Goodbye Natalie

Chapter Twentyfive: The Protector

      The temperature had dropped significantly, as had Fallon’s confidence in her ability to rescue Joanie Kwan. Murky fog rolled in from the bay in great billowing clouds, matching the foreboding and angst that muddled her thinking and weighed on her heart like an anchor of hopelessness. As she and Jake Barnes neared the Golden Gate Bridge en route to a meeting with Kwan’s kidnappers, he explained his part in the events which had ultimately led to Alan Rassmussen’s demise and sent Jake fleeing L.A., seeking refuge at the Magic Carpet Massage Parlor.

      ”I had no idea of the degree of violence these people are capable of. The whole thing seems like some bizarre dream, even now. I wasn’t even thinking of going public with what I knew, or believed I knew. Who’d have believed me anyway? I’m nobody.” Jake explained.

     ”Everybody is somebody Jake.” Fallon said.

     ”They were willing to do whatever was necessary to keep me quiet, permanently. I didn’t have any choice.” Jake continued.

     ”You did what you had to do Jake, it was him or you.” Fallon spoke reassuringly.

     Jake continued. ”Don’t make it any easier living with. I’m no killer Fallon, I want you to know that. I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud of, but I never intended to take a life.” He paused. ”Now, Alan’s dead too.”
Fallon looked over at him. ”You sure you’re up to this?”

     ”Are you?” He asked back.

     ”I like to think I’m able to rise to the occasion, same as you did.” She said flatly.

     ”Lucky for us the fog came in tonight. We’ll be able to get close before we split up.” Jake said. He pumped the shotgun wedged between his legs and checked his pockets for shells. He continued. ”You sure about this plan?”

     ”I’m absolutely not.” Fallon replied.

     Jake smirked in the dark. ”You don’t seem like the foolhardy type. I gotta tell you though, chances are you’re heading headlong into a trap.”

     ”Well,” Fallon began. ”I’m not as smart as I look.”

     Jake smiled and winced in pain...he rubbed his forehead. Fallon noticed.

     ”How’s your head? I’m really sorry about that.” She said concernedly.

     ”Hey, chances are that’ll be the least of my concerns after tonight. You know,” Jake said coyly. ”I’m willing to let you make it up to me.”

     Fallon gave him a raised eyebrow. ”Save your energy stud, you’re gonna need it.”

     Jake replied. ”I’m really more of a lover than a fighter.”

     ”I hope so. You got knocked out by a girl.” Fallon fired back.

     ”And a fire extinguisher!” Jake objected. ”You got the jump on me.”

     Fallon rolled her eyes. Jake leaned over to the driver’s side and play- fully fiddled with her raincoat belt. ”So, whatta ya say lady P.I.? Naybe after all this is over with...” He said leeringly.

     Fallon slapped his hand away. ”Keep your mind on business Jake.” She said firmly.

     ”Sorry doll.” Jake said. ”I guess danger heats me up.”

     ”In that case bunny rabbit, you should be on fire.” Fallon said. Her words came out more ominously than she had intended. Traffic was light and the lights on the bridge were filtered by the fog. The pair drove on in silence, acutely aware of the peril that lay ahead.

* * *

     Just as an artist needs a cozy space in which to create a masterpiece, so does a killer require a safe lair from which to operate. Cherry Bomb didn’t disappoint when she showed Mudcat the deserted place she knew of; near to the city, but desolate and off the beaten path, far away from prying eyes. Just across the bridge, perched atop the rarely visited mountaintop was an empty shack of just the right proportions where Mudcat could execute his opus-dei of retaliation and revenge. Dust, mold and the disturbing presence of unseen but noticeable rodents scurrying about in the darkness, created a sickly ambience that reflected Mudcat’s own state of mind.

     Psycho-maniacal-sado-masochistic-serial-lunatic in full bloom, couldn’t begin to adequately describe his psyche as he put the finishing touches on the knots of the ropes that held Frankie Valentine, Joanie Kwan and the unlucky hotel desk clerk who just happened to be in the most incredibly wrong place at the most un-fortuitously wrong time. The single missing element that would complete Muscat’s most brilliant work, the person that would be the piece-de-resistance, was steadily approaching unaware of her role, or her nearness to the gates of hell. Even more portent, Fallon couldn’t know that the devil himself waited in rapt anticipation.

