The Big Enchilada

giving me a lot of gas. I’ll admit it, I’ve screwed up a few times recently, and they’re telling me to get my act together. I’ve got; to come up with something good pretty soon or it’s bye-bye. But thanks to you, old buddy, I may have found just the thing.”
    “What did I do?”
    “Well, you know you asked me to look into the Black Knight Club?”
    I nodded. Of course I knew. Get on with it, Charlie.
    “Well, I saw a couple of interesting names there. Names connected with some people we’ve had our eye on for a while. Nothing very solids but something to consider.”
    “What names?”
    “Now, Sam, you’re a good friend, but I can’t tell you that right now. I want to check it out before I talk about it. I think I’ll even take a few days off, you know, do some work on my own time. If this turns out to be anything, it could be just what I needed to get back in good graces with the higher-ups.”
    He looked more enthusiastic than I’d seen him for some time, so I decided not to press him on that. Instead, I asked if he’d gotten anything for me.
    “I got you a couple of things, but there was hardly anything in the file—just a few notes and that. I brought you something, but, Jesus, Sam, don’t tell anybody because I’ll really be in the shit for doing this. Anyway, they had two copies, so I hope they won’t miss one.”
    He passed across a single sheet of expensive paper, folded in half like a card, With elegant printing on the inside face. It was a prospectus for the Black Knight Club:
    “The Black Knight Club is an exclusive club providing facilities for sophisticated gentlemen with particular and discriminating tastes.
    “In an atmosphere of the utmost discretion, the member will find attention to detail and exacting service that will cater to his every whim and fancy.
    “There are nightly shows featuring international entertainers in performances that are exciting, stimulating, and that display talents and abilities of considerable virtuosity and uniqueness.
    “For the tired executive wishing to relax after a hard day, there are private facilities carefully appointed in a variety of styles—classic, contemporary, and exotic—in which the member will be able to make his dreams become reality.
    “Additionally there is a full range of recreational services and equipment, and even the most particular member will find the precise diversion for which he is searching.
    “Granted the fees are considerable, but membership is carefully limited to ensure complete exclusivity. When it is considered that the club provides all the pleasure that money can buy, the fees cannot be thought to be excessive.”
    I had to laugh. It sounded like some health spa, but it wasn’t hard to imagine what went on there. They might just as well flash WHOREHOUSE in red neon letters. Still, everything was vague enough to keep them out of trouble if the wrong person saw the notice. And it seemed to be working. Very few people knew about the place.
    “That’s a help, Charlie. It confirms some things that I’ve heard. What else do you have?”
    “Just this.” He handed me a scrap of paper. On it was written the name Nicky Faro, and an address in the Hollywood Hills.
    “Who’s this?”
    “It was a name in the file. The series of numbers that followed it looked like payoffs. I’d say that was the snitch inside the club.”
    “Now this might be useful,” I said, grinning in a way that seemed to make Charlie uncomfortable.
    “Jesus, Sam, take it easy with that, will you? If it ever gets out I gave that to you, there’s going to be a lot of trouble. If that Faro guy’s cover is blown, we’re all in for it.”
    “I’ll be careful,” I said, though we both knew I wouldn’t necessarily be.
    “Jesus, that is one hell of a big favor I just did for you, old buddy.” He still couldn’t fully believe that he’d done it, and he popped another tablet in his mouth.
    “I know, Charlie. Thanks,” I said, and I meant it.
    “I’ll do you another favor,” he said when the tablet had stopped foaming. “I’ll give you some good advice. Be careful with that club. It looks like a very heavy operation, and you might upset some mean people.” I looked questioningly at him and he continued. “Almost as soon as I got done looking at the file, this Vice guy, Ratchitt, comes to see me. You know who he is?”
    “I’ve heard of him. He’s dirty.”
    Charlie looked nervously around. “Jesus, old buddy, you said