by Janet Leigh
“We should make a getaway while the coppers are occupied.” Clyde nodded his head toward the last police officer leaving the Tea Garden.
“I've got a car at the edge of the parking lot,” Caiyan said to Clyde.
“We left our car there too.” Clyde started to ease around the garden.
“Where is Ace?” Caiyan hissed at me.
The raspy sound of Stella's singing voice quieted and the shrill shout of someone arguing with the police took its place.
I lifted my head above the brick wall and saw the girls being hustled from the dormitory to a large square police vehicle waiting in the lot.
“I was just visiting,” Ace said as one of the policemen forced him to follow the line of girls and a few random men being escorted out of the dormitory.
“There's your fella.” Bonnie pointed to Ace being loaded into the paddy wagon alongside the other ladies of the night.
“Shite,” Caiyan's voice was a whisper in my ear as he crouched next to me.
“What'd ya gonna do about your man?” Bonnie asked me.
“Not much I can do. If he doesn't get fingered for the bank job in Kansas, I'll bail him out in the morning.” I hoped Ace would be fine. He couldn't exactly make a run for his vessel, and if he did, I lost my ride home.
Frank Browning was arguing with the law and so was Stella. The commotion had Clyde considering a break for the car. “Damn Browning, forcing us to leave our weapons at the door.”
Caiyan raised his pant leg. He had taped a pistol to the inside of his calf. It was the area he normally wore a small Scottish knife and wasn't an area checked in a pat down.
Clyde smiled when he saw the gun. “If y'all want to join our gang then here's your initiation. Create a diversion so me and Bonnie can leave. If you manage to escape, meet us at the motor court off the Bankhead, ten miles back, number seven,” Clyde said.
I listened as Caiyan laid out the plan. He would shoot at the police standing in front of the dormitory. Clyde and Bonnie could sneak out of the garden to their waiting car and make a getaway. My orders were to wait for Caiyan in the Ford at the end of the lot.
The paddy wagon had been loaded and driven away, taking Ace with it. Caiyan opened the iron gate of the tea garden and stepped out, standing about a hundred yards from the nearest cop. The three of us followed the wall to the back gate and into the lot.
Caiyan pointed the gun and fired. I stood paralyzed as a man standing on the porch of the dormitory grabbed his chest and fell to the ground. The police scattered for cover. Clyde nodded approvingly as he and Bonnie ran to their car. Caiyan gripped my arm tightly and ushered me along to the car. A brisk wind tore the hat from my head. I looked behind me for the hat and realized the people from the garden had gathered at the entrance to witness the new criminal in town.
“Caiyan you shot a man!”
“In the car, now!” He shoved me inside and I scooted over to the passenger seat.
Caiyan jammed the key into the ignition and pressed the clutch to the floor. The car sputtered, then hummed to life.
Caiyan threw the car into gear and fishtailed out of the lot. The sound of gunfire echoed into the night. The tires threw gravel as he sped down the winding driveway and out the open gates of the Terrace.
“Why did you shoot that man?” I asked.
“Not now, Sunshine. It takes all my energy to drive this old car. You keep an eye out behind us for the cops. We don't want them finding Bonnie before we get the key.”
I looked out the back window. The road behind us was dark. “How are we going to take the key?”
“Maybe you should knock on the door and ask them to hand it over.” He spat the words at me as he navigated the car going at top speed.
“If we don't separate Elma from them she could be killed. The car wreck is tomorrow night and after the wreck, they meet up with Clyde's brother and kill a bunch of people. I would hate for Elma to be caught up in the mix. I don't know what Mitch's after with Elma, but I don't like it.” I crossed my arms over my chest and was immediately thrown against the car door as Caiyan rounded a tight curve in the road.
Caiyan gave me a sideways glance. “Jen, sometimes ye got to play the cards yer dealt. We need to gain their trust and the time to take the key weel present itself.”
When did he turn into the Dalai Lama? I shut up and checked behind us for a tail.
