Dawn of Betrayal

by Max Grant

  She exposed the lining and saw Tomoe Suzuki lettered in Kanji characters in silver thread.

  I took the jacket from her hands and held it out for her. She shrugged into it and turned around. Her eyes were moist.

  “It’s so wonderful. It makes me feel like a woman.”

  “You are a woman, a beautiful woman. And one I’m most happy to know.” She came into my arms and gave me a big squeeze, then backed away real quick. I reached over and fetched her drink. We toasted each other and tossed off the drinks. I helped her get the fox back into its sack, and grabbed my jacket.

  “Well, I hope I’ll have lots of occasions to see it on you.”

  “I’ll see to that,” she replied

  She looked radiant as I dropped her off at her rooms at the Carondelet Manor.

  February 1948

  As business remained slow in the New Year I took on a client I would have heretofore shined on. I’d just finished sticking my nose into his domestic squabble and closed his case in less than 24 hours. The client had been a well-to-do executive over at Angeles Investments. Things had worked out in his favor.

  He had managed to get enough evidence on his cheating better half to drop her cold and leave her penniless. I caught him at the height of his exuberance, and he was extremely generous with the check. I rushed to deposit it at the bank and stopped by the Blue Saloon for a little private celebration. Not much had happened since and it was already late February.

  So today I was sitting around the office waiting for the phone to jangle and leafing through some old files. I’d just got the thought to knock off for the day when I heard the outer door open.

  My ears perked up when I heard a feminine voice that was somewhat familiar to me. A moment later Yuki appeared at my desk red-faced and excited. With some apparent difficulty she said, “Miss Lane is here to see you. The Miss Lane.”

  “Well, what do you know? Show her in.”

  Yuki scuttled on out of there and Miss Lane appeared at the door. Taken as a package she was stunning, a tall leggy brunette with character and intelligence written large across her face. With some difficulty I palmed my lower jaw back into place.

  I walked around the desk and offered her my paw. She gave it a brisk shake and I asked her if she would care to sit down. She took the chair in front of the desk. Back in my seat I rummaged in behind the office bottle and found an unopened fifth of cognac. I pulled it out and slapped in on the desk, but she declined.

  She said, “I really haven’t much time. But I’ve never met you or had a chance to thank you for everything you did for me last summer. Moe mentioned you the other day and I asked him where I could look you up. He gave me this address.”

  I told her it was always a great pleasure to help out Moe and the studio and I was glad that her problem had been taken care of as well. I asked her, “Do you mind if I call in my secretary for a moment? She’s a big fan of the movies and I know her little ears are burning out there.”

  Miss Lane laughed and said, “Why, no, by all means.”

  I got up again and stuck my head out the door and said, “Yuki, I need you in here.” She entered with tentative steps and I motioned her to pull up a chair. She looked only slightly more composed than the last time I saw her.

  “Yuki, I’d like you to meet Miss Lane. Miss Lane, this is my secretary Miss Suzuki.” They shook hands and looked at each other for a second. Then Yuki let her have it, peppering her with questions. And then they were talking of things about which I had no clue. Being as I myself had no idea what to say to Magnum’s most alluring star, I was perfectly content to sit back and watch.

  Miss Lane parried the questions with ease and she seemed generally enthralled with Yuki. It was mutual. After about a half an hour I decided I might come to Miss Lane’s rescue, before this turned into a real hen party. I rose from behind the desk and said, “Perhaps we’ve taken enough of your time, Miss Lane.”

  “On the contrary, it’s wonderful to meet someone as charming as your Miss Suzuki. In fact I have no pressing engagements this evening. I would be delighted if the two of you could join me for dinner.”

  Yuki’s mouth popped open and she looked like a teenager begging to stay out an extra hour. I grinned and said, “We’d be delighted, that is if Miss Suzuki isn’t otherwise occupied.”

  She shot me a glare and said, “That would be so very nice.”

  Vivian said, “Fine, let’s meet at Chez Louis at eight o’clock. Just ask the headwaiter for my table.”

