The Carlyle! An uptown club where politicians had their palms greased by businessmen,
where Judges fell into the pockets of the town bosses and where the staff was tight lipped. If you
were looking for a beautiful woman there was probably no better place to start a search.
Fortunately for me I knew from the photos that Twilight had indeed come through the doors
sometime in December. Was it a Christmas celebration with Mr. Brevis? Champagne, caviar and
dancing. I couldn’t for the life of me picture Brevis scuffing up his Italian leather shoes doing a
two step. But when you have the kind of money Brevis is throwing around you get other people
to do the sweating for you. Which is exactly what I was doing as I slipped through the large
ornately decorated glass doors.
It was still early, the Carlyle didn’t really open for business until most wives and children had
been put to bed. Waiters were checking their tables, the busboys were scampering in and out of
doors as they ferried an assortment of items to get the club ready for the evening. A few of the
doormen were eating an early dinner of fried chicken, rolls, cold German Potato salad and bottles
of cold beer that were weeping into the table cloth. They looked up mid conversation and eyed me
as I nonchalantly walked to the long bar at the far end of the dining hall. I waited expecting one
of them to come up and harass me, but they quickly fell back into conversation and let me be.
The bartender, a guy named Red, who I recognized from a previous visit, was busily checking
his liquor levels and putting his ducks in a row. He looked up at me as I slid onto the plush bar
stool.
‘What can I do for you shamus?’ he asked placing the bottle in his hands on the bar between
us, ‘You aren’t here for a drink cause we’re not open yet.’
‘Ah, Red I thought I could get an early bird special.’
‘You’re a laugh, what’s the name again? Woodman? Rockford? —‘
‘Stone! But you were barking up the right tree. I was hoping you could point me in the
direction of someone named Tully.’
He leaned forward across the bar and slid his hand closer to the bottle that was sitting there
like a promise. But a promise of what, that was the question. ‘Could be I know someone by that
name Stone. What’s it to you?’
‘I’m holding a keep sake for him. I’m thinking he’ll at least want to see it.’
At that he fell out into a laugh and leaned back. The tension had suddenly broken and the air
that filled my lungs felt good as I realized I had been holding my breath. ‘You are a laugh at that
Stone. I can see you’re about as lost as a babe in the woods and I think I will take pity on you.’
He reached under the counter and pulled out a small shot glass and set it down in front of me.
Reaching under the counter again he pulled up a tall dark bottle. Pulled the silver topped cork
and poured a good shot. I started to reach for it when he slowed my hand.
‘This ain’t for you shamus. Like I said. We aren’t open yet. This is for Tully. Now take this
glass, don’t spill and head to that corner booth.’
I gave Red a nod as I gingerly lifted the shot glass and eased myself away from the bar. I could
hear him snickering behind my back as I made my way to the booth. I looked back as I began to
sit and noticed that the doormen who had been dining were no where to be seen. That really
didn’t mean much, well, not until it meant something and I hoped I wouldn’t have to stay long
enough for that to happen. I sat in the booth staring at the empty seat across from me and the
shot glass that sat there like an offering to a deity.
56
THE CONE - ISSUE #15 - 2018