     She parked the car where the road ended and hiked up the steep incline towards the pit of doom. She faced the unknown, imminent threat with courage borne of unyielding concern for her friend, Joanie Kwan, and a bravery forged in the crucible of determination.

     The wind howled in frigid gusts and between layers of dense fog the moon intermittently shone through, casting an eerie shadow and enhancing the terror. Bats and snakes and ghosts of dread and misgivings lined the path to the apex of the mountain. Fallon ignored the fear and trudged on, tightly clutching the cold metal of the gun hidden beneath the folds of her raincoat. A rational plan had been substituted with grim purpose and personal welfare gave way to self sacrifice. Jake had guessed correctly that the kidnappers had holed up in the lone structure on the hilltop, and he was at this very moment trekking the back pathways in hopes of reaching the summit before Fallon. Her front approach would serve as a distraction while he surveyed the situation from the rear.

     The shack was in view now, Jake crept out of the brush and silently approached the open window...he peered in. Hazy moonlight partially lit the interior. It appeared there were three captives, all bound securely in the middle of the room. A dusty table against the wall was the only furniture, a giant figure stood in the doorway facing outwards. Jake heard him call out.

     ”That’ll be far enough there pussycat!” His voice was deep and menacing. These words were the last Jake heard spoken. He detected movement to his left, the hard thud of lead pipe on skull bone was quick and unexpected. He fell like a sack of dirt in a motionless heap. The second head trauma suffered in less than two hours had blood seeping out of his left ear and Jake’s life force hovering just outside the crumpled mass of his body, now bleeding freely into the weeds.

     Fallon’s only backup had been eliminated; unknowing, she continued her assault on the steep grade. The sheer drop of high cliff on one side, the dense brush of the mountain on the other and the unseen face of evil straight ahead, closed in on Fallon – his voice chilled her heart and froze her in mid step.

     ”That’s far enough there pussycat!”

     Twenty feet ahead, standing in the cabin doorway was the last person on Earth Fallon had expected to face in these circumstances...Mudcat Jones!

     The voice was familiar and cruel. ”You alone?”

     Fallon answered. ”Yes.”

     ”You packin’?” Mudcat growled.

     ”I am.” Fallon answered honestly.

     ”Throw it here pussycat, nice and easy.” Mudcat commanded.

     ”Can’t do that. Let the girl go and we can talk.” Fallon said evenly.

     Mudcat threw his head back and cackled maniacally. ”You sure got spunk pussycat, I’ll give ya that.”

     Even in half-light, Fallon could see that Mudcat was brandishing a large revolver, probably a forty-five. At point-blank range her Colt hadn’t mortally wounded Mudcat previously, she wondered how it would fare this time. She hoped Jake was on scene by now, hiding within earshot...she also hoped he had the good sense to take a shot. She stalled.

     ”Let me see the girl.” Fallon spoke calmly.

     ”Sure pussycat, come on in.” Mudcat stood aside of the doorway, luring the fly to the web. She took a tentative step forward and peeked through the open doorway. She could make out three figures. It appeared that Kwan was in the middle. Mudcat lit a flashlight and shone the beam across the face of his captives. ”Take a good look pussycat.” He was enjoying the tour.
To her surprise, one of the others was Frankie Valentine. The third was the hotel desk clerk.

     ”The gang’s all here pussycat, now how ’bout you be a good girl and come join the party.” Mudcat cooed.

     Fallon estimated how long it would take her to pull the Colt and fire. Mudcat stepped into the shack and stood over the helpless trio. He pointed the huge gun to the head of the desk clerk. ”Come on in pussycat.” Mudcat growled.

     She gingerly entered the room, danger hung in the air like death on a corpse.

     ”Now, toss that bb gun over here.” Mudcat commanded.

     Fallon gripped the Colt tightly, willing herself to raise her arm and fire. Where the hell was Jake! ”Let them go, you and I can settle this.” Fallon spoke shakily.

     ”Wrong answer.” Mudcat spoke without emotion. A brilliant flash and ear shattering explosion filled the air. As the smoke lifted, Fallon saw that the clerk’s face was replaced with blood and exposed bone. Kwan was splattered in red and she pulled back from the collateral impact. Mudcat had re-cocked his gun and it was pointed at Kwan. Negotiations were over – Fallon threw the Colt across the floor noisily.

