"The Eternal Night" drabbles by Christopher

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 31

The Eternal Night #31

We ate breakfast at a cafe on Manhattan Beach and then walked up and down the shoreline for a while. Roxie called Brick Mason at about 10 am. I had told her to tell him to meet me at the Existential Cafe at 2 pm.

I dropped Roxie off at her office in Hollywood and then headed to the cafe.

Right at 2 pm the door opened and a guy stepped into the cafe. He was tall, light brown hair, medium-build, athletic-looking.

Mongo saw him and looked like he'd swallowed his gum. And he wasn't even chewing gum...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 30

The Eternal Night #30

She was wearing a pair of short shorts, black-and-white diamond patterned, a black blouse that was unbuttoned so far down I wondered if she'd lost her train of thought, and a pair of white sandals. Her blonde hair and make-up was impeccable. She looked like she should've been a Hollywood actress instead of a talent agent. I licked my drooling lips and wondered what the hell she was doing with me.

"You look good enough to eat," I said. I wasn't joking either.

She smiled, "I'm not on the breakfast menu. Maybe for dinner."

Definitely for dinner...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 29

The Eternal Night #29

I got my pistol out and cleaned it while she was showering. I didn't even remember the last time I'd taken it out of the drawer. Yes, I did. About seven months before that. I shot at a possum who kept nosing around my trash cans. He must've gotten the message because he stopped darkening my doorstep.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to use it but I figured Brick Mason deserved the whole experience. Maybe I could find a stray possum to take some pot shots at while Brick was with me.

Roxie emerged from the bathroom looking fabulous...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 28

The Eternal Night #28

"Do you have to be this damned cheerful at 6 o'clock in the morning?" she asked as she sat down at the table.

I shook my head, "No, I can be a sourpuss if you'd like."

She nodded, "I'd like."

"So," I said as I sat across the table from her, "when can you set up for me to meet this Brick cat?"

She finished her coffee and said, "You can meet him today. I'll call him in a little while."

"You want to go have breakfast somewhere?" I asked.

She nodded, "Let me perform my ablutions and we'll go."

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 27

The Eternal Night #27

I was making some coffee when Roxie staggered bleary-eyed into the kitchen. Even with morning breath and hair that looked like a rat had used it as his college thesis on nest-building she'd still pull out in the lead from most women that were dressed to the nines. Or tens.

"Good morning," I said as she rubbed her blue eyes and took a cup of coffee from my hand.

"That is a vicious rumor," she said as she gulped down the hot java.

"Come on, it's a beautiful day out there," I said, pointing out the kitchen window...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 26

The Eternal Night #26

Was I afraid to find out that being a detective was the only way I could feel like I wasn't wasting my life? The question went unanswered as I drifted off to sleep and dreamt I was hanging from a cliff. Every time I would almost pull myself up I would slip again. Then the scene changed and I was sinking into quicksand. Then I was riding a camel through the desert. I jerked awake and thought that a psychiatrist would probably have a field day with me.

I got up about 5 am, took a shower and got dressed...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 25

The Eternal Night #25

I laid there in my bed, Roxie sleeping beside me, with my hands behind my head. I was staring up at the ceiling fan slowly twirling itself to death. I wasn't really keen on resurrecting Jake Randolph, Private Detective, even briefly.

But what was I really afraid of? That I wouldn't like it... or that I would? My decision to retire as a detective was not a rash one. I gave it a lot of thought and a lot of soul searching. But even though I had enjoyed a more leisurely life I felt like I wasn't really being me...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 24

The Eternal Night #24

"Let me meet this Brick Layer first and see what he's like," I said.

"Brick Mason," she corrected.

"Brick Mason then. I still don't know about this, Rox. I left that profession for a reason. And I don't know how I feel about going back to it."

She took my hand and said, "Meet with Brick and then if you feel comfortable you can meet Mr. Sperry and find out exactly what he wants."

I nodded, "I think I need to sleep on you. I mean it!"

She grinned, "Well, why don't you do both?"

I quickly got us home...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 23

The Eternal Night #23

"The potential client," Rox continued, "is William Sperry, the president of the soon-to-be resurrected Paragon Pictures. His fiancee is a young girl that he adores but he wants her background checked out before they actually walk down the aisle."

"Young girl? How old is he and how old is she?"

Rox shook her head, "Not certain about either of them, but the girl is probably in her twenties and Sperry is about 60."

I laughed, "Only in Hollywood."

Rox nodded, "Will you at least meet with Brick and with Mr. Sperry and see what you think?"

I sighed...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 22

The Eternal Night #22

"No," I said, shaking my head. "And even if I agreed to that, cases don't just fall from the sky, ya know?"

"Yes, but I know someone that would be willing to hire you. He needs a good detective."

I couldn't believe I was even contemplating it. I had sunk that ship and I didn't intend on dredging it up and making it float again.

But I kept looking at her cleavage. I was apparently a very sick man.

