The Noir Evil

by Richard Paul Caird

  Ness at first did not react to her motioning towards the basket of long forgotten gifts that Cowles clutched within his hands but then gathered his thoughts and hesitantly replied, not wishing her to think that he was in anyway seduced by her attractive, outward appearance that had obviously seduced so many men before him “Oh! No! That’s fine, I’ll take it from here Cowles, thank you!” Cowles was then surprised as Ness immediately grabbed the basket from him before continuing to speak to Poppy, whom obviously now harboured all his attentions “It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss Valentine, I must say that’s a lovely name, rather fitting with you wearing the red and all Hehe!” Ness could not believe how childish his statement was, ridiculous even but he put it down to him feeling desperately exhausted and tired and so he would not beat himself up over this momentary lapse in concentration.

  Poppy warmly smiled at the nervously awkward Ness, melting whatever resistance he had built up towards her and exposing his true fascinated face which now evidently exhibited an unabated warmth and compassion towards her. Poppy then spoke again as she was well versed in the male behaviour of attraction “Why thank you Mr Ness, how kind, I try to bring a little colour into this dreary office as it seems to only consist of men in grey suits upstairs and blue suits downstairs, Hehe!”

  They both smiled at each other and giggled for a moment before Ness embarrassingly realised that he was staring at her and hesitantly motioned for her to lead the way to his new office. Poppy had one of those beautifully soft southern accent that had always appealed to Ness and he associated such tranquil dialect with good southern Christian values. As the alluring Poppy led the way he walked passed the two man welcoming committee and nodded at each of them in thanks, momentarily being dragged back into the harsh real world and beginning to think somewhat more rationally again. This Miss Valentine was a true beauty and there was no denying that she had the unnatural effect of enabling him to think more rationally with her mere presence, effortlessly taking his mind off of his panic ridden anxieties within an instant.

  He curiously wondered if perhaps she would be his new addiction other than the opium that he loved, an addiction that any man within the department would like to have. There was no denying the natural attraction of such a wondrous creature but with his newly found rational mind now firing on all cylinders, he suspected she was obviously a honey trap sent by the ‘unseen enemy’ to seduce him and spy on his every move. Long ago he had learnt to avoid relationships at work and keep his private and professional life separate from each other and even Edna had jokingly said that he was married to his job and that any distractions would be detrimental to his career. Edna had an obvious motive for this suggestion in that it ensured his fidelity but Ness had simply had affairs outside of his workplace, avoiding possible embarrassments or public scandals.

  As he continued to walk with Poppy down the hallway he momentarily turned around to see that both Sweeney and Matowitz where now talking to each other in quiet deliberation. He speculated on their probable first impression of himself and hoped that his nervous behaviour masked his true addiction. As he turned back around he noticed two presumably detectives standing by a nearing water dispenser, one of whom was eccentrically dressed in a beige suit with a multi-coloured tie, pink shirt and sporting a straw hat whilst the other looked more like a banker with his dark pinstripe suit, red tie and sleeked back black hair. Both were curiously looking at him and his beautiful companion with immense interest as they came closer, analysing his every move with an unnerving clarity. He speculated that they had probably never heard anyone speak to the congressman or his obvious lackey like that before and then he then noticed that the eccentrically dressed detective was acquiring some more water, not for himself but for him?

  The smiling detective tipped his hat and held out his hand with the cool refreshing water within a cup and initially Ness was surprised by his actions, until he realised that he was still sweating profusely as a drop of sweat fell from his nose and onto the gift basket that he was carrying. He then immediately took the water from the detective’s hand, nodded in thanks and gulped it down as both detectives watched the parched Ness become miraculously rehydrated. Ness then awkwardly smiled back at the slightly eccentric looking detective, whom by now was already whispering again to his smartly dressed younger partner. The heavenly refreshing water went down his throat and felt like a blissful cold fruit drink that had been given to him after a long pilgrimage within a desert. The opium enhanced its wonder as he felt the instantaneous effect of becoming refreshed and revitalised within this stifling environment whereby he felt somewhat akin to being like a small bug within a bell jar.

  He momentarily glanced back again at the on looking detectives and the distant welcoming committee and preferred the raw authenticity of the cooler, downstairs area when compared to this muggy upstairs area. This muggy upper floor was similar to a politician’s nest of vipers whereby nothing was what it seemed, just like the beautiful woman whom was now leading him towards his new office. The attentive Poppy then turned around and gently took his gift basket as they arrived at the wooden panelled, glass enclosed front office door. She then warmly smiled and spoke again “Here we are Mr Ness!, let me go and put these away for you” Ness then surveyed his impressive office door which had his new title labelled in black upon its misty glass exterior ‘SAFETY DIRECTOR - ELIOT NESS’

  The still nervous Ness then awkwardly spoke whilst pointing it out to Poppy “Yep! That’s me!” to which he internally reprimanded himself for yet another silly comment. Poppy smiled at him as she placed his gift basket upon his desk within his adjourning office and then eagerly sat down by the typewriter in her separate front reception area. Her front office was small and unnoticeable, unlike herself because she was exquisitely maintained, immaculate and very noticeable especially set upon such drab and featureless settings. These murky windows concealed preoccupied shadowy occupants within the adjourning offices, apparently oblivious to his arrival and intently discussing other matters of concern. He pondered if these corrupt unseen enemies that had long ago infiltrated the department really expected him to fall for this woman whom was such an obvious ploy and a rather striking cliché’.

