Uncle Willy sat in silence as if thinking. Finally he said, “Is it a big thing? Something worth taking a risk for?” When Skip didn’t answer he went on, “Because Eddie might not be up to it. There might be a catch somewhere and Eddie could let you down.”

“Eddie’s okay.” Skip shrugged it off. “Anyway, he’s not carrying the ball. I am. It’s my baby.”

“In any job,” said Uncle Willy, “the least man, the man with almost nothing to do, can bitch you up. That’s what happened to me, that’s why I’m a two-time loser. That’s why, even if you told me all about it, I couldn’t go in with you or have the least thing to do with it.”

Skip said, “That’s right, you couldn’t. Three times and you’re out.”

“So you can tell me whatever you want.” Uncle Willy moistened his lips. “I can say what I think and that’s all. Right now I’m telling you, watch Eddie Barrett. He’s a punk kid in a lot of ways.”

“Yeah, maybe you’ve got something there.” Skip went into the bathroom and inspected his meager array of shaving stuff, as if making a note of what he needed to take.

“Now, where’s this trip you’re taking?”

“Las Vegas.” In an expansive mood, Skip began to tell Uncle Willy about Stolz and the money in old lady Havermann’s house.

CHAPTER FOUR

“Who is this girl, this Karen Miller?” Uncle Willy wanted to know.

“Old Mrs. Havermann never adopted her legally. Karen’s dad was a friend of Mr. Havermann in the old days before he made his money, and when Miller died Karen was left all alone, an orphan kid about ten years old, and the Havermanns took her in. Havermann died about a year later. Karen stayed on with the old woman, helped with the housework for her keep.”

“How does the old lady treat her?”

“Okay, I guess. Hell, she’s not her mother. She wants Karen to earn what she hands out to her.”

“No animosity there, you think?”

“No, Karen likes the old woman.”

“How does Stolz fit into the picture?”

“He was married to Mrs. Havermann’s daughter. They were divorced. The daughter—she’s around thirty, I guess—she lives back East somewhere. The old woman stayed friends with Stolz. Maybe he pays her something, I don’t know. Karen doesn’t think so. She thinks the old woman is kind of sweet on Stolz even if he is about fifteen years younger than her.”

Uncle Willy sucked his teeth and twiddled his thumbs thoughtfully. “You were right about going to check up in Las Vegas. That’s the thing to do. Make sure. You got a good look at Stolz through the window?”

“Ah, I’d know him anywhere,” Skip said.

“When are you leaving?”