Welcome To Central City

by Adam C Mitchell

  Goodbye, for now my precious darling.

  Yours Forever

  Jess

  P.S please don’t think poorly of me if I don’t write back as quick as normal. I have to take my dear frail mother to Florida for a few days of rest. She needs it, but I haven’t been able to afford it. We are not well off people yet make ends meet. I’m just a simple country girl who has more than money. I have my integrity and virtue and a heart full of dreams to go with my good name. My older cousin Sam, bless him, is driving down from Central City to then take us. He borrowed some money. Oh, I know money is tight and mother thinks I can make a dollar bill last a month ha ha. But I hate to think of spending all that money on those overly priced hotels, and tourist traps, but the breaks for mother, not me. She needs her spirits lifting.

  Part Three

  “That’s all I can say about the package.”

  “Ladies you’re telling me, a man had been mugged on his way here. The muggers more than likely, after this mysterious package. So ladies your telling me you weren’t even a little curious. You don’t want to have a little look? I’m sorry. I find that a bitter pill to swallow.” Taken aback, Jack looked at Decker, who had just fired off another useful question.

  “I certainly did not. How dare you even suggest such a thing? I am no snoop,” Ms. Josephine shot Decker a venomous snake like look, she was on the offensive again. Which, in Jacks experience, meant she’d just out right lied to his face. “Okay, miss, don’t get your lace panties in a twist. I had to ask,” Decker said quickly back footing. Jack had to get this back on track or everyone would be here until the rapture. Jack had to play referee between the cobra and the mouse.

  “So Ms. Sandie, this burglary tells me about it, but umm… before you do tell me … these Negro’s, did Ronson say it was them that attacked him?” Sandie paused, “well, yes. Yes, he did”

  Both Decker and Jack were singing off the same song sheet, even if they weren’t speaking a word they were both silently saying the same thing.

  If their tale was to be believed, it was the same Negro cat burglars.

  “Okay doll, now tell me about your harrowing ordeal.” Sandie made a show of wiping away a false tear with a handkerchief, timidly carrying on her recollection of the night, “well, Mr. Malone, it’s like this you see; we were both in bed on the top floor. It was about ten O’clock. I’d just settled the baby in her room, making sure to close the door to keep in the warmth. Our other lady lodger Miss Ruby had just got back from the theatre, going straight to bed when she returned. So all was quiet downstairs. We must have been asleep in the master bedroom about an hour or two, when we both heard a mighty crash, which startled us both, the sound coming from downstairs. “We woke, and so did poor Jenna., Miss. Josephine told me to quietly, but quickly, to get to the nursery and stay with Jenna. I’d no sooner got to the little one’s room when I heard another smashing sound.”

  Jack finally clocked that Jenna was the baby or toddler’s name. The name Ronson gasped as he died, but more importantly it was the snake’s child, so at least that part of her tall tale was true. There was only a few reasons why a dying man would call out her name as he died.

  This mess was starting to clear up, Jack thought, sighing as he carried on listening as the snake continued. “I went downstairs and there were two of them. They made their way to the back room, looting as they went. The one who seemed to be in-charge kept yelling ‘find it’,” the vindictive woman told Jack. From what Bronson told Jack on the down low, downstairs looked like a Kansas tornado had gone through it. “I went in to the sitting room, I’d taken a cane from the umbrella stand, over there, for safety as you never know what these foreign types will do. But it was too late. I got hit from behind, and when I came to, I was tied and gagged and so was poor Sandie. I could tell Sandie had put up a fight as one of those - those men were bleeding. But so was her leg. Well you can see for yourself gentleman. With us bound and helpless, they carried on searching. Those horrible minutes felt like hours. After what must have been ten minutes, they just stopped. I knew it was no later than ten minutes because the last tram could be heard passing by like clockwork at half past the hour. Anyway, after they had what they came for they just left us to it. We were downstairs for hours when Ruby came down for a drink. She saw us, let us free and rushed to raise the alarm, well now you know the rest.”

