"Jake Randolph Origins" drabbles by Christopher

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 109

Jake Randolph Origins #109

I didn't think she'd gotten a good look at me in Switzerland but I didn't want to take any chances. I kept the sombrero pulled down, obscuring most of my face.

She handed a piece of paper to me over the seat. It was a crudely drawn map on a piece of paper so brown and brittle it looked like it could shatter if you breathed on it too hard.

"Do you think," she asked quietly, "that you can find this place? It's very important. I need to hurry."

I looked at it, "I theenk I can handle that, senorita."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 108

Jake Randolph Origins #108

I got the key and opened the trunk, putting my suitcase back there. Just before the Cisco Kid walked off I said, "Oh, I need that hat too."

He pulled off the sombrero and tossed it to me.

"I never liked eet aneeway," he said with a grin. "My wife got eet for me."

I grinned at him and pulled the hat onto my head, got in the car, and made it up to where Miss Schmidt was before she could get a cab.

"Hey, senorita," I yelled in my best Mexican accent. "Ju need a taxee?"

She got in...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 107

Jake Randolph Origins #107

I tickled his feet and he began giggling in his sleep and then opened his eyes.

"Good, you're awake," I said sarcastically.

He was still giggling, "Si, senor. Need a taxee?"

He looked like the Cisco Kid but spoke like Cisco's sidekick Pancho.

"Yeah," I said, pulling out a wad of American money. "The whole cab. Go finish your nap in a hotel. I'll bring the cab back later."

He pulled his feet back through the window, opened the door and took the money.

"Senor, for thees much money you can have my wife!"

"Just the cab, please," I said...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 106

Jake Randolph Origins #106

Up the street I saw Schmidt's daughter coming out of the Hotel Extasis. You couldn't miss those white-blonde pig tails. Only this time she wasn't wearing riding gear; she had on a yellow dress and a floppy black sun hat. She was trying to hail a cab, but this wasn't exactly New York City. They weren't on every block.

I saw a cab across the street from where I was, which was a couple of blocks down from where Miss Schmidt was. I went over and found the driver asleep with his bare feet sticking out of the window...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 105

Jake Randolph Origins #105

I was trying to decide in which hotel I should look for Schmidt. On the one hand, if he'd come into a large fortune as a result of the Nazi loot, like gold bars or something, then he would probably book into a very swanky hotel. There were a few there that big time Hollywood movie stars would vacation at.

On the other hand, he might not want to draw attention to himself being a Nazi on the run and would book into a cheap hotel. But which was it?

Lady Luck answered my question for me, the little darling...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 104

Jake Randolph Origins #104

It seemed like I would never reach Acapulco, but finally, after a few changes of planes and a car ride from Mexico City, I ultimately reached my destination. I was just glad I didn't have to ride a burro.

Once I got there, though, I had no idea what the hell to do. I was quite sure I wouldn't find Luigi's Hispanic counterpart that would know about everything that went on in Acapulco.

My only lead was this was where Schmidt was meeting his daughter. It wasn't a huge place, but it wasn't going to be easy to find them...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 103

Jake Randolph Origins #103

I woke up somewhere high over the Atlantic Ocean.

I'd asked Luigi to get me to an airport. Then I gladly paid him the rest of his money.

"Thanka you, Jake," he had said.

I shook his hand. "Thank you, Luigi. You were a big help to me and I appreciate it. Look me up if you ever decide to come to America."

He nodded. I knew I'd never see him again.

That was the next lesson I learned about the detective game: people that won't be in your life for long can still have a significant impact on it...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 102

Jake Randolph Origins #102

"What?" I asked incredulously. "A couple of pool cues? What the hell does that mean?"

"Justa what I said," Luigi said matter-of-factly.

"What is that, a pool hall or something?"

He shook his head, "No, no. It's a city. Ina Mexico."

"A couple of pool cues?" I asked.

"Si, a couple of pool cues."

It finally dawned on me.

"Oh, you mean Acapulco?" I asked.

He nodded quickly, "Yes, that's it! Acapoolacue!"

I started laughing, "Luigi, I could kiss you!"

He grinned slightly, "Well, if it's alla the same, I'da rather have the rest of mya money, please!"

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 101

Jake Randolph Origins #101

The jeep veered off into a ditch as the gas tank exploded, engulfing what was left of the two Germans in flames.

I slid back into the seat.

"Thata was amazing!" Luigi said.

I smiled. "Where did you get that German grenade?"

It was his turn to smile now. "I can aget a lot of athings."

"I don't doubt it," I said truthfully. "Luigi, did you happen to hear if Hans told the lady where she was supposed to meet her father?"

"Yeah, I adid. He said the girl's father said to ameet him in a couple of pool cues."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 100

Jake Randolph Origins #100

I waited until the firing Grimm Brother was out of ammo. I could see that he was starting to reload his pistol. I crawled part of the way out the window of the Beetle. I pulled the string down and told Luigi to slow down. He did it perfectly.

