The Continuing Saga of:
”ICICLE BILL and Tommy Two-Head”

Chapter Twentysix: A Grave For G Lu

When Tommy Two-Head woke up this morning, he realized that the fluffy soft pillows he’d been dreaming about and sleeping upon belonged to a very warm and inviting Gloria Lupino. He would have been quite content to lie there another hour or ten, but the rest of them seemed determined to disturb his comfort. The bizarre attack yesterday freaked him out pretty bad. He didn’t much care for birds, especially the larger, carnivorous types. He kept a wary eye on the big vulture still perched in the Mesquite...it seemed to be monitoring him as well. Tom didn’t like returning to Vulture Flats either, in fact, it was just about the last place on Earth he wanted to be. But he wasn’t calling the shots here, as he looked around and considered the pecking order, it was a pretty close call for the bottom of the totem pole between him, the vulture, and the tore-up homeboy sleeping off his ordeal of being tied to the Mesquite. It gave him solace that he likely would beat out the other two for the fourth in command...probably.

This place was just flat out creepy and a fresh reminder of how uncertain life can be. He didn’t want to, but he flashed on the memory of being tied up to that damn death tree, left to suffer an horrific fate. It was ironic that they had shown up barely in time to save another poor soul from similar circumstances. He knew there was only one no-good s.o.b. mean enough to have left a guy out here like that...and sure enough, about mid-morning Bumperjack Joe came rolling up with Molly in tow.

Even with all the misery and fear and trepidation swirling around in his head and stomach, seeing Molly again lit a fire in him he knew would always burn. He hunched down low in Jimmy Finger’s Buick and watched the scene unfolding in front of him interestedly. She was such a tiny, delicate little thing, even Tom could probably pick her up and throw her ten feet or more. But, when she moved, everything else stopped...time, reason, reality, as if the entire universe revolved with Molly at it’s center. The sun itself seemed to pause in the heavens while she decided where the appropriate place to alight would be. All eyes followed Molly-the-Midget as she casually and deliberately strode from Bumperjack’s bike to the campfire. Head held high, chin up, shoulders back, leading with curves far too dangerous for mortal men. A light breeze lifted her mane of curls in time with the subtle, sexual sway of her hips. A sense of ravenous desire hung in the air like expensive perfume, the kind made from exotic ingredients like elk musk and deer penis. She never seemed to be in a hurry, always serene, in control, calm and beautiful and as deadly as a scorpion sting. She finally settled and the rest of them came out of their trance.

Tom hunkered down lower in the car seat, hiding behind the steering wheel. He hoped the glare of the sun off the windshield blinded Bumperjack from noticing him. He’d escaped Joe’s wrath the last go-round, he wasn’t banking on another lucky break. Bill had gone out to meet Joe, Jimmy Fingers crossed over to the fire...that took the attention off the car, and hopefully, Tom. He’d just make himself small and hope for the best. As Tom lay low in the seat, he noticed something unusual.

Bill was approaching the Chevy to talk with Heavy Griz. Bumperjack was standing in the open, watching Jimmy Fingers closely over at the fire near G Lu and Molly. There was a tense energy in the air like the calm before a storm. Not a quiet calm either, more like a pregnant tension as if a lightening storm was passing over a dry forest, a wildfire poised to ignite, a tinderbox ready to explode...any little flicker might blow the whole lot of them to hell in a single flash. The lone turkey buzzard ruffled its feathers nervously in an attempt to shake off the oppressive heat. The only sounds were the light breeze as it droned steadily across the sand and the dull crunch of Bill’s footsteps on the desert floor. The soundtrack to a movie nobody wanted to be in. Bill vividly aware of the scenario, held his arms outstretched to show Heavy G that he wasn’t armed.

The calamitous noise that broke the quiet exploded across the plain like a thunderclap of a million cowbells. Unexpected and startling, everyone reacted to the noise according to their own degree of shock or paranoia. Jimmy Fingers immediately un-holstered his revolver and fell flat behind some scrub bushes. Bumperjack shoulder-rolled to his bike and grabbed a sawed-off shotgun from under the seat. Heavy Griz was as quick as a rattlesnake and had Bill in the sights of his pistol in a flash. Bill, unarmed and feeling naked and vulnerable, raised his arms and froze.