  Jack took all of their story in, and he had a hunch it was just that. A story. He needed to find out what was so off with all this. And he needed to find it fast. “Got any more questions?” Jack asked Decker. “No, let’s give the place the eye, and see if the Negro’s left any leads behind.”

  The eagle eye they gave the place was more than just thorough. Jack made sure every inch was looked over. It was uncomfortable being so close to Decker, but the job came first. They looked in and through every room even the damp cellar, every nook, drawer and corner. The old building cellar did most for the pair. However, to Decker it was more like a crypt than a cellar, full of antique furniture. Some pieces looked like they had been built for the ark. Jack didn’t say anything and he wasn’t sure if it was his nerves or the feel of the room but he was sure there was something alive down there. Watching them.

  In the iron furnace, amongst the cold coals, they found a handful of black buttons and two sets of charred garter clasps. The clasps fire damaged, taking one and pocketing one, Jack was going to use it to show he didn’t buy their tale or the attempt of a cover up. But the upper floors of the house hadn’t helped Jack, other than a quick look at the mysterious baby Jenna, who wasn’t a baby at all, instead a child of Jack’s daughters age four or five. Cute kid, Jack thought as he peered into her room. Blonde hair, pale skin, dimples, the works but if it was the bairn of Miss. Josephine, he was the duke of Madagascar. As Jack left Jena's nursery, he noticed a shoe print on the door, which helpfully laid out a nice visible print. A man’s too. Could this whole mess be as simple as daddy wanted his princess, and mommy said no?

  Jack was walking back along the landing, heading back to the ladies in waiting, when he saw in a paper-basket, a torn up sales slip from a nearby Oakland’s store. On it vaguely typed, it read one box - Crowley's Rat Poison. It all clicked for Jack now as next to the sales slip was a bus ticket with last night’s date on it. Jack told Decker to head upstairs, and buy him a bit of time. Even if it was just a few minutes. He needed to check something out.

  137 Rosenberg Drive.

  West Pine

  Coast City

  U.S

  NOVEMBER. 1. 1948

  Dear Collin,

  I am writing this letter with fear and tears in my eyes. If there are marks on this paper, it’s from a broken heart and a sea of tears I have shed. How that spidery, fop of a person could have said those things about me? When the old gentleman overheard my name, he strode over and introduced himself, and said a man from his small town was talking to an ‘easy dame’ as he called me. What a small world he said.

  Well, I treated him like a real gentleman and was more than polite as he knew you. But I figure he’s not such a sound friend of yours, then he makes out. You could tell from his eyes that he was undressing me and imagining sordid antics with me in the hotel lobby, if you want the total truth. And he tried to date me up, and worse if I may say. So that’s the kind of friend he is to you. If he said I was with a young fancy man and we were lording it up and burring up the Town. He was wrong. I was with a man, my cousin Sam. He stayed close to me as he always does because I’m just a small town doll and he said I needed protecting from them and their loose city ways. I’m glad to have a friend like that with me. If that leech said he found out that my cousin was an ex-con come gambler and punk and not my cousin at all. All I can say was he was blatantly speaking a horrid falsehood.

  And if he said further that I was alone and not with my mother, he simply did not see her. My poor mother stayed in her room most of the time and rested. After all, that was the whole point of the trip wasn’t it? I think th
at nasty Negro man was taking a lot on himself. He wasn’t doing all that snooping just out of friendship for you either. He was crazy and dumb- though practically drooling over me. But I wouldn’t give him a date. People like that don’t interest me, not one bit!

  My heart has been torn in two, as I think of the damage he may have done to us. In you, dear Collin. I truly have found that a dream has come true. I guess if I never hear from you again. I’ll know why. At least I have the letters and the memories of you to treasure all my life. I’m sorry but I can’t write any more.

