"Murder Is But A Memory" drabbles by Christopher

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 70

Murder Is But A Memory

After a lengthy wait while she went through file after file, she finally found the address: Sunset Villa, apartment 28, 205 Eastland Heights. The car was registered to a Diana Blackmore. I wondered if I had just learned Kerri's real name.

I drove to Eastland Heights and found the apartment building. It was a nice place, not fancy but much better than the joints at which I've been keeping Kerri on ice.

I eased up to the front door and looked into the lobby. There was one man on the front desk. Shouldn't be too difficult to get past him...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 69

Murder Is But A Memory

She smiled and said sincerely, "If there is anything I can do to help, honey, I will."

I knew I had her. "Actually, there is. Luckily, someone got the license plate number of the offending vehicle. If I had their address I could go and get them to pay for the repairs."

"Do you think you can?" she asked.

"I can be very persuasive when I need to be." At least that was one part of the story that was true.

"We're not supposed to give out that kind of information. But this is a special case," she said, winking.

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 68

Murder Is But A Memory

She shook her head, "Oh, no! You can't call the honeymoon off, dear. That's the best part of getting married!" she said as she nudged my ribs with her elbow.

I smiled shyly. "Well, we may have to. You see, someone hit my vehicle the other day and damaged it terribly. Then they drove off without a single word. We were going to drive to New York City for our honeymoon. Now, I'm afraid we won't be able to. All my money is going toward the wedding."

She frowned.

"And I had so many romantic evenings planned too. It's heartbreaking."

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 67

Murder Is But A Memory

I saw the spark in her eye when I said the word "fiancée." She knew an interesting story was coming, even if she didn't know that it was as fictitious as that ridiculous book she'd been devouring.

I pulled my handkerchief out and dabbed my eyes. I hated being deceitful, but it was necessary in this business.

"What about your fiancée, dear?" she asked, wishing I would get on with the narrative.

"Well, we're due to be married in a few weeks."

She smiled, " That's wonderful, darling. So what's the problem?"

"We may have to call off the honeymoon."

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 66

Murder Is But A Memory

I cleared my throat as she looked up and groaned at me. She placed a dog-eared bookmark in her novel and laid it beside her on the desk.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asked with all the enthusiasm of someone having their appendix removed with a rusty butter knife.

I feigned crying and then said with a shaky voice, "I'm...sorry...I just..."

I blubbered again. Her look changed to one of deep concern.

"Hey, now...," she said, coming around the desk to put her arm around me.

"What's this all about, honey?"

I laid it on thick. "It's...my fiancée!"

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 65

Murder Is But A Memory

I pushed the door open, and went from the stifling heat outside to the stifling heat inside the Department of Motor Vehicles. 48 states in the Union and every DMV I've ever been in looked exactly the same as this one, drab and depressing.

A middle-aged woman with dark hair and horn-rimmed glasses sat behind the desk fanning herself swiftly with a manila file folder. She was engrossed in a dime store romance novel, creases up and down the spine betraying the fact that it had been read multiple times.

I knew then precisely how to play it...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 64

Murder Is But A Memory

I checked into the Nevada Motel just outside Las Vegas, a cheap little dive that had more rats and cockroaches as guests than humans. I assured the ones in my room that I wouldn't be imposing on them long. They grudgingly gave me their blessing and then scurried off to the darker recesses of the room. Maybe they suffered from migraines and the light bothered them.

I sacked out until morning and then got up and showered, had a quick breakfast consisting of toast and orange juice, and then headed to the Department of Motor Vehicles in downtown Las Vegas...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 63

Murder Is But A Memory

I finally had a lead. The mechanic had given me Kerri's license plate information: a Nevada tag, number 2E291.

I quickly pointed the car towards Vegas. It was better than a 150 mile trip, so I settled back, turned on the radio, and collected my thoughts.

I was hoping that Kerri was okay. She was in such a delicate state and I hated to have to leave her. But I had no idea what I was driving into, and I could not put her life in danger.

It was just before midnight when I reached the outskirts of Las Vegas...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 62

Murder Is But A Memory

The mechanic studied the picture again.

"Oh, yeah. Couldn't forget a dame like that. She was in here a couple of weeks ago. Fixed a flat tire for her."

"Did she give you a name?" I asked, thinking maybe I'd finally struck pay dirt.

"If she did I don't remember it, Mac. But I could never forget that face or body."

I exhaled sharply.

"Do you have any information about her?" I asked, feeling deflated.

"No, just her license plate number. Want that?"

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble," I said.

"Nah," he said, walking back to the garage...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 61

Murder Is But A Memory

He pulled the nozzle out and roughly shoved it back into the pump. He looked at the total and approached the window.

"That'll be a buck and a quarter, Mac," he said, shoving his open hand out.

I dropped the money in his hand while producing the picture.

"Ever seen this person?"

He looked at the picture for a few moments.

"Yeah, that's you, Mac!"

