Blood is Pretty

by Steven Paul Leiva

  Roee was still confused. “Donald who?”

  “Well, Donald Duck, of course. ”

  “I see. ” Roee said, although I doubt if he did. Walt Disney Comics had not been preferred reading on the kibbutz.

  “Does this have anything to do with Jim’s work at Caltech?”

  “We can’t say,” I said.

  “Because I didn’t think he was actually doing anything for the government. I mean, last time I talked to him, he was pretty clear about not taking any Federal funding. Got into a big fight with the people at Caltech, I understand. But what could they do, he had his own financing. ”

  “How’s that?”

  “He created the Prancing Prunes. He was thirteen years old, working for

  me on a work permit, and came up with the idea of the Prancing Prunes when we were bidding for this contract. The characters were a wonderful design. I knew we had something the second I saw them. When the advertising agency flipped and wanted to go for it I said fine, but I retain the copyright on the characters. They had no problems with that. They thought it was just going to be a one shot special for the Super Bowl. Damn things turned into an industry, and I controlled it. But I gave Jim 50% of all the profits. He’s made a fortune off them. ”

  “That was unusually generous of you,” I said with an air of cynicism, playing the part.

  “Yeah. Sad comment though that is. I would like to think that it was just usually fair of me. But, to be honest with you, had Jim been an adult employee I might of just let work-for-hire throw all the profits my way. But he was a kid, delighting us with his precociousness. My decision was probably hormonal-based. ”

  “With such an early success, why didn’t he stay in this field?”

  “Oh, mere entertainment is much too small a concept to intrigue his mind. Only science could do that. Physics and biology especially, but he has never been bad at anything. Jim Skinner is definitely a genius. In the old fashion sense, you know, before the word got corrupted. He sees where no one else can see. He thinks things no one else has thought. He’s a bit scary, that way. ”

  “People like that rarely have friends. Much less good friends,” Roee said.

  “Ah, but genius was the glue that bound Huey, Dewey and Louie. You see, Jim is a genius and knows it. Craig is a potential genius, but you would never be able to convince him of it. And David thinks he’s a genius, and you can’t convince him otherwise, although, believe me, otherwise is the fact. ”

  “And they were friends from childhood?”

  “Inseparable. Thus, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. They were geeks, of course, who had banded together. Jim was a very intense child. Could read by two-and-a-half. Had to have special tutors because he was so advanced from the other kids. And his genius is wide, right brain, left brain; hard subjects, soft subjects; Science, Art. Like I said, scary. He was called to my attention by the school district because he was making these neat little animated films on his own with just an 8mm camera, and they felt he needed access to more sophisticated equipment. ”

  “What about Craig York?”

  “Craig is a different situation. Very advanced also—had some of the same tutors as Jim—but painfully shy. Lost his mother when he was young. Pretty traumatic for him, I understand. Grew up with his father on a houseboat, spending most of their time on the river. His dad became his hero. Bit of a character, was Sam York. Rugged individualist. Somewhat common around here, but he stood out anyway. He was a little paranoid, in a survivalist kind of way. Man’s sort of man; hunting, fishing, sports, that sort of thing. Which made his relationship with his son really special, because Craig was skinny, weak, and bookish. But Sam, I got to say to his credit, was always tender with him. Nurturing, really. Took on that ‘Mother’ role, I guess. Never really understood Craig, though, and I think that affected Craig. Craig worked for me too. Brilliant at whatever he was asked to do, but not an initiator of things like Jim. ”

  “We understand Jim and Craig had a falling out recently. ”

  “Yeah. But it was a long time coming. ”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Well, if you can believe this, despite being the same age, Jim thought he was worthy of being a father figure to Craig. Not just a pal, you know, a friend, but definitely a father figure. But then Jim was born old. The problem was, of course, Craig had a father, and one that he worshipped. Jim was jealous. He considered Sam York a redneck, and couldn’t understand, literally, what Craig saw in him. ”

  “He couldn’t understand the ties of family?” Roee asked.