     ”Alright, alright! No more!” She was dazed and bewildered and panicked, and now defenseless. In one stride Mudcat crossed the room and picked her up by the hair with one hand. He held her at arm’s length, her feet were off the floor – she waited for the shot to come. Instead, he delivered a brain-numbing slap across the face that sent her flying into the wall near the window.

     ”That’s more like it pussycat. Now, the payback begins.”

     Fallon’s ears were ringing and her head was spinning like a carousel. She felt like she would throw up and she grabbed the window sill to steady herself. She was on the verge of passing out and she forced her mind and body to recover. As she staggered to her feet, she leaned out of the window slightly to take in a lungful of air. It was then that she realized why Jake hadn’t come to the rescue. He lay motionless beneath the window, dead or close to it. The serene outside scene was bathed in pale moonlight, dew glistened on the grass and bushes and a light film of condensation had begun to form on Jake’s back.
The low window sill would allow Fallon to dive out and run...but to where and for what purpose? To get help? To save herself? Time for running had long past and the only saving to be done would have to be of the soul variety. All hope was lost and Fallon dropped to her knees for a final prayer.

     ”God help us.” She whispered.

     Mudcat heard and spoke with contempt. ”God left you to me girlie...and now the devil goin’ ta get his due. The only question is, who’s goin’ first?” Mudcat licked his lips and made his choice. His eyes fell on Kwan and in one motion his knife popped her bindings and he picked her up, ripping the silk dress she had so proudly modeled for Fallon, into shreds as if it were tissue paper. He slammed her onto the wooden table and growled lustily. ”This here be long coming China girl.”

     Terror and rage rose in Fallon like a pregnant volcano and heat flooded through her brain in torrents. The voice emanating from her delicate mouth was foreign and unfamiliar. It sounded like hate and came out loud and evil.

     ”Take you filthy hands OFF MY GIRLFRIEND YOU SICK FREAK!!!”

     Like a rabid wolverine on a surprised bear, Fallon leapt across the room onto Mudcat’s back. She dug fingernails into eyes and flesh and sank teeth into skin and muscle and bone. Her legs wrapped around his waist and refused to release...she hung on like a rodeo cowboy on a prize-winning bull ride. In a frenzy of motion, Mudcat swirled and spun, trying to reach back to get a grip on the wild creature who’d attacked him with such fury that he hadn’t been able to react. He found his gun and began shooting in all directions, hitting at Fallon, prying at her legs and hands. Screaming and hollering and cussing and spitting, the two rolled to the floor in a death match, good versus evil. Kwan joined in and her nakedness only made the scene more bizarre and confused. Mudcat fought off one from the front and bashed his elbow into the wildcat on his back. He finally gathered his senses and stood up taking a full run at the wall, then turning at the last second to scrape Fallon off his back. He punched Kwan in the face, she fell backwards stunned. He then turned on Fallon, facing her with blood in his eyes and murder in his heart.

     ”This goin’ end right now pussycat.” He stepped forward.

     ”Not yet freak, I’m just starting to have fun.” Fallon pulled the baton out of her coat pocket and whipped the extension to full length. As she swung the device at Mudcat’s head, he pulled back just in time to allow it to whiz past his nose. Before she could swing again he smashed his foot into her ribs, knocking the wind out of her.

     ”You’re out of your league little girl.” Mudcat admonished while breathing heavily. He too was in pain and fighting for his life. Fallon took the extra second to dig back into her pockets and retrieve the mace can. As he moved in for the kill, Fallon extended her arm and sprayed the repellant directly in the big man’s eyes. Initially, he drew back, surprised at the small girl’s resilience and pluck. He shrugged off the stinging in his eyes and wiped the liquid away, seemingly unfazed. ”You done it now girlie, you gone ’en made ole Mudcat mad.” He renewed his attack.

     Nothing was stopping the monster, all Fallon was doing it appeared, was delaying the inevitable. She withdrew her final weapon, the brass knuckles, and quickly slipped them onto her right hand, gripping tightly to secure the too-large implement. In the dark, he didn’t notice the move and charged at the much smaller opponent, unaware. She waited until he got within arm’s length and drew back with all her strength and punched her attacker directly in the nose. Mudcat fell backwards, bleeding from the middle of his face. Finally, Fallon thought, I’ve hurt him. But her advantage didn’t last long. He stood
up deliberately, spat out a mouthful of blood and wiped his eyes. All the emotion and expression left his face, he looked like a zombie and the sight chilled Fallon to her core. Calmly, Mudcat retrieved his gun.

