Goodbye Natalie
Chapter Fourteen: Goodbye Natalie
Fallon Dawn scrubbed diligently on the urine-soaked car seat of the cheap rental. Warm, soapy water and a generous portion of elbow grease soon cleansed away the traces of the evidence of her fear from the previous night. Another fifteen minutes in the hot morning sun dried the remaining stain. On the way to work she returned the rental car; apparently, anyone who might be following her knew well enough how to find her; it felt right to be back in her old coupe. She stopped off at the printer’s and ordered some business cards, if she was going to be playing detective, she might as well make an attempt at proper appearances. She pulled into a drive-thru and ordered breakfast for two.
”Thanks for helping me out Joanie. I promise, it won’t be difficult. I only had a handful of calls the whole time I’ve been doing it.” She had recruited Joanie Kwan to take over her receptionist job at Burl Barnes’ Law Office and the A-1 Detective Agency. It had become obvious that she’d be too busy to do the day-to-day routine anymore and this way she could keep an eye on Kwan. Joanie was easily qualified to answer phones and was pleasant company.
”I don’t mind, it’s a step up from dancing.” Kwan offered.
”It’s not much money.” Said Fallon.
”I don’t need much.” Said Kwan.
”When we get in, go through the Yellow Pages and find a locksmith. I want new locks on all the doors.” Fallon ordered.
”Yes boss.” Kwan answered seriously.
Fallon Dawn gave her a sideways glance and they both broke out in laughter. Her eyes teared up from the emotional release, it felt good to laugh again. It was a purging of all the pent-up baggage she’d been carrying around. Kwan had been an unexpected source of comfort and support for her and she appreciated the kind girl’s warmth and inner peace.
When they got to the Hollywood office, it only took a few moments to show Kwan around and get her set up. Fallon retreated to Alan’s old office and busied herself making notes on what she was going to discuss with Detective Bonetti today. She knew her formal police statement would be a matter of record and she didn’t want to divulge or withhold anything material that might implicate her criminally later. Alan Rassmussen’s apparent suicide, that she knew was a murder; her own blackmailing and complicity in the cover-up; her having discovered Emma Cuenca’s body and failing to report or even admit it; Frankie Valentine’s possible involvement and her being hired to locate him; then, there was the little matter of her unloading her Colt into Kwan’s would-be kidnapper, which she’d also failed to report...how much, if anything, was she willing to share with the police? After the chilling reminder of what could happen to Alan’s kids, not to mention herself, by Alan’s killer last night, she wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
She checked the time and decided she was just going to have to trust her instincts. When she stepped into the reception area, Kwan was calmly giving orders to the locksmith as he went about changing the locks. Fallon stood back and observed. Kwan fit the role of receptionist far better than she ever had. She seemed to be taking her new position seriously, with an understated sense of pride. Her neat, crisply pressed skirt and silk blouse gave Kwan the air and appearance of an office professional. Her hair was perfectly cut and hung loosely atop her slim shoulders. When it caught the sunlight, the strands shone brilliantly. The lightest touch of make-up highlighted her facial features and brought out the contours, emphasizing the dark eyelashes, high cheekbones and full lips. She was proud of her protege and satisfied she’d made a good choice. She called Kwan into the inner office.
”I have to go out for awhile.” Fallon began. She retrieved the Colt pistol from her purse and showed it to Kwan. ”Do you know how to use this?”
”A little.” Kwan answered.
Fallon showed her the safety and how to chamber a round. ”Hold your arm and wrist tight, but be careful with the trigger finger. If you get to the point of feeling like you have to pull it on someone, then make sure if you fire, you make it count. Aim for the chest. Keep the doors locked and don’t let anyone in, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Kwan answered. ”Yes boss.”
”And don’t be a smartass.” Fallon countered.
”Yes boss.” Kwan said.
When Fallon arrived at the Hollywood Police Department and located Detective Bonetti’s office, there seemed to be a flurry of activity going on. Bonetti greeted her apologetically. ”Hello Fallon, thank you for coming. Listen, there’s been a development in the Emma Cuenca homicide, I’m afraid we’re going to have to reschedule. Was there anything you especially wanted to relay to me? Anything you might have recalled since we talked?”
Fallon mimicked Kwan’s wide-eyed innocence. ”Not really.” She was surprised at how easily the lie came out.
”All right then, I’ll call you to set up a time.” Bonetti said.
”So what’s the development? Can you talk about that?” Fallon asked.
Bonetti hesitated. ”Well, I can’t really discuss an ongoing case...you understand.”
”Of course.” Fallon said.
At that instant, Harry Tong rushed into the office without noticing Fallon Dawn’s presence. ”Chief! We got a trace on that phone tip in the Cuenca murder. Background noise on the phone tape indicates the call was placed from the Hollywood Greyhound bus station.” Harry Tong said.
Bonetti glared at Harry Tong, shifting his gaze to where Fallon Dawn stood across the room.
