Goodbye Natalie
Chapter Sixteen: The Cold and The Lonely
Fallon Dawn quietly slipped under the covers, it had been a long, exhausting day and she was more than ready to surrender to the void of a deep, comforting sleep. The morning would arrive rapidly and she looked forward to getting away from the congestion and smog of the city for the weekend. It would give her a chance to catch up on some much needed relaxation and allow a peaceful time to consider the continual onslaught of mysterious events that seemed to be attracted to her like mosquitoes to bare skin.
Kwan’s warm leg wrapped over her own and the sleeping beauty nuzzled closer. ”Where’d you go?” Joanie Kwan asked drowsily.
”Hollywood Greyhound station.” Fallon answered as she checked the clock. It was nearing two a.m.
”You planning a bus trip?” Kwan asked.
”I talked to the night clerk and asked if they remembered seeing someone resembling Frankie purchasing a ticket last night.” Kwan inquired further.
”Did they?”
”Oh yeah.” Fallon answered definitively.
”That’s good.” Kwan snuggled closer.
”Joanie...” Fallon whined weakly. ”I told you, I’m not a lesbian.”
”You think I am?” Kwan asked. ”I think you’re a witch.” Fallon said.
”Which witch? A good witch, or a bad witch?” Kwan asked playfully.
”Oh, you’re definitely bad.” Fallon responded.
Kwan giggled. ”And now you’re under my spell and will do my bidding.”
”What would that be bad witch?” Fallon played along.
”Buy me a house.” Said Kwan.
”I don’t have that kind of money.” Fallon responded honestly.
”You can get it.” Kwan insisted.
”What else?” Fallon asked.
”Buy me a car.” Kwan continued.
”You can have mine.” Fallon said.
Kwan scoffed. ”I’m not wasting my powers on that piece of junk.”
Fallon continued. ”What else?”
”Pay off my smugglers.” Kwan’s requests turned serious.
”How much is it?” Fallon asked.
”Fifteen thousand.” Kwan said. ”You saved my life, you’re responsible for me now.” Fallon didn’t answer, the game seemed to be over. Kwan went on. ”Aren’t I worth it?” As Kwan slid two strong fingers along the crevasse behind Fallon’s knee cap and massaged firmly, Fallon let out a gasp.
”Don’t do that.” She complained.
”Don’t you like it?” Kwan asked in a throaty voice.
”I didn’t say that, but...” Fallon hesitated.
Joanie prompted her. ”But what?”
”It’s not right.” Fallon said pleadingly.
”So why don’t you stop me then?” Kwan argued.
”I’m going to.”
”When?”
Fallon’s breathing caught in her chest, she swallowed with difficulty.
”In a minute...”
* * *
Weekend morning traffic was light on the One-Ten West. The sun lay warm on their backs as the girls searched the marina for Vivian Valentine’s yacht. Across the moorings, the elderly movie star called out and waved. As they neared the aging, but well-kept boat, Vivian called down from the deck...
”All
aboard ladies! I’m so glad you could make it!” Vivian welcomed them
heartily. Fallon Dawn dispensed introductions.
”Vivian, this is Joanie Kwan. Joanie, Vivian Valentine.”
”Oh my! You are a lovely thing!” Vivian gushed over Kwan. ”Don’t let any producers catch the eye of this one Fallon, she’ll be lost to the movies for certain!”
Kwan didn’t understand the reference, but smiled just the same. She recognized Vivian from her many films. Even in Asia, old black and white Vivian Valentine movies still played on television and even in theaters. She was shocked to see the once glamorous and beautiful star in the flesh, now wrinkled and old. But, the unmistakable gleam and mischief in Vivian’s eyes still showed through. ”It’s an honor to meet you ma’am.” Joanie said sincerely.
”Ma’am’s me mother girlie, on board the ”Thank You Scarlet”, it’s just ’Viv’”. The movie star insisted.
”Thank You Scarlet?” Fallon inquired. ”That’s your boat’s name?”
”A gift from my first husband.” Vivian said. ”Rest his soul...drank and whored himself to death, his black heart gave out on him while he was on top of a rather well-known starlet, seven miles out to sea. She and I were up for the same part and my husband was one of the money men behind the movie. I got the boat and a million dollar life insurance policy payout, she got the lead in probably the biggest film of all time.”
”You were up for the part of Scarlet?” Fallon asked wide-eyed.
”That’s right dearie.” Vivian answered. ”Losing that part and that cold-hearted bastard were the best things to ever happen for me.”
”What do you mean?” Fallon was curious.
Vivian explained. ”You do a movie like that, it gets all the awards, everyone associated with it becomes a superstar...critical and audience acclaim, notoriety, fame...then what? Everything that follows will always be compared to it. You will never live up to that extraordinary greatness. It’s all downhill from there. Look what happened to Scarlet. Two, maybe three more films with moderate success, she was a has-been before she was thirty and died young, heart-broken and half crazy with disappointment. I, on the other hand, endured. Thirty plus more films after nineteen-thirty-nine, and still have this floating bucket worth who knows how much. Oh, she’s not as spry as she used to be, and not as shiny, but she’s still afloat honey. We’re not quite ready for the scrap heap yet. Let me give you the tour.”
