The Noir Evil

by Richard Paul Caird

  Merlyo squeezed his eyes closed again but reopened them immediately, wishing to see Jiggs escape from the unseen threat that now pursued him upon dead flesh. He was transfixed as he watched on in discomfort as Jiggs was pursued by a simple dark ink image of an unseen hairy beast like shadow which only had two discernible holes for eyes. The petrified Jiggs screamed a horrendous silent scream as the maddening ink blot came closer and closer to him, slowly opening its mouth as it did so. The indiscernible ink beast then consumed Jiggs alive with its huge gaping mouth, which only revealed itself when it was wide open. Jiggs struggled as his limbs where eaten one by one before it finally ripped off his head and eat it also, adoring the voiceless cartoon characters silent demise.

  As the disturbed detective looked on in horror whilst this unknown ink monster delightfully munched on the poor Jiggs, its round eyes then focused on the transfixed detective once it had finished its meal. After a moment of watching Merlyo’s strange behaviour, the concerned Gerber then turned to the troubled detective and noticed that he was apparently now totally transfixed by the troubling sight before him and spoke “Detective? Don’t worry about the sheet. We can tell Cowles on the way out to cover it again. Detective? Are you ok?” A preoccupied Merlyo then started the engine and put it into gear whilst slowly reversing his Ford away from the troubling sight of staring ink eyes. The disturbed detective then hesitantly replied whilst he uncomfortably sweated and discarded his useless cigarette out of the window “Sorry my mind was elsewhere”

  The Ford then quickly disappeared into the unseen rain soaked streets ahead as the dripping wet Lady of the Lake silently stood triumphantly over the tattooed victim. She had a malformed and twisted grin edged upon her distortedly rotten face as rancid water cascaded through her yellow teeth and over her blackened tongue. She watched the disturbed Merlyo disappear through her dripping wet hair that lay chaotically over her hideously deformed face, satisfied that the tired detective would not sleep that night.

  The elaborately decorated promenade that led from the ocean towards the spectacular central plaza, near to the impressive Terminal Tower, was lined with a multitude of multi-coloured fluttering flags that enticed the curiosity of all. The grand spectacle that was the Great Lakes Exhibition was in full swing as millions of people flooded the streets with joyous excitement and optimistic exuberance. A multitude of kiosks catered to all tastes of rampant consumerism whilst elaborate dance shows jostled for the attention of the writhing masses that had accumulated around central Cleveland and its waterfront.

  This magnificent spectacle continued all the way from this impressive waterfront in to the congested inner city until it ceased around the very base of the dominating Terminal Tower which stood sentry over all, imposing its impressive architecture upon any whom gazed upon its grandeur. Families of all creeds and colours explored the wonders that Cleveland had to offer as it proudly showcased itself to the masses of visitors in an unflatteringly unapologetic manner, dramatically enticing any would be investor to finance their business within the area or risk potentially missing out of a valuable opportunity. A lone blimp silently surveyed all from high above and took wondrous photographs of the impressively dramatic scenery that encompassed all whom attended down below. An electricity of excitement and jubilation filled the streets as all marvelled at the grandiose eccentricity of the fabled city, reluctant to leave and adamant to stay within its glistened walls of optimistic hope.

  The tuxedo wearing Ness and his date for the evening, the lovely and elegantly red dressed Miss Valentine, had just arrived only twenty two minutes ago to be immediately surrounded and unceremoniously swamped by the local press corp. Ness had already been promptly whisked away from his date by the squabbling elite of Cleveland's civic and business leaders whom had all eagerly sponsored this major event and where all now congregated around him. Ness was hidden within this unruly group as reporters besieged them by the steps of the Terminal Tower which imposingly overlooked the central plaza. Flashes of camera’s light filled the surrounding area with a chaotic brightness that illuminated the madness of the frenzy which Ness currently found himself trapped within.

  The dominate Terminal Tower rose up so high that its apex was blocked from view by the low overhanging clouds that shrouded it in an artificial eerie glow that persisted from its sightless summit. The lights upon this unseen summit silently acknowledged its existence to all and also pervaded on lookers with a feeling of insignificance, an instinctive reaction to all whom where within its dominant and concrete presence. The plaza had a carnival feel about it as little kiosks made good business with the visiting families by vigorously selling them their home made products and assortments of various colourful great lakes trinkets. The feeling of excitement was being continually fed by the long line of crowds which stretched all the way back to the waterfront, instinctively luring them nearer as the fantastic multi-coloured lights shone from the Terminal Towers base.

  The endless crowds came in there hordes like moths to the flame as the monolith building drew them ever nearer, enticing them with visual stimulus and luring them with exotic smells that excited there hungry taste buds. The summer air was surprisingly humid and the heat had persisted well into the evening as the overhanging clouds captured it and repelled it back down upon the radiating concrete central plaza below. The concrete plaza had effortlessly accumulated all the days’ heat within its base and was only now slowly releasing it back into the atmosphere, making many sweat within its central area and causing some parents to leave with their children after only being there for a few minutes. The expositions beating heart was the combination of the lavishly decorated waterfront as well as the inner city plaza whereby Poppy now stood alone, attempting to take her mind off her preoccupied date by wandering its many kiosks. These kiosks lined the roads all the way from the jubilant waterfront, which had only recently been used as a lowly refuse dump but the ever clever Ness had given the order some months back to create something wonderful out of something so ugly.

