Wave of Death

by Charlie Vogel

  The voice came from the dark corner, behind the truck’s cab, “What’s your name?”

  Carefully clearing my throat rather than cause another painful cough, I responded, “Coleman. What’s yours?”

  “Travis, but my mates call me Brutus.”

  “Well, Brutus,” I took another deep breath and realized I felt better talking, so continued, “What got you here?”

  “I rearranged the nose on a swab I didn’t like.”

  I decided we should be friends as soon as possible. “Where’re you from?”

  “Dallas, Texas. You?”

  “Omaha, Nebraska, but I have a lot of good friends from Texas. Where’re you stationed?”

  “I’m a First Class Bos’n on the Wallace. It’s a tin can out of Long Beach. I see you’re dressed in them queer rags. You must be stationed on the rock?”

  “Actually I’m a Yeoman aboard the STEVENS. It’s in dry dock.”

  “Just as I figured, you’re one of them pussies. I watched you get thrown on. You didn’t fight back much, so I said to myself, he must be an ass kisser.”

  “I got thrown out of Lo’s. They beat the shit out of me. How long have we been in here?”

  “About thirty minutes. I heard them talking about getting a cup of coffee, so we’ll be stopping somewhere.”

  “You heard them talking?”

  “Yeah, I can hear them from the cab. There’s a window they slid open to check on us.”

  As my mind worked on a solution to getting out, the pain receded to the back of my awareness. The truck stopped. I decided I had to act. The two cab doors slammed, but I waited another two minutes before I said, “Brutus, can you get that window to the cab open?”

  After a moment of silence, he asked, “Why? You need fresh air?”

  “No, I’m going to try to leave. If you can’t open it, get out of my way and I’ll do it.”

  A throaty laugh came from the darkness. “You keep your sissy ass back. I’ll take care of the window if you help me get out, too.”

  “Of course.”

  A sudden loud bang and a ripping of wood echoed in the confines of the truck. Light from the coffee shop flooded the truck’s interior through the now-visible windshield. I blinked at the flash of thick arms tossing aside pieces of the truck rear wall of the cab. His shipmates had obviously picked a good name. Pieces of the once small window scattered at my feet. Where before the rectangle had only been big enough for an arm to reach through, this guy had pulled apart the entire structure around the goddamn window. I suddenly felt relieved I hadn’t pissed him off by vomiting a second time. I definitely liked my teeth where Nature originally put them.

  Concentrating on movement and not my body, I stepped over the seat and opened the passenger door. “Come on, Brutus.”

  Not hearing a response, I continued on, limping across the paved parking lot. Behind me, more wood splintered. Just as I looked over my shoulder, the back of the truck laid down like a ramp and the biggest man I ever saw walked out. He raised an arm as thick as an oak tree and waved me on. How in hell had the Navy found a uniform to fit him?

  Stopping brought a ripple of sharp pain knifing my back and into both hips. Despite the numbness again affecting my legs, I kept them moving. When I heard the HASP yelling, “Stop or I’ll shoot!” I even managed to break into a sort of awkward gallop.

  Favoring my right leg, I crossed the street and dodged traffic. A taxi had parked at the curb in a bus stop. Without hesitation, I opened the rear door and almost fell in. No driver. I stayed on the floor and hoped the HASP hadn’t seen me.

  Seconds then minutes slowly ticked by. I felt like I was reliving the final thirty days at sea my last long assignment, only here I counted seconds instead of days. The center hump pressed against my sore back. I watched shadows of people walking pass. At about the time I gave up trying to remember Doctor Ben Casey’s real name, the driver’s door opened. The engine roared to life and the taxi jerked forward. I waited a moment and then peeked through the windows into the street. Not seeing the HASP, I said, “Driver, take me to the downtown YMCA.”

  The Hawaiian jolted in his seat and whipped around. “Goddamn, where you come from?”

  “I’ve been here waiting on you. Can you take me to the YMCA?” I repeated.

  “Mister, I on my way to pickup fare. You ain’t suppose to be here, but I drop you off. It only a block from where I going anyway.”

