“Jackie,” Murph swung to the right lane of the parkway, “I can still cut off and get to Gluck’s place without-“

Jesso gave Murph a look as if he were going to spit. “The bastard can wait. I set up the Vegas deal a week faster than he could have done it.”

“That’s what he’s beefing about, Jackie. That’s just what-”

“How can a pig beef?” Jesso pulled the hat over his eyes and tried to sleep.

So Murph just drove. He turned off the parkway before they got to the George Washington Bridge and wound up the hillside to the apartment houses. When he stopped the car he tried once more.

“Look, Jackie-”

Jesso got out of the car. It was ten in the morning and the white sunlight on his face made him look all used up.

“Take the brief case and give it to Gluck. I’m going to bed. Be back here at seven and tell Gluck I’ll see him after nine tonight.”

He walked around the car and into the apartment building.

There was a barbershop off the foyer. Jesso saw that the place was empty and walked in. The barber jumped up from behind his paper and beamed. “Why, Mr. Jesso! I’m glad to see you back from the Coast. Shave today? Haircut?”

“Shave is all.”

Jesso sat down in one of the chairs and stretched out. He liked sitting in a barber’s chair. The barber started to lather up. “You don’t have a tan, Mr. Jesso. I thought when people went to the Coast-“

“Just business.”

He stretched his head back and closed his eyes. The pose made his face change expressions; it was a blanker, smoother face now. The barber finished and jacked up the backrest. “How about a trim, Mr. Jesso? Just the edges?”