  The newly crafted and impressive waterfront now sprawled over one hundred and thirty five acres of land and was intended by the safety director to foster both civic and regional pride during this exhibition. This exhibition was organized to celebrate the centennial year of the incorporation of the city of Cleveland and sought to highlight “the material, social and cultural progress which has been achieved in the great lakes region in the past one hundred years” Ness had also included his own additional desire for the city, which was that it now also represented a forward looking vision of a prosperous future that “indicates the paths of progress for the future” The entire exhibition was intended to attract vast amounts of visitors and potential business investors into Cleveland’s rejuvenation project and also provide an entertaining diversion from the recent depressing shadow of The Great Depression.

  Ness also discovered that it had the added bonus of detracting the newspaper’s attention away from their obsession with the unsolved Mad Butcher investigation that had been religiously filling up the newspapers headlines of late. It now gave the vampire like press something more positive and uplifting to sink their teeth into, albeit the infamous killer was never that far away from the headlines and still often came up in press conferences. Luckily for Ness the newspapers had also been kept busy with the recently successful Republican National Convention as well as his own anti-corruption achievements and traffic modernisation of the courts. The infamously unsolved and troublesome Mad Butcher investigation had taken somewhat of a backseat to these more pleasantly positive events and a happy Ness was enjoying this brief respite from that macabre conundrum of a case.

  The lonesome Poppy sadly stood in the centre of the impressive plaza as she watched the laughing Ness be swept away by the mass of eager colleagues and relentless press corp. All of the people that surrounded him desired things from him and many had business dealings with the mayor and congressman and so they wished to be introduced whilst others wanted favours,
a picture or a quote. The lonesome Poppy watched Ness from afar as the light caught her stunningly red dress which appeared like a vibrantly rare rose when set against the harsh greyness of the concrete plaza floor. She gave the impression that she was lost within an alien environment which was unknown to her and that she had been accidentally blown here from her longing stem, fluttering down into the middle of the plaza and eagerly awaiting for the next gust of wind to release her from her trappings.

  She then decided to keep her preoccupied mind off of her troublesome relationship with Ness by looking curiously around at the surrounding kiosks which almost sealed the plaza completely. These various kiosks consisted of local businesses and industries from the region whom sponsored the expensive exhibits which were designed to celebrate Cleveland’s progression after The Great Depression. They promoted their own products such as Standard Oil of Ohio, whom produced expensive and colourful souvenir maps to the city. The famed Higbee Company hosted an elaborate store that was housed in an impressive small wooden tower where curious visitors could learn about the regional industries through enticing exhibits. These exhibits had theatrical names like "The Romance of Steel" whilst on lookers could also watch patriotic pageants that dominated the senses and demanded your explicit attention. Some of the Northeast Ohio industries that where represented at the exposition included the White Motor, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and Sherwin Williams

  The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’s ever popular blimp floated constantly overhead and kept an ever watchful eye on all the marvellous proceedings that where currently taking place below. These proceedings appeared to take on a marvellous new meaning within the evening as the colourful lights spectacularly reflected back down onto the ground from the low hanging clouds above. The blimp fleeted in and out of these low covering clouds, mysteriously disappearing from view altogether and only being identified as still in existence by the ghostly light that sporadically broke through the clouds thick layers.

  As Poppy looked at this blimp and her colourful surroundings, she was impressed with all the features that simultaneously attacked her multitude of senses. These numerous attractions around the plaza, along the promenade as well as by the waterfront included donkey rides, botanical gardens, cafés and imposing structures of various pageantry. She curiously looked on as the nearby Midway Stadium’s "Streets of the World" area provided carnival style entertainment with an international theme. She smiled to herself because of the apparent controversy that was currently raging among the numerous guests and reporters over the appropriate type of entertainment that the Streets of the World was providing.

  Nudity and exotic dancers were banned but several venues featured scantily clad females dancing and this was causing somewhat of a small sensation between the two opposing groups, spreading dramatic rumours throughout the crowd about its appropriateness. Poppy could see why families where annoyed at the Midway’s entertainment and how conservatives would express these concerns in the appropriate political fields but she thought that the drama was being over exaggerated. The women where not that provocatively dressed as many had been describing to her and she simply thought that these rumours amounted to nothing more than a storm within the proverbial teacup.

  She then watched the colourful dancers as they performed their routines before she glanced across at Ness, whom was eagerly continuing to speak to the multitude of civic dignitaries that surrounded him. Poppy felt ironically alone even though she was surrounded by so many people within the centre of the plaza and sadly looked every few minutes to see where the mass of people had taken her elusive date too. The swarm that surrounded him then migrated down the steps of the Terminal Tower and towards a French themed dancing girl show that lay on the far side of the packed plaza. She thought about going over there in an attempt to reclaim her date but these hesitantly momentary thoughts soon disappeared as she caught a glimpse of the repulsive and laughing congressman Sweeney.