     Fallon took a deep breath and readied for one final attack. She scrambled on the floor to get her feet under her, she was cornered and at the killer’s mercy. Mudcat raised his pistol in slow-motion, the barrel looked like a large water pipe with a black tunnel in the middle, which lead directly to hell. It was now or never, Fallon knew her next action would determine life or death. She gritted her teeth and called upon her last ounce of strength. She wasn’t going to go out lying down. But, all of her determination and courage in the face of sure defeat were no match for the efficiency of tempered steel and gunpowder. A single shot rang out, announcing a bullet’s last port of call. Fallon closed her eyes and waited for the impact.

     She hadn’t even been able to stand, now the final chapter of her young life was to be played out on the dirty floor of an abandoned shack. Worse yet, Kwan would be left to face evil alone and unprotected. There was nothing more she could do, she accepted the consequences of her bravery. She had fought hard but came up short. She awaited death’s final, cold embrace.

     Indeed, death had arrived...but halted two feet in front of her. Fallon looked up to see a hole blown open in Mudcat’s forehead, a bullet passing through from back to front. His dazed expression revealed shock and confusion. Life fled from his eyes as if grateful for the release. She slid aside as the huge man fell dead to the floor. She looked toward the door.

     A shadow stood there, wearing a Fedora and dark suit, holding a smoking gun in one hand and a young girl in a miniskirt in the other. ”I woulda been here sooner sweetcakes, but Daisy Mae here put up a helluva fight with a lead pipe out there.”

     The voice was familiar and the face was coming into focus. Fallon’s mind fought to process what she was seeing. The man who had just saved her life, was the same man she had delivered the briefcase to at Griffith Park. The same killer who’d threatened her on the phone in Alan’s office, the same man who had shocked her at Fox Studios. Alan’s killer was her savior.

     ”Wha, what are you doing here?” She asked, confused.

     ”I’m on a case sweetcakes. Lucky for you I’ve been on your trail, I thought you might lead me to who I’ve been looking for.” He said calmly.

     Fallon managed to rise to her feet. ”You’re looking for Jake Barnes.” She stated.

     ”That’s right. He’s got something that belongs to my client. Have you seen him?” The man asked. ”I found the kidnapper’s note in your hotel room, figured I’d check it out, looks like it’s a good thing I did.” Kwan moved across the room and untied Frankie, peeling the tape from his mouth. The movement of the naked girl distracted the dark stranger. Fallon took off her coat and wrapped it around Kwan; as she did so, she slipped Jake’s wallet from the pocket surreptitiously.

     ”Jake’s dead.” Fallon said flatly. She crossed to the clerk’s corpse and with her back to the stranger, reached into his lapel pocket and withdrew his wallet. As she turned, she concealed the clerk’s wallet in one hand and handed Jake’s to the stranger. ”See for yourself.”

     The man checked the i.d. in the wallet and compared the remains of the clerk. Fallon explained. ”I was checking on Jake for his uncle, he offered to help me out on a missing person’s case I was working and rescue Joanie. Unfortunately, it got him killed.”

     The stranger looked around the room. ”All this carnage for a missing person’s case?” He shook his head from side to side. ”He didn’t happen to leave a package laying around, did he? Like, an envelope of some sort?”

     Fallon shook her head. ”No.”

     The man looked down at Mudcat’s limp body. ”How’s this one involved?”

     ”A love triangle.” Fallon said, looking toward Kwan and Frankie who were talking and embracing in the corner.

     The man nodded and eyed Kwan. ”The pretty ones are always trouble.” He pointed to Mudcat. ”I hope he had it coming to him.” He said.

     Fallon nodded and said. ”He did.” She looked at the young prostitute standing behind the man. ”Who’s your friend?”

     ”I’m Cherry.” Cherry Bomb offered. ”I didn’t have nothin’ to do with any of this lady. I’m sorry about trying to hit you mister, he made me do it. I was a scared of him something terrible, please mister...I’m sorry...”

