"Jake Randolph Origins" drabbles by Christopher

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 169

Jake Randolph Origins #169

I turned to see Lt. Rivers. I smiled until I saw the pistol in his hand, pointing at my torso.

"Please tell me this is a sick joke, Lieutenant," I said, hoping to God it was.

He shook his head, "I'm afraid not, Jake."

My mind went back to when Luigi told me that there were two Americans at the warehouse in Switzerland.

Rivers went over to a lounge chair and sat down, still pointing the gun at me.

"Let me explain things, Randolph," he said.

"No," I said, holding up my hand, "let me see if I have this..."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 168

Jake Randolph Origins #168

We made it to the house by sunup. It was a ranch-style home, nothing like the adobe outside Acapulco. This one too was in the middle of nowhere, but there were power lines leading to the house, so it wasn't completely rustic.

I said goodbye to Russo, telling him I would be in Guadalajara after I slept a few hours. He nodded, told me which hotel they would be staying in, and then they drove away as I went inside the house.

Someone was in there. I felt it. Then I heard a voice I knew well.

"Hello, Jake."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 167

Jake Randolph Origins #167

"Okay," Russo said, "here's the plan. I've got some business to do in Guadalajara. That's about a six-hour drive from here. Randolph, we'll take you to the house that Hall and Schmidt slept in. You get some rest there and then meet us in Guadalajara. You can use Hall's car. We'll get Schmidt and his daughter back to the U.S. and tell the Army where to pick up the gold at."

I was delighted at the thought of getting even just a few hours of rest. This was almost as bad as being back in the Army during wartime...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 166

Jake Randolph Origins #166

As we approached them Russo's men looked happy to see he was carrying the case with the 500 grand in it. They probably were glad not to have to face his wrath if he'd lost that kind of money. They were looking at me with a bit more respect as well.

Heidi and her father were both clutching each other, terrified. I couldn't blame Schmidt. He was in serious trouble. Heidi had technically done nothing wrong, but I'm sure she was extremely worried about her father's future. I felt bad for her, but Schmidt had to be brought to justice...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 165

Jake Randolph Origins #165

"You're a good man, Randolph. I wish I could've been more like you. I wasn't bad in my youth, but my life detoured off into a dirt road of crime and corruption. And I've never been able to wash that filth off me."

"Maybe you just didn't find a powerful enough soap bar, Sharkey. It's never too late to go shopping for another one."

He laughed. "Yeah, maybe I will..... Maybe I will."

We got back to the little airport just as the sun was starting to rise. I hoped before too long I would be back in sunny California...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 164

Jake Randolph Origins #164

"Sharkey, do you think I could use the house that Hall and Schmidt stayed in? I really need some sleep."

He nodded, "Absolutely. I owe you a million dollars' worth of gratitude, Randolph."

I smiled. "Look, Sharkey, I'm going to tell the government what you did here. Not that you tried to buy the gold but that you helped me recover it and that you helped bring down Hall and apprehend Schmidt. I don't know if it will help with the I.R.S., but it can't hurt."

He got the strangest look. I don't think anyone had ever helped him before...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 163

Jake Randolph Origins #163

And then there was the problem of what to do with Heidi. A few scenarios crossed my mind, none of which were helpful to the current situation, though. Sharkey solved my problem for me, thankfully.

"Listen, Randolph. Why don't you let me take Schmidt back to the States? I've got the manpower to handle them. If you try to do it alone you may run into some problems."

"God bless you, Sharkey," I said. I was absolutely exhausted. I just wanted to find some place to rest awhile.

He grinned, "Well, I doubt that's going to happen. But yer welcome."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 162

Jake Randolph Origins #162

"And then I come along and tell you where it came from," I said, actually feeling a little remorseful. I liked Sharkey.

He shook his head, "No, I'm glad you did. I don't want any part of something like that. I got enough trouble with the law."

We got to the car and started back for the airport. I wondered how I was going to get Schmidt turned over to the authorities. I wasn't going to do it there in Mexico, but I sure didn't fancy the idea of having to take him all the way to the U.S. border...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 161

Jake Randolph Origins #161

I looked surprised. "What kind of trouble, Sharkey?"

We started walking toward the car, side by side.

"I'm in debt up to my eyeballs. The I.R.S. is breathing down my neck. The state and local officials in Nevada want more and more money to turn a blind eye to my deeds. I needed a big payoff. It was all I could do to scrape together the money to buy the gold in the first place. But I know someone who has the ability to melt it down and give me three times what I paid Hall and Schmidt for it."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 160

Jake Randolph Origins #160

"I'm okay too, by the way," I said as I got to my feet.

Russo smiled, "I knew you would be. You know, Randolph, I could really use a guy like you in my organization."

I grinned, "Thanks, Sharkey. But that's not my thing."

He nodded, "I didn't think so, but I wanted to mention it anyway."

"Sharkey, I gotta know one thing. How come you never asked Hall where he got the gold?"

Russo took a few steps toward the car and then turned back. I think he trusted me now.