The jeep came charging up to the back of the car. I lobbed the grenade at the jeep. It landed between the Brothers Grimm. I told Luigi to floor it. He did, but the car was very slow to take off.

Within seconds the grenade exploded, as did the Brothers Grimm...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 99

Jake Randolph Origins #99

I knew how to use these things. I'd blown up several German soldiers using their own grenades. And if I was lucky, I'd be adding two more Krauts to that list in a matter of moments.

I unscrewed the cap at the bottom of the wooden stick and shook it. A string slid out with a little ceramic ball on the end. The string ran up the inside of the wooden stick to the fuse. You pulled the string down and the friction would ignite the fuse in the top of the grenade.

Then you throw it and haul ass...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 98

Jake Randolph Origins #98

These German hand grenades, Stielhandgranate as they called them, weren't oval like the Allies used. They had those as well, but this particular one looked like a wooden stick with a can of motor oil attached to the end. We called them "potato mashers" because that's what they looked like they would be used for.

The gunfire continued as I looked at Luigi. "We've got just one shot at getting out of this. When I tell you to I want you to slow the car down almost to a stop. Can you do that?"

Luigi nodded quickly, "Si, si, si."

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 97

Jake Randolph Origins #97

One of the Brothers Grimm was firing at Luigi and me as the other maneuvered the jeep up behind us.

I turned to Luigi, "Do you have a gun?"

He shook his head, "No."

More gunfire.

"But I do ahave a little asurprise afor them. Reach under youra seat. Buta be acareful."

I cautiously ran my hand under my seat, feeling a wooden stick. I seriously didn't think Luigi expected me to take on two guys armed with pistols wielding only a stick.

Once I got it out from under the seat I saw it was a German hand grenade...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 96

Jake Randolph Origins #96

I didn't have my gun with me. With possibly having to enter multiple foreign countries I didn't want the hassle.

So I was sat in a Beetle with an Italian being chased by two Aryans in a German army jeep through the Swiss countryside. Ain't life grand?

I knew it wouldn't be long before I heard the pop of gunfire. These boys were playing for keeps. Slugs were ricocheting off of Luigi's car. We both had our heads down. The back window, which isn't a big target, shattered into a thousand pieces.

I was starting to get a little concerned...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 95

Jake Randolph Origins #95

We barreled down the road as the Brothers Grimm began following in a convertible type-82 "Kubelwagen," which was made by Volkswagen for the German military, mostly the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. It was also called a "tub" car because the passenger section looked like a metal bathtub with wheels on it. There was a spare tire and a shovel mounted to the hood of the vehicle, top and side, respectively. Those Germans think of everything.

Luigi's engine was sputtering but hadn't yet gone dead. But the Brothers Grimm were gaining on us. Fast.

This getaway didn't look promising...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 94

Jake Randolph Origins #94

His car, on the other hand, was another matter. He cranked it up, the thing sounding like a B-52 bomber in the quiet Swiss evening. Then it went dead. Luigi used some more of that colorful Italian language as he got out and went to the back of the car, opening the hood and kicking the engine. It roared back to life as he jumped in the driver's seat just as the Brothers Grimm came through the alley to see what all the commotion was.

We took off with a lurch as they ran back to get their vehicle...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 93

Jake Randolph Origins #93

I could hear Hans and the lady talking out in front of the warehouse. I didn't see the Brothers Grimm, figuring they must be out front with Hans. Luigi and I quickly but silently made our way to the back door. We exited the building and snuck around to the alley where Luigi had left his car. I told him to take it out of gear and then get out so we could push it out of the alley behind the building and then crank it. He did exactly as I asked.

He was a pretty good partner to have...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 92

Jake Randolph Origins #91

I laughed quietly.

"Where are they?" I asked as I began looking around the basement.

"Outa front witha the lady," he said.

There were only a few crates left in the basement, all opened. There were a couple of volumes of books in the crates that looked so old that they could've been handed around by the passengers of Noah's Ark, but I didn't have time to inspect them.

"Alright," I said, "let's see if we can get out of this place alive."

"I'ma witha you," Luigi said as we crept back up the stairs.

I slowly opened the door...

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 91

Jake Randolph Origins #91

I was trying to get my hands loose when the basement door at the top of the stairs eased open. About 15 minutes had passed since the Brothers Grimm left me there. I was expecting it to be them that were coming back down, but it wasn't. It was Luigi!

He crept down the stairs, coming around behind the chair and untying me. He got my hands free and I reached down and untied my ankles from the chair legs.

"Luigi, you're sure a sight for sore eyes."

"Wella," he grinned, "I nevera got the rest of a mya money!"

Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 90

Jake Randolph Origins #90

Hans turned back to the Brothers Grimm and motioned for them to take me downstairs. I was feigning unconsciousness but trying to hear the rest of Hans' conversation with the young lady. But they dragged me through the door to the basement and slammed it before I could hear any more.

I was hoping for an opportunity to spring into action and take these clowns out, but it never presented itself. I resigned myself to being tied to a chair, hands and feet, and then waited for them to go back upstairs so I could try and get myself loose...