"Jake Randolph Origins" drabbles by Christopher

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 89

Jake Randolph Origins #89

She looked to be about five feet eight inches, with hair so blonde it was almost white. It came down in pigtails on each side of her head. She looked like she could be German or Scandinavian. She was wearing a navy blue riding jacket and tan riding pants tucked into shiny, knee-high black leather boots.

"Miss Schmidt, how nice to zee you," Hans said genuinely.

Miss Schmidt? I know that surname is probably as common in Germany as Jones is in the States, but that was too much of a coincidence.

"Herr Weber, where is my father?"

Father?

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 88

Jake Randolph Origins #88

He shifted the Luger to his left hand and tried to backhand me with his right hand. I snatched my right arm loose from the goon that was holding it and reached up and grabbed Hans' wrist. Before I could do anything, however, the other goon to my left brought his fist down onto the back of my neck and knocked me to the floor.

I was seriously dazed but not quite unconscious. But I played possum. I laid there as if I was out like the proverbial light.

At that moment the door opened and a young woman entered...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 87

Jake Randolph Origins #87

He knew I was trying to provoke him. He continued.

"Randolph means 'wolf protector.' Etymology iz zomething of a hobby of mine, particularly onomatology, or ze study of names. For instance, did you know zat ze characteristics of one named Randolph are zomeone who's arrogant, humorous, and domineering? Zomeone who doesn't like to take advice but is always quick to give it? Zomeone who prefers to mix with those less intelligent than himself?"

I looked at Hans and the Brothers Grimm and then said, "Well, that last one seems to be true, anyway."

I had just provoked him to action...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 86

Jake Randolph Origins #86

Hans snapped his fingers and two tall blonde gentlemen, very fit with very blue eyes, came through a door at the back that must have led to the basement. One came up behind me and grabbed my arms and held them as the other one fished in my pockets until he found my wallet. He passed it to Hans. He opened it, pulling some of the cards out.

"Let's zee," Hans said as he rifled through the cards. "Jake Randolph, I take it? Well, Mr. Randolph, your name has Teutonic origins."

"Well, you can't win 'em all," I said sarcastically.

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 85

Jake Randolph Origins #85

"Money," Luigi said with such truthfulness that you had to admire his avarice. I only hoped it didn't get him killed.

"Well, thank you for being honest. You can go now," Hans said in a dismissive tone.

Luigi started back out the door and I called to him and said, "Thanks for the help, Luigi."

He turned and shot me a strange look and then exited the building.

"Now we can get down to buziness, Mister, I'm zorry, what iz your name?"

"Herman Goring," I said sarcastically.

"Your feeble attempts at humor are pathetic."

"Oh, I'm just getting warmed up."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 84

Jake Randolph Origins #84

Hans looked shocked, like I'd just told him that Hitler was born in Tel Aviv. He stepped out of the doorway, pointing with the gun inside.

"Let uz continue with zis fazcinating converzation inzide," he said as he corralled us both into the building.

The place looked like an empty barn on the inside. I was sure there was a locked basement underneath it where the Nazi loot had been stored. They wouldn't have been stupid enough to just leave it topside so any schmoe could stumble across it.

Hans looked at Luigi, "Why did you bring zis man here?"

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 83

Jake Randolph Origins #83

"So, I take it, Luigi, that you know this man?" I asked with some disdain.

"Si, thisa Hans Weber, but ahe's nota the man thata owns the abuilding. The owner isa named Stefan Arnet."

The German shook his head, "No, sadly my partner Stefan met with a grisly end. I am ze sole owner of ze building now."

Luigi looked surprised.

"Luigi, was Stefan Swiss?" I asked.

"Si," he said, nodding his head.

I figured I'd lay the cards on the table.

"So, Herr Weber, I assume it was you who let the Krauts store stolen Nazi loot here, huh?"

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 82

Jake Randolph Origins #82

"Nimm deine hande runter!" the Kraut said with disgust.

"Che cosa?" Luigi asked.

"Entschuldigung?" the German asked.

I felt like I was in some badly translated foreign version of Abbott & Costello's "Who's On First" routine.

"Excuse me," I said, "how about for the sake of international relations we all speak the same language?" I looked at the German. "You speak English, right?"

"Ja," he said proudly. He then looked at Luigi, "Put your hands down, Luigi."

That didn't sound good. He knew Luigi's name. I was quite sure now I'd walked myself into a trap.

And I felt stupid...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 81

Jake Randolph Origins #81

A tall, burly man was standing in the doorway with a Luger pointed at me. I could tell by his accent and the pistol that he was German. The last time a Kraut was that close to me with a gun I blew his head off. He motioned upwards with the barrel of the gun, indicating he wanted me to raise my hands.

Next lesson learned: the man with the gun dictates the terms. I raised my hands. Luigi did the same. I was wondering if Luigi had led me into a trap and the gesture was just for show...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 80

Jake Randolph Origins #80

Another American? That didn't make any sense. The German must have been Schmidt, but how the hell did another American fit into this? Did Colonel Hall have an accomplice? Rocco would've told me if Hall had anyone with him when he requisitioned the truck.

"Did you know any of the men that were there?"