  I can’t believe that you’d listen to that spiteful man. But I guess you have known him longer than you have me. The only thing I know for sure is how I feel for you, Collin. At least I can say I have loved, truly loved someone once in my life. Maybe it sounds strange. I’ve never seen you, but I feel I know you and have known you for a lifetime. Even with this one weakens of listening to malicious gossip. I love you. I love you more than ever, because a little weakness makes you human. You seemed so perfect and strong, and I felt I could never open up to you about how I felt. But now that it’s all over, I can say it and I’m glad I have. Goodbye, my prince, please tell the old man I forgive him despite his evil tongue. I guess when the devil touches you on the shoulder, a man can’t help themselves.

  Once yours

  Jess

  At the trial, it turned out someone, a street sweeper, ‘had’ heard the panicked cries for help and raised the alarm, bringing a small crowd with it. They found the body of Mr. Stevenson’s brother, dead at Ruddy’s feet. Then the gun was found. Two coppers, a Corporal Bronson and Officer Beckett, said on the stand that Ruddy was still confused, dazed and in two minds, to either run or face the music. Ruddy didn’t find out until Mr. Stevenson gave his sworn testimony on the trials final day what caused the Stevenson job to go sour. Mr. Stevenson’s brother had been deaf as post. That wayward shot, gifting Ruddy with a twenty-five-year stint in Sin-Sing.

  He made his way to the kitchen, and had a good snoop, checking all the garbage bins, drawers and cupboards, even looking in a garbage can outside, just in case. In one of the garbage bags, he found what he was looking for, a broken bottle of expensive wine. He couldn’t tell the brand, as it was in German. Taking a spoon from a drawer Jack carefully picked the bottle up by the neck, and gave it a quick sniff. He was right, Ronson was poisoned, and one of the women upstairs was a now nothing more than a fem-fatale. He’d made his way back to the master bedroom, where the calculating like Miss Josephine was waiting. Right there and then, he felt like a fly in her web, but Jack thought himself less a fly and more a hornet ready to strike.

  “Sorry, call of nature,” he joked as he stood back next to Decker

  “Miss. Josephine, of course it’s none of my business, but I think if you plead self-defence you might get away with it.” The spider-like woman got up slowly. Her eyes were blazing and fixed.

  “And maybe Sandie, that would leave an out for you dear.”

  Sandi's innocent eyes looked at Jack, and there and then it told him all he needed to know. She was terrified of Miss Josephine.“Go on doll, why don’t you have a little pow-wow? Try and persuade her,” Decker added jumping on Jacks band wagon.

  The snake’s eyes were boring into him again, now though, Jack just didn’t care. It was getting late and his patience had gone to bed an hour back. “Or maybe, Miss, you could say that your ‘husband’ went for Sandie and you grabbed her fearing the worst, and in a mad panic stabbed him, with that ornamental knife from your desk drawer or where ever. That wouldn’t explain the bairn’s door getting a good kicking, or the poison, but hey, it’s just an idea, doll,” Jack added.

  “My husband!” “Oh yes, our friend Mr. Ronson,” Decker cut in quick “don’t you mean late husband, Jack?”Jack gave Decker a look that simply said shut up, before he continued, “that’s right, Mrs. Josephine, Ronson.”

  There and then, the woman in charge dropped the prim and proper routine, and gave the pair both barrels. What the hell are you two hard-boiled wise guy’s on about? Did you two drown down a bottle of giggle-water? I’m a lover of the God dam fairer sex, not of oafish men like you. I have never been married, and that’s a fact gentleman,” she turned quick, staring out the window. The drama didn’t faze Jack, not one bit.

  “Them are strong words to come out of such a pretty mouth,” Decker growled jumping to the P. I’s defence and then jumped in with both feet, “IF this is nonsense, like you claim, how do you explain that tall tale about Negro’s breaking in and mysterious bundles and - sorry Jack, God knows what else.”

  “Don’t be too hard on the doll just yet, Decker. She’s just hiding behind the tale she forced Sandie to make up, can’t really blame her. She was protecting HER child.”