"Who is this potential client for me?"

She smiled, "You mean you'll do it?"

"Let me hear some details first, okay?"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 21

The Eternal Night #21

She shook her head, "Not to star in it, silly. The star's one of my clients, Brick Mason. Anyway, Brick's a method actor. He wanted to go along with a real detective on one of his cases and get the feel of what it means to be a detective."

"So what does that have to do with me? I'm not a detective anymore," I said.

"No," she responded, "but Russo said you were the best in the business."

"But that's just it. I'm not in the business anymore."

"Couldn't you take on a case so Brick could learn from you?"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 20

The Eternal Night #20

"One of the investors in the new studio is a friend of yours, Sharkey Russo."

"Sharkey?" I asked. He was a Vegas loan shark that I helped out in my first case as a detective. He told me back in '45 that he might go straight. He was a bad dude but I had helped him out of a jam with the I.R.S. and he was forever grateful.

And I really liked the guy.

Roxie continued, "The first project for Paragon is turning the novel Derek Slade, Private Eye into a film. And Sharkey suggested you."

"I'm not an actor!"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 19

The Eternal Night #19

She walked over to my side and leaned against the car.

"I knew I wanted to know you in a personal capacity, not just a professional one. But I was afraid if you found out that I already knew who you used to be that you would think it was just a put-up job."

"Which it was," I said sarcastically.

"Jake, I really like you, maybe even more than that. But all I can do is apologize and hope that you can accept things as they are."

"Okay," I nodded, "let's put that behind us. What's the studio's proposition?"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 18

The Eternal Night #18

"I just wanted to hear it from you," she said. "I wanted to see how you put it."

I walked back to the car and leaned against it. The night was cool and the stars were dancing a waltz in the inky blackness above our heads.

"How'd you find out what I used to do?"

"I knew before we met. That's why we met."

I was shocked, "Our whole relationship was contrived?"

"No!" she yelled. "I was supposed to meet you and make a proposition to you on behalf of the studio. But I saw you and...something...went off inside me."

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 17

The Eternal Night #17

"Sounds like you're about to get a lot busier," I said with a frown.

She nodded. "Don't worry, Jake. I'll always have time for you, one of the little people," she said with a grin.

I smiled, "So, that's what this has to do with you, but what does this have to do with me?"

"Well," she said, dragging out the word. "I...have a confession to make, Jake."

I got a stern look, "Go on."

"I knew who you were. I mean...I knew you used to be a private detective."

"Then why the hell did you pretend like you didn't?"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 16

The Eternal Night #16

"I'd say good luck," I said, looking around at the ruins that used to be a movie studio. "This place is going to need a lot of work before it's ready to start making movie magic."

She nodded, "They're about to start the renovations in a couple of days."

"Okay," I said, "so what does that have to do with you?"

She smiled, "William Sperry, the man who's resurrecting Paragon wants me to be the Head of Talent at the studio."

"Wow, that's great!"

She nodded, "And he's going to sign all four of my clients to long-term contracts."

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 15

The Eternal Night #15

I started to take cover behind the car when I saw the assailant leap out of the shadows and start toward me.

Roxie laughed as the black cat just looked up at me and meowed. I bent down and stroked the top of its head. It purred and then went off in search of an unsuspecting rat.

"Why are you so jumpy, Jake?" Roxie asked, still giggling.

"Old habits," I said. "So, what's this all about, Rox?"

She turned and looked at me.

"What would you say if I told you that Paragon Pictures is going to make a comeback?"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 14

The Eternal Night #14

We got out in silence. I couldn't figure out what she'd brought me here for. She seemed hesitant to tell me.

I inspected the castle and discovered it was merely a facade, with nothing behind it but braces to hold it up. It was kind of a good metaphor for the whole of Hollywood: one giant facade with no substance beyond what you saw glittering on the surface.

I heard a commotion to the right of the castle and immediately reached for the gun in the holster under my arm.

A gun and holster which I stopped wearing years ago...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 13

The Eternal Night #13

There was a guard shack, minus the guard, at the front gates, on which you could just barely make out the words PARAGON PICTURES. I didn't recall ever hearing of the studio, which isn't surprising considering it looked like it had been vacant since the silent era.

I pulled through the half open gates and drove down the path between the buildings. There were soundstages, a canteen, a ghost town set, a set that looked like the surface of Mars, and dozens of others. I pulled the car up in front of what looked like a Gothic castle and stopped...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 12

The Eternal Night #12

Now, I liked Roxie and I trusted her, but when someone, anyone, asks me to drive them out to a deserted area all my muscles start tensing up. I may not have been a detective anymore and some of my skills may have been a little bit rusty, but I still have those triggering moments where every nerve ending in my body comes alive and the adrenaline starts revving up at the starting line.

"Over there," Roxie said, pointing to a giant, deserted lot. There were buildings and structures scattered over the grounds.

It looked like an old movie studio...