  He then looked at her again and he felt himself become more willing to accept that she is probably just a simple, young and naive girl whom they had been manipulated to spy on him and had nothing to do with corruption or other nefarious activities that where taking place within this department. He ponderingly looked at her for a moment longer before her head came up from the desk’s typewriter and their eyes met again. He could not help but smile at her and her at him before he then opened the door and entered the sanctuary that was his new office, relieved to finally be on his own. He realised that his rational mind was not thinking straight and it was his irrational attraction towards Poppy was deluding himself into believing that she was some innocent bystander within this storm of corruption that now surround him.

  His chaotic and contradictory feelings then disappeared as he looked at his new office which was large, wooden and well stocked with a variety of stationary supplies. It contained a desk, two chairs and a steel filing cabinet by the blinded window which itself had an impressive view of both the entrance to the building down below and the massive concrete parking area which housed a variety of police automobiles. He was pleasantly surprised to see that he had a partial view of the magnificent Terminal Tower which dominated the skyline and expelled any misgivings that he had about his new position. The rickety ceiling fan squeaked as it spun the smoke laden air until he turned it off in irritation. The old typewriter on the wooden desk had a few worn symbols missing upon it, which he always detested but showed a certain vintage and dependability about the item. The smell of cigarette smoke soon re-invaded the office as he opened his window so as he could have some fresh air circulate within the stagnant air that now suffocated him. He pulled back the squeaky wooden chair and sat down, instantly feeling at ease as he once again
inhabited a familiar environment to which he was accustomed too.

  A sudden knock came from the door and he instantly noticed the unmistakable red and blonde silhouette of the alluring Miss Valentine and so he spoke “Come in!” She opened the door with a gleaming smile and then brought in a wonderfully freshly brewed coffee and placed it carefully upon his desk to which he thanked her “Thank you Miss Valentine!” She then promptly smiled, nodded, turned and left the office whilst closing the door gently behind her. She left leaving nothing but her lingering sweet smelling fragrance, which lovingly permeated the surrounding air and cut through the coffee aroma like a hot knife through butter. This alluring smell was pleasantly complimented by the amazingly fresh roasted coffee bean aroma that infused the air with a lingering of comfort and familiarity that he silently rejoiced in. He then suddenly felt the familiar and anxiety provoking return of his delayed panic attack that was now attempting to reassert control over him, after the rude interruption of the alluring Miss Valentine. He then eagerly opened one of the gift bottles of scotch and then took out his small silver art deco pill box, adamant that he would dispel the familiar crippling feeling of a panic attack that he had become far to accustomed too in life.

  He then downed some opium pills with a brief swig of scotch before he then attempted to mask the alcoholic smell by sipping the perfectly blended coffee that had just been so lovingly made for him. He then leaned back in his squeaky wooden chair whilst putting his feet upon the well-worn desk and crossed them before satisfactorily sitting there for a moment. He then put his hands behind his head and interlinked the fingers whilst closing his eyes, adamant at wanting the opium to take him immediately and no longer willing to be under the fear of an imminent panic attack. He then opened one intrigued eye as he heard the resurgent squeaky fan miraculously come back to life and picking up speed as it did so. This quickening speed brought with it an unknown tune that it appeared to be singing from the darkest recesses of a troubled mind, a tune that was unnaturally filtering into this world from an unknown origin. The reanimated fan continued to play its haunting melody as he let this odd peculiarity drift from his thoughts and succumbed to the beauty of the opium. The glorious feeling of euphoria then took hold of him and his absent mind, to which he willingly and knowingly surrendered.

  There was a buzz around the busy smoke filled office as a tired detective Merlyo sat by his desk and satisfactorily smelt his freshly brewed coffee. The office was a hive of relentless activity as the preoccupied detectives May and Musil both got up from their adjacent desk and left it in a hurry. Merlyo keenly watched the two hastily leave before his wandering eyes looked towards the far side of the room whereby the large and solitary detective Trunk had just finished off one of his latest origami creations, pleasurably placing it amongst his many other’s that had long ago accumulated upon his desk. The untrustworthy Trunk always conveniently had a piece of paper within his upper waistcoat pocket to ever enhance his skills within his chosen artistic field of paper manipulation.

  Four months had passed since the double macabre discovery at the base of Jackass Hill and Merlyo had presumed that the case would have had a major breakthrough by now but unfortunately this was not to be. The three unsolved homicide cases remained just that, unsolved and other detectives had begun to suspect that the infamous Lady of the Lake homicide had nothing to do with the twin discoveries at the base of that gloomy hill. Regardless of Merlyo protests about the skins treatment with an unknown cleaning chemical compound, many detectives such as the now absent Musil and May, had theorised that they were all simply mafia related vendettas of some sort. The decapitations where merely the mobsters hired hitmen’s attempts at misdirection in order to keep the victim’s identity unknown and therefor there nefarious activities also unknown.