     ”Easy baby girl.” The man began. ”Nobody’s blaming you.”

     ”What are you going to do with her?” Fallon asked.

     ”If she can keep her mouth shut about all of this, I guess I’ll turn her loose.” He said. Cherry smiled tentatively and nodded. ”That’s probably the best thing for all of us.” He said.

     Fallon spoke. ”Your business with Jake, it’s over?”

     ”As long as that package don’t show up nowhere, no need for me to be involved.” He said.

     Fallon dug. ”Was killing Alan really necessary?”

     ”I thought the police said that was a suicide.” He shot back.

     ”Was it?” She continued.

     ”Maybe the guy couldn’t live with himself for some dirt he did. Like selling out a client maybe.” He looked toward the clerk’s body. ”Even innocent guys get themselves shot up sometimes, even the good guys do the wrong thing.”

     "Is that what you are? A good guy who did the wrong thing?” Fallon asked.

     ”We all got our roles to play Fallon. Butcher, baker, killer, thief, hero, whore. Tell me something, if you had been in my shoes, the one with the gun... would you have shot that big fella there in the back? Could you have done that?” He asked her pointedly.

     ”I would have killed him any way I could have.” She said.

     ”Right. Because you had a reason. There’s all kinds of reasons, I don’t know if any of ’em are good enough when you come down to it, killin’s killin. The point is, how you gonna know for certain if any of ’um’s right, unless you know the reason’s behind it?” His question was rhetorical. He examined Jake’s wallet, still in his hand. ”To make things clear, as long as Jake’s gone...and that package out of circulation...you got no need to see or hear from me again.” He eyed Fallon carefully and held the wallet up. ”Can I keep this?”

     She nodded deliberately. ”Goodbye.” She said with finality.

     ”Goodbye sweetcakes.” He said sincerely.

     ”Can I get a ride mister?” Cherry whined.

     ”You won’t try and club me again will you?” He asked.

     ”I’ll do whatever you want me to.” Cherry said sweetly.

     After they’d gone, Fallon was able to revive Jake. By the time she, Kwan and Frankie had dragged Mudcat and the clerk’s bodies to the Monte Carlo and hoisted them into the trunk, he was recovered enough to suggest he knew a good place to dispose of the bodies. While Kwan and Jake cleaned up evidence in the shack, she took Frankie to the side.

      ”Frankie, your mom sent me to find you. She needs you, she’s in the hospital. She needs to know you’re alright.” Fallon said.

     ”I gotta check on somebody in the city first, I’ll go home after that.” Frankie spoke sincerely. ”Can you drop me on the way?”

     Fallon knew he was speaking of Mirna, and she was glad. ”Sure.” She said.

     After they’d dropped Frankie at the city limits, he caught a bus downtown and Fallon and Kwan followed Jake (who was driving the Monte Carlo with the two dead bodies in the trunk) down the coastal highway to a secluded hairpin turn, several miles from civilization. They watched intently as he positioned the bodies in the front seat, tossed in all the guns and weapons and other evidence and pushed the car over the cliff into the cold Pacific below. He then brushed away the tire tracks and footprints on the road and climbed in the backseat of Fallon’s coupe. He said absently. ”Good place for bad trouble, that.”

     As they headed back to San Francisco, Fallon thought about what still needed to be done. Drop Jake off at Magic Carpet Massage, clear out the hotel room and head back to L.A. She thought about what the dark stranger had said and wondered about her place and role in the drama. She didn’t like that the innocent clerk had to suffer the ultimate fate, nor that his disappearance would be a mystery. But, she had other priorities.

     As they drove in silence, Kwan sat nudged up against her, refusing to let go of her arm. Jake snored in the backseat and the drone of tires on roadway served as soundtrack to the dark night. She petted Kwan’s ’soft hair, the girl’s face buried in her shoulder. Fallon Hunter knew the part she played in the tragic drama finally, and was satisfied. Regardless of the intricacies of right and wrong, laws bent or broken, innocent or guilty, hurt, harmed or even killed...everyone did have a part. Not so long ago, she could never have seen herself cast in the role, but then again, she wasn’t the one in charge. Someone or something much greater than she had to be responsible for creating such intrigue and devastation. Kwan sighed contentedly into Fallon’s shoulder, safe and secure in the arms of her protector.

* * * * *