Chapter 20
Caiyan slowed at a sign advertising a motel. The vacancy sign illuminated the small billboard. He turned off the main road into a stick of woods and stopped at a motor court hidden in the pines. I had never seen a place like this one. Seven small cottages snaked parallel to the road. A small creek divided the motor court from the road with a wooden bridge leading to the main entrance. A building at the head advertised it as the office, proprietor's residence, served breakfast and offered gas.
“I don’t like it,” he said. “There’s only one way in and out over this bridge.”
I agreed it was a poor choice for a hideout. The cottages backed up to a steep hillside. No one was making an exit out the back door. Caiyan drove across the bridge and bypassed the office. He stopped in front of the last building marked number seven. The cottages were cute, folk style wooden buildings with a pitched carport connecting the cabins in sets of two. I saw why Clyde wanted the last cottage. It was the only one with an actual garage. Considering the police knew of Clyde’s love of the Ford V-8, the garage made sense. It would hide Clyde’s stolen car. We bailed out and Clyde flung the door open to greet us, checking for cops as he urged us inside.
The one-room cabin held a bed, a small table, sofa, and a kitchenette with a single burner stove. The musty smell from the curtains had me sneezing as I entered the room. Clyde had covered the windows with newspaper, a tactic to avoid the police from peeping inside and one I read about in my research. The few possessions the couple owned were stored in a trunk at the foot of the bed, except for the arsenal of machine guns, rifles, and handguns. These were spread out on the bed like pies at the county fair bake-off, each one waiting to be tested and judged for quality.
Caiyan stopped short when he saw the amount of munitions in front of him. Clyde seemed excited we had escaped in one piece and watched curiously as Caiyan assessed the armaments on the bed.
“Don't you keep any guns?” Clyde asked Caiyan, spinning the butt of a pistol around his index finger.
“The law seized all our weapons in Kansas.” Caiyan gave a slow whistle, picking up one of the machine guns. “You sure do have some nice choppers.”
Hearing Caiyan speak with the long drawl of a Texan made me smile. He caught my eye, and I looked away. Better to keep Clyde Barrow's attention on the heat lying on the bed than to catch a glimpse of the heat that sparked between us from across the room.
“Yep, raided the armory in Fort Worth,” Clyde said.
Caiyan picked up one of the tommy guns and looked down the barrel. I guessed he was counting the number of guns on the bed.
“This one here is special,” Clyde said, choosing a rifle from the bed. The barrel and stock were squared off, and the clip was longer than the other guns. “I chopped it off to make it easier to use in the car. A friend of mine welded three clips together. I can get off sixty rounds without changing the clip.”
Caiyan showed the interest of man in the gun business, nodding and making he-man grunts.
“It’s called a scatter gun.” Clyde aimed the gun at Caiyan, and I sucked in some air.
“Cuz it makes the laws scatter when you shoot ’em,” Bonnie said as she exited the small bathroom. She pushed the barrel of the gun aside and Clyde drew her in for a kiss.
I released the breath I was holding.
Bonnie moved away from Clyde and took a seat on the sofa. She patted the cushion next to her. “Why don'tcha join me for a bit, I could use some girl talk.”
I managed to move myself over and sat down next to her. She picked up the bottle of whiskey from the table and took a long
pull straight from the bottle.
Clyde came over and removed the bottle from her hand. He poured three glasses of whiskey and handed one to Caiyan and one to me.
“Did ya see your trigger man shoot that cop?” Bonnie took off her hat and tossed it on the bed in front of her next to a Browning automatic rifle, better known as a BAR.
I nodded.
“He didn't shoot no lawman, he got one of the guys on the porch,” Clyde said to Bonnie then turned to Caiyan. “You sure was throwing lead, but you might need to practice your aim if you're going to rob a bank with us.”
Caiyan's mouth drew into a tight line, so I changed the subject.
“Where do you buy your clothes?” I asked Bonnie, admiring the bell-shaped hat she'd discarded on the bed. She picked up the hat and plopped it down on my head.