  Stepping from the taxi, my legs tried to buckle. I clamped my teeth and focused on the entrance to the Y. Ignoring the stares at my filthy appearance, I made it to the communal showers. The hot water beat more of the soreness from my strained muscles. My rented locker provided a clean pair of slacks and a floral-print Hawaiian shirt.

  Dragging my aching ass back out the front door, I checked my watch. It was almost straight-up midnight. Every sudden movement or even slightest twist caused pain to spider out from my lower back where the son-of-a-bitch had kneed me. I couldn’t go to the hospital yet. I had to find Lihua Liyi.

  Walking all the way to Lo’s Restaurant seemed impossible, so I limped the short distance to my Kaiser and started the engine. I had forgotten the traffic on Hotel Street worsened at night. The fingers of my left hand drummed the steering wheel as I shifted with my right and tried to keep the forward movement from jerking me. Cold sweat beaded my forehead with the effort not to give in to my discomfort. Shit! I could have crawled on my knees faster.

  After several red lights and waiting for drunks to cross the street, I double parked next to the cars in front of Lo’s and tried to think what to do next. A uniformed sailor near the entrance settled a price with a whore holding open the top of her Susie Wong dress. I knew because after displaying her merchandise, she grinned at him and grabbed his arm. Since I was blocking a lane of traffic, a car behind me honked, but a street walker leaned over my driver’s door before I could move.

  “Mister, you can go all the way for fifty bucks.”

  I looked up into her almond-shaped, dark eyes. The long black hair from her cheap wig framed her round face. Her thick-coated red lips smiled, flashing large, chalk-white teeth.

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  “Kim.”

  I cringed. Shit! Couldn’t these girls choose different names? “Do you know Vickie?”

  “Maybe, but I do things better than her.”

  “I’m sure you do, but I need to talk to her.”

  The horn blared again as traffic allowed the man in a hurry to pull around me. I didn’t catch his greeting as he passed.

  “She’s not working tonight. I can give her message, maybe?”

  “Where can I find her? It’s very important.”

  “Why? You sure you have right Vickie?”

  “Okay, so how about Lihua Liyi?”

  “Oh, her. Give me five bucks, I take you to her.”

  “Get in.”

  She held out her hand first. I ground my teeth as I dug out my billfold.

  After she climbed over the passenger’s door, I followed her directions for five minutes. As well as I knew the district, I could tell we were meandering. “You sure you know where you’re going?”

  She leaned back into the seat and blew smoke over the top of the windshield. It drifted back over her head. “Of course, mister. Just keep going.”

  Angrily, I responded, “Okay, drop the goddamn accent! You aren’t Chinese. You might be half, but I’m sure you can speak better English.”

  Tossing her cigarette onto the street, she turned to me, her beautiful eyes squinting in assessment. “This ain’t going to be a profitable night, right?”

  “If you had given me the correct information in the first place, you could’ve been back out selling it.”

  “Why do you what Lihua?”

  “I want to inform her that her boyfriend’s dead.”

  “She has many. Which one?”

  “Lawrence Barnes.”

  “Oh, yeah, Larry. She knows about it.”

&nb
sp; “How do you know that?”

  “Larry’s a big spender. When the STEVENS came in and Larry didn’t show, we all knew something musta happened. Then the word spread fast that he was dead. So, now you take me back to Lo’s. I got work to do.”

  “I still want to see Lihua. Where is she?”

  “It’ll cost more.”

  “Look, you little bitch, you got five bucks. I’m not giving you a penny more until you start putting out.”

  “Okay, okay! Take me to Mai’s, a coffee shop just around the corner. You can park in back.”

  Uncomfortable leaving the Kaiser parked in an alley similar to the one I’d experienced earlier, I followed the five foot two, curvy female figure to the back door of the coffee shop.

  My eyebrows shot up at the cleanliness and the orderly decor of Mai’s. A well-dressed waiter with a clean apron and a towel hanging from his arm directed us to one of twelve tables. In broken English, he asked, “What you wish to drink?”

  Kim answered, “Two Konas and two of them donuts you have on the counter.”

  “I’ll have coffee, but nothing to eat,” I added.

  She snapped, “The donuts are for me.”

