Golden Throat

by James P. Alsphert

  “Hey, thanks, kid!” I said, chuckling.

  I bade Zelda good night with the promise that one day I’d take her out for dinner and a dance. She seemed thrilled.

  Honey came in from the bathroom completely undressed except for her panties. “Laggore pestered me again tonight—something about me singing for a big birthday bash for one of Dragna’s lieutenants. Also, I got a call about a meeting at United Artists with Charlie Chaplin. I’m rather jazzed about that. If I get that part in City Lights, Cable, my career will be made…made…made, big guy!” She came over and pushed me onto the bed, jumping on top of me. “Now…with my lipstick, rouge and powder gone, you can muss me up all you want. Where do you want to start? I can think of several places—what about you, handsome?”

  Before we made love that night, I told her I was going away in a couple of days. I tried to communicate the whole scenario without it sounding dangerous, but Honey’s instincts were powerful and she sensed a lot more was going on than I told her. “Don’t go away to die, Cable—I know you’ve been feeling us drift from each other. For me, baby, there is no other man. I am devoted to you and want you to come home to me. I know it would be of no use for me to try and convince you to stick to being a safe daytime policeman and we could live happily ever after. But I see it in your eyes, that restless thrill that comes from you being released into danger and the unknown. I don’t even know how I know that. I just do.”

  I kissed her so she’d know I heard every word. “Thanks, babe, for not being possessive of me. I fly best when my wings are untied, you know. And you’ve done that for me. I’ll be back in a few days.”

  Then she asked me something curious. “Cable…is there someone else? I just got this feeling today. Like someone’s on the horizon and it’s changed the energy between us. Stupid, huh?”

  “There’s no one, Honey Combes. You know me, I always look at pretty skirts and maybe flirt now and then. But I do come home to you because the fit is so good and I love who we are together.”

  She turned the light out, and we blended together under the sheets in a wonderful union of bodies and hearts. “Are you really going to take Zelda on a date, officer?” That was the last thing she said as she began massaging my private parts to attention. The rest was excitement and bliss. Who knows why certain people come together—or what they discover in each other that changes their worlds?

  The next morning Sergeant O’Flaherty called me into his office and informed me that Captain Treadwell had requested I go on special assignment. He dismissed me with an odd look, as if he suspected I’d been pulling strings upstairs to gain these opportunities. If it were only that simple.

  For whatever reasons, I followed through and called Adora Moreno before Mario and I headed out. I forgot how early it was. “Sí…halo?”

  “Sorry to call you so early—Adora—this is Cable Denning. We met yesterday, remember?”

  There was a slight pause. “Oh, gracias, Cable. I was afraid I never hear from you. I am happy you call.”

  “I—I, uh….I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight—and maybe a little dancing? I get to my joint about six, need to wash off the day, shave, and put on some clean clothes. How about around seven-thirty? Where do you live?”

  “I am afraid, Cable. I think about you all night. I am afraid I am being in love with you. Tu comprende, señor?”

  I hesitated, not knowing exactly how to respond. “I feel it, too, Adora. But if we just run away from it, we’ll never know exactly what it means. Maybe things will have a whole different outcome than we think.”

  “I don’ think so, Cable. When you touch me—then it is all over my body, the spark—and I feel myself….falling…sí, yo caer.”

  “So you don’t want to have dinner with me?”

  “I did not say that. Mi corazón, es levanto…Yo pienso, sí…I go with you. I live just above Todo el Mundo with mi madre and Flora. Seven-thirty I am ready for you.” There was a short pause. “Cable?” Her voice was soft, vulnerable.

  “Yes?”

  “Por favor, be gentle with me. I ask only that.”

  “Of course, Adora. After all, it’s only dinner and a dance or two. Besides, I’m going away for a few days—to San Francisco, remember—you sold me the ticket?”

  “Sí…not with that strange man, Señor Damianos?”

  “No, by myself, babe…on special assignment for the police force…”

  “Oh,” she said, as if that didn’t figure in her head.

