A Gambling Man (Archer #2)(45)

“But isn’t card playing still gambling?”

“There’s no House to play against. The players are pitted against one another.”

“How does the House make money, then?”

“Various fees. Players pay for their seats, they pay by the hand, things like that. The House provides the space, the dealer, the cashier. They make good money. The clubs are real popular. The one here does very well. The more players, the more money you make.”

Fraser said, “Mr. Kemper is married to some important lady, so’s I hear. He’s very nice.”

“How nice, meaning to you?” said Dash.

She picked up the lit stub and took a long drag on it, shooting both men probing looks. “Who wants to know?”

“For starters, I do. And maybe Mrs. Kemper, the very important lady.”

She looked relieved. “She’s got nothing to worry about. He’s a perfect gentleman.”

“Then you have no idea who might be claiming that Kemper and you are far more than friends?”

She presented him with a knife-sharp glare. “What are you trying to pull here, mister? Who says that?”

“Mr. Kemper has received a blackmail demand and you figure prominently in it.”

“Well, I don’t know nothing about that. Sweet Jesus.”

“Then if someone asked, you’d say that there was nothing there?”

“That’s what I’m telling you. That’s what I’d tell anybody who asked.”

“I need you to tell me that you’re speaking the truth.”

“I am. I never slept with Mr. Kemper. Swear to God.”

“Okay, Archer, you got that?”

Archer nodded. “Got it. Swear to God.”

“Okay, the next time we come back it’ll be with an affidavit for you to sign. Do you know what an affidavit is?”

She shook her head.

“Well, it’s a document where you tell the truth and then sign it, to make it official. Then, if you change your story, it can be used against you.”

“Well, why would anyone want to sign that?” she asked.

“It can also help you, but only if you’re telling the truth. And since you are, there’s no problem, right?” said Archer.

She didn’t respond. She just looked at Archer like he was the last thing standing between her and death row.

Dash rose. “One more thing. How much do you make here?”

“Hundred dollars a week, room and board included. Most dough I ever made. Why?”

“Just setting a baseline, Ruby. That’s all.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I suppose not. You’re not thinking of leaving town anytime soon?”

She eyed him like a chicken did a fox. “I don’t know. Should I?”

“Not till you hear from me, no. But if I do tell you to go, Ruby, you need to go like nobody’s business.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Good. Then I’m getting my point across.” He added, “Maybe we’ll be back to take in your show. What time does it start?”

“Ten o’clock sharp.”

“I’ll have to take a nap. You be a good girl, Ruby, and we’ll get through this.”

Downstairs, Dash made a call from the front office of Midnight Moods to Connie Morrison and then waited for a few minutes for her to ring him back with an answer. After that, as they were leaving, Archer said, “Do you believe her?”

“I’m not sure. What I am sure about is that she’s a drug user.”

Archer looked startled. “How do you know?”

“The eyes don’t lie. From the looks of her I’d say opium. Don’t think she’s taken heroin yet. Hope she never does. That’s the difference between getting shot with a .22 and a bazooka.”

“Where are we off to now?”

“The next piece of the puzzle, Archer.”

“Mrs. Kemper?”

Dash gave him an admiring look. “You might just make a decent gumshoe after all.”





ARCHER DROVE BACK TOWARD TOWN and then up a road that zigzagged as they passed canyons with clefts that crept through the rock like capillaries inside the body. As they reached a plateau in the rise and the ground flattened out like a skillet, he was then directed by Dash to pass through a pair of impressive wrought iron gates embossed with the letter A in scrollwork that appeared when the gates were closed and the two halves came together. The gates were mounted on two enormous stone columns. With the ocean on the left and the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains on the right, the Delahaye roared along on a curved, pale cobblestone road.

The trees up here were lush and covered the ground like a vast, decamped army. Fifty-foot-tall live oaks with their jumble of branches lined their way. Spanish moss hung off them like veils on blushing brides.

This botanical spectacle held forth until they rounded a bend where the columns of trees retreated. There the greenest, widest patch of grassy lawn Archer had ever seen commenced; it led up to a peninsula of land on which sat a long two-story structure that was built of limestone block, round gray and brown stone, and other elements thrown in for interesting architectural measure. A sea of French doors ran along the front and were anchored by a pair of massive wrought iron doors with impressive scrollwork that served as the main entrance. On either side of them were lit gas lanterns about the size of Archer’s torso, and still they seemed small next to the doors.