Pitter patter, pitter patter, the rain melodiously drummed against the tin roof as if in tune to the music that was drifting up through the floorboards from the bar downstairs, keeping time to the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour which seemed always playing on the old jukebox that had been there since the day Dark Desire's had opened some fifty years before. Leaning against the rotted slightly musty sill of the open window I pushed back my damp hair as I fetched another cigarette from the rumpled pack of Marlboro's I'd gotten at Chang's Market on my way home. The screeching wail of Nicky the neighborhood's adopted ratty looking tabby cat pierced the night, and smiling I knew spring was fast approaching if she were in heat and being nailed by the tom from two blocks over who belonged to Old Lady McKinnon.It was a dark foreboding night, the sky a steely solid gray, the lamp posts, buildings and assorted vagrants and vagabonds dark, almost but not quite black silhouettes as they hurried by the solitary light where the alley met the Main Street. The forgotten and lost souls probably hoping against hope that on this sinister night they could find a place out of the wind and rain in the shelter two blocks further down in the basement of a long ago closed Baptist Church. The buses had stopped running hours ago, and taxi drivers avoided the area on a bright sunny day, let alone on a night like this. As I watched the lights approach I assumed the police were making their customary hourly pass by Dark Desires, making sure there was no trouble in the Mayor's favorite secret getaway.
Scratching my head I pulled myself to attention as I watched the long nose of a pitch black Rolls Royce ease itself into my view and stop. I heard a door open, and then a silhouette appeared as a man in trench coat, derby hat and a black umbrella walked over and leaning against the light pole pulled out a cigarette, his face almost but not quite becoming visible as the lighter came to life. It was obvious he was watching, or perhaps looking for something, and instinctively I pulled back stubbing out my cigarette, not wanting to be seen, and sliding down the wall I crouched behind the old tapestry drapes tattered and frayed, watching this figure as he searched, looking from side to side, and up and down the street. I could not make out his features, yet his silhouette was in perfectly crisp detail, I watched as the individual droplets of water gathered upon the brim of his derby catching the light briefly and then blinking out of view as they fell to the ground to find their way to the sea. I could almost make out his eyes each time he took a drag from the cigarette dangling from his lips…he was no doubt reluctant to touch it any more than possible on such an impossibly wet night, and as he searched I watched the cigarette grow shorter and shorter till his gloved hand snatched it and with a flick tossed it deep into the alley acting briefly like a flare before being drown by the rain.
Not sure how much time went by, the lone figure leaning against the lamp post as one cigarette after another appeared and disappeared, my legs aching and beginning to cramp as I knelt there afraid to move, afraid to make a sound through the open window. Magical Mystery Tour had been replaced by Janis Joplin screaming in pain about Bobby McGee, and then replaced by Jimi Hendrix and then a few old Elvis songs and something from Buddy Holly. Glancing down to the old bent fruit box acting as a bedside table the clock told me it was now 3:47 in the AM…odd that the music was still drifting up through the floor boards, but then sometimes special clients were invited to stay long after the doors had been locked and most patrons sent scurrying along their way.
However this was a dark desolate rain filled night, three days before welfare and pension checks came in the mail and the place on most other nights like this would have been all but desolate. If Red had been working she would have invited me down to keep her company, and I would have been happy for the drinks being poured for free. Suddenly the silhouette pushed himself off of the lamp post adjusted the umbrella and disappeared. I heard the car door shut and then the Dark Rolls came briefly into view in the alley and was gone out of sight.
The music was still drifting up through the floorboards and the clock now read 4:03 as I carefully stood up allowing the blood to rush back to my legs. Stretching I reached for another cigarette and striking a match smiled weakly at the trembling fingers trying to hold still. I stared at the alley, looked at the lamp post, finished one and lit another cigarette before deciding to climb out and down the fire escape to have a look.
My feet splashed as I dropped to the alley floor stumbling as I almost fell on the boxes stacked up underneath the grill work I stumbled across and hid in the darkness of the opposite walls. Slowly I slide my fingers along the rough well worn bricks, the water numbing my hands as I crept closer to the light. Just inches from the separation of light and dark on the wall I stopped, trying to slow my breathing and catch my breath. I could see the other side of the street now, a few more feet and the neon light above the door of Dark Desires would be visible to my eyes. For some reason I doubled back along the wall and then crept up the other side to gain some sight of the direction in which the Rolls had driven off.
As I strained my eyes to see through the now pouring rain I was certain the street was empty, and taking a closer look at the street light I noticed a glint and there some two foot from the street drain was a golden lighter. I edged closer, and taking one last glimpse both ways stepped out into the light and retrieved the lighter. It looked expensive, and holding it at just the right angle I saw the initials GHS engraved upon each side. I hurriedly tucked the lighter away and made for the door of the bar to get in out of the rain, and to avoid having anyone see me standing there, or more accurately to have whoever it was that had been standing there return to find me where he had been.