Fallon and Joanie followed Vivian around the expansive yacht. It was about forth-five feet long by Fallon’s estimation. The outer hull and railings were heavily varnished, knarled cherry wood. The trimmings and hardware were highly polished brass. The deck was spotless, hand-washed to a high gloss and worn through in spots from constant attention. The dual masts were thick aluminum that Fallon thought had been recently added. The sails were tightly rolled and tied to the masts with new rope. The front deck was long and wide enough to allow sun-bathing or passenger traffic. The three bedrooms below were mahogany lined and furnished with luxurious bedding. All the glass was crystal and expensive. The galley was spotless and the low hum from the engine room boasted double Rolls-Royce diesels. A deckhand tended to all the necessities of launch and remained behind as the Captain set sail. An elderly Italian man, Vivian confided that he’d been hired as a boat captain in one of her most famous films and remained on to tend to the yacht. He lived on the boat and took extreme pride in its upkeep and operation, and it showed.
Vivian spoke. ”Lucio has been with me for over fifty years now, he refuses to learn English, but takes care of Scarlet like it’s his own child. You girls get your swimsuits on, I’ll make the drinks.”
Fallon
had bought Kwan a brightly colored, flower-print bikini with an Hawaiian skirt
wrap. She and Vivian opted for large sunglasses, brimmed hats, plenty of sunscreen
and loose fitting deck wear. When Kwan appeared from below, hair flying in the
breeze, topless and not the least bit self-conscious, Vivian, Fallon and Lucio
all stared in shock and admiration. Kwan handed Fallon a bottle of cocoanut
lotion. ”You want to do me?”
Fallon swallowed thickly. Her voice came out in a raspy growl. ”Yes.” She applied generous layers of greasy oil to Kwan’s back and legs. She allowed her thoughts to drift. Just as the glassy ocean with frothy wave caps belied the tumultuous undercurrents just beneath the surface, the languid scene being played out on the yacht’s deck covered up the swirling tornado of thoughts twisting in Fallon’s mind. With no phones onboard, and no chance of anyone getting to her, she allowed the wide-ranging ponderous contemplations to unfold like petals of a chrysanthemum. She relived the events of the past days...
After discovering the letter in Jake Barnes’ rented mailbox, she had bribed the clerk to allow her to see the rental agreement, noting the forwarding information on the card; it read, ’S. Wong, MCM, O’Farrel Street, San Francisco. When she had returned to the Hollywood office, the locksmith was still changing the door locks and she got him to show her how to change the combination on the floor safe in Alan’s office. It was fairly simple, merely remove the tumbler cap and adjust the dials by inputting the new combination, then re-securing the cap. She felt confident the letter was safe and secure there. She didn’t know what the mysterious message in the letter meant, but thought it might have some relation to Alan Rassmussen’s murder, and possibly some relevance to Jake Barnes’ potential involvement in the complicated scenario.
By midday they were approaching Catalina Island and Kwan was a deep, golden bronze. There was a slight humidity in the air and a heavy mist shrouded the island, not unlike the cloudy fog of troubled thoughts hovering about Fallon’s head. She was beginning to gain some clarity though, and formulate a tentative overview through the denials and doubts. Like the mountain peaks rising out of the haze, some ideas began to emerge.
Lucio maneuvered the yacht carefully into the peaceful Catalina Bay and anchored the vessel securely. Vivian announced proudly. ”Lunch ashore ladies! Then, I have a treat for you!” As Lucio ferried the group ashore in the tiny landing craft, Fallon thought aloud.
”Isn’t this where that movie star drowned not long ago?”
”This is exactly the location.” Vivian answered. ”Their boat was moored right over there.” She motioned to a spot only a few feet away toward the north. ”What a terrible tragedy. She was a wonderful lady.” Vivian shook her head.
”You knew her?” Fallon asked.
”Oh yes. She was just a girl coming up when I was on my way out. Even then you could tell she was destined. The fire in her eyes, that face, that smile, all that talent.” Vivian said.
”You think it’s true, what they say I mean...” Fallon gossiped.
”You mean the husband?” Vivian said.
”You really think she had something to do with it?” Fallon asked.
”I’ve been around long enough to know that anything is possible. Especially in Hollywood.” Vivian answered.
”How could he just get away with it?” Fallon asked.
”My dear.” Vivian began. ”There are many things in Heaven and on Earth that cannot be explained, but this one is easy. Money and power. Everything’s for sale in this town, and the studios write the checks. You want to be elected, you want a deal done, you have skeletons in the closet or a body in the bathtub, it can all be dealt with by those in the know. It all goes through the studio offices. Little men with large checkbooks and even larger egos. I’m not saying he did it, but he’s a team player and a member in good standing with the head honchos for a long time. They’re not going to allow a favored son go down like that. I’m not saying it happened that way, I’m saying it could have. Regardless, poor Natalie died cold and alone, and nothing can change that.”