The insidiously annoying noise was the horn from Jimmy Fingers’ Buick, blaring repeatedly as the headlights flashed on and off with the windshield wipers pounding away. Tom had noticed the ignition wires had come loose and had picked an inopportune moment to fiddle with the wires. He was now furiously trying to get the horn, lights and wipers to shut off, and not managing it. Bill gave everyone the ’just stay calm’ motion and cautiously backed out of Heavy’s line of fire, easing over to the Buick. He reached through the open window and turned the key off. Tom was pale as seagull shit and felt worse than he looked. He sheepishly said. ”The ignition wires were loosed.”

Bill responded. ”Yeah, I did that.”

”You did it? Why’?”

”Listen Tom, if anything goes down, you grab G Lu and get the hell out of here. You hear me?” He was speaking quickly, anxiously.

”Whatta ya mean, goes down?”

”I mean anything. She’s your responsibility, ok?”

”What about...?”

”I don’t have time! Just promise me Tom, swear it...you’ll get her out, no matter what.”

Tom knew that look in Bill’s eyes, he’d seen it before. It was the kind of look a man who’s made his mind up has and neither hell nor high water is about to change it. If getting G Lu out was his part in it, so be it.

”I swear.”

Bill nodded. ”Alright then.” He steadied himself and took a deep breath. As he made his way back across no man’s land, he spoke loudly enough for all of them to hear. ”Just a little car trouble, nothing to worry about.”

There was a new urgency to his mission, he felt that there were too many wild cards in the deck at the moment and he needed to thin the herd down to elements he’d be able to deal with one-on-one. Too many guns, too many unpredictable personalities. The business with Heavy Griz was first. He once again approached the Chevy with arms out. Griz acknowledged and Bill slid in the passenger side. Bill laid out the facts plain and succinct.

”We got your partner over there in the car, he’s a little beat up but he’ll survive. You need to get him outta here though, sooner the better.” He ran down how they happened upon him there, pointing out the dusty mound near the Mesquite that was Gangster G’s final resting place. He explained how G Lu had traded sexual favors to a judge to get him sprung. He also pointed out that the big ugly guy in the suit was with the L.A.D.A.’s office and was escorting Bill to L.A. to face, among other things, embezzlement charges, emphasizing the fact that that is where the hundred-grand had come from. The very same money he’d paid Griz & Blinky to ransom G Lu. Griz could connect the dots from there. He quickly saw that trying to leave this spot with that money would require some heavy lifting. In his weakened and grateful to be alive state, an easy way out was worth the financial hit. He reached under the dashboard and tossed the bank bag to Bill.

”Hey, after what I been through, that bag a paper ain’t nothing to me Ese.” Bill stuffed it in his waistband under his shirt and gave Griz a slight nod.

”Good luck to you.”

The transfer of Blinky Mo to the low-rider was quick and silent. A trail of dust signaled their departure. Bill and Bumperjack conferred in quiet tones as Joe sat on his bike. Negotiations were over quickly and Bill inconspicuously slipped Joe a bundle from the bank bag. Joe fired the old Indian motorcycle up and Molly gracefully rose and strutted to the bike. As they pulled away and passed Tom, still in the Buick, Joe didn’t acknowledge his presence but Molly bequeathed him one final look. Mere eye contact fed his soul with enough nourishment to replenish any unfulfilled longings. The memory of her would fill his dreams for the rest of his life. He looked over at the campfire, as long or short as that might be.

G Lu was getting the gear together as Jimmy Fingers stood by. Bill was watching the last trace of Joe and Molly disappear in the distance. Tom recalled what Bill had been telling him a few moments earlier. He studied the Mesquite in the background and G’s grave. The big turkey buzzard was still hanging around and Tom knew they weren’t clear of danger just yet. As he approached the group he heard Jimmy saying to Bill, ”You get it all back?”

”Most of it. About ninety-grand give or take. Joe and Molly had a cut coming I figure. Saved us a lot of legwork.”

Jimmy said to Tom. ”How’d you get the car runnin’?”

”Ignition wires were loose. Shoulda checked that first I guess.”

Jimmy pondered aloud. ”Ignition wires. Wonder how that happened?” He gave Bill an accusing look.

Bill said. ”It’s an old car Jim. Things bound to go wrong sometimes.” The two stared at one another intensely. G Lu interrupted the uncomfortable exchange.

”You guys going to stand around here all day talking, or are we gonna get the hell out of here. It’s too damn hot for all this.” She gathered up the coffee can and utensils and started for the car.

Jimmy took a step backwards and pulled his pistol, aiming it at G Lu. ”Hold it right there sweetcakes, that’s far enough.”

