Splitting Nines (1)

by Ron Gannon

  Chapter 16. Wild Things

  Jimmy and Zooey, a young actress with long wavy dark hair, sat at a table on a patio by the beach. They were put at ease by the soothing surf sounds and beautiful view: the swaying palm trees, the ocean waves, and the full moon reflecting off the water. More satisfying was the cool breeze that blew across their bodies with that delightful and distinctive smell of the ocean. Jimmy closed his eyes and inhaled the clean air. He smiled and opened his eyes as he turned to Zooey. “You look a lot like Judy Resnik. She was a beautiful woman.”

 

  Zooey sipped her drink. “Thank you, but flattery will get you zilch.”

 

  “Great! I’m game. So, you named yours, too. I call mine Moby.”

 

  “Only on the set will our bodies touch. For that humiliation, I was paid nine million.”

 

  “Too old?”

 

  “Too ugly.”

 

  “Damn! That’s what my three wives thought, however, they married me. I only want to use your incredible body - for two - three minutes - tops.”

 

  “That’s not going to happen. Not in this lifetime.” She took another sip and then held up the glass. “Thanks, there’s something about a free drink - it seems better.”

  “Like sex.”

 

  “And you would know. How accurate is the script? Did those engineers really warn them that it wasn’t safe?”

 

  “They warned that the rubber O’rings wouldn’t provide adequate seals. The script is accurate except for the last four minutes.”

 

  “Oh, that scene is so sad. This should be a big hit.”

 

  “You never know. The leading man having an affair with a co-star always helps the box office.”

 

  Zooey looked at her watch. “It’s after one. You need your beauty sleep.” She looked at Jimmy and made a frown. “Nah, it doesn’t matter.”

 

  “By the end of the week you will discover the rumor about me is, in fact, true: that buzz similar to the gossip about Uncle Miltie.”

 

  Zooey laughed. “Only if you flash me. We better get going.”

  Jimmy escorted Zooey to her car. They hugged and she gave him a quick kiss before getting in. Jimmy shut the door. “See you tomorrow.”

 

  Zooey smiled and waved goodbye. She backed up and drove out of the parking lot.

  Jimmy toddled over to his red jaguar and unlocked the door. Tom rushed up to him and placed the barrel of his gun against Jimmy’s head. “We’re going for a long ride.”

  The jaguar traveled along the highway that crosses southern Florida. Sawgrass growing over several feet high lined both sides of the highway. Jimmy drove. Tom rode shotgun.

  “Gene Evans murdered your wife. Anybody with half a brain can see that.”

 

  “Only one eye with some brain issues, but the skinny from the departed. You will survive if you cut the jive.”

  “

  We were in her room but we didn’t touch her.”

 

  Dark clouds loomed over the skyline, covering the moon completely. It was a dark night. The four boys sauntered across the porch. Dave, Red, and Jimmy, carrying a silver three cell flashlight, entered the house while Lumpy stood guard outside.

 

  It was pitch black inside. Jimmy pushed the on switch and moved the beam from the flashlight around the living room. It stopped on the staircase and the boys lagged quietly in that direction. Their hearts were racing. Dave and Jimmy ascended the stairs, tiptoeing to the top. Red remained at the bottom of the stairway.

  The door was shut. Dave grabbed the knob as Jimmy illuminated parts of the surrounding walls and doorways. Delicately, engulfed with anxiety and fear, he turned the door-handle. Slowly the door opened, stopping once after a squeaking sound barely noticeable. They entered the bedroom. Almost immediately the light shown on a bureau covered with photos and a pink jewelry box. Dave rushed over to it; Jimmy followed close behind.

 

  Dave opened the box. The music played as he poured out the jewelry. He glanced at a photo of Cookie, missing her front teeth, in the arms of her mother, while closing the lid. He lifted the box with two hands and headed for the door. After taking two steps he stopped, gazing in absolute fear. The beam from Jimmy's flashlight was on a nude body pierced with numerous knife wounds. The box slipped out of his hand. There was a crash. ‘Somewhere My Love’ played.

  The boys panicked and ran for the door.

 

  “That’s the truth.”

 

  “Interesting lies. Pull over.”

 

  “You believe what you want to believe. Let me hire a private investigator.”

 

  “I know about you. You’re a slick con man.”

 

  “I play slick con men. I’m an actor, for crying out loud.” Jimmy pondered for a moment. “It was you. You killed your wife. Why else won’t you listen to reason? If the neighbor didn’t do it, it had to be you. I know we didn’t do it. You sick bastard. You erased it from your mind, didn’t you?”

 

  “If so, how would I know? Besides, you forgot about my eyewitness: Florence.” Tom thought for a second or two. “Pull over, now,” he yelled.

 

  The jaguar pulled to the side of the road. The doors opened. Jimmy and Tom stepped out of the car. Jimmy dashed across the street and jumped over a four feet high metal fence. He landed face down in long sawgrass. A bullet went by his head. He crawled on his hands and knees deep into the tall sedge, some exceeding five feet in height. The razor sharp rows of teeth of the sedge cut into his arms. Beads of blood flowed down both of them.

 

  Tom jogged up to the fence and glanced around the sea of sawgrass.

 

  Jimmy got up. Bending down, he ran

 

  Tom put his hands on a post and jumped over the barrier intended to keep gators inside the marsh area. He landed on his feet and then moved slowly throw the sawgrass, looking around the area.

 

  Jimmy, still bending, ran through the sawgrass, sedge cutting into his arms and face.

 

  Tom stomped through the sawgrass, his head slowly turning from side-to-side.

 

  Jimmy came out of the sawgrass onto marshland that runs along a canal. Huge alligators were laying along the bank on the other side of the narrow canal. Yellow cow lilies floated on top of the canal. Jimmy glanced at the alligators. “I know what you’re thinking: ham dinner.”

 

  A large alligator stared at Jimmy.

 

  Tom moved closer.

 

  Jimmy hurried along the canal. A flock of white egrets rested on trees and in the grass along the canal. Jimmy came upon a body of water. He looked around before lying down behind a scrub surrounded by tall grass by the canal.

 

  Tom stepped out of the sawgrass and scanned the area.

 

  Jimmy lay still as he stared down the canal. Blood flowed down his face and arms. A grey coot, short thick beak, floated on the canal. Beyond the coot the eyes of an alligator just above the water moved towards Jimmy.

 

  Jimmy turned his head and looked down the swampland.

 

  Tom walked towards Jimmy.

 

  A snake slithered by Jimmy’s hand. He peered down the canal as blood ran down his face.

 

  The alligator in the canal moved closer as Jimmy glanced down the swampland.

 

  Tom strolled by the canal.

 

  Jimmy turned his head toward the canal.

 

  A soft RUSTLING sound. Jimmy’s eyes darted over his shoulder.<
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  Another alligator with his mouth wide open attacked Jimmy. CHOMP!

 

  Tom stopped and stared.

 

  Jimmy’s head was in the alligator’s mouth and his body swung from side-to-side.

 

  Tom smiled as the alligator chomped down on Jimmy’s body causing blood to gush up into the air. “Ouch! That had to hurt.”