand, marked “Reserve.” He put the reservation in his pocket.

Carl smiled. His left eye twitched. “You’ll come back, won’t you Harv?”

“Yes, Carl.”

“But not alone?”

Harvey Dunn shook his head and smiled.

In a few minutes Cathy Rain was introduced. The hard spotlight was reflected in her blond hair. She wore a black strapless that was tight in the right places.

Carl smiled and lit another cigar. Rocco licked his lips. Frank scowled and began cutting his nails with a penknife.

The blond girl began with a rhythmic, finger snapping version of “Old Black Magic” and then when the lights dimmed she softly sang the lyrics to “Willow Weep for Me.” She ended the set with “The Man I love.”

Rocco stared at her hungrily.

When Harvey Dunn introduced her, the three men rose in unison. She smiled graciously and sat down. The three men sat down. Carl looked hard at Harvey Dunn and the tall man disappeared.

Cathy would accept nothing stronger than a coke.

“You sing real nice,” said Rocco.

Cathy smiled. “Thanks. This is my first job.”

“Yeah, you’re real good,” said Frank. He was no longer cutting his nails.

The smile stayed on the girl’s face but she was nervous.

Carl leaned forward confidentially. “The boys and I thought maybe after you’re done tonight we could all have dinner together.”

Rocco and Frank nodded.

“I’m flattered. Really I am,” she said. “But I’m afraid it’s impossible.”

“It’s okay,” said Rocco. “We talked to your boss. It’s all right with him.”

“No. I’m sorry.”

“Listen baby,” said Carl. “These are my friends. They asked for you. Nobody, not even a cute chick says no to Carl Rieger.”