  As she rose to leave, I reached back into my desk and pulled out one of my cards. I handed it to her, saying “Please, keep one of these handy and don’t hesitate to contact me if there is any emergency we can help you with.”

  She tucked it into her clutch. Yuki escorted her through the outer office. I heard the door close and Yuki came bouncing in.

  “Otherwise occupied? When am I ever otherwise occupied?”

  “Aw honey, I thought maybe you had a movie date tonight.”

  “Like ducks. Can you pick me up at the Carondelet about seven-thirty?”

  “Sure, doll. But you better take off now. I got to go get spruced up myself. Wait a second Yuki.”

  I walked over to the window and looked down to the street. There was a stretch limousine double-parked right outside the door of the building. A few seconds later Miss Lane appeared. The chauffer let her into the back of the vehicle and they zoomed away.

  I noticed then that a car across the street left the curb. I could have sworn that the driver looked up at me as he swung a U-turn into traffic, but then he was gone. I mulled that for a moment and then, turning to Yuki, said, “So what are we gonna wear?”

  “I know what I’m wearing, but you better wear that fine dinner jacket you got for that opening you took Monica and I to last fall.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. What about you?”

  “I’ve got a few things you’ve never seen. How about if I make it a surprise?”

  “That’ll be just fine.”

  Yuki bounced across the room and jumped in my arms. “Thank you, Ray.”

  “Don’t thank me. Thank her. She’s the generous one.”

  She tightened her hold and said, “You know what I mean.”

  She planted a quick kiss on me and tore out of there. I stayed at the window and watched her hurry on down to the bus stop at the corner. It was a pleasure to see my little star-struck secretary so happy. This was going to be a great night for her.

  The feeling was contagious so I put away my files and locked up and got out of there. Arnie was reading one of his dime-store detective novels in the elevator when the doors opened. “Who done it this time, Arnie?” I asked.

  “This one’s got me baffled,” he admitted. “I think it’s going to turn out to be the old guy in the wheelchair. I already figured out he ain’t lame.”

  I looked at the cover and there was a sinister mug holding an oversized rod in one fist and tearing the clothes off a frail with the other. I couldn’t figure out what that had to do with an old imposter in a wheel chair, but contented myself with the thought that the cover seemed to apply itself well to any of the pulp fiction novels.

  Arnie set me down at the lobby. I walked across, noticing that the tobacco stand was already closed.

  My sweet little secretary was standing at the curb in her silver fox jacket when I showed up just before 7:30.

  * * *

  Next morning a call came in from Jim Brand at LAPD Central Bureau. He reported that they’d found one of Magnum’s starlets left for dead up by the Observatory. There was no ID on her, but my card had been found secreted in a compartment of her purse and she’d been identified by one of the nurses down at County. Would I please come in to explain?

  Recalling the shadow that had taken off after Vivian’s limousine yesterday, it seemed on the face of it that the San Pedro bunch or someone had been staking her out. Maybe they assumed she had told me something the afternoon before.

  I pu
t in my time at the PD and got over to Moe’s office before lunch. Moe was lathered up into a righteous fury.

  “Ray, as of today you’re on permanent retainer to Magnum Studios. Take what it needs. Do what it takes. Get the job done. I want to hear about these bastards swinging in the wind. As many of them as you can corral. We got the green room up there at the Q for a reason. Nail ‘em to the cross!”

  He sat back abruptly, fished a hanky from inside his vest, and passed it over his reddened face and eyes. After he’d wound down a little he said, “Ask Sally to cut you a check for what you need on the way out.”

  “You got it, Moe. I’ll be across town for the next little while. Will you be needing regular reports?”

  “Not at all. When you’ve got some good news to share, give me a ring and we’ll meet at the Club over a cigar. I’m looking forward to it.”

  We both stood up and our eyes locked. He looked determined. I was equally determined not to disappoint him.

  “I’m looking forward to it too, Moe. Take good care of Vivian. Call my girl Yuki if you need to get in touch with me.”

  He walked me to the door where Sally was waiting for me, blank check in hand. I gave her a number. She inked it on and handed it up to me with an impertinent grin.

