"Tiki Moon" drabbles by Christopher

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 311

Tiki Moon #311

I was trying to decide what to do when Deborah came around the corner and up to the bar.

"Are they not here?" she asked, looking around.

"Nope," I said through clenched teeth. I was getting madder by the second.

The phone rang and the bartender answered it. After a second he yelled out, "Is there a Jake Randolph here?"

I looked at him and said, "I'm Randolph."

"Phone call," he said, shoving the receiver at me.

I figured it was Harrigan saying there was a change of plan.

"Hello," I said.

"Hello, Jake."

Oh shit. It was Nick Berman...

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 310

Tiki Moon #310

I walked up to the doors of the Tiki Moon. They still hadn't fixed the Tiki's ear that Mr. Saint shot off. I patted it and said, "Don't worry, man. I got him for you. An eye for an ear."

I went in and the place was bustling but there were no signs of Morty and Nick. If they were home playing a game of Dock the Submarine I was going to blow a gasket.

I went up to the bar and asked the bartender if he'd seen them. He said not since the previous night.

Great. Just friggin' great!

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 309

Tiki Moon #309

I didn't feel like getting into it right then so I just let it go.

We went down and got into my car. It was a short drive to the Tiki Moon from the hotel. When we got to the parking lot I was looking for Morty's car but didn't see it. If I had to go find them I was going to beat Morty and Nick into the next county.

I told Deborah to go in through the side door that took you beside the restrooms. I wanted her out of sight until I could confront Morty and Nick...

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 308

Tiki Moon #308

I said goodbye to Scarlett and then went to the Viewpoint Hotel to pick up Deborah. I was hoping she was in a better mood than she was earlier.

I knocked on the door and she answered it, looking not unlike she did when I first came face to face with her in her cabin on the ocean liner.

"You look beautiful," I said, trying to break the ice.

"Save it, Jake. Something's wrong. I'm not sure what it is but things are different than they were on the ship. I don't know if it's some thing or some one."

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 307

Tiki Moon #307

"Well," I said, "considering I barely have enough room to turn around in my apartment that can't have taken long."

"No, just adding a woman's touch," she said. I was aching for that woman's touch, but on me, not my apartment!

"Well, I'm going to pick up Deborah soon and we're going to head to the Tiki Moon. And after Morty and Nick get arrested I'll come home and you can show me some of your handiwork."

"You've already seen my handiwork, Jake," she said, giggling.

"I know," I said smiling, "but doggone it I want to see it again!"

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 306

Tiki Moon #306

I went and grabbed some dinner at Chuck's Bar & Grill and then dropped a dime in the pay phone outside and called my apartment.

Scarlett answered using a fake French accent, "Jake Randolph's rezidenze. Zis is Meechelle, ze French maid. 'Ow may I 'elp you?"

I laughed, "You can be wearing a French maid's outfit when I get home, that's how you can help me!"

She giggled, "I'm afraid I don't have one."

"I'll see what I can do. How are you? Climbing the walls with boredom yet?"

"No, I've been doing a little rearranging," she said.

Oh, wonderful...

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 305

Tiki Moon #305

"What should I do, Jim?"

Harrigan looked up at the puffy white clouds as they ambled across the azure sky. He took a drink of what looked like tea that was sitting on a table beside his chair. There was a book on the table: Derek Slade, Private Eye.

"Jake, I think your best option's to be honest with both women and let the chips fall where they may. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

I nodded, "Just needed to hear it from someone else."

"If I don't hear from you again I'll know they didn't take it well!"

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 304

Tiki Moon #304

He sat back down in the lounge chair.

"Okay, Jake. What's on your mind?"

"I foolishly got involved with Deborah Newstead on the cruise to the Orient. Then I got involved with one of her employees, Scarlett Wilcox. Now, Deborah is back in town and it's just a matter of time before they come face to face. I really care about Scarlett. She's a keeper, Jim. I just don't know how to let Deborah down easy. And I don't know how Scarlett will react when she finds out about Deborah and me."

"You really do get into some jams, Randolph."

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 303

Tiki Moon #303

"Jake, we know our jobs. The D.A. will be well aware of what action to take when the facts are presented to him. If there's any way to nail North's hide to the wall you can bet the D.A. will find the hammer to do it."

"Well," I said, "there's another reason why I came by."

Harrigan nodded, "Uh huh. And what's that?"

I sat down in a chair beside Harrigan's folding lounge chair.

"I need some advice," I said.

Harrigan looked like a dog trying to figure out what to do with a car after he'd chased it down...

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 302

Tiki Moon #302

"Yeah, I'll remember that pearl of wisdom," I said as I put my gun back in the holster and then rubbed my shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing bothering me at home, Jake? I remembered the meeting. 9:30 tonight at the Tiki Moon. I already have Kip and an officer on alert and ready to go."

"I just wanted to find out if you could talk to the D.A. about striking a deal with Morty and Nick to see if they'll turn on Stan North. Otherwise he is going to get away with bribery and conspiracy to commit murder."