  “See you tonight, Adora…”

  I hung up thinking about the rush in my stomach that woman evoked in me. It was like I desired her and wanted to weep with her all at the same time. It felt crazy. The rest of the day went okay and when Mario and I got back to the station in our Model-T, I was looking forward to going home and getting cleaned up. Mario was taking the trolley all the way back to East L.A. and Rosalie Elena.

  As I got to the stairs leading up to my flat, I saw a familiar figure standing in the shadows of the dimly lit hallway. It was Crazy Jack. He approached me. “Cigarette! Cigarette!”

  “Hiya, Crazy Jack.” I performed the usual ritual by giving him a Lucky Strike and tucking the package into his musty coat pocket. “What’s up?”

  “I don’t know! I don’t know! Oh, bird fly high—under sky! Birds on train skin you alive in five—but I don’t know! I don’t know!”

  “What’re you telling me, Jack? Danger on the train? Yeah, well, I’ve already suspected that. I can feel someone doesn’t want me to reach San Francisco—at least alive. So I’m packing my .38 with a good supply of ammo—just in case. Is that what you came to tell me?”

  “I don’t know! I don’t know! Plenty…plenty…throw off…the black hat…and celebrate—celebrate your new fate—not too late! But I don’t know! I don’t know!”

  “Look, Jack, I’m kinda in a hurry here. Tell me if there’s anything else I should know.” I took a five-dollar bill from my pocket and tucked it into his. “Two days from now I’m on my way to—well, I don’t know what the hell I’m on my way to. A ride to Chinatown? Where will it take me, Jack—can you tell me that?”

  “I don’t know! I don’t know! China…China…doll…pretty thing…might sting! But I don’t know! I don’t know!”

  I thanked Crazy Jack and ran up the stairs trying to piece together the weird things this man was prone to say. Most of it didn’t make much sense, but I got the danger on a train thing and the possibility that if and when I find that Chinese virgin, all may not be as it seems.

  I got to 424 N. Main Street. It was a three story stone and brick building called the Pico House. The top floor was all residents and the ground floor was all small shops. I rang the doorbell underneath the sign that read, Todo el Mundo Travel at the ground floor. An attractive, matronly woman with black and silver hair tied behind her opened the door. “Señor Denning? I am Elisa Moreno, Adora’s mother. Por favor, come in…”

  “Good to meet you, Mrs. Moreno. Nice little business you have here.”

  “Gracias, señor. Please wait here. Adora will be out in un momento.” She was a handsome woman and walked proudly. I was wondering if she had sacrificed her life for those two lovely daughters when one of them came walking through the door from the back of the building. She was dressed in a light-yellow dress with white heels, gloves and a lovely black onyx necklace and a light coat to match her dress. Her hair was pitched slightly to the side in a handsome bun, not unlike the one I had seen when I met her the day before. I was awe-struck by how naturally beautiful this woman was. “You’re a knockout, Adora,” I said as I walked forward to greet her.

  “Knockout?”

  “Yeah, like the most beautiful thing I’ve seen all day.”

  “Gracias, Cable. I am ready. Do we go now? You meet mi madre, no?”

  “Yeah, and I liked her right away. Goodness pours out from her all over the place. No wonder you turned out to be such a fine lady.”<
br />
  “I am lady? Con mucho gusto, I am lady with you. Do we go?”

  “Yeah, we go…”

  With my bit of extra loot, I thought I would take her to Montmartre Nightclub…a hot spot with a nice band led by Vincent Rose, at 6757 Hollywood Blvd. I heard the food was good, the atmosphere ritzy and the band played songs of the day. Not to mention the celebrities that usually frequented the place. I had forgotten to make reservations but we were shown to a nice table near the back of the restaurant and all we had to do was walk through a large opening to the lounge and the music. We sat as the waiter did his usual and left the menus with us. “So, babe, what will it be? I’m hungry as hell—I think I’m going to order a steak for a change.”

  The lovely lady in yellow looked across at me. “I forget to tell you, you look beautiful también, señor.”

