A Word to the Wiseguy - Part 3 - A Craven Danger Mystery

In their room at the Tropical Splendor hotel, Boris Jones stared at himself in the bathroom mirror.

“Mother of mercy!” said Boris. “Is this the end of Rico!”

“That was your worst gangster voice yet," said Judy. “Give it up for tonight. You’ll get back into character soon enough. Relax. Here, I made you a scotch and soda just like you like it. With plenty of scotch and no soda.”

“Ah, thanks,” said Boris. “I’ll need this if I’m going to be trading barbs with that Danger guy over dinner tonight.”

“I tell you what,” said Judy. “Forget about Craven for a moment. How about you do your best Rudolph Valentino and come her to bed and whisper sweet nothings in my ear?”

“But Valentino never said anything,” said Boris. ”That you could hear, anyway.”

“Exactly how I like my seducers,” said Judy. “Dumb and obedient.”

“Speaking of dumb,” said Boris. “I love your sister Betty, but I don’t know what she sees in that schlub, Danger. Did you see the hula girl he had on his tie?”

“Betty was always one for taking home strays,” said Judy. “And Craven Danger’s just another one of her helpless wet-nosed pups. But with a little guidance she might just turn that one into one hell of a dog. And if I taught that girl right, she’ll have him eating biscuits out of her hand in no time.”

Craven Danger stood at the bathroom mirror in his room and flicked off the light.

“It does glow in the dark,” said Craven. “Who’d a thought?”

The hula girl on Craven’s tie glowed green and orange, just like the man at the store said it would, ‘Those Miami ladies will be crawling all over you, pal. And if you’re wearing this genuine panama hat with the hula girl hatband, filthy rich widows will be falling from the trees like coconuts.‘

“I do look good," said Craven. “Ma, will ya look at me now."

Craven then swayed to the left. Then he swayed to the right, watching as the hula girl tie swayed along with him.

“Betty is gonna love this for sure,” said Craven. “I only hope she likes what I got her.”

Betty Fletcher stood at the bathroom mirror in her room and made a face.

“He finally gets me a present,” said Betty. “And this is what he comes up with? I’m gonna kill him! But I suppose I better wear them ta dinner. Don’t wanna break the poor guys heart. I’ll just wait till after dessert ta kill him. Don't wanna spoil anyone's appetite. Especially mine."

Betty flicked off the bathroom light and was about to leave when she noticed something. So she swayed a little to the left. Then she swayed a little to the right and watched as the brown and green glow of the shoulder-length palm tree earrings swayed along with her.

“He’s dead before he gets ta the table,” said Betty. “Big time.”