  “Go get ‘em, Raymond. Moe’s mighty soft on Vivian, and we’re all missing her around here. He thinks you’re the one that’s going to get these thugs off our backs for good.”

  “He’s right, Sally. I’ll give it my best.”

  If she only knew.

  * * *

  The anonymous phone call came in later that afternoon. Yuki patched it over.

  “You better back off, shamus, or we’ll put the screws to you. Or maybe to that slant cooze you’ve been making time with.” He had me chuckling in astonishment when the connection broke.

  Yuki tossed her head in a second later wearing a big scowl. “Did that SOB on the line just threaten me?”

  I said, “He couldn’t have. I don’t know any ‘slant cooze.’ I don’t know anyone even fits the general description.”

  Her face brightened. “OK, boss,” she said.

  “You still carrying that pop gun around?” I asked her.

  “Sure thing, and I got the .38 in my desk with the carry bag.”

  In a way, I was glad she’d heard. I hadn’t wanted to tell her about the other threats that had come my way, figuring they’d try to jump me before they ever got around to taking it out on her. I was getting a little worried now and was starting to wonder if she had given this a little thought before joining up.

  There weren’t many men that would go after a woman for simply having a job, but these weren’t men. They were cowards, and from what I’d grown to understand their ideology was incompatible with a fundamental respect for human life or the protection of innocents.

  Even Mafioso and street criminals had a code of ethics that precluded this kind of crap. They might not step far out of their way to protect women and children, but most criminals were still human beings with some kind of character.

  Reds, on the other hand, had already acquired an international reputation for being equal-opportunity killers. These particular goons had the mentality of the union thug: they didn’t care whose head they bashed in or who they trampled under foot as long as it was directed by or met the approval of the leadership.

  My dad had always told me, ‘Listen when people talk to you. They’re trying to tell you who they are.’ I had a good idea which creep had uttered the threats over the phone, and I intended to see him dead for it.

  “What about the lawyer?” Yuki mused. “You got to know that he’s covering them.”

  “No, I think we can leave the lip out of this. He’ll get his some day. There’ll come a day when they have no more use for him, and he knows too much about them to be allowed to retire.”

  I gave it a few more minutes and sidled over to the window. I spotted the mutt right away. He was across the street, half a block up, leaning against the bus stop with a newspaper unfolded in front of him, holding down the sidewalk. A tall specimen with enormous shoulders, his arm muscles strained inside an ill-fitting jacket. He was trying hard to maintain a casual pose but still looked out of place.

  I couldn’t be sure which one of us he was after. I thought I’d let him stew out there for a while.

  * * *

  Just before quitting time I sauntered into the outer office and approached Yuki. “I’ve got a hankering for some Chinese tonight. Are you free this evening?”

  “Sure am, Boss. Chinese sounds great!”

  I wandered back into the office for my jacket and took another peek. The meatball hadn’t budged. I strapped on the shoulder harness and fitted in the S&W.

  We closed up the office at five, took the lift down to One, strolled on out through the lobby, and hit the street together. I dallied at the curb for a moment to make sure we’d been spotted then stepped into the street to hail a cab. The shadow got into motion and rapidly moved down to the end of the block.

  It wasn’t a minute before a cab showed. The tail was hastily jaywalking to our side of the street. I took my time folding Yuki into the back seat, then stood there patting my pockets like an idiot while the boy found his ride. I slid in beside Yuki.

  “Chinatown, driver. Take your time.”

  Yuki said, “This sure was a last minute surprise.”

  “Yeah, I guess I worked up a hunger over this business. Something made me think of Peking duck. I thought it was time we gave ourselves a treat.”

  “Great idea. But next time Boss, give a girl a little time to get fixed up.”

  “I never noticed where you needed any fixing up.”

  The color rose in her cheeks. She turned and planted a wet one on my cheek. I put my arm around her and gave her a squeeze.

  “Let’s take a walk tonight.”

