"The Eternal Night" drabbles by Christopher

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 231

The Eternal Night #231

I handed him a piece of paper, "Here's the expense report. The receipts are attached."

He took it and nodded, "I'll cut you a check."

"Where's Lily now, Mr. Sperry?" Mason asked.

"She's in San Diego visiting a friend. She'll be back in a couple of days. I guess that's when I'll be telling her the wedding is off."

"She's not going to like that," I said.

"Yeah, well that's tough shit!" Sperry barked.

He handed a script to Mason.

"Mason...Brick, there's the script for Derek Slade. Get ready. We start shooting tomorrow night."

Mason looked at me and smiled...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 230

The Eternal Night #230

He put his hand up, "It's okay, Randolph. Is that it?"

"Yeah, we never actually saw pictures or movies of Lily in action, but she was ass deep in all of those businesses that made up the pornography ring. And her father referring to the people she hung around with as lowlifes seems to confirm it."

"Is there anything that can be done about the ring?" he asked.

Mason spoke up, "Jake already did. He called the San Francisco Police Department and got the whole ring shut down."

"With Mason's help," I added.

"You've done a great job here, Randolph."

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 229

The Eternal Night #229

That did it. Sperry looked like he'd been hit in the gut with a wrecking ball. He brought his hand up to cover his gaping mouth.

"She was signed with the Stratton Agency, which provided models for a photographer named Jack Salem who took nude pictures of said models. She was also signed with the Lexington Talent Agency, which was involved in the making of pornographic movies."

Sperry looked like he was going to vomit. He knew she was hiding things, but I then realized he didn't suspect that it would get this dirty.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sperry," I said...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 228

The Eternal Night #228

"Now," Sperry said, "I'm assuming you found out more than just where she lived up there. Maybe something actually useful in helping me determine just what kind of girl I'm engaged to?"

I took a swallow of the drink and could actually smell my throat burning.

"Well, first off, Lily wasn't just a burlesque dancer. She was a full-fledged stripper."

Sperry stared intently at me. I was paying attention to see if any of this really surprised him. But I had a feeling it wasn't going to.

"Also, she was involved in a massive pornography ring in San Francisco."

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 227

The Eternal Night #227

We finished dinner and then headed to Sperry's Beverly Hills mansion. The butler wasn't exactly thrilled at seeing us again, but did his job and led us into the drawing room.

Sperry was obviously anxious to learn what we'd uncovered. He was waiting in the drawing room. When he saw us he rose from his chair and went to the bar.

"The good stuff for both of you this time," he said, pouring three drinks.

He handed one to Mason, one to me and took one for himself. He motioned toward the settee and Mason and I parked ourselves there...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 226

The Eternal Night #226

He nodded, "So, I guess that's it, huh? I go back to acting and you go back to decomposing in a coffee house?"

I looked offended, "Decomposing? You mean just because I'm not out risking my life anymore I'm just rotting away?"

He took another bite. "Not really decomposing, I guess. But you are wasting your talents. You're really good at the detective game, Jake. And I can see the way you care about people. You genuinely want to help. That's rare these days."

I understood what he was saying. But I had no plans to return to that life...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 225

The Eternal Night #225

We rolled back into Los Angeles around a quarter to six that evening. I was really looking forward to seeing Roxie. I was very tired but I wasn't going to let that stop me.

We stopped and called Sperry and made an appointment to meet him at his house at 9 pm. Mason and I had dinner at a place called the Round-Up and I begged Mason to have his steak well done this time, which he did.

"I have to admit," Mason said as he took another bite, "it's quite good this way."

"Yeah, you mean actually cooked?"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 224

The Eternal Night #224

I nodded, "Yeah, I did. But knowing how to do the job and having the desire to do the job is two different things. I just lost the desire to do the job, that's all."

He nodded, turning to look out at the Pacific Ocean.

I turned the radio on. A singer named Little Richard was belting out a new song called "Tutti-Frutti." I wasn't sure how I felt about this new fad in music called rock-and-roll. I didn't think it would be around very long.

But I must've liked the song because I let it play...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 223

The Eternal Night #223

Mason and I had a quick breakfast and then got on the road for L.A. He was getting in one last round of questioning.

"So how did you learn all this stuff?" Mason asked. "In the war?"

"I learned how to stay alive there. The rest of it was just trial and error. I made plenty of mistakes. I trusted people who turned out to be untrustworthy. I didn't trust people that I realized later I should have. There's no handbook. You either have what it takes or you don't."

"But you have what it takes and you left it."

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 222

The Eternal Night #222

Morning came sooner than we expected, but we got up, bleary-eyed, and got ready to go home. I called Sperry and told him we were on our way back. He asked if I found out anything. I told him when I saw him I'd give him the full report. He didn't like it but didn't push me.

"I'm glad you called, Randolph," Sperry said, "because the schedule for Derek Slade has changed. We start shooting in two days. So, finished or not, Brick's gotta be back today."

"Well," I said, "we're finished."