  Jack made a move getting in between Mrs. Ronson and Sandie just in case. “Protecting Jenna from Josephine husband. And that tale was well, like something out of a Mark Ross pulp story. She’d seen the tabloids and bingo. Like I said, you can’t blame Sandie. I guess after she saw Ronson dead, she knew she may be next, hence the Trojan horse of a story, and I have a feeling Sandie knew one of us would see through the fog.”

  Sandie nodded silently, trembling. She looked at her lover, trying slowly to move nearer to Decker and away from her and that meant one thing, thankfully the Corporal figured the same. All of a sudden the killer facing the window lunged at the trembling Sandie. Pure hate in her eyes.

  137 Rosenberg Drive.

  West Pine

  Coast City

  U.S

  NOVEMBER. 19. 1948

  Dear My Prince Charming,

  I am writing to you again with tears in my eyes. This time they are tears of joy. I have read your last letter so much, the sweet tenderness of your handwriting has just about escaped from the page ha. ha.

  I never expected to hear from you again, after what your so called friend said. I was going around like a half dead person, then your letter came, then the skies opened and the heavens shone and I felt great again and that’s all down to you. I felt so good. I wanted to run to you and hug you.

  Before I continue please let me say, I am so sorry to hear about the tragedy, your family is going through at the moment. I can’t believe someone broke into their home and shot your Brother-in Law’s deaf brother. The world is so cruel at times I had read about it in the National Broadsheet and thought how devastating it must be for the family, when I heard it was a relative of yours, I felt like this awful deed had happened to a member of my kin to. My heart goes out to you, if you need anything just ask. I will be at your aid whenever and however you need.

  I’m glad I followed my honest feelings in my last letter and forgave the old man for his lies, and told you how I truly felt. Collin, I wasn’t going to hold anything from you ever again, and I’m sure glad I opened up completely to you. In your letter you say a woman who can forgive that, is a true honest woman, well I am. Please don’t feel you need to do something rash to protect my honour, let him be and let life have its way with him. People like that always get what’s coming to them in time. Don’t worry about what you said either its forgiven, we all say things we don’t always mean when we are angry. I know you would feel bad if someone told me a stack of dirty lies about you and I guess I would say a few heated things to.

  I’m going to open my soul now, you have stirred forbidden feelings deep inside of me, and I really want to let those feelings out with you one day. These feelings I didn’t know I had. I think about you all the time. The more so when I thought I’d lost you forever. If you hadn’t written me again, I hate to think what may have happened. I guess I’d have just up and died. I’m going to move your amazingly charming picture to my bedside table. So I can go to bed and wake up next to you every day and night, and see your piercing eyes in my dreams and beyond.

  Take good care of my little heart, darling.

  Your Slave,

  Jess

  The stocky Corporal grabbed Josephine, holding her fast in pla
ce.

  “Shall, I frisk the- umm… lady, detective, Sir?” Decker scratched his head.

  “Waste of time. She’s got nothing on her now, other than that tongue of hers. She more than likely dropped what she had in the furnace, when she burnt her and Sandi's garments, in an attempt to cover it all up.” Jack knew now was time to place his Ace card, bringing the buttons and claps he had saved from the furnace. Tossing them between his hands. Other than the poison, which he was sure would come out, he’d used up all the facts he had. Jack then decided to throw a lie at the lady.

  “Never me to knock the broadsheets or tabloids, but lady, let’s say for example, a chap said something before he bought the farm, and yet the press could say he didn’t. Something like that can cause no end of grief.” Mrs. Josephine Ronson reared up and glanced at the Homicide detective.

  “May I speak to Sandie alone?” she asked, “you can still watch us, detective, we won’t leave your precious sight.”Jack didn’t like the sound of that, it was a potential mine field if left unchecked. It was the detective’s game now. He was the one with the city on his side. The detective scratched his head looking in Jacks direction. In Jacks experience letting crooks, talk was always a sticky business: they may come clean or spin a whole new web of tales, as an out. Or on the other hand if you don’t let them, they’ll just stick their feet in the sand and get stubborn on you. Then they would more than likely clam up. It was a coin toss, both sides of the coin could be a case killer.