Something about what Vivian said stuck in Fallon’s craw, tickling the back of her brain like a tick in a hound’s ear. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something had clicked subconsciously.
The surprise that Vivian had in store was a day spa complete with full hair and nail treatment, a facial and body massage with warm seaweed wrap. As they lay in exquisite pampering mode, Fallon filled Vivian in on the status of the search for her son. She came completely clean and left no detail unmentioned, including Emma Cuenca’s murder and the fact that it was inevitable that the police would show up, trying to tie Frankie to the crime. Because of the bank and phone records, he would be a lead suspect and it would certainly be best if Fallon was the one to find him first. She urged Vivian to be honest with the police and cooperate completely, including the fact that she had hired Fallon to find Frankie, even though she herself had been, to say the least, elusive.
Vivian had a burning question. ”Do you know where my son is?”
Fallon had a half answer. ”Not exactly, but I do know where he’s headed, in general that is. I was hoping you might be of assistance there.”
”How so?” Vivian asked.
”I know the city, but I don’t have any idea where in the city he’ll land.”
”So you want to know if there are any family or other connections within that general vicinity where my son might show up?” Vivian caught on fast.
”Yes.” Fallon said. ”But, this portion of our discussion must remain confidential. Absolutely no one else should be included.”
”Even the police?” Vivian asked.
”Especially the police.” Fallon answered firmly.
Vivian thought, then spoke. ”You talked to the police on numerous occasions, yet you’ve not divulged either Frankie or my name to them...why?”
”In part because of inexperience and confusion. On the other hand, I don’t think Frankie is a murderer, so prematurely distracting the police into following that lead would be inefficient and irresponsible. Thirdly, you’re my client, I feel it’s my responsibility to look out for your best interests.” Fallon was speaking earnestly.
Vivian
Valentine gave the young girl a long look. Inwardly, she was smiling and couldn’t
help but feel a swell of pride. The same sense of accomplishment perhaps a coach
would experience after plucking a greenhorn plowboy from the farm fields and
managing his rise to the big leagues. She clearly knew that Fallon was playing
by her wits and lacked the depth and experience a seasoned investigator would
have, leaving her at a severe disadvantage. Yet, he had something most others
lacked, honor.
”Alright dear, I understand. Now then, tell me...what city?”
Fallon Dawn had her own inward contemplations. Was she compromising the case and her own neck by confiding in the elderly woman? She quickly surmised that the seemingly over-the-hill actress was savvy beyond looks and still sharp as a newly honed razor. It was a chance she was willing to risk.
”San Francisco.” Fallon revealed.
”Ah, the city by the bay.” Vivian responded enigmatically. ”Well, I just might have some ideas then.” She reached for her purse and pulled out her checkbook. ”You’re going to be needing some traveling money.”
Fallon hedged. ”Viv...are you sure? Can you afford this? I don’t
want you over extending yourself, you may need that.”
Vivian laughed. ”My dear, what on earth would I be saving it for?”
* * *
As the sun was setting over the Pacific, Frankie and Mirna exited the San Francisco bus terminal and hiked a few blocks through the Tenderloin section to a cheap hotel. After getting settled, Frankie grabbed his coat.
”Where are you going Poppy?” Mirna asked.
”I’ll be back soon baby. You get some sleep.” Frankie answered confidently.
In the cool Northern California night air, Frankie trolled the bars for likely candidates. There was no levity in his demeanor, this was serious business and Frankie went about the task like a sculptor carving marble. Within six hours he had accumulated nine-hundred dollars from turning five tricks. His goal had been a thousand, but the last one he had to get a little rough with the customer to collect payment. It wasn’t something he liked to do, and if he had more time he wouldn’t have bothered with the small change. His usual game was to work a mark on the long swindle and reap the big payoff. But, the long bus ride had given him time to think and he’d decided on this course of action just north of Bakersfield. He didn’t like it, he didn’t want to have to do it, but sometimes you had to suck it up and do what needed to be done. It’s called survival.
At about one-thirty a.m., he tip-toed back into the hotel room where Mirna was sleeping soundly. He checked on the girl, covering her up and kissing her softly on the forehead. He then laid the nine-hundred dollars on the dresser and closed and locked the door behind him. As Frankie Valentine disappeared into the San Francisco fog, he refused to think about what he had just done. You don’t let that kind of guilt invade your thoughts when you’re running for your life. Decisions, bad and good, have to be made. And Frankie had decided this was how it had to be.
In
the desolate quietness of the lonely hotel room, Mirna slept through Frankie’s
treachery. The thin blanket did little to fend off the frosty chill and she
shivered each time the wind rattled the window panes. Her dreams were of good
things to come; sharing a life with a man she loved, a nice home, a family.
The baby in her womb was just beginning to grow, Mirna didn’t need to
visit a doctor to confirm she was pregnant, she’d known it for some time.
She was saving the good news for the right moment and looked forward to see
the joy on Frankie’s face when she told him. Mirna Salguero went to sleep
with innocent, hopeful dreams...she would wake up, cold and alone.
* * * * *