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 301

Tiki Moon #301

The next thing I knew I was flat on my back on the ground looking up at the blue sky. My arm felt like it had been wrenched out of the socket.

"Randolph! What the hell's the big idea sneaking up with a gun on a man who's trying to take a nap in his own backyard? I mean, Jesus!"

"I thought you were dead," I said, feeling rather foolish. Harrigan held out his hand to help me up.

"Well, sneaking up on a sleeping man is a good way to either scare him to death or get yourself killed!"

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 300

Tiki Moon #300

I pulled up and saw his car was in the driveway. I went up to the front door and knocked but there was no answer. I went around the side of the house to the backyard and saw Harrigan lying motionless on a fold out lounge chair. His mouth was open and his head was at a weird angle. My heart started pounding as I pulled my gun, taking cover at the corner. I scanned the backyard and the surrounding areas but didn't see anything suspicious. I eased around the corner and up to Harrigan.

I felt for a pulse...

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 299

Tiki Moon #299

I got her to the Viewpoint and got her in the room. She didn't even try to persuade me to stay. Not that I would have, but I must have really pissed her off.

I told her I'd get her about a quarter to 9 and we'd go to the Tiki Moon. She just nodded.

I left and thought I actually would stop by Harrigan's place and see if he was around. It wouldn't hurt to get our battle plan straight.

Harrigan had a nice little ranch-style house in Fullerton. He'd been making little improvements on it for years...

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 298

Tiki Moon #298

No, I definitely wasn't.

She said, "We might be able to get a few laps around the bed in before our meeting."

Oh, hell.

"No, I have to go meet with Detective Harrigan and get everything set up. He's the one who'll be coming to arrest Morty and Nick."

She looked offended. She also looked like she could tell I was playing it cagey.

"Okay, Jake. Take me to the Viewpoint Hotel. It's not far from the Tiki Moon. And then go play with your police officer."

She got in the car and slammed the door.

Okay. That went well....

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 297

Tiki Moon #297

"I've missed you!" she said. She was acting like we'd been an item for years. I don't know how she got attached to me so bloody fast. I guess it was being ignored and neglected by her sissy husband.

"It's so great to see you, Deborah. Listen, you need to stay out of sight for a few hours until our meeting with Morty and Nick at the Tiki Moon. I think you should rent a hotel room and get cleaned up and ready for the meeting tonight."

She grinned widely, "A hotel room? Are you trying to imply something, Jake?"

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 296

Tiki Moon #296

I went to pick up Deborah at LAX after her flight came in. I got there a little after 5 pm and saw her as she walked out the front pushing a cart with a few suitcases on it.

I pulled up and got out quicky, going to the trunk and opening it. Deborah saw me and smiled.

"Jake!" she said excitedly.

I smiled even though I wanted to throw up.

"Deborah!" I said happily.

She ran up to me, hugging me tightly and kissing me passionately. I felt like a top-notch jackass.

How did I let this happen?

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 295

Tiki Moon #295

"I really am your personal police officer, ain't I, Randolph?"

"No," I said, "you're my friend."

There was silence on the other end. I hoped I had made Harrigan feel as much of the jackass as he acted like most of the time.

"Okay, Jake. I'll be there at 9:30 pm," Harrigan said and then hung up.

Deborah and I were meeting Morty and Nick at 9 pm. I figured 30 minutes would be enough time for Deborah to verbally abuse them before they were carted off to jail.

And once they implicated Stan North, this case would be over...

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 294

Tiki Moon #294

"A prank?" I asked.

"Yeah," Harrigan said. "He said Saint told him it was a big joke. He was to go in and pretend to strangle some girl. Said it was just a prank."

"Well, that's a prank that's going to net him a long stretch in prison. I hope the 20 bucks was worth it."

"Was there anything else, Randolph? I actually have to work for a living."

"Yeah. I'm bringing Deborah Newstead back to town tonight. We're confronting Morty and Nick Berman at the Tiki Moon. I need you there at 9:30 pm to arrest them. That okay?"

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 293

Tiki Moon #293

If Scarlett didn't work for Deborah I wouldn't be so worried about breaking things off with her. I just didn't want her to take it out on Scarlett.

We finished breakfast and I called and left an urgent message at the precinct for Harrigan to call me. He got back to me about 3 pm.

"What is it, Randolph? I'm not here to be your personal police officer, you know?"

"How did the interrogation go of the guy you arrested at the construction company office?"

"He knew nothing. Saint paid him 20 bucks for a prank, as he called it."

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Jake Randolph in "Tiki Moon" Pt. 292

Tiki Moon #292

"I would love to see that S.O.B. Nick get what he deserves," Scarlett said as she rubbed her hands together.

"No," I said, shaking my head, "It's too dangerous. I need you to stay here, just for tonight. I promise I'll take you out on the town Monday night."

She nodded, "Okay, Jake. But you better make it a memorable night."

I nodded, " I will. I promise. Just let me get this case wrapped up."

She leaned over and kissed me.

"So, Deborah's coming back tonight, huh?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said.

And I wasn't looking forward to it...