The door to the bar was locked so I scurried back down the alley and up the escape pushing myself through the window just in time as once again lights came traveling down the street as the Black Rolls Royce stopped, its nose just visible in the dim haze from the street lamp as I quickly found my lookout behind the old decrepit drapes.
Again I heard the car door open, watched the lone figure appear, do a thorough search around the pole and then disappear. The car door closed and I watched the Rolls Royce briefly appear before vanishing into the night. I reached across to my bedside table and retrieved another Marlboro, smiling reached into my pocket for the lighter I'd recently retrieved from the street there underneath the lamp post standing guard against the night. I fumbled around and found the top flicking it open and bringing it to life as I inhaled deeply from the smoke. GHS, each initial in the light I could see separated with a diamond, identical on both sides.
The body had been found the next morning just down the street from Dark Desires. I'd been awakened rudely by pounding on the old oaken door that separated me from the rest of the outside world...Anyone in there! Open up, it's the police! Suddenly aware of the shouting I dragged myself awake and mumbled incoherently…be right with you. I reached for another cigarette, took the last one from the pack and tossed it too the floor kicking it under the bed convinced that one day I would take the time to redeem the miles for some fabulous prize to be sent by mail in six to eight weeks. Spying the lighter I lit my last smoke before the long walk to Chang's Market and tucking the lighter safely into my jeans went to open up the door.
"Did you see or hear anything strange last night, what time did you go to bed, did you see anything out of place?"
"Uh…no, why, what's going on officer?"
"Are you sure you did not notice anything out of place?"
"Well, no, not really, just that the music stayed on longer than it usually does on a rainy night in April."
"Here's my card, call me if you think of anything, and don't go anywhere just yet, the detectives want to talk to everyone in the building."
"Can I go get some cigarettes?"
Reaching into his jacket pocket the officer pulled out a crumpled pack of Marlboro's, "No, not just yet, here take these."
Closing the door I fetched another smoke and went to the window to take a look outside…the sun was trying to peek out, but the sky still hung heavy with signs that the rain was not finished dropping and might not be for a few days yet to come. I thought better of using the lighter again and retrieved my matches from the bedside table when there was a second knock at the door. Shaking my head I quickly splashed some water on my face from the sink in the corner of the room shouting I'd be right there.
Opening the door I was pleased to see it was only Red, and letting her in I gave her a hug as her lips found mine, we kissed that deep knowing kiss shared between two lost souls finding company in their shared misery and an occasional romp in the hay. At one time she had been quite the looker, but time,the ravages of a life gone wrong had taken their toll as her once proud breasts sagged as if on a journey to join her knees and her once scarlet mane of hair now more like a discarded rag mop in need of some repair. Yet, she was a friend, or as close to a friend as one could find when living in a flop house above a bar located in the wrong part of town.
Pushing me away she asked, "Have you heard the news yet?"
"No, I just woke up; the police were pounding on my door, why what's going on?"
"The Mayor was found shot dead just down the block early this morning by the trash men making their rounds!"
Thinking to myself…odd, I did not hear a gunshot last night. "Oh MY GOD! You are kidding me right, was he in the bar last night?"
"No, he never made an appearance, but considering the weather we did not give it any thought. Besides, Jake had invited some friends in for the evening and we ended up pouring drinks till almost five this morning. He asked me to work on my night off, and you know I need the money…would have invited you down, but with Jake there, could not be pouring you free drinks at the end of the bar. You got an extra cigarette?"
"Sure."
"Got a light?"
Without thinking I reached into my pocket and produced the gold lighter with the engraved initials.
"Where DID YOU GET THAT?"
"I found it."
"Where?"
"Never mind, just forget you saw it, OK?"
"Sure. Where did you find it?"
"FORGET IT RED, JUST FUCKING FORGET IT. Look, I have to get out of here for a bit…can you stay here and put the detective off if he shows up?"
Not waiting for a response I ducked out on the fire escape and made my way up to the roof and taking off at a run leapt to the adjoining roof and then the next and let myself down onto the street almost a block away. Looking at the almost full pack of cigarettes I decided I could splurge for a cup of coffee and maybe even a morning paper.
I briskly made my way up to 47th Avenue and Market in the wind and tucked into the diner shaking the water from my coat. Sitting down at the peeling and chipped sky blue Formica counter I ordered coffee and taking a survey around was pleased to find a newspaper two seats down…my lucky day. Getting the waitress's attention I splurged and ordered the eggs and toast special for a dollar and ninety nine cents.
Just as I started to read the sports scores I heard the announcer's voice coming from the old black and white Zenith TV that resided over in the corner…we interrupt this program for this special news announcement. The reporters rambled on about what time the body had been found, had interviews with the trash collectors who had happened upon the scene, and there was the detective who wanted to speak with me telling the on scene reporter that so far they had no suspects…I pulled the lighter out of my pocket and stole a quick glance at the initials GHS and quickly put it away as the detective's voice droned on…he was shot twice in the back, it had to be an execution style hit…but there were no gunshots, I know, I was there the whole time…it had to be the person in the black Rolls Royce, but there were no shots…who is GHS?
