Manhattan Is My Beat (Rune 1)

Rune saw no point in breaking the news about Mr. Kelly's death to the old man. She said, "No. He's a friend."

"Well, where is he? He was just here."

"He stepped away for a few minutes."

"Where's Bips?"

"He's off playing."

"I worry about the traffic with him. He gets too excited when there's cars about. And these boys. They poke sticks at him. Girls too." He was aware of the flower again and touched it. "Did I thank you for this?"

She said, "You bet you did." Rune sat down on the grass beside the wheelchair, cross-legged. "Mr. Elliott, did you do your own research for the movie? For Manhattan Is My Beat?"

"Research? We had people do our research. The studio paid for it. Pretty girls. Pretty like you."

"And they researched the story that the movie was based on? The cop who stole the money from Union Bank?"

"They aren't there anymore, I'll bet you. They went on to Time-Life a lot of them. Or Newsweek. The studio paid better but it was a wild sort of life some of them didn't want. Is Hal doing okay now? And how's Dana? Handsome man he was."

"Fine, they're both fine. Did you find out anything about the cop who stole the money? The cop in real life, I mean?"

"Sure I did."

"What?"

Elliott was looking at his wrist, where his watch probably should have been. "I've lost it again. Do you know when we'll be leaving? It'll be good to get home again. Between you and I, I mean, between you and me, I don't like to travel. I can't say anything to them though. You understand. Do you know when we're leaving?"

"I don't know, Mr. Elliott. I sure don't ... So what did you find out about the cop who stole the money?"

"Cop?"

"In Manhattan Is My Beat?"

"I wrote the story. I tried to write a good story. There's nothing like that, you know. Isn't that the best thing in the world? A good story."

"It was a wonderful story, Mr. Elliott." She got up on her knees. "I especially liked the part where Roy hid the money. He was digging like a madman, remember? In the movie it was hidden in a cemetery. In real life did you ever have any idea where the cop who stole the money hid it?"

"The money?" He looked at her for a second with eyes that seemed to click with understanding. "All that money."

And Rune felt a low jolt in her stomach, a kick. She whispered, "What about the money?"

His eyes glazed over again and he said, "What they do here--they'll do it when the weather's nice--they put paper on the tables, like tablecloths and we have picnics here. They put nuts in little paper cups. They're pink and look like tiny upside-down ballet dresses. I don't know where the tables are. I hope they do that again soon.... Where's Bips?"

Rune sank back down on her haunches. She smiled. "He's playing, Mr. Elliott, I'll look out for him." They sat in silence for a moment and she asked, "What did Robert Kelly want when he came to visit you a month ago?"

His head nodded toward her and his eyes had a sudden lucidity that startled her.

"Who, Bobby? Why, he was asking me questions about that damn movie." The old face broke into a smile. "Just like you've been doing all afternoon."

Rune, leaning forward, studying his face, the lines and gnarls. "What exactly did you talk about, you and Bobby Kelly?"

"Your father, Bobby? Oh, the usual. I worked on Manhattan with some of the boys."

"I know you did. What did Bobby ask you about it?"

"Stuff."

"Stuff?" she asked cheerfully.