But you weren't going to like it...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 221

The Eternal Night #221

All of those things would be enough for Sperry to call off the engagement with Lily, if he was indeed as worried about a potential scandal as he said he was. And I don't think he would've hired a detective to look into it if he wasn't serious about it.

We were finished by the evening, so I thanked Lyman and told him to look me up if he was ever in L.A., and Mason and I went back to the hotel. We were exhausted, so we decided to get some sleep and start back to L.A. the next morning...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 220

The Eternal Night #220

Mason and I went back to the station with Lyman to be debriefed. I laid it all out there for him, everything I'd found out. I hated not to be able to help him clear up Sandra's murder, but at least we stopped a bunch of idiots from getting rich off exploiting young girls.

And I never found any actual photos or film of Lily, but did get confirmation that she worked at the strip club, and was involved with Gertie's modeling agency, Salem's photography studio, and the Lexington Talent Agency, all of which were part of the pornography ring...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 219

The Eternal Night #219

Nigel yelled, "Oi, what's the deal 'ere? We wasn't doin' anyfing illegal!"

"Right!" one of the officers said as he tried to grab Mason.

Lyman said, "He's undercover," then looked at Mason standing there in his underwear. "Well, sort of undercover."

Mason quickly started putting his trousers on.

Lyman looked at me, "Any news about Sandy?"

I shook my head, "I wasn't able to find anything to connect them to her murder."

Lyman nodded, "Well...at least we smashed this pornography ring. Thanks to you, Jake. I understand why Harrigan likes you so much."

"Harrigan likes me? That's news to me!"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 218

The Eternal Night #218

I waited at the door and watched for Lyman and his men. It was 15 minutes before they got there: Lyman in an unmarked car, two patrol cars, and a paddy wagon. Thankfully they didn't use their lights or sirens.

I hoped when I got back up there that Mason wasn't how's yer father-ing one of those lovely ladies.

I stood back while Lyman and his men busted the door down. The girls started screaming and running for cover.

Nigel tried opening the camera to expose the film and ruin it, but an officer tossed him to the floor...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 217

The Eternal Night #217

I went back out the door and headed for the stairs. Mason was about to get a crash course in how to stall someone.

I took the stairs down to the lobby and found a payphone. I called Detective Lyman.

"Yeah?" he said.

"Lyman, it's Jake Randolph. We've graduated from busting a still image pornography ring and about to enter a new phase: pornographic movies."

There was silence and then, "Is this tied to Gertie's bunch?"

"Yep. It's all a coordinated effort. I need you on Lombard Street like yesterday."

I gave him the aparment's address.

"I'll be there soon."

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 216

The Eternal Night #216

"So," Nigel continued, "this is your lucky day, my son."

Mason smiled, "What about wardrobe?"

Nigel looked confused, "Wardrobe? Wardrobe is yer birfday suit, me ol' China! Now, get yer kit off and let's get on with the ole' 'ow's yer father!"

Mason looked confused. I'd spent enough time with British soldiers during the war to know exactly what Nigel was saying.

I needed to get to a phone and call Detective Lyman.

"Herbie, have fun with your debut in the acting world. I'll come back later to pick you up," I said with a smile.

"Cousin Jacob, don't leave!"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 215

The Eternal Night #215

The movie camera and lights weren't much to look at, but I liked the rest of the cast of the film. There were six girls in the room in various states of undress: some topless, some bottomless, and some topless and bottomless.

He finally introduced himself.

"Look...me name's Nigel Buckingham. I'm the director. It's all quite simple. We're doin' a little production 'ere, and we are very pressed for time. Now, I 'ad a bloke all lined up to do this scene with these lovely ladies, and the git went and got 'imself beaten up in a pub last night!"

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 214

The Eternal Night #214

"Then I don't need you, do I?" the guy said as he grabbed Mason by the arm and pulled him in.

"Alright, my son, I suppose Charlie 3 filled you in on the proceedings 'ere."

When he said 3 it sounded like free. I couldn't tell what kind of English accent it was, but he definitely wasn't from the same area as the Queen.

Mason shook his head, "All he said was you were filming a movie and you needed a replacement actor right away."

"That's the proceedings, my son."

I started scanning the room.

It was a lovely scene...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 213

The Eternal Night #213

We entered the apartment building and took the stairs to the second floor, apartment 12B.

I heard a lot of commotion behind the door, and I checked my gun just to make sure it was still there and ready to go should I need it.

We knocked and waited a moment. The door was answered by a tall man, who looked to be about thirty. He was wearing a pink sweater and black slacks.

"Please tell me you're 'erbie Randall!" the guy said in an English accent.

I shook my head. "No, but he is," I said, pointing to Brick...

Jake Randolph in "The Eternal Night" Pt. 212

The Eternal Night #212

We got to Lombard Street. The address was in the one-block section of the street that runs downhill between two sets of buildings and has eight hairpin turns. It's famously known as the crookedest street in the world, although I thought that honor went to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

I cautiously drove down the street until I found the right number, midway down. I drove off one of the hairpin turns onto a little concrete pathway that led you under an apartment building, where they had a minimal amount of parking spaces.

I parked the car and we got out...