"Good eye, Slick!" I said sarcastically. Apparently it was lost on him, because he grinned at me like I'd just told him he'd won the Irish Sweepstakes.

"Now, how about the lady? Ever seen her?"

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 60

Murder Is But A Memory

A dirty guy in dirty overalls came out of the dirty garage wiping his dirty hands on a dirty rag.

"What'll it be, Mac?" he asked, approaching the trunk of the car.

I leaned my head out the window and looked back. "Could you fill it up, please?"

"Sure thing, Mac," he said as he stuffed the rag into his back pocket. He pulled the hose from the pump and began filling the tank.

I reached into my coat pocket, pulled out one of the photos Kerri and I had taken on the Newcomb Pier in Santa Monica, and waited.

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 59

Murder Is But A Memory

Once I knew that Kerri was safe I could get down to business. When I had gone through her purse I found a receipt for a fixed flat at a garage in Barstow, down Route 66. If my hunch was right, and Kerri came from Las Vegas, then she probably drove south in Nevada and got onto Route 66 after she had the flat fixed, and drove it the rest of the way to L.A.

I reached the garage, Murphy's Auto Shop, and pulled up to the gas pumps. The sun was too tired to sustain the day any longer...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 58

Murder Is But A Memory

After getting reacquainted with the girls and meeting the new ones, I told them I really had to leave. There was a collective sigh in the room, which made this old timer feel pretty good.

I went back out to the car to get Kerri's bags as Rosie assured her that everything would be just fine. When I returned I said goodbye to Kerri and kissed her, to the chorus of giggles from the girls.

As I was leaving I looked back, "Rosie, please don't put her on the payroll while I'm gone, okay?"

Rosie winked and smiled, "We'll see."

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 57

Murder Is But A Memory

The girls had all run to the front door, waving and calling to me. I waved back and said hello. I recognized all but two of the girls. New additions, I suppose. Rosie seemed to collect them like stray cats.

Kerri stepped up beside me at the edge of the porch steps as Rosie shooed the girls inside. She grabbed my elbow and spun me around to face her.

"Jake, can I ask you a question?"

I nodded.

"Have you brought me to a whorehouse?" she asked with total indignation.

I nodded again slowly. What the hell could I say?

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 56

Murder Is But A Memory

I whispered a few things to Rosie as Kerri was closing the car door and making her way to the porch. Rosie nodded in agreement and winked at me.

She was quite a woman, Rosie. She had fiery red hair in curly locks that went way south of her shoulders; a pretty face that told her complete autobiography with every line and crease; a figure that still got quite a few offers from customers.

But Rosie gave that up long ago. Now she looks after her girls, which is why I was hesitant to come here, but couldn't help it.

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 55

Murder Is But A Memory

Originally, Rosie had a hotel outside of Los Angeles that was the premier spot for the World's Oldest Profession. She had congressmen, city officials, law enforcement, anyone and everyone frequented her place. As such, they all turned a blind eye. Until one day when a murder occurred inside the hallowed walls of Rosie's involving a city councilman, a contract murder that had nothing to do with Rosie. But her place became too hot to ignore, and one of her patrons secretly hired me to get Rosie and her girls safely out of town, which I did.

Don't ask. Long story...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 54

Murder Is But A Memory

I glanced over at Kerri as she was getting out of the car. I saw the strange look on her face, and I wasn't quite sure if she had yet figured out what this place was. It's not exactly the kind of establishment you bring a lady to, but needs must when the Devil drives. And that little red bastard had both hands on the wheel of this situation.

"Rosie," I said as I put my arm around her shoulders and began walking to the porch. "I need a big favor."

She didn't even hesitate. "You just name it, cowboy."

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 53

Murder Is But A Memory

When I pulled up in front of the house I blew the horn six quick times. That let Rosie know who was there. All at once, every window in the joint was filled with the angelic faces of smiling young ladies, very eager to see who had just arrived.

Rosie came barreling out the front door and down the porch steps as I exited the car. She came up and gave me a tight hug and kissed the side of my cheek.

"Jake!" she said loud enough to wake the dead. "What brings you all the way out here, hon?"

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 52

Murder Is But A Memory

We made it to Pasadena, and I headed down Lake Avenue. All the way at the end, down a long dirt road, was a big house. According to my last count, there were twelve young ladies living there, and the place was owned and run by a little woman in her late 40's, with auburn hair and the delicate, milky white skin that all true redheads have. Her name was Rosie, and she was the sweetest woman you could ever want to meet, unless you got on her bad side. Then she could make snake poison taste like white wine...

shapeshifter avatar

Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 51

Murder Is But A Memory

I took my eyes from the road, turning to look at her just as she said Stane's name. Her reaction was one of repeating a name she had heard in passing, nothing like the practical nervous breakdown she suffered on the pier the first time she heard it.

"Does that name mean anything to you, Kerri? Does the city of Las Vegas?"

"The name sounds familiar, and I know the city of Las Vegas, but it could just be because you were talking about them before."

She turned to look out the window.

I sighed, looking back at the road...