  “Family is not an intriguing enough concept for Jim. He has little need of love. ”

  “Is he homosexual?” I asked, receiving a shutter-shot glance from Roee.

  “Who? Jim or Craig?”

  “Either. ”

  “Neither. Jim especially. Learned early how sexy intelligence mixed with confidence could be. He’s had lots of girls. Emphasis on the word, ‘had. ’”

  “And Craig?”

  “Had a steady girlfriend in High School. Lost her when he moved to L. A. to follow Jim to Caltech. Which continues the story. Craig did not want to go to Caltech. He did not want to leave Portland, his father or his girl. He was content to go to college locally, maybe become a science teacher. Jim insisted. Said he had to have him at Caltech. Jim’s a very powerful individual, and accepted the entreaties and full scholarship from Caltech, only if they would give one to Craig as well. How could Craig pass that up? So they went to Caltech and Jim quickly became a star. ”

  “And Craig?”

  “Became Jim’s very bright, high tech dogsbody. Anyway, they finished four years worth of studies in two and a half, then went on to graduate studies on some project of Jim’s. Don’t know what, he and Craig would never talk about it. Then Sam York died of cancer. He had kept his illness from Craig, who, you can imagine, felt pretty guilty after he found out. At the funeral—which, by the way, Jim couldn’t take the time to attend—Craig broke down so bad, they had to call an ambulance. While recovering in the hospital he found out that his dad had taken out loans on the houseboat to pay his medical bills. He refused Medicare and Medicaid. Said it was because of his Libertarian principles. Given all that, Craig couldn’t go back to Caltech. He was going to work the houseboat to pay off the loans. That boat is like the family farm to him. Jim was furious. He flew up here and they had a big fight. Jim even offered to pay off the loans. Craig refused. It was his bid for personal liberation. I know all this because Craig came to me to pick up extra work; the houseboat fishing trips weren’t really paying. He also needed to talk. So I gave him the time. I’ve always liked him. Jim you’re in awe of, but you can’t really like. ”

  “Did you give him work?” Roee asked.

  “Oh, yes, of course. I set up a computer workstation on his boat and fed him assignments. But I told him what I would really like is a neat idea for a feature film. He was always a Science Fiction buff, so I told him to come up with something that would really take advantage of our computer work. ”

  “Did he come up with something?”

  “He said he did, about a year ago. But so far he hasn’t shown it to me. Keeps telling me he’s not done yet. ”

  “Do you think maybe he gave it to Andy Rand?”

  Lynton thought about that. He smiled a small, embarrassed smile and ran his hand through his hair. “Huh! You know, that could be. Rand was up here last year for this creativity conference I sponsor. Of course, I allow no one to approach people with scripts and such. But I heard that Craig took him out on his boat. Rand’s a fishing nut, I guess. ” Lynton sat there somewhat amazed.

  “Gosh, I wouldn’t have thought Craig would be that way. ”

  “What way?” Roee asked.

  “You know, ‘Hollywood. ’ Doing an end run around me and giving the idea to Rand. I’ll bet you Dave Finch had something to do with it. ”

  “We haven’t talked much about Finch. ”

  “Not much to say, he was a barnacle o
n the butts of Jim and Craig. He’s a real obnoxious shit. ”

  “Who happens to be dead. ”

  “Really?” Lynton displayed no shock.

  “He was murdered early yesterday morning. ”

  Lynton sat there for a second or two, his face in his right hand, his mind processing the fact. Finally he said, “I’m not surprised. ”

  *

  Before we had gone to Lynton’s studio, I had gotten a hold of the Captain.

  “You’re calling from Portland, no doubt. ”

  “Figured that out, did you?

  “I do work for a very professional outfit, Fixxer. I’ve got two men flying up there now. Do you, by any chance, have Craig York in hand?”

  “Sorry. Your guys will not find him here. ”

  “Dead?”

  “Snatched. ”

  “What for?”