”Oh!” Harry said sheepishly. ”Hello Miss Hunter...I, I didn’t see you there.” Fallon didn’t answer, she really didn’t know what to say.
”Is there anything else Harry?” Bonetti said.
”Well”..’ He looked toward Fallon.
”Should I go?” Fallon asked. ”I think I’m in the way here, I’ll be expecting that call.”
”I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you Fallon.” Bonetti said apologetically.
”It’s no trouble.” Fallon turned to go.
”Oh, Fallon...there is one thing...We haven’t been able to locate Mirna Salguero as of yet. Any idea where she might be, or when she might be available? Have you spoken to her lately?” Bonetti inquired.
The wheels in her head spun violently as she processed information and analyzed her previous lies. ”No, I had a hair appointment with her yesterday, she works at Marinello’s Salon on Western...but she had already left for the day. I haven’t spoken with her. If...when I do, I’ll be sure to have her call you...would that be alright?” Fallon spoke calmly and carefully.
”That’d be fine. Again, thank you for coming over.” Bonetti said.
Fallon smiled sweetly. Both detectives watched closely as she crossed the room and closed the door behind her. When she stepped into the hallway, the quiet, unassuming girl from Lonely, Kansas let out a deep breath. Fallon Dawn Hunter wasn’t, by nature, a sneaky, sly girl...but, she was learning ever so quickly. She took a few steps down the hallway, then paused and feigned a concentrated interest in the seemingly mundane search through her purse for her car keys. As she did so, she imperceptibly nudged backwards, closer to Bonetti’s office door for an impromptu eavesdrop.
”Sorry about that Chief, I didn’t see her there.” Harry said.
”No harm done. Whatta ya got Harry?” Bonetti spoke.
”The tipster’s info on the Cuenca murder, implicating a Mudcat Jones... I ran the name but didn’t get anything. I’m running all the Jones’s we got, but there’s gonna be a load of ’em, it’s gonna take time.” Harry said.
Bonetti thought, then spoke. ”See if you can get a description on the caller from the bus station nightshift personnel, he might’ve been catching a bus somewhere. Stay on the Mirna Salguero search, she’s the only neighbor we haven’t spoken to isn’t she?” Bonetti asked. Harry nodded.
”You think it’s odd she’s come up missing Chief?” Harry asked.
”Could just be bad timing, or coincidence. Anything interesting on our girl to report?” Bonetti said.
”I lost her in traffic yesterday afternoon, she was headed for Beverly Hills though, probably shopping...well, window shopping.” Harry spoke. ”She returned the rental car this morning, still can’t figure out why she’d be renting, maybe for variety. Seems she likes to mix it up a little...”
”Whatta ya mean?” Bonetti said. Fallon Dawn’s ears perked up, she immediately understood the detectives were discussing her, and, she was being tailed.
”She’s got herself a girlfriend. A pretty Chinese girl...maybe you’re not her type after all Chief. They left her apartment together this morning, looking pretty chummy.” Harry said lasciviously. ”Maybe she’s a clam diver Chief.”
”Might just be confused, or experimenting...they might just be friends, hell, I dunno. Not really my area of expertise. I’m not sure her love life’s any of our business anyway, you think it’s relevant?” Bonetti asked.
”Might be. Her dead boss might be involved somehow, a love triangle. You gotta admit, her showing up at the Cuenca murder scene only a few hours after her boss turns up dead, both bodies barely cold. Cuenca, an Asian girl, her girlfriend, also an Asian...makes you wonder Chief.” Harry said.
”What, you think our girl’s a homicidal lesbian killer Harry? And her old boss got in the way?” Bonetti said.
”Not really. But you gotta wonder, her boss turns up dead in the morning, in the afternoon she’s on the scene of another death, this one a cold-blooded murder, and both times little Miss Lonely Hearts, an innocent by-stander, don’t know shit and got nothing to say or offer that helps.” Harry said.
”Could be coincidence.” Bonetti added.
”Another coincidence?” Harry said. ”You know what they say Chief. If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...the bitch is hiding something...and it ain’t just a fetish for yellowtail duck sauce.”
Detective Bonetti pondered Tong’s crass analogy for a moment. ”Okay Harry, you might be right. Get on the bus station tip, let’s see how many Jones’s we got, and put a rush on the Cuenca phone and bank records, maybe there’s something there. I’ll take over the Miss Lonely surveillance over the weekend, let’s see if there’s more than meets the eye to the innocent Miss Hunter.” As he spoke, Bonetti pulled the office door open and peered out into the hall.
”What is it Chief?” Harry asked.
Bonetti answered. ”Nothing...I just thought...nothing.”
As Fallon Dawn exited the Hollywood Police station, she was flushed with anxiety. She’d heard enough to know that the detectives were far more suspicious of her than they’d let on in her presence. As she drove back to the office, she assimilated all the available data and decided it was perfectly logical for them to be suspicious, her panic subsided. She was openly offended however, that the detectives had drawn such lurid and liberal conclusions regarding her sexual preferences, but reasoned that perhaps that might work in her favor. At least it would give her some valid excuse for turning away Detective Bonetti’s advances. She didn’t especially like the police following her, or being overly interested in her personal life, but, now that she was aware of it, she’d be more alert.