  All three homicides were still officially considered to be separate due to both the length of time between them as well as the victim’s differing sexes. Regardless of his continued protests about the direction of the unsolved cases he had not convincingly linked the homicides together and so had been taken off the investigations in favour of May and Musil. Not only that but he had also not been given permission to investigate them anymore because many thought that he was simply chasing shadows and wasting the limited resources of the already overstretched department. He had many outstanding cases that Matowitz insisted that he must complete first because the police chief had already come to the conclusion that the homicides where simply gangland turf murders of mafia related hits. To make matters worse he was still secretly having trouble sleeping and now had daily visions of the Lady of the Lakes haunting spectre that would appear to him with alarming frequency.

  There had also been some more major changes within the department as Eliot Ness’s relentless purge of corruption had continued unabated. Many of the previous management team had either left voluntarily, taken early retirement or simply quit after a few months with Ness being in charge because it appeared that he was taking no prisoners with regard to his ongoing corruption investigations. Only police chief Matowitz had survived this purge and many suspected that the clever Ness was simply keeping him in place to show that he was merciful, silently insinuating to others to come forward and divulge there dark secrets about the departments ongoing corruption problem. Merlyo was a happy man in this regard because of the immense impact that his original anonymous letter to the mayor had sparked. He could only have dreamt before that such a culling of the corrupted within his beloved department would be made a reality and his letter was now paying dividend because he felt that the city that he so dearly loved was starting to slowly evolve into something more positive.

  That’s why a month ago he was so happy to see the new safety director himself walking down the hallway and towards his newly created office, so much so in fact that he had even offered him a cup of water to quench his obvious thirst after his rousing speech about tackling corruption. The impressed Merlyo had loved what he had said to Sweeney and Matowitz and even told his partner, whom stood next to him whilst he was by the water dispenser, how much he had he admired Ness and that if anyone could clean up this department it surly had to be a good and decent man like him. He had however not spoken to Ness personally yet but had passed him numerous times in the hallway and once even accidentally caught his eye whilst he was talking to his beloved ex-girlfriend and now secretary, Poppy. Ness and Poppy had spoken about some case paperwork that he had accidentally misfiled and was trying so very desperately to locate as the court date for a trail was fast approaching.

  As Ness awaited for Poppy’s reply his eyes had locked onto the observing Merlyo’s as he hid behind his wooden, glass patrician wall at his desk, causing him to immediately break his longing gaze of his ex-girlfriend and lower his head back down behind the concealing wall. This momentary glimpse instantly made him feel the unspoken power of the famed lawman’s gaze which he had heard so very much about. So apart from that brief tantalizing glimpse, and there accidental water dispenser ‘meeting’, they had both miraculously managed to amazingly avoid each other’s attentions and continue upon their own divergent paths. He was however only one of a few whom felt secretly positive about Ness’s dramatic impact upon the department because many of his other colleagues, whom were mostly led by Trunk, thought that he was nothing but a troublemaker and that he was simply here for his own self-promotion and had secret political ambitions. Dirty cops like detective Trunk and officers O’Donnell and Kilbane had even started spreading malicious rumours about him, suggesting that he was secretly planning on running for the future position of mayor and that his anti-corruption operation was a facade that was aimed at self-promoting his inevitable run for office.

  Merlyo however knew that mayor Burton was a good and kind man and also knew how well he and Ness got on together, not to mention that he was the one whom initially wanted to hire Ness and had to persuade the reluctant congressman Sweeney to support the creation of the prestigious new position of safety directo
r. Even to a non-detective it would be foolish to suggest that Ness would literally bite the hand that feeds him and from what Merlyo could ascertain about his secretive character, he understood that Ness deplored politics and avoided the political arena at all costs.

  The detective then looked-up from his desk and covertly watched a busy Ness talk to the ever reliable Poppy whilst handing her some files from within his office. Merlyo had secretly watched the two of them on a regular basis from the safety of his desks glass and wooden patrician wall that separated himself and his partner and from the absent May and Musil. He had been using this superior vantage point for weeks now because he could easily watch the two of them and speculate upon their discussions and even determine the subconscious feelings that they had for one another through there slight mannerisms and physical interactions. He knew that Poppy was growing fonder of him day by day and maybe even courting his affections secretly outside of the workplace because he knew how she behaved when she found someone attractive.

  He knew because he himself used to be the very object of these attractions and so he could easily deduce her various subtle and complex physical characteristics that someone without this precious knowledge could never see. He could simply tell by the way she spoke to him in a relaxed state, how she continually looked at him with endearing eyes and the way she touched his hand when he passed her the files only a moment ago, like the way she used to touch his hand when they dated. There was a warmness about her looks upon him, a friendliness that went beyond the norm and transcended the simple niceties of a work bound relationship. The most revealing of her inner emotions was given physicality was when she smiled at him because this smile differed from others in that it was a warmly knowing smile which was only given out very sparingly and to none other than Ness alone.