  “This whole thing has complexities best discussed when face to face. ”

  “But York did it?”

  “He killed Finch, yes. But it was an accident. ”

  “What did he do? Slip while chopping vegetables?”

  “He is responsible for the wound to the chest only. ”

  “Oh. ”

  “I told you—complexities. ”

  “You know, you should just turn this whole thing over to us now. ”

  “Practicing for Open Mic Night, are we?”

  “Fixxer, someday… ”

  “After you retire, we’ll have plenty of laughs. Right now it is imperative that you get in contact with Jim Skinner at Caltech. ”

  “Finch’s other correspondent?”

  “That’s right. He may be in some danger. ”

  “I have no authority in Pasadena. ”

  “See the limitations of your outfit. ”

  “Ha-ha. All right. Get in touch with him and do what?”

  “We will be flying home in two hours. Get him to agree to see me. Anywhere he chooses. Then cover his back. ”

  *

  We settled down in an Alaska Airlines MD80 for the flight home. Roee was pensive and was making notes on a pad. They served drinks, we both ordered coffee, and as I was just about to grumble a complaint about the bag of peanuts the stewardess tossed onto my tray, Roee reached into his pocket and pulled out a small can of cashews. I looked a question at him and he responded with: “Please!”

  “If I was gay, I would marry you,” I said in all sincerity.

  “If you were gay, you would be serving me,” he answered, then turned back to his notes for a moment, then back to me. “I assume that the really important information gathered from Lynton, besides the histories of Huey, Dewey and Louie, fascinating as they were, is the fact that Andy Rand has entered the picture. ”

  “That’s the confirmation I was looking for, yes. I had a suspicion that York had lied to me about not connecting with Rand during the Creativity Conference. ”

  “A motion picture executive with a golden gut, a former Communist intelligence operative, currently operating as a thug—strange combination. ”

  “Yes, well, you wouldn’t think hot dogs and cottage cheese would combine well, but I once knew a man who ate them every day for lunch. ”

  “Hot dogs and cottage cheese?”

  “He would slice up the hot dogs, then mix them with the cottage cheese. ”

  “Hot dogs and cottage cheese?”

  “Hebrew National was his favorite. ”

  “Hot dogs and cottage cheese?”

  “He got hooked years ago when a high protein fad diet was on the market. ”

  “Canned peaches I can see. ”

  “Hot dogs and canned peaches?”

  Roee just sighed and turned back to his notes.

  “Batsarov did not recognize me,” I stated, returning to track.

  “Of course not. You’re the only one I’ve ever known who’s managed to stay out of the files of the various agencies. ”

  “Not true. ”

  “Not true?”

  “I’ve been in the files of three nations. Well, two nations and one rather sophisticated liberation movement. ”

  With great and touching sincerity Roee said, “I’m shocked!”

  “Of course, I did manage to eventually exorcised those files of all information pertaining to myself. ”

  “How?”

  “I’ll tell you if I ever have to do it again. The point is, what did Batsarov make of me?”

  “He expressed no opinion that I heard. He may have thought you were just the go-between representing Hinckley, the one York reported to his investor—I think we can assume that to be Andy Rand?”

  “Yes, I think so. ”

  “Maybe a private investigator. Or an agent or lawyer; someone inconsequential like that. To him, of course, you became a guinea pig, advantageously there to do some tests on. ”

  “The medical monitoring. ”

  “Exactly. ”

  “They will have returned by now. Found the dead Paddy O’Shane. And certain precious items missing

  “This will piss him off. ”

  “No longer inconsequential. ”

  “Their only choice will be to get information from Hinckley. ”

  I took out a credit card and released the airphone from the back of the seat in front of me. I called Norton, gave him certain instructions, and then asked him to patch me to Hinckley.

  “You’ll never guess the phone call I just got,” were Hinckley’s first words.