“It came from one of those fancy stores in Dallas. Wouldn't those snooty clerks just die if they knew they were selling their fine clothes to Bonnie Parker?” Her laughter resonated like church bells ringing for mass. I hated the fact I liked her. She wasn't movie-star gorgeous, but cute with dimples and a look of intelligence about her. The duo's romance combined with her full-of-life character made the headlines. She was charming, and she was a murderer.
“Next time I send my sister to buy me some things, I can pick you up one, if you like.”
I smiled at her, removed the hat from my head, and nodded, fingering the felt hat. “I'd like that.”
Caiyan engaged Clyde in talk about the bank in Fort Worth as he watched Clyde clean the barrel of a sawed-off shotgun. At least he had stopped spinning the pistol like it was a toy. There were more weapons here than in a truck full of Mafia dons celebrating Capone’s release from Alcatraz. It made me nervous, and I wanted to get Elma and the key and get the hell out of here.
“What's the plan?” Caiyan asked Clyde.
“We got to keep a lookout for the laws.”
Bonnie got up and poured herself a glass of whiskey. “We should go bust Ace outta jail. What if he gets the chair?”
“Bonnie, he ain't gonna get the electric chair for having a little fun with the whores. Besides, it takes time for a trial and such.” Clyde said.
“I know, I been in the joint,” she huffed.
Clyde grimaced. “After we bust your boss out of the jailhouse, we can stake out the bank.”
Busting Ace out of jail set off alarm bells. I wasn't breaking anyone out of jail.
“The police don't know me,” I piped up. “I can go bail my man out of jail. No sense in causing a scene, when we want to rob the bank.”
“She's right,” Bonnie added. “If the laws are on alert they'll call in their backups and the whole town'll be blocking our way to the bank.”
Clyde looked over at Bonnie and me. “The way I see it, we have the girls. They can drive the car and keep a lookout for the coppers until we steal the money. I don't want any trouble. If my other gang members show and we bail your boss out of jail, we will have four men. Hell, I've held up banks with just me and Bonnie. I've got a nose for bank robbery. Besides, the laws can't catch me.” Clyde sat back in his chair, raised his glass, and drained its contents.
I refrained from telling him his cocky attitude and poor judgment was going to get him killed.
“We go in. You and your boss can guard the doors. My helper will take the drawer money, and I'll keep my eye on the people. We can be in and out before the laws come after us.” Clyde winked at Bonnie.
Caiyan leaned toward Clyde. “If we go tonight after the bank closes, we can break in and steal the money collected from a full day’s operation. All the money will be in the safe, ours for the taking.”
“How are we going to open the safe?” Clyde looked down his nose at Caiyan, as if opening the safe without the help of a bank employee was impossible. “We ain’t got no nitroglycerin to make soup. Knob knocking ain’t gonna work ’cuz the banks have them combination locks.” His condescending tone made me throw back the dram of whiskey I held in my hand. If Caiyan got pissed off, he would take the key from Bonnie, and I would have to tell him about Eli. The ring finger on my right hand burned. The ruby ring Caiyan gave me was left behind in the time travel, but its essence lingered along with Caiyan's promise to be truthful. However, this time it wasn't Caiyan who hid a secret.
“I can crack any safe, and I don’t need dynamite to do the job.” Caiyan stood and poured another round of whiskey.
“It’s true,” I added. “I’ve seen him open a safe with a mere touch.”
“What about your boss?” Clyde accepted the glass from Caiyan. “Shouldn't he be making the plans?”
“We don't need him, and we don't need your other gang members.” Caiyan lowered his voice as if he were out of earshot to me and Bonnie. “I was thinking of going out on my own anyhow.”
I could see Clyde's wheels turning. Splitting the money three ways instead of six was more appealing. Before Clyde could commit to Caiyan's plan of dumping Ace and me, the hoarse roar of an elderly automobile interrupted our conversation as its driver pulled up in front of the cottage and cut the engine.
Clyde discarded the rifle he was cleaning in exchange for the pistol. He pulled back the hammer as he slowly peeled back the newspaper and peeked out the window.
His shoulders relaxed, and he disarmed the gun. I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I was holding. He moved to the door and opened it. Elma entered followed by Mitch.
