Free Jimmy and Fay by Michael Mayo Page B

column, you know that I spend most of my evenings at Jack and Charlie’s 21. I’ve got press agents and publicity men fighting with one another to get a mention for their clients. Tonight I got a call on the telephone they keep at my booth. It’s not a published number. Only a few significant people have it. The man who called told me that he has seen nude photographs of Fay Wray, and not just nudes but pornographic nudes. She’s trying to buy them back and you’re the middleman.”
    He paused, and I could see that he was trying to judge my reaction. I tried not to give anything away, but I probably did.
    He went on, “Given that sweet little face and disposition, it may be hard to believe, but this isn’t the first time around the track for this little filly. Some ‘artistic’ photographs that she posed for when she first came to Hollywood came to the surface a couple of years ago. The studio swept them under the rug, but people knew. And that was before it became so unhappy for her at home. Yes, things are stormy at the Saunders household, and it’s no surprise that she’s fed up with him, the way he acts. Believe me, she’s not doing anything that he hasn’t done already. Sauce for the goose, you know.”
    I nodded and he continued, “The story I was told tonight is that she learned that her husband, John Saunders, had some fluff on the side. They’re really a mismatched couple, you know. He’s ten years older than she is, frightfully good looking, glib, smooth, worldly, knows exactly how to dress and talk. Rhodes scholar, Oxford, Magdalen College, veteran of the Great War. She’s from some Hicksville in western Canada. She’s had a few decent roles, but just barely. The little lady is damned lucky to have landed this one.”
    He paused and winked like we both understood what he meant.
    â€œThen while she was working on the Kong picture, she decided that she needed a little jungle love and set her sights on one of the sambos who played the natives. They spent a lot of long nights on the set. She wasn’t as discreet as she might have been, and someone on the crew got the pictures. I’m sure there’s more to it than that, but for now it’s all I have. The salient point here is that she’s willing to do anything and pay anything to get them back.”
    Salient ? I’d have to look that one up.
    He stopped, gulped his rum, and fished the cherry. “Of course, anyone could say that. When I asked for proof, he said I should talk to you because you are going to handle the money. You’ll be making the payoff to the blackmailers tomorrow.”
    I reminded myself that the best lies are almost true. “You’re misinformed,” I said. “Yeah, I met Miss Wray tonight. If you know anything about me, you know that I don’t talk out of turn. Anything between her and me stays between her and me. I’ll be speaking with her. Maybe tonight, tomorrow, I’m not sure. When I do, I’ll tell her that you want to talk to her.”
    Trying to hide his eagerness, he turned his glass and coaster in a circle and spoke slowly. “Yes, do that. And though she doesn’t need to be reminded of this, tell her that I’m going to follow through on this with or without her cooperation. I mean her no harm. Truly. I can be her friend, if she’ll let me. I just want a good story.”
    â€œOkay,” I said, “I’ll pass the word along.”
    â€œAnd I can do the same for you. Be your friend. You may not think that you need it now because you seem to have cornered the market on good liquor in this part of town. A year from now, that won’t be the case. Every other bar and nightspot on the street will have the same bottles that you’ve got.”
    Then I had to give him a look of my own. “You think I haven’t figured that out a long time ago? Come on.”
    â€œI can help