G Lu was startled, mad and scared, all at the same time. She froze. Tom took a half step in front of her. Bill was slightly off to the left and Jimmy motioned for him to join the others. They again locked eyes and Bill saw the stoic, heartless, soulless face of death and doom there. If pure evil had flesh and blood and bones, it was standing directly in front of them.

”Jim, there’s no need for this. They’re gonna pay you a nice fee regardless. Hell, you could even keep the ninety and return me...I’ll still owe them...you got my word I won’t say anything.”

”Ain’t really bout the money Bill. But since you brought it up. It’s true, I’ll pocket the cash, the firm ain’t gonna miss it one way or another. But I’d just as soon not be relying on your, or anybody else’s word.”

”Jimmy, you’re talking triple murder here, for what?” Bill motioned to the other two. ”They ain’t got nothing to do with this. You got me. I accept that. Jim, let em walk away. I took the money, they sent you for me...you got me. They’re no threat to you. A stripper and a drifter, just let em walk.”

”Can’t do that Bill. As far as I’m concerned, I’d get you back safe and sound. But you see Bill...the firm’s not my only client.”

Bill was confused. ”What do you mean?”

Jimmy was emotionless. ”It’s your girlfriend Bill. Judge Wick hired me to track her down. Can’t stand the scandal and all. You know, teenage beauty queen and a well known judge. He got offered a nice federal judgeship, political connections I guess. He sent me to find her. Just a lucky coincidence I found her tied to you though, well, lucky for me...not so much for you.”

Bill’s head was spinning. Whether it was the steady, energy draining sun or the fact that life had tossed yet another cruel dagger his way in the form of misfortunate circumstance was meaningless to contemplate. That some rich, powerful old man could pull the trigger on him and the others from across the distance, probably as he sipped a cold drink from an icy glass while making solemn rulings in judgment of the miserable wretches that humbly shuffled into his austere courtroom, all this to prevent his sexual escapades from interfering in political aspirations, was ludicrous and would be comical if it wasn’t so bitterly fatal.

A numbness spread through G Lu’s extremities. The shock and absurdity of Jimmy Finger’s explanation and revelation staggered her. A man who had taken every liberty with her physically and emotionally, who’d greedily fed upon her innocence, who had once worshipped and wept at her feet in awe of her beauty and youth, now wished and commanded her death. And to ironically arrive at the end and lay silent at last, beside her paternal twin in unmarked graves in this desolate location, if a grave was even offered. It was an unbearable end to a once hopeful life.

”Does Judge Wick seriously consider me that much of a threat to him? Enough for this?” She spoke more calmly than she felt.

”He don’t see the need to take the chance sweetcakes.” Jimmy Fingers was cold but conciliatory. ”He didn’t much like the way you left it either babes. He knows it was you who sent the cameras and news crew to his house. Bad move sweetcakes.”

To add one last helping of humiliation on the doomed trio, Jimmy Fingers oversaw their last earthly labor...each of them was employed in the digging of their own grave. The thin layer of topsoil was easily pliable, but a few inches beneath, it hardened and made for a difficult task.

The tears in G Lu’s eyes weren’t born of sorrow for her and the other’s plight, but of hatred for the manner in which Death had made its final call. It wasn’t romantic or heroic, but ruthless and quiet and even in the hellacious heat, cold...as cold as the thoughts running through her head and the blood flowing through her veins. Bill took the tiny utility shovel (which Jimmy conveniently carried in his trunk at all times) from G Lu’s delicate hands.

”I’ll do it.” He gave Jimmy Fingers a determined scowl. Even Jimmy wouldn’t disallow Bill’s last act of chivalry. ”You should be near your brother Gloria.” Without permission sought or given, Bill restarted G Lu’s plot on the other side of the Mesquite, next to where he’d buried Gangster G not long ago. He and Tom worked slowly and it was late afternoon by the time they finished.

Jimmy expertly examined the efforts and nodded his approval. Awkwardly, the little group stood around the freshly dug holes in the ground. The long shadow of the Mesquite painted the sand as it trailed off to the east. Tom stole one last look at the stubborn buzzard, still awaiting his meal. He grunted to himself and thought, if that thing’s gonna feast on my skinny carcass, at least it’s gonna have to dig for it.

”One last bit of business Bill.” Jimmy Fingers spoke softly. ”I’ll take that money bag.”

Bill managed a slight grin. ”Yeah, I won’t be needin’ it anyway, will I?” He reached in his waistband and casually tossed it in the loose pile of dirt near G Lu’s gravesite.
Jimmy smiled. ”No need to be a sore loser buddy, everybody gotta end up worm food eventually.” He cautiously side-stepped towards the bank bag, all the time keeping a wary eye on Bill. Best to check the contents just in case. He didn’t want to find out later that Bill had played some kind of dirty trick on him in desperation.