Back at the office, Fallon was surprised to find Kwan busy redecorating and rearranging; the place looked significantly better with only minimal changes. She had moved the coffee maker into a more readily accessible area, the blinds had all been dusted and wiped and the windows were clean. Fresh flowers decorated the reception desk and with the doors to Burl and Alan’s offices open and the windows open; a soft, warm breeze flowed through pleasantly. The desks had been “Pledged” and all the picture frames appeared buffed. The entire office had been transformed, it smelled sweet and inviting, it looked immaculate, and Kwan’s presence topped the whole atmosphere off with a delightful cherry on top.
”Wow!” Fallon exclaimed.
”You like?” Kwan asked.
”You’re amazing.” Fallon said.
Kwan smiled warmly and picked up message notes. ”Burl Barnes called. He said he arrived safely and if there’s any news of Jake, to give him a call. A Vivian Valentine called, she’d like to see you this weekend, on her yacht, here’s the address in the Marina, she said if you’d like to go for a sail, to arrive before noon tomorrow and you’re welcome to bring a friend.” Fallon took the note and examined it.
”You want to go? Maybe it’ll be fun. It might be nice to get away for a weekend.”
”I don’t have a swimsuit.” Kwan said.
Fallon smiled. ”Oh, I think we can find you something to throw on.”
Kwan hesitated, ”I’ve never been on a yacht. I’ve been on a boat before, I almost drowned. The old Chinese saying goes, ’Save someone’s life and you’re responsible for that person forever’ ...you won’t let me drown, will you?”
Fallon looked deeply into Kwan’s bottomless eyes, she saw that the girl wasn’t teasing or playing around. She answered earnestly. ”I won’t let you drown Joanie, I promise.” She lingered on Kwan’s facial features, she wondered how a face could be so perfect and a soul so unblemished. She saw and sensed only beauty and peacefulness coming from Kwan, it felt good just to be near her.
”What’s yellowtail?” Fallon asked.
”It’s a fish. Very delicious and good for you. In our culture, fish are a symbol of fertility, you like fish?” Kwan asked.
Fallon thought briefly. ”I didn’t think so.”
Fallon settled in at Alan’s desk and began ruminating on the puzzle pieces of the cases she was working. She’d overheard Harry Tong telling Detective Bonetti about the tipster implicating Mudcat Jones in Emma Cuenca’s murder. That made sense. Mudcat’s surviving her point blank Colt .25 assault, didn’t. If he was still alive, he would be extremely dangerous. Mirna Salguero missing might be attributed to she and Frankie fleeing, she surmised. It might have been Frankie calling from the bus station, which meant they might have left on a bus, but to where? Then, there was Alan’s murder and her blackmailer. Why was Alan targeted and what did his nephew have to do with it? She thought back on the envelope she’d delivered to Alan’s killer and the missing file on Jake in the hatbox. She eyed the Fedora sitting atop her desk, she’d taken to wearing it to block the harsh sun, she recalled the key hidden in the band. She reached for it and pulled the little brass key from it’s hiding spot. Fallon sat in still silence trying to imagine what the key might fit...and what might be locked inside.
Kwan was busying herself dusting the bookcase in Alan’s office and noticed Fallon sitting motionless. ”Are you going to the mailbox?”
Fallon awoke from her thinking. ”What?”
”Are you going out? To the mailbox?” Kwan asked.
”What do you mean?” Fallon was confused.
”That’s a mailbox key, from one of those mail forwarding service places, I thought you were going there.” Kwan said.
A light switched on in Fallon’s head. A mail service. They sometimes have small lock boxes, the key would fit perfectly. She yanked the desk drawer open and pulled out the stack of receipts she’d separated earlier. She flipped through them until coming to what she was looking for. She grabbed her purse, the key, and tossed on Alan’s hat. On the way out she patted Kwan on the ass affectionately. ”You’re a genius! Lock the door, I’ll be back!’”
Kwan answered flirtatiously. ”Yes boss!”
Fallon made her way through the heavy foot traffic on Hollywood Boulevard. The mail service listed on the receipt was only a couple of blocks down; by the time she got there she was perspiring and rethinking the need for high heels. It was a small storefront with glass doors that opened onto walls lined with small metal boxes. She located the one with the same number as Alan’s receipt, one-forty-two. The key slid in easily and the little door popped open instantly. Inside, was a single, business size number ten envelope, addressed to Jake Barnes. The return address was the emblem of Twentieth Century Fox Studios. Inside the envelope was a simple, one-page letter. It was dated November twenty-seventh. It read:
Dear Jake, I
read your script and loved it! We’re going away for All My Best Regards, Goodbye |
Fallon Dawn stood staring in dazed wonderment
at the one page letter in her hands. She had no idea of the significance of
what she had just discovered, or the cataclysmic events that were to come due
to this discovery.
* * * * *