  After the waiter placed the cup before me, I watched Kim as she took a large bite through the sugar coated glaze of the pastry. She stared back into my eyes and quickly wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin.

  Before I could say anything, she spoke, “So you really want Lihua instead of Vickie, eh?”

  “Your mind’s getting sharper, or is this another guessing game?”

  “Don’t give me any shit. I know where to find her.”

  “Hm, could it be here?” I asked sarcastically.

  “Yeah, her room’s upstairs.”

  I fought a smug grin by sipping my coffee. “Well, miss, you will have to excuse me, while I go up and try to find her.”

  “You don’t have to go.” She took another large bite. The glazed sugar sparkled at the end of her nose.

  “You are Lihua, aren’t you?”

  “Yup.”

  “Why did you tell me you were Kim and why did you lead me on?”

  “I use a different name every other week or so, and I didn’t just lead you around. Look, I don’t even know your goddamn name. You came on like any other swabbie looking for a piece of ass. I’m just now thinking maybe you’re looking for something else. So what is it?”

  “I found your name and phone number in Larry’s room after he died. I thought you could tell me why he was killed.”

  She swallowed hard. “Someone killed him?”

  “You didn’t know?”

  “The word’s out that he’s dead, but nothing about murder. Who are you, some sailor cop?”

  “No, but I have been appointed to investigate his death. Tell me what you know about Larry Barnes.”

  She stuffed the last donut into her mouth and took a long drink of coffee to wash it down. Carefully replacing the cup, she finally said, “I went to bed with him for money. That’s how women like me survive on this big chunk of rock.”

  I wasn’t getting caught up in another little whore’s personal story. “You remember when you first met him?”

  “No, but I’m sure it was in bed. He got to be a regular customer and he spent a lot of money on me.”

  “But, he was an officer. Why would he take someone . . . well, like you to bed?”

  “How would I know?” She didn’t sound offended. Of course, she looked older and more experienced than Kim. “Look, what’s your name?”

  “Everyone calls me Pencils.”

  She smiled in disbelief. “What?”

  “Pencils. You know that thing you write with. You do know how to write, don’t you?”

  Her chin came up. “Yeah, sure. I fill out crosswords all the time!” She sighed tightly and continued. “Anyway, I have the reputation that I’m a good lay. I took him to bed for the same reason I’ve taken colonels, captains, and admirals to bed. You want me to name a few who have asked for me?”

  “No, I don’t think I need to know that. But I would like to know about a necklace. It’s called the Storm of Pearls. Do you know what I’m talking about?”

  “No. Should I? What does it look like?”

  “Never mind the description, but have you noticed any sailor with a gold Chinese necklace?”

  She dipped her napkin into her coffee and cleaned the corners of her mouth. Taking lipstick from her small handbag, she applied it from the reflection off the back of a spoon.

  Impatience and her careless attitude got to me. “You do know something about this necklace, don’t you?”

  She rubbed her lips together. When her words came she spoke in a low voice, “Yeah, maybe, but you don’t need to know.”

  “Why? Tell me!”

  She held her smile but spoke through clenched teeth in a whisper, “Not now, you stupid asshole!” Clearing her throat, she quickly looked around the room, her voice louder, “I know nothing about your dumb necklace. So if you don’t want to pay me extra for nothing, you better get me to bed now. Your time’s about up.”

  I followed her through a rear door and up a flight of narrow stairs leading to a hallway. At the far end, she opened an unlocked door and stepped inside. I closed the door behind me as she turned on a small lamp near the bed. She reached a hand to the zipper high on her back. The material spread apart. Thinking the door should be secured in case of a police raid, I searched for the locks, but found nothing to keep someone from entering. I pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down facing the back, my arms folded over the top edge.

  She stepped out of her dress and stood facing me, naked, except for her panties. Placing her thumbs behind the elastic, she slowly slipped them down her legs. Bent over, she looked up from under her long, dark wig and asked, “You going to do it with or without your clothes?”

  My mind fought the biggest civil war I ever had against temptation. The part between my legs wanted it, but common sense held the unconnected fuse. I had to do something before the little bomb exploded. “Maybe some other time, Lihua. Believe me, I really want to, but it’s important that I find out about the necklace. Will you help me?”