"Because I'm in real trouble, Randolph. Real trouble."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 159

Jake Randolph Origins #159

I hit the sand and crumpled, the parachute covering me like a funeral shroud. The force of the landing knocked the wind out of me, and I was gasping for breath as I heard a car approaching the beach.

"Randolph!" I heard someone shouting in the distance. "Randolph! Are you okay?"

I could tell by the voice it was Russo. His concern was touching.

"Randolph, did you get my money?"

Ah, that's what he was concerned about.

I stuck my hand that was holding the briefcase out from under the parachute.

"Thank God!" Russo said, pulling the parachute off me...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 158

Jake Randolph Origins #158

I was high over the Pacific Ocean. I could see land so I tried to maneuver myself in that direction. I only hoped I made it before I had to splash down in the water. The pilot must have been trying to turn the plane back to the airport, which brought us out over the ocean.

I looked back, seeing the plane in a spiral as it hit the surface of the water and exploded. I watched as Hall and the poor pilot sunk into their final resting place.

I just made it to the beach as I touched down...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 157

Jake Randolph Origins #157

I threw all but one of the parachutes out the open door of the plane and strapped the last one on. I looked around the seats and found the briefcase containing Russo's money. I grabbed it and then jumped out of the airplane as I heard Hall screaming, "Randolph!"

I hadn't made a parachute jump since basic training and I never wanted to do it again. I didn't like freefalling so I instantly pulled the ripcord. I forgot how jolting it was to the body when the 'chute fully deploys and slows your descent. It felt like I got whiplash...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 156

Jake Randolph Origins #156

I dropped like the stock market on Black Tuesday, hitting the floor of the plane as the bullet passed over my head. It struck the pilot in the cockpit, who slumped forward into the controls, sending the plane into a nosedive. I grabbed the bottom of one of the seats that was bolted to the floor as Hall was catapulted forward and into the cockpit, slamming into the instrument panel and the windshield, grunting loudly. I saw some parachutes hanging on hooks at the back of the plane.

I hurriedly pulled myself along the floor until I had reached them...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 155

Jake Randolph Origins #155

He started ascending; it felt like we were going straight up. Hall and I were sliding around on the floor, still vying for control of the gun. Hall slid toward the rear as the pilot leveled off the plane. Unfortunately, Hall was the one that wound up with the gun. We both stood up slowly.

"You've been nothing but trouble for me since the first day I laid eyes on you, Randolph. And I know you don't like me either. So, I'm about to do us both a favor and put you out of my misery."

He fired the gun...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 154

Jake Randolph Origins #154

When we hit the floor of the plane Hall was on top of me. He tried to point the gun at my face but I reached up and grabbed his arm. We were tangoing back and forth on the floor as the pilot banked the plane to the right. We rolled over and then I was on top of Hall. We were each still struggling trying to get control of the gun when the pilot turned the plane again. I don't think he knew what to do. But I did.

I yelled to the cockpit, "Go back to the airport!"

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 153

Jake Randolph Origins #153

The pilot was just starting to ascend the plane. Hall was in the cockpit standing next to him with his gun pressed against the pilot's head. I rolled into the plane, leaving the door open as I crouched behind a seat. Hall observed that the door was open and went back to close it. Apparently he didn't notice me entering the plane. I had one shot or I was going to get shot.

As soon as Hall approached the seat I was hiding behind, I lunged out like a jungle cat pouncing onto its unsuspecting prey. We both went tumbling...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 152

Jake Randolph Origins #152

Russo had to dodge Heidi, who was lying on the tarmac. I rolled down the window and climbed out, the wind hitting me in the face like a giant invisible fist. Russo was parallel with the plane as I reached up and opened the door. I had the gun that Russo gave me tucked in my waistband, the handle of which snagged on the edge of the bottom of the door jamb as I pulled myself up into the plane. It went toppling down to the ground.

Next lesson learned: Murphy's Law is alive and well in the detective business...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 151

Jake Randolph Origins #151

He pushed Heidi down to the tarmac and climbed into the plane.

I looked at Russo, "The car!"

He addressed his men as he pointed to Schmidt, "Watch him!"

We ran around the building and jumped in the car, me on the passenger side and Russo in the driver's seat.

He peeled out toward the plane as we saw the props start turning.

"Can you get me up beside that plane and hold it steady?" I asked him.

"Randolph, I'm betting a half million dollars that I can!"

The plane started down the runway as we pulled up beside it...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 150

Jake Randolph Origins #150

He was still holding the case of money with the arm he had wrapped around Heidi's waist, and with the other he had his pistol pressed against her temple.

Schmidt screamed out, "Liebchen!"

Hall yelled, "I'll blow this bitch's brains out if any of you make the slightest movement."

He was standing with his back to the door, kicking it open from behind and dragging Heidi out into the dark Mexican morning. He walked backwards, his gun still against the side of Heidi's head.

We all slowly exited the building, watching helplessly as he made it to the plane's door...