Mitch took in the room's occupants. His face went from a grimace to an all-out scowl when he saw us.
“What are they doing here?” Mitch growled at Clyde.
“They're going to help us rob the bank in Fort Worth.”
“I didn't agree to a six-way split.”
“I didn't either,” Clyde said pointing his pistol at Mitch.
Mitch held his hands up. “I meant, I'm good with whatever you decide Clyde.”
Clyde smiled and slapped Mitch on the back. I glanced at Caiyan. He was fuming, but it was hidden under a straight face.
Elma slid her hand in Mitch's and gestured toward me with her other hand. “This is Jennifer Chlamydia and her fella's trigger man.”
This got a smile out of Mitch. “Where's your fella?” he asked me.
“He got taken by the laws,” Bonnie answered for me.
“We rented the cabin next door. We should go get some sleep if we're hitting the bank tomorrow.” Mitch tugged Elma's hand toward the door.
Elma bit her bottom lip. Her body language suggested she was apprehensive about spending time alone with Mitch.
“Why don't us girls take the other cabin?” I suggested. “I mean, I can't really sleep here with him.” I thumbed toward Caiyan. “My Ace would never allow me to sleep in the same room as the help.”
Caiyan looked down at the ground, and I wondered which emotion he was trying to keep under control.
Bonnie clapped her hands together. “That's a great idea. It'd be like a slumber party.”
“With the girls out of the way, we can work on the details of the bank robbery,” Clyde said. Bonnie started to object to being excluded from the gang plans, but Clyde wrapped her in his arms and gave her a tender kiss. “Maybe you can write me a new poem.”
She returned his affection, then asked me to carry her typewriter next door.
I wasn't sure I should leave Mitch and Caiyan in such close quarters, but it seemed like the best way to save my aunt from Mitch.
Bonnie gathered her things, digging in her suitcase for a few essentials.
As I lugged the heavy writing toy, mentally thanking Bill Gates for Microsoft Word, I caught Mitch pulling Elma into his arms from the corner of my eye.
“I'll miss you,” he whispered into her ear. She blushed at his touch, and he gave her a long, disgusting kiss.
Cabin number six was the identical twin to the men's lodging. One double bed, kitchenette, small bathroom. A landscape hung above the bed, and a threadbare rug woven with the oranges and greens from the landscape hugged
the floor next to the bed.
Bonnie hung her dress in the tiny closet.
“I miss shopping. Ever since we got fingered for committing those crimes in Joplin, I can't go shopping anymore. I have to hand over my money to my sister or Clyde's brother and his wife. They get my clothes, but she doesn't have the best taste. My skirts are way long. Clyde says I'm still a dish.” She smiled, and her cheek dimpled. I could see why the media had played her up to be romantic and sexy. She was slightly down to earth, and her blue eyes shone brightly when she spoke about Clyde.
Bonnie poured us each a glass of whiskey. She opened her purse and offered Elma and me a cigarette.
I shook my head. Elma took one, placing it between her lips and lighting the tip.
“Don't you think you're too young to smoke?” I asked her.
Elma paused, removed the cigarette from her lips, and blew smoke into the air. “Who are you, my ma?”
Both girls giggled at me.
“I mean you can get cancer from smoking?”
“Cancer?” Bonnie questioned. “I read about it. Chimney sweeps get it in their privates.”
“It's a disease a woman can also experience, mainly in their breasts.”
Both women stopped puffing. Elma stubbed out her smoke.
Bonnie kept her cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth. “There are better ways to die,” she said.
“Like what?” Elma asked.
“Clyde and I will probably get cornered in a shootout.”
Elma's eyes grew wide. Was she after the key Bonnie wore? It seemed excitement, adventure, and a hot guy were sucking her into a realm of gangsters and bootleggers. I couldn't believe my great-grandparents allowed her to smuggle moonshine into the city. What was wrong with them, putting their oldest daughter at the devil's doorstep?
I needed to get that key so Elma could return it to her father, and my life could stay on track. Caiyan wanted the key. I could see it in his eyes. He didn't know the vessel, but that rarely stopped him.