The Kingdom of Killainβ
βthatβs the Duarte, a big-city hotel at the crossroads of the world.
The grifters, tough lads, girls on the makeβall learn to stay away from Hotel Duarte because Johnny Killainβs in charge there. Thatβs his turfβa flick of his fist makes broken guys and dolls.
So Johnny patrolled the dark corridors in peaceβuntil the night he rounded a bend and looked murder square in the eye.
The blonde lay on the bed in 609, her face a puffed, blue, strangled horror. Her name was Ellen Killain, and she was Johnnyβs ex-wife. His still beloved ex-wife.