  She placed a finger to her lips. Before straightening, her other hand pulled the white briefs up her legs. Quickly she went to a small dresser and took out a pencil and paper. After writing something down, she folded the paper several times. Raising the top mattress up, she pulled out a Navy-issued laundry bag. Pinned to the pull cord, a dog tag reflected light from the bed lamp.

  “Here,” she whispered, holding out the note in one hand and slowly lifting the bag in the other.

  I stepped closer to her, my lips inches from her face. Stale cigarette odor drifted to me as she breathed. I silently mouthed, “The Storm of Pearls.” She nodded. “How did you get it?”

  She almost pressed her lips to my ear. “A skinny sailor aboard Larry’s ship gave it to me last night. He’ll be back for it. Get your ass out of here and read the note.”

  She then pushed me away and spoke out in a louder voice, “Oh, you were so fast. You been saving it all for me? That’ll be twenty bucks.”

  Laying a twenty on the bed, I whispered, “Is there someone here that’s listening?”

  She pressed her naked chest against me and again softly spoke in my ear, “In the next room, one of Wong’s men. He’s got his ear pressed to the wall. Now get out of here.”

  Shoving my wallet in a rear pocket, I started to turn, but hesitated, “Why are you helping me?”

  In a loud voice, she responded, “Yeah, you got the biggest dick. I can’t take anymore of it. You have to leave.” She motioned with her arms for me to hurry.

  Instantly feeling better, I strode out the door and down the steps. At the bottom, I couldn’t remember which door led to the coffee shop. Opening the one to my right, I looked out at the alley and my car.

  Without difficulty I found my way back to the lights, noise and congestion of Hotel Street. My watch showed two
o’clock in the morning. Since the stop-and-go traffic had again intensified the muscle spasms in my lower back, I decided to drive out to Tripler Hospital to have myself checked over. Whenever I thought about it, my body felt like it had been hit by a battle ship.

  The light switched to amber as I crept within a few yards of the intersection. Gritting my teeth against the anticipated pain, I stomped the brakes and came to a squealing stop. A car in back honked. I briefly wondered if it might be the same antsy asshole who had followed me earlier.

  Taking the Lihua’s note from my pocket, I read, “Meet me at ten tomorrow morning at Halona Blowhole.”

  Chapter 11

  The Army Captain doctor threw the chart on the bed and sat at the edge of the mattress. His eyes stared down at me as I sunk deeper into my pillow. In that singular moment, I knew I disliked this man, not only because he was Army, but he talked out of the corner of his mouth and spoke to me like I was a total idiot.

  His voice of authority announced, “The back of your neck is badly bruised and your spine may be injured. We need to take more X-rays and I want to re-examine you later this afternoon. The nurse will order a bed for you upstairs.”

  I pulled on the neck of the starchy, white gown to keep it from rubbing against my chest. “That’s okay, Sir. I won’t need a bed. I can just come back in about twelve hours.”

  “No, you won’t, Petty Officer Coleman. You are being checked in for two days. That’s an order.”

  “I can’t stay, Sir. I have prior commitments. They can’t be canceled or rescheduled. If you will call Lieutenant Holcomb at CenPacFleet, he will explain everything to you.”

  “I will not release you until you are completely examined, Coleman. I don’t care if Admiral Collins is your CO.”

  I smiled. “He was going to be my next choice to call.”

  Unimpressed, the doctor stood and picked up the chart. Turning his back to me, he mumbled, “The nurse will be in and prepare you for X-rays.”

  The door closed behind him. In spite of the five occupied beds in my ward, I felt alone. My gazed settled on my clothing still on the hook above the wash basin. I had to make a move before a staff member returned. I hadn’t felt any pain since a nurse gave me a shot at the time I checked in. I swung my feet around, stood on my strong sea legs, and quickly dressed. After strapping on my sandals, I rushed towards the door. Just as I pushed it open and thought of the long hallway full of more Army personnel, I changed my mind. An open window at the head of a near-by bed seemed more rational.