  “Well, thanks, Adora. I guess once I clean up at least they won’t throw me out of the joint, huh?” I laughed.

  She smiled, those warm brown eyes burning a hole in me as the candlelight set them to sparkling. “Qué extraño, Cable—I am nervous. Lo siento mucho. I do not mean to. It has been long time since when a man take me out. But I enjoy to dance.”

  “Just try to relax, hon. What do you feel like eating?”

  “I have no apetito—maybe a little something to drink?”

  I hailed down the waiter and ordered a lime seltzer water. It was tough not being able to have a good couple of shots of alcohol. But then I just remembered I had a flask of gin in my coat pocket. When the drinks came, I poured a couple of shots in both of them. In a few minutes, I could see Adora’s face relax as the booze warmed her up a bit. We drank for a little while, I finally got her to order a ravioli plate while I went for a New York steak with all the trimmings.

  The band began to play a very danceable version of You Took Advantage of Me and I took Adora’s hand to lead her out onto the dance floor. Again, we both got hit with that spark of magic something that went right to certain places instantly. She reacted as if she’d just gotten an electric shock and had to take in a deep breath to continue walking beside me. “You…you felt it again…?” I asked her, checking out her eyes.

  “Sí…yes, Cable. It is so difficult…before when I meet you, I breathe easy, now I cannot breathe when I am near you.”

  “We both feel it, lady. I think the song they’re playing is appropriate. It’s called You Took Advantage of Me.”

  “Okay, so I take advantage of you—or you me?” she said.

  For the first time I took Adora Moreno into my arms—and it felt good. She jostled her body into mine until the fit became perfect and when I leaned over a little, she put her cheek next to mine as we twirled slowly around the floor. “Well, what fits best? I could take advantage of you because I know you’re vulnerable and your eyes have told me it’s been a long time between guys in your bed. Or, you could be planning to take advantage of me now, couldn’t you? Women plan and scheme and make it look like it was the guy’s doing all the time.”

  “Sí, pero…I would not do that to you. For me, it has to be equal.”

  “Do you remember why I’m taking you out this evening?” I asked.

  “Because you want to make love to me,” she said in no uncertain terms.

  I was a bit taken aback. “Well, that may be at the bottom of things, doll, but originally it was to thank you for helping me find the city where all the clues came together. And preparing my train ticket.”

  “Por nada,” she laughed. “For you, I would buy a ticket for around the world—if you would let me come with you…”

  I squeezed her tightly as we spun around the floor. “That’s a lovely thing to say, Adora. You don’t even know me. I’m a lowly cop, barely out of the rookie stage with a private investigator’s instincts. I told you before, I drink alcohol too much, smoke cigarettes, chase after pretty skirts and have a girlfriend named Honey Combes who tames my bedroom manners. She’s a professional singer and aspiring movie actress.”

  She looked saddened a bit as the music ended and we went back to our seats. “She is high in the world…beautiful and talented, no? Oh, and…I am only another woman you meet. But I cannot complete—complar—”

  “—compete, is what I think you’re trying to say. But this isn’t about competing, Adora. It’s about two people who just found each other in this crazy world and they’re trying to figure out the pieces. Why? Why would a dame like you and a guy like me feel sparks fly when we touch, or why does your body fit into mine like it was born there? And why is it when I look at you, all thought of anyone else is suddenly taken away from me?”

  The alcohol had begun to affect her a little and she relaxed somewhat. “You speak—tu habla la cancion, like a song to my heart…I am sorry I am so extraña with you esta noche—but I think I am falling in love…I tol’ you on el teléfono esta mañana. And…” She twirled a finger inside her glass. “…you have a honey—not me. So…I must not fall more…” She looked intensely into my eyes. “As you say, long time…I am close to a man, Cable. I am built up like—what you say?—”

  “—a dam….”