He shook his head, "No, but I knowa the man thata owns this abuilding."

That was a start. Maybe he could give me a clue.

"I'd like to meet this man, Luigi. Now."

"Easily done," a voice said as the door to the building flew open...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 79

Jake Randolph Origins #79

It was a nondescript building. No markings other than the street number. The front facade had just one door and no windows. I went around to the back and saw a roll-up garage door. The perfect place for Hall to drive a requisitioned Army troop truck in and load it up with stolen Nazi loot. I just needed to find someone that knew where he was going.

"Luigi," I said as we approached the front of the building, "do you know who the American was meeting with here?"

"Si, si" he said nodding, " A German and another Americana."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 78

Jake Randolph Origins #78

As we drove through Regensdorf it amazed me how the Swiss remained neutral during the war. With so much of Europe in mounds of rubble, Switzerland stood out as a weird anomaly. You'd never have imagined by looking at this country that there had ever even been a skirmish in Europe.

Luigi pulled into an alleyway next to a building. He turned the car off and sat there for a few moments, looking ahead and then behind.

He turned to look at me, "This is awhere the colonel went with his atruck."

We exited the car and approached the building...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 77

Jake Randolph Origins #77

The 16-kilometer trip to the small municipality of Regensdorf shouldn't have taken us as long as it did. Luigi's car stopped running about every kilometer we drove, and he'd have to get out and kick the engine again. I could've gotten there faster on foot, but I didn't actually know where we were heading.

Regensdorf was a small, picturesque dot in the Swiss countryside. Luigi informed me that the population was around 2,000 people, or as he put it, "arounda two athousand apeople."

This seemed like the perfect place for the Nazis to stash some of their stolen loot...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 76

Jake Randolph Origins #76

I got into Luigi's tiny car. It was so cramped I could practically rest my chin on my knees, because my legs didn't have enough room. Luigi jumped in and cranked it. The motor turned over then stopped. He started yelling things really fast in Italian. I didn't speak the language, but one would assume it was words a Catholic wouldn't yell within earshot of Vatican City.

He got out, going to the back of the car, which is where the motor was. He opened the hood, kicked the motor, and it started running. He jumped back in the car...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 75

Jake Randolph Origins #75

We turned the corner and approached two cars: a blue 1937 Alfa Romeo Touring Spider and a brown 1939 Volkswagen Type 1, known in its home country of Germany as the "Kafer," which was Deutsch for "beetle." I stopped in front of the Alfa Romeo. Luigi kept going, stopping at the driver's door of the Volkswagen.

Naturally. An Italian living in Switzerland couldn't have an Italian sports car, that wouldn't make any sense. He had to drive a German car that was conceived by none other than the Fuhrer himself.

Because that's the kind of crazy world I'd fallen into...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 74

Jake Randolph Origins #74

I laid the two twenties on the table in front of him. He picked them up.

"You'll see a family reunion when I see evidence that you know what the hell you're talking about."

He stuffed the twenties in his pocket, stood up and said, "You come witha me. I show you asomething."

He turned to go down the street, then looked back. "By the way, my aname's Luigi."

What a shock.

"Jake," I said, picking up the pace to catch up to him.

I wondered if a man named Luigi was capable of leading me into a death trap...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 73

Jake Randolph Origins #73

"Nowa thata you mention it, there was an American colonel thata came througha Zurich about a month ago."

I said an officer, not a colonel. So at least I knew he was aware of Hall's presence. That was now confirmed.

"He came athrough town in a big atruck."

I never mentioned the truck either. I was pretty sure now this little man was on the level.

"Do you know who he came to Zurich to see?"

"Thata alla depends," he said with a slight grin.

"On what?" I asked.

"Ona whether those twenty dollar abrothers have any siblings witha them."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 72

Jake Randolph Origins #72

"Look, pal, I don't have time for games! I'll pay you for any information you have. But if you're lying to me or not telling me all that you know, I swear to God I'll cut you up with your own damned dagger! Capisce?"

He gulped loudly; his eyes widened. He nodded quickly. Another lesson learned in the detective game: fear is a great truth serum. It wouldn't always work, I knew that. I would have to discern when to use it and when not to.

He leaned back in his chair and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it quickly...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 71

Jake Randolph Origins #71

I smiled, pulling out two twenty dollar bills. He started salivating like a hungry grizzly bear that just stumbled onto a sleeping Boy Scout troop.

I had to be careful. He'd probably sell me his own sister at this point, so I had to be sure what he told me was the truth.

"A month or so ago, did you have an American Army officer come through here?"

He gazed up skyward, like he was trying to remember. It looked forced. I liked him, but not that much.

I slammed my fist down on the table in front of him...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 70

Jake Randolph Origins #70

He followed me out of the alley, trailing behind me. I tensed up as he retrieved his dagger from the sidewalk, but he put it back in his pocket and started following me back to the café.

"See," he said as he caught up to me, "every abody ina Zurich knows that I'ma the one to asee when you needa information. I work afor all of the, ah, how you say, amovers and ashakers?"

"Great. Then I'm sure you can give me all the information I need," I said with confidence.

"Of course. But a fellow's agotta eat, ya know?"