”It’s all there Jim. I got no need to hold out on ya. And I hope every dollar of it reminds you of what you are.”

Jimmy couldn’t help but be amused. Did Bill really think something so crass as a guilty conscience could get to him. Yet, he wasn’t one to not allow a dying man his last words. ”And what that be Bill?”

The words spat from Bill’s throat like venom from a viper. ”A lowdown...”

Jimmy was enjoying this. ”No good...”

Jimmy reached down and grasped the money bag as Bill continued.

”Cold blooded...” He was zoned in on Bill, he’d let him say it, get it out of his system...then shoot him...right in the heart. An exclamation point on Bill’s self-delivered eulogy.

”Rattlesnake.”

As Jimmy Fingers tightened his grip on the bag, sand shifted beneath it. Like a flurry of invisible death the nest of disturbed rattlers struck in unison with painful, needlelike bites. The poison was toxic and immediate. The world was spinning and Jimmy couldn’t get off the merry-go-round. He lay facing up from the trunk of the Mesquite tree. The turkey buzzard that had waited so patiently all day, unfolded it’s massive wings and seemed to be licking it’s ravenous beak as it fluttered downward. Jimmy Fingers welcomed the sweet quiet of the coldness that was to come. The son of a gravedigger was finally at peace. He was going to a place where he felt comfortable, where he belonged. He was finally going home.

* * *
The rustic Buick carried the weary travelers south, then west. The sun set golden on the horizon and shone gently on G Lu’s graceful features. Bill stole glimpses of her as he drove, her skin was soft and glistened warmly, her eyes sparkled and it felt good inside to see her this way. After all she had been through, in the past days and during her brief life, it hadn’t defeated her. She was still vital, expressive and full of life...still radiant and hopeful. A woman that any man would be lucky to have.

”You think we should have buried him?” Her question broke a long silence in which all of them were lost in a sea of their own thoughts.

”Buzzards gotta eat too.” Bill managed a rare smile.

”But will there be enough of him left to i.d.?” She asked.

”I.D.? By who?” He answered.

”Well, we’ll have to tell them where he is and what happened and all. I mean, you can’t just show up without an escort...we have to explain...” She was looking intently at Bill now, pleadingly, with a childlike innocence, as if it was all so obvious. ”To make this right, the truth has to be told.”

Bill didn’t answer. Tom was napping in the backseat, or pretending to. He turned the car into a roadside melon stand. The kind of place selling a variety of items, food, drinks, antiques and trinkets, a row of rusty cars stood on an untended lawn in front of an ramshackle house. They could all use some refreshment to wash the dust and sand down their throats. G Lu finished buying food and drinks and noticed that Bill handed the proprietor a handful of cash and he removed the for sale sign from an old beat up four-by-four International Scout. She immediately knew that there’d be no answering questions to the authorities, no explanations, no setting things right. This time the tears in her eyes were from a heart-tugging emotion. Bill and Tom were talking quietly as she approached. She handed them both a cold drink
and took her place in the passenger seat. They settled in and ate and drank in silence.

The headlights from oncoming cars lit G Lu’s face and she turned away. Bill didn’t like to see her tears but he also knew there was only one right thing to do, it was also the most difficult.

”There’d be no explanations good enough you know. None of them even know your name or know your involvement G, Tom neither. It’s better this way.” She didn’t answer in words but they held each other for a final time and Bill almost gave in to himself. As he exited the car he shook hands with Tommy Two-Head.

”You gotta clean and dump the Buick you know.” Tom just nodded. ”You’re a good partner Tom.” At such a monumental moment in his life, in the presence of the two people he cared the most about, with so much shared and so much to say, all Bill could manage was, ”You take care now.” He pulled out the tattered money bag and pocketed a single bundle then tossed the rest on the seat. G Lu slid across and their kiss was as warm and heartfelt as he’d ever imagined one could be.

As Bill drove into the night in the creaking old Scout, he didn’t know if all the things he’d done, the decisions made in the last days, were the right ones. He realized there was a lot more he didn’t know than that he did. He didn’t know where the lessons learned in the fiery cauldron of the desert would lead him. There was one thing however, that he did know. Something the Gypsy had foretold when she read his tea leaves and advised that to know where you’re going you must know who you are. And that one thing he did know now, he knew who he was. He, was Icicle Bill.

* * * * *