  “Sí, a dam. If I do not spill it out on you—or I see you or even talk to you—I will die, señor, simple…oh…yo muera!…”

  “So maybe we shouldn’t see each other after tonight. I’m—I’m sorry, Adora. Neither of us saw this coming. But it’s my fault. I asked you out. I don’t wanna lie to you. Sure, I wanted to thank you for being so helpful with my trip and all—but as I said, down deep there’s this fire in my belly that won’t go away and its name is desire—wanting you, lady. So there you have it. My truth. I always want to tell the truth, Adora. That’s why I told you about Honey so you would know another woman takes care of certain needs and helps absorb the shock of being human, making it a bit easier to get along in this insane world.”

  “Yo comprendo. I did not mean esta noche estar triste, Cable. I am sorry. Ahora, we are both sad. Maybe you take me home? I don’ like me much just now. What you say—no fun to be with, gringo.” She tried to lighten the moment, but it didn’t work for her. We ate in silence. I paid the bill and we caught the streetcar back to her place. I walked her to the front door. She stood there looking up into my eyes, checking out my face, my lips. “If I kiss you now, Cable, I will be lost. I am breathing hard, trying not to fall into you anymore. Por favor—”

  On a savage impulse I grabbed Adora Moreno and thrust my lips hard onto hers. She melted into me as if all the idle talk had suddenly crumbled before the altar of passion and desire. She clung to me as if her last breath depended on it and I held her to me under that transom as if I never wanted to let her go. When finally our faces separated enough for us to look at each other, I could hear a lonely sax playing in the night, the same one that haunts me when life holds a bitter irony of all the things that might have been. “I had to do that…it was building since the first minute I saw you in that store in there.”

  She melted back into my arms. “Sí, I know—I needed you to do it. My heart, my woman have…have pulsed for you todo esta día. Now, as I tol’ you in la café…I am lost…in you, Señor Denning. What to do?”

  I took a deep breath, found my cigarette pack, took one out and lit up a Lucky Strike as we stood there . “Yeah, beautiful Adora—what to do? I don’t suppose if either of us, uh, walked away…it would change anything, do you?”

  “You are the truth hombre—what does your truth tell you?”

  “That I want to spend a month in bed with you and never leave it except to take a bath and eat.”

  She sighed and looked at me with an expression that penetrated the wall I had built around me to keep most people out. “Me, too. Will we do that algún día—someday?”

  I boarded the Lark just before midnight. The steam rose from the engines as they rested like giant dragons on their rails. There was something exciting and mysterious about a train station in the middle of a big city. People from all walks of life wer
e arriving, leaving, greeting one another, while others walked alone out to the taxi stands. Honey was singing The Man I Love in my head and it haunted me somewhere inside because I knew things were different between us. Even if the intention was still there, things move on in ways we can’t control, just like that belching, steaming behemoth up ahead. Maybe somewhere in another dimension things stay in that state of bliss two people wanted for each other, but I doubt it. I think everything changes and you can’t stop the world from turning, spinning us into the unknown, the next surprising minute, the entrance to the door up ahead or a smile that changes your world.

  When I checked in at the ticket office to pick up my passage, the clerk informed me my ticket had been upgraded and I was to have a drawing room sleeper instead of coach, which I had originally paid for. I questioned the man how it might’ve happened, but he told me he had no idea, it just showed up that way. I wasn’t sure whether the favor was a deathtrap or a courtesy because my gut told me some things were going to come down on that train which would try to prevent me from completing my trip to San Francisco. I doubted it would be Damianos, for why would he double-cross himself? But if not him, who?

  Every face was a stranger as I boarded Car #27. The Lark was supposed to take 13 hours and travel through the central valley of California, making very few stops along the way. I asked the conductor to point the way to Drawing Room 6. The porter looked at me with surprise as I stood before the door about to open it. But he didn’t say anything. I reached inside my coat for my chest holster and put my hand on my .38, just in case. The room was dimly lit. The tiny bathroom door was shut and a light shone through a crack at the bottom. Just then the door opened.

  “It is not, señor, a ticket around the world—and we do not have a month to spend in la cama, but this is next best thing?”

  Adora Moreno ran to me and I was glad to feel her warmth in my arms again. “Adora! How in the hell?—”