  The cab turned onto Hill and I signaled the cabbie to pull over. We got out, crossed the street and sauntered down the block past some Chinese markets. I glanced back and caught sight of the shadow paying off his cab. He walked on the opposite side of the street.

  Young Chow’s Dim Sum Emporium was across the intersection on the corner. I pointed it out to Yuki and asked her how that would work. She gave me a nod and we walked on over to the menu posted at the doorway. I patted down my pockets and made some motions like I needed to go buy some smokes.

  “You go on in and rustle us up a couple of drinks and pick out an appetizer. I’ll be right there.”

  Yuki tossed me a funny look and walked on in. I moved over to the plate glass window and saw the tail hurrying across the intersection. I made a few inane gestures like I was communicating with someone inside the restaurant then made a beeline around the corner and up the block. As I expected, there was an alley behind Young Chow’s and I ducked in and made for the kitchen door.

  A second later the muscle was coming up the alley with a purposeful stride. Another second and he was passing by me. I lashed out with my right leg and collapsed his left with a devastating kick to the knee. There was a wrenching tearing sound, followed by a sharp snap as he leaned my way. The pug bellowed with rage and reached out for me. The murder in his eyes changed to a look of astonishment as he started flailing to keep his balance.

  The big pile of meat teetered for a moment, and then keeled over in my direction. I brought my right knee up abruptly and crashed it into his temple.

  He bolted upright and nearly regained his balance. I delivered a roundhouse kick to his groin that almost lifted him off his feet. He doubled over again. Shifting legs, I delivered my best 80-yard punt straight into his face. His nose exploded in a shower of blood as he jerked upright again.

  I couldn’t believe this goblin was still standing. Speed and unrestrained mayhem usually trumped unsuspecting muscle every time. I dropped low and swept my leg in a wide arc, taking him off of his feet at both ankles. He dropped like a sack of potatoes, his head bouncing off the pavement with a sickening crack.


  By this time two old Chinese cooks had made it out the door beside me and were standing there grinning and nodding their approval. The big guy was out cold and I wasn’t sure I hadn’t killed him, not that I really cared. I gave him a quick frisk and lifted his wallet from his inside jacket pocket. The folding money I extracted and handed over to the Chinamen. I pocketed his union card and tossed the wallet back on his chest.

  The cooks followed me back into the kitchen, giggling and fondling their cash. I made my way back to the dining room and joined up with Yuki at the booth.

  “I took the liberty of ordering for us,” she said.

  “Good thing. I’m so starved I could eat a horse, or whatever it is that’s served here.”

  * * *

  Yuki didn’t appear the next day, but she was already at her desk when I got in to the office Friday morning. Before I’d even got my coat off, she said, “Ray, I think I stumbled on something at the library yesterday. Lupe had all her files with her yesterday. She finally opened up to me. I spent all day there going over them with her. I think I can put some of this together.”

  Yuki fixed us some coffee and pulled out her notes. “Lupe’s dad was a seaman, crew on the Dona Maria, a coastal tanker run by General Petroleum out of Los Angeles Harbor. Her dad and Mr. Reyes were active in the maritime union and had been since they were young.

  “In searching for her father’s killers, Lupe has been focusing on maritime subversion. The head of the marine section of the Comintern in San Pedro was reputed to be this Ukrainian named Malkovich. But he disappeared during the war and it’s not too clear who replaced him.

  “Her dad was also involved with the Seaman’s Club. The Comintern had a section set up to try to infiltrate and destroy this club and replace it with something they created, the International Club. Her father, though a socialist, was dead set against this and worked hard to prevent the subversion of his club. She has never been able to find out who was heading up that effort. The problem I had with this information was that Monica’s father had no known connection with the club. The club really had nothing to do with the union.

  “There was a brief mention in her stuff of the Profintern, sort of a Red International of Labor Unions. Apparently this was a Comintern apparatus set up to infiltrate and destroy non-communist unions. From what I could tell the girl’s dads were big traditionalists and were heavily invested in the union as it was, so I imagine they were resistant to this push. I think they were killed at the behest of this apparat. But she also has no information as to who was heading up the Profintern at the time, or even today.”