  Sweeney was nearby the preoccupied Ness and was being closely followed by his attentive entourage and upon seeing his close proximity to Ness, she decided to wait around this lonely area of the plaza until he came looking for her. She was actually relieved to have escaped such a cacophony of chaos that constantly surrounded her absent date and besides, the man she fell in love with was not present at this exposition. His body might be present but his mind was not because he was yet again high on his beloved opium and she had been desperately disappointed upon discovering this whilst she was on the way here.

  There evening together had started out badly because Ness had booked the chauffeur driven, brand new and somewhat experimental silver Stout Scarab for transportation to the exposition. Poppy had thought that the Stout Scarab was positively the ugliest automobile that she had ever seen in her life but Ness had sincerely argued that it was just for the evening and that it was also to be on special display once they had arrived. She had then excitingly agreed to the outlandishly new experimental automobile out of morbid curiosity, taking immense pleasure in constantly pondering over the designer’s motives for creating such an ugly beast.

  The experimental Scarab looked bulky and was not very aerodynamic, being more of a curiosity rather than an automobile attempting to achieve marketing success in an already oversaturated market. Its box like outer layer may have produced a large interior but this came at the expense of the aesthetically pleasing exterior, making it look more similar to a small and unsightly bus rather than a personal automobile for family use. She had amused herself with wondering whom the target market was for the silver beast because it was far too expensive for the middle classes and most defiantly not something that a wealthier person would want within their prized collection. The larger and uncomfortable interior unfortunately matched its exceedingly ugly exterior and the only positive thing that she could see was the oak polished wooden table that remained static at the back of the cumbersome automobile.

  As they travelled in the silver Scarab towards their destination the attentive Poppy had noticed the familiar and disappointing sight of Ness slurring his words and having unfocused eyes. Ness noticed her keen observations and quickly attempted hide his behaviour and exposing physical signals by pretending to keenly observe the vibrating scotch drink which rested upon the Scarab’s interior oak table. Initially he had protested his innocence and stated that he was just a little tipsy but after a frantic few minutes of arguing, and only once his drink fell onto the unruly Scarab’s floor, did he finally admit to her verbal accusations. He reluctantly admitted to taking it just prior to them leaving there hotel and this saddened Poppy because he had promised her that he would not take any that evening because she wanted to get to know him more and not his addicted persona. He was so thoughtless that he had even forgotten to compliment her on her beautiful long red evening dress that she had specially bought for this occasion. He had also forgotten to compliment her on her beautifully done make-up, her specially selected silver jewellery and her fashionable done hair which was parted down one side and stylishly curled. She had specially asked for such stylish hair because it was done the way that he liked it and the way he had seen it worn before on the young actress whom he always regretted not pursuing called Lauren Becall.

  The argument about his continued opium use continued unabated in the back seat of the silver Scarab until she had simply had enough and informed him that she did not wish to be with him anymore unless he was sober and off the famed opioid drug. The stubborn Ness did not respond and just remained silent whilst looking out of the window, his chaotic thoughts were not in any condition to argue within such a claustrophobic and pressurized environment. There hired chauffeur remained quiet as he attempted to ignore the troublesome two in the far back seat of the Scarab and simply drove them as quickly as he could towards their selected destination, adamant that he would not get involved in this sensitive confrontation between the two lovers.

  After a long while of pure silence the quiet Poppy had then covertly looke
d at the silent Ness within the windows reflection as he haphazardly scanned the unseen night horizon. She suddenly felt immensely sad for Edna whom he had not brought because officially she was simply ill but in reality she had not. She simply took more pleasure out of remaining at their lake house with nothing but her six cats as company, knowing that Ness had long ago given up on having a family with her or attempting to save their faltering marriage. Their ill-fated marriage was simply for show now and nothing but a rouse to keep the incredulous press out of investigating his personal life. Poppy had never met Edna but knew a lot about her and regretted her hearts willingness to help forsake a marriage for her own selfish reasons. She had regularly self-reprimanded herself for being so heartless because she knew that Edna was a genuinely nice person whom just had a run of bad luck with Ness back in Chicago. This bad luck appeared to have followed them both here to Cleveland and fatally infected their marriage until now they were little more than passing friends with a familiar history together.

  Poppy and Ness did not speak for the rest of the tense trip towards the exposition and when they finally arrived he was eager to leave the ugly Scarab and flee Poppy’s judgemental gaze, adamant that he would enjoy the evening’s festivities because he felt that he deserved it above all else. As the relieved chauffeur let them both out of the silver Scarab, Ness commented on how he could purchase the ugly automobile and Poppy rolled her eyes in disgust, taking this as yet another sign of his drug induced state interfering with his common sense. They then briefly walked the beautifully decorated waterfront before then taking a horse drawn carriage down the flag filled promenade until they arrived at the frantically busy plaza whereby Ness quickly left her alone, willing to be taken away by the demanding group.