  “A call from someone you never heard of before, but who hinted that they represented Andy Rand, who further hinted that Rand is setting up an exciting new company backed by more money than what God would have if he needed money, who told you that they are aware of V, love it, and want to make a preemptive offer for the rights and your services to write, produce and direct. He further hinted that their offer would be far more money than you have ever made on any one picture. ”

  The other end of the line remained silent for a minute. Then: “You know,

  Fixxer, you’re are one scary, but fascinating fucker. Why don’t you come up to the ranch this weekend? We could spend some time together, get to know each other better. ”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t—bond. ”

  “Oh. ”

  “They want you to meet?”

  “Tonight. ”

  “Don’t. Call Norton. He will send a limo for you. You and your family will be leaving town. Enjoy your time off. ”

  “Hey, wait a minute, I—”

  “It’s either that or be dead by tomorrow morning. ”

  “But—”

  “Just do it. I owe you no explanations when I am saving your life. ” I hung up.

  “Do you think he will follow your instructions?” Roee asked.

  “Absolutely. In a shoot-out, he’s the kind of ‘cowboy’ who would pee before the bullet hit him. ”

  Roee did not laugh. There may have been the hint of a smile, but that could just as well have been gas. “I assume you are going to bring Rand to justice. ”

  “Or justice to Rand. ”

  “Not what you have been paid to do. ”

  “Call it a hobby. ”

  “Dangerous. ”

  “Possibly—not at all if it was just Rand, of course. What could he do? Put me into turnaround? But with Batsarov… . Like Escobar, he probably has a framed picture of Al Capone. ”

  “I wouldn’t discount Rand. ”

  “You wouldn’t?”

  “May I wax philosophical?”

  “Well—it’s a short flight. ”

  “I believe there is a constant complaint that Hollywood makes films that are too violent. ”

  “From certain quarters, yes. ”

  “Hollywood defends itself by saying it would rather make only high quality dramas exploring facets of the human condition, but that the audience wants destruction and death, not instruction and depth. And it is, after all, Show Business. ”

  “The standard line,” I agreed.

 
; “And one, we have to admit, supported by box office receipts. Nonetheless, it is, essentially, bullshit. ”

  “Bullshit?”

  “Hollywood does not provide fantasies, Hollywood acts them out. They make the films they do because ripping flesh is in the bones of film executives. All film executives have a strong capacity to kill. It comes from a vengeful streak in them brought on by the indignities they had to suffer on the way up. Their basic jealousy and envy of the creative, and their putrefying mortification over the fact that they will always only be able to bask in the light of talent and glamour, and never be able to produce any of their own, has an effect as well, I’m sure. Luckily, this capacity to kill is diluted and made weak by the laying down of cinematic carnage—catharsis before the fact. But, give film executives enough motivation, show them a goal worthy of a Roman general’s triumph, and I’m sure they are capable of less frivolous, more serious, devastatingly destructive tendencies. ”

  I considered this. I considered Roee. “Are you sure you’ve never written and submitted a screenplay?”

  “I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction,” Roee snorted.

  Chapter 10

  Choo Choo Ch’Boogie

  “Your Mr. Skinner is one arrogant son-of-a-bitch,” the Captain said as we slipped into his car at LAX.

  “Yes, well, that’s the problem with giving life forms consciousness,” I responded. “It goes to their head. ”

  “What?”

  “Captain, will he meet us?” Roee said, getting to the point.

  “Hey, that recipe for Baklava?” The Captain said to Roee, straying from it.

  “Yes, sorry, I will send it to you. ”

  “Thanks. Mr. Skinner, speaking through the laboratory door he was not willing to open for one of my men, informs us that he will be taking his usual late lunch at 3 PM at a restaurant called Sorriso in Old Town Pasadena. If we wish to see him, we can do so at that time. Otherwise, he refuses to alter his routine. You said he might be in some danger. ”

  “That’s right. ”

  “Good. ”

  “Captain, please. You’re a public servant. ”

  “Yeah, I’d like to serve him on a bed of rice. Now, shed some light, please. ”