Wayfaring Stranger (Holland Family Saga, #1)

by James Lee Burke

I washed my hands in the lavatory and went outside, almost colliding with Siegel and his girlfriend. They stepped back, smiling, amused rather than polite. “Blow your horn so we’ll know you’re coming,” Siegel said. “You’re Mr. Siegel, aren’t you?” I said. “I was when I got out of bed this morning.” “My name is Weldon Avery Holland. I just knocked a man down in the restroom. He called y’all riffraff. That’s not why I knocked him down, but I thought you should know.” “You’re kidding me, right?” Siegel said. “I think he’s looking for his tooth in the urinal. He said you use the unions to extort the studios in Hollywood.” “You get off a spaceship?” “Check it out,” I said. Siegel pushed open the restroom door and looked inside. He let the door swing back in place. “Who’s the guy?” he asked. “His name is Jack Valentine. He’s with Castle Productions. He says you live next door to Jack Warner but Warner hates your guts.” “Do you believe this guy?” Siegel said to his girlfriend. “He’s just having fun. Keep it in your pants, Benny,” she said. “That’s what you’re doing. Playing a joke?” Siegel said. “Not me. Not with you. I know better.” “Yeah?” His eyes were a piercing blue and reminded me in their intensity of the warning light I used to see in Grandfather’s. “Have a drink with us.” “My wife is waiting on me.” “Go get her,” he said. “Can’t do it.” “No, you need to sit down and have a drink.” I shook my head. “Virginia says I’m full of shit,” he said. “Is that what you’re saying? I’...