New to The Dalton Files? Start with The Empty Envelope and follow the leads here.

Dalton File #6

Bunco had informed me that Handsome Dan Donovan was running some small but fairly successful operations. Mostly cards, roulette, and some dice games. The usual rackets. I went to the first address Bunco gave me but didn’t have much luck. The front room looked like any other nightclub, the games were in the back room. Once I gained their confidence, and was allowed to sit at the tables I played a few hands of blackjack. The house won.

Eventually, I got up and headed to the office in the back. I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. There’s no way none of the racket bosses were here. Somebody had to be watching. I noticed there was a mirror near the door. I figured it was a two-way mirror so I walked over to it and straightened my tie to let the mugs get a good look at me before I left.

I waited about an hour to give them some time to warn the other locations that somebody had been snooping around. I had a bite to eat, and headed to the second location. It was the same routine, but this time I got to talk to a couple of the mugs there. I figured word must be getting out. They took me into the back office, patted me down, and asked me what my business was.

“I’m looking for Handsome Dan.”

“He ain’t here, who wants to see him? I don’t know where he is or when he’ll be back. Are you a flatfoot? What do you want to see him for?”

It was obvious I wasn’t going to get anywhere with these palookas, so I decided to push the envelope, “You just tell him somebody was snooping around looking for him. Tell him I was asking about Mary Dolen. He’ll get interested. Tell him I’ll be back.” They escorted me to the door, pushed me out, and slammed the door behind me.

I waited a day to make sure word got back to Handsome Dan and then headed to the third address.

I sat outside in the car for a while, said a prayer for protection, and scoped out the layout just in case I had to scram. This was definitely the main operation, it was much bigger than the two gambling establishments I visited the other day. I was sure Handsome Dan would be waiting for me.

There were some bushes under the window in the front that might break my fall if I had to jump. On the right side of the building there was a fire escape on the second floor. That could be useful information. There was also a fence around the property, but I saw a broken area I could get through if I had to. It led down an alleyway. One thing I’ve learned over the years is to never walk into a situation without a plan to get out. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan however…

I had all the info I was going to get, so I walked up to the establishment. By the time I got to the door it was clear his goons had called him. The door opened, an arm reached out, grabbed me by the shoulder, and pulled me inside. Now Handsome Dan was the one who wanted to see me. So far this was going according to plan.

“We heard somebody been doin’ some snoopin and we saw you scoping out da plaze,” said the stranger. “What of it?” I replied.

“Da bozz don’t like it.” This thug took me upstairs and gave the secret knock. It was nothing very original, just two quick knocks followed by a slow one. I filed that away…

The door opened and his two big bodyguards pulled me inside. They either weren’t smart enough to realize they weren’t hiding their heaters very well or, more likely, they wanted me to know they were packing. Either way, I was glad I took my rod along.

The two gorillas had their fedoras sitting on the top front of their heads, with the brim comically over their foreheads. They looked like something out of a Hollywood gangster movie and not real life.

They were all brawn and no brains. I knew their type, and I could outsmart them if I had to. But it was the other one who was the one to be careful of. He was the one to watch out for.

I didn’t have my rod for long. The one to watch out for nodded to the two goons and they patted me down and took it. “What are you snooping around for?” asked the one to watch out for.

“I’m looking for ‘Handsome’ Dan Donovan,” I said. The one to watch out for answered, “I’m his partner, Flip Callahan, who isn’t looking for him?”

I repeated myself, “I said I’m looking for Dan Donovan. Are you going to take me to him or not? Don’t waste my time here little man.” He said, “Nobody talks to me like that. When you talk to me it’s like talking to him. Spill it, tough guy.” He slapped me in the face.

“It’s okay, Flip,” I’ll talk to him,” came a voice from the corner. I turned around and recognized the man from the mugshot. I didn’t think he was so good-looking, but what do I know?

Handsome Dan began, “What do you know about Mary Dolen and why do you want to see her?” I replied, “Good, I see your goons got my message right. Yeah, I’m looking for Mary Dolen, do you want to make something of it?” His face contorted and he became visibly angry. I could almost see his blood pressure and heart rate rising, “I asked you why you wanted to see her. Answer my question. Who are you anyway?”

“I’m Jeremiah Dalton and I have some personal business with her. I don’t see how it’s any of your concern.” Was my reply. Handsome Dan walked over to me and said, “I asked you a question.” He slapped me across the face and said, “Are you going to answer me or are these mugs going to have to get rough?”

“Who, these two Kewpie dolls? They don’t scare me.” That was it, Handsome Dan snapped. “I hope you do find her, I’ve been looking for that tomato myself and if I ever get my hands on her I’ll–he trailed off and Flip Callahan jumped in, “take it easy boss, we’ll find her.”

Did I see a strange look of concern on Flip Callahan’s face? I was sure I did, there was something going on here that I couldn’t put my finger on.

“Don’t you tell me to take it easy Flip,” Handsome Dan retorted, “we need to find that broad, and I don’t know how you haven’t found her yet.”

Then Handsome Dan looked at his bodyguards and said, “Get this clown out of here. How dare anybody mention that name in front of me! The next time someone says that name to me it better be because you found her!” He looked at Flip as he said this and I noticed a nervous look came over his face and he looked down toward the floor.

His two bodyguards started to escort me out the door, but then Flip said, “I can handle this guy myself, I’ll show him the door.”

Just my luck, I was hoping the bodyguards, Bonnie and Clyde, would escort me so I could give them the slip and maybe walk out the front door in one piece.

After he slammed the office door behind us, he said in a hushed voice as he dragged me down the hall, “I know where she is and I’ll help you but I have to make this look good.” He gut-punched me and I doubled over. I took a swing at him and missed. Then he dragged me down the stairs and filled me in as quickly as he could, under the circumstances.

“I loved Mary, we had a thing and I was hurt when she broke it off, but she was afraid of Dan finding out. I know where she is. But if Dan ever finds out he’ll kill me, and he already wants to kill her. She took refuge at the convent. The nuns have been hiding her and taking care of her.”

“I followed her to your office the night she left. SLAP! I was afraid she was going to do something drastic. I trailed you guys to the church. I waited outside because a guy like me can’t go in a church.” I mumbled, “W-we c-c-can tal-lk abo–out that some-t-time.” And then he said, “I saw her leave the church with a man I didn’t know. His arm was around her and somehow I knew she was safe. He brought her to the convent.”

I figured it was my turn to get a shot in so I gave him a haymaker to the chin. When he recovered he slipped something into my pocket, slapped me in the face, dragged me to the door. He gave me one more gut-punch for good measure, and threw me in those bushes under the window. I didn’t leave according to plan, but the bushes did break my fall.

That was a painful day, one of the most painful leads I have ever had, but it was my first good lead, and when my head cleared I thanked God for it. I also thanked God that somebody was looking out for her.

Coming August 1st: The Donovan Files: Gumshoe