I simply nodded to Tully as I pushed the slip of paper into the bottom of my coat pocket. I stood
up from the booth and finished my drink. As I walked away I could feel Tully’s gaze on my back,
Red gave me a bottle salute as I walked past the bar and the band struck up the first notes of a
song.
To track down the photographer, Digby, I decided to contact the switchboard and see if I could
find a direct line. The switchboard being one Danny McDunn, a former street hustler who knew
just enough to make a living and just enough to stay alive. I called Danny the Switchboard
because he had his fingers on the pulse of the city and if you needed to reach out to
folks that were not usually reachable, well Danny always found a way
to get a message through.
I found Danny at the 3rd Street Hot Dog Stand
putting the finishing touch of onions onto one of the
Stands signature chili dogs. Danny glanced up at me
as I approached and then turned his attention back
to his work at hand.
‘And what do I owe the pleasure Stone,’ Danny said,
as he arranged the wrap around the hotdog bun and
prepared to take a bite.
‘Who says I was looking for you Danny? A guys got to
eat.’
Danny gave me credulous look and caught the
attention of the Stands attendant. ‘Give him the special
and charge him for mine and his,’ Danny said smiling, ‘now
that you’re going to be fed, what do you want?’
‘Looking for the address of a photographer called Digby;
know where I can find him?’
‘I thought you were looking for a girl.’
‘Words traveling fast tonight,’ I replied as the attendant handed me my dog and I forked over
cash for two.
‘Well you’re about the only one looking that didn’t come to me first. Which means you’re
either one step ahead or a step behind them,’ Danny said licking some chili off of his fingers. ‘I’m
going to put my odds on ahead, since no one asked me about Digby and I am guessing you know
something the other guys don’t.’
‘So where can I find him?,’ I asked wondering just how many others were in the search for
Twilight. I took a large bite of my hotdog and suddenly realized how hungry I had been.
‘Digby has a studio near the pier, 1071 Barriger. He lives in the two bedroom above the studio.
He’s known for his pin-ups and sometimes he’s been known to turn a Blue Eye if you know what I
mean.’
The clock was ticking so I thanked Danny for the information and he thanked me for dinner.
That was about the cheapest I ever walked away from one of our exchanges, but he wasn’t really
sticking his neck out on this one.
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THE CONE - ISSUE #15 - 2018