“Let’s not go at things this way.”
“What way? You said we’d talk on the phone, and you told me you were in this by yourself.”
“Lenny–”
Kemper said, “I did have a question.”
Lenny hooked his thumbs through his belt loops. “Then ask it. And help yourself to a drink. Mr. Littell always does.”
Kemper looked amused. “I glanced through your address book, Lenny.”
“I’m not surprised. Mr. Littell always does that, too.”
“You know Jack Kennedy and a lot of Hollywood people.”
“Yes. And I know you and Mr. Littell, which proves I’m not immune to slumming.”
“Who’s this woman Laura Hughes? This address of hers– 881 Fifth Avenue–interests me.”
“Laura interests lots of men.”
“You’re trembling, Lenny. Your whole manner just changed.”
Littell said, “What are you talk–?”
Kemper cut him off. “Is she in her early thirties? Tall, brunette, freckles?”
“That sounds like Laura, yes.”
“I saw Joe Kennedy give her a diamond broach and at least fifty thousand dollars. That looks to me like he’s sleeping with her.”
Lenny laughed. His smile said, Oh, you heathen.
Kemper said, “Tell me about her.”
“No. She’s got nothing to do with the Teamsters’ Pension Fund or anything illegal.”
“You’re reverting, Lenny. You’re not coming off like the hard boy that took out Tony Iannone. You’re starting to sound like a little fairy with a squeaky voice.”
Lenny went instant baritone. “Is this better, Mr. Boyd?”
“Save the wit for your lounge engagements. Who is she?”
“I don’t have to tell you that.”
Kemper smiled. “You’re a homosexual and a murderer. You have no rights. You’re a Federal informant, and the Chicago FBI owns you.”
Littell felt queasy. His heartbeat did funny little things.
Kemper said, “Who is she?”
Lenny came on hard butch. “This is not FBI-approved. If it was there’d be stenographers and paperwork. This is some sort of private thing with you two. And I won’t say a goddamned thing that might hurt Jack Kennedy.”
Kemper pulled out a morgue glossy and forced it on Lenny. Littell saw the dead boy with his mouth stuffed full.
Lenny shuddered. Lenny put on an instant rough-trade face.
“So? So this is supposed to scare me?”
“Giancana did this, Lenny. He thought this man killed Tony Iannone. One word from us, and this will be you.”
Littell grabbed the snapshot. “Let’s hold back a second. You’ve made your point.”
Kemper steered him into the dining room. Kemper pressed him into a cabinet with his fingertips.
“Don’t ever contradict me in front of a suspect.”
“Kemper…”
“Hit him.”
“Kemper–”
“Hit him. Make him afraid of you.”
Littell said, “I can’t. Goddamnit, don’t do this to me.”
“Hit him, or I’ll call Giancana and rat him off right now.”
“No. Come on… please.”
Kemper handed him brass knuckles. Kemper made him lace his fingers in.
“Hit him, Ward. Hit him, or I’ll let Giancana kill him.”
Littell trembled. Kemper slapped him. Littell stumbled over to Lenny and weaved in front of him.
Lenny smiled this preposterous pseudo-tough-guy smile. Littell balled his fist and hit him.
Lenny clipped an end table and went down spitting teeth. Kemper threw a sofa cushion at him.
“Who’s Laura Hughes? Tell me in detail.”
Littell dropped the knucks. His hand throbbed and went numb.
“I said, ‘Who’s Laura Hughes?’”
Lenny nuzzled the cushion. Lenny spat out a chunk of gold bridgework.
“I said, ‘Who’s Laura Hughes?’”
Lenny coughed and cleared his throat. Lenny took a big let’s-get-this-over-with breath.
He said, “She’s Joe Kennedy’s daughter. Her mother’s Gloria Swanson.”
Littell shut his eyes. The Q&A made absolutely no–
Kemper said, “Keep going.”
“How far? I’m the only one outside the family who knows.”
Kemper said, “Keep going.”
Lenny took another breath. His lip was split up to his nostrils.
“Mr. Kennedy supports Laura. Laura loves him and hates him. Gloria Swanson hates Mr. Kennedy because he cheated her out of lots of money when he was a movie producer. She disowned Laura years ago, and that’s all the ‘keep going’ I’ve got, goddamn you.”
Littell opened his eyes. Lenny picked up the end table and flopped into a chair.
Kemper twirled the knucks on one fmger. “Where did she get the name Hughes?”