The Noir Evil

by Richard Paul Caird

  The struggling veteran goon was surprised by wily detective’s toughness as he mercilessly tried to punch his shielded face only to have his own scarred face painfully grabbed as there epic physical confrontation continued. Machiano knew that he had to quickly gain the upper hand because of his precarious position and so he took out his trusty flick knife from his pocket whilst clutching the Gatling gun’s secure frame, aggressively thrusting it down upon Merlyo’s face. The immense force he utilized was testament to his determined desire to expel the life of the troublesomely defiant detective once and for all. Merlyo’s instinctive natural defensive reactions stopped the blade mere inches away from his eye and he shouted his immediate requirement for assistance to the preoccupied Ness, whom was still intently swerving for side to side and not fully understanding why the mobsters had ceased firing “I COULD USE A LITTLE HELP HERE!”

  The alarmed Ness instantly turned around and could see that his friend was indeed in dire need of immediate assistance and so he then took a sharp turn to right as he saw the familiar sight of the Cuyahoga Bridge coming up. As Ness turned hard with all of his strength he shouted back to Merlyo and prayed that he would understand the requirement of his sentence “RELEASE THE GUN’S PIN!” The quick thinking Merlyo then spat in Machiano’s eye to momentarily distract the goon’s unrelenting pressure upon the deadly blade as he looked frantically down at the golden weapon and quickly pulled out the pin holding it upon its swivelling metal frame. This action immediately released the entire Gatling gun and sent both it and the screaming Machiano flying off the top of the Scarab as it turned onto the bridge.

  The defeated goon and the confederacy gun where both thrown from the Scarab by the centrifugal force of inertia from Ness’s hard turn and disappeared over the edge of the bridge whereby the unseen turbulent waters below awaited for their imminent arrival. Polizzi could not believe his eyes as his only adopted family member disappeared into the sightless rain below and he instantly became even more outraged at the accursed Ness’s uncanny ability to single handily almost obliterate his entire mob.

  The adrenalin fuelled and relieved Merlyo then jumped back down into the silver Scarab’s interior shell of safety and sat next to Ness before he spoke whilst resurgent gunfire erupted from the Chrysler and LaSalle behind them “The bad news is that I lost your confederacy gun! The good news is that “Little Fish” Machiano is now sleeping with the fishes!” Both then briefly smiled about the ironic fate of Polizzi’s loyal goon as they quickly crossed the remainder of bridge before they suddenly felt a loud thud coming from each side of the Scarabs silver frame. The last remaining Chrysler and LaSalle had quickly sandwiched the Scarab together, forcing it to head straight towards the upcoming split in the road that was only separated by a large factory’s brick wall. Ness quickly shouted to Merlyo as the mobsters from the Chrysler tried to shoot there tommy guns through the various holes that now aerated the Scarabs defensive shell “HOLD ON!”

  Ness suddenly slammed on the breaks which caused both mobsters automobiles to quickly shot off into the harmless distance whilst he frantically turned the steering wheel in a desperate attempt to reacquire the immediate control of the battling Scarab. As the Scarab dramatically spun backwards, the reenergised Ness quickly pulled up the handbrake, put it back into gear, released the handbrake and satisfactorily regained control of it whilst they were still in motion. He then effortlessly powered the battle weary silver beast to do his bidding again as they sped off onto the nearby dirty side road of a derelict train yard. Merlyo was impressed at Ness’s superior driving ability but did not dare vocalise it for fear of distracting the intently driving lawmen and after a few blessed seconds of peace they heard the two pursing automobiles quickly reacquiring there elusive target as sporadic gunfire rippled throughout the moist night air.

  All of a sudden they both heard and felt an alarmingly loud bang and the entire Scarab lurched down to the left side which caused a multitude of sparks to instantly develop under the wounded automobile. These sparks where emanating from both the lowered flimsy steel shielding and the hidden wheel trim as they relentlessly hit numerous rocks upon the unseen gravel road below. Ness angrily voiced his concern whilst he tried to control the now unruly and slowing silver beast “They finally popped a tire god dammit! We’ll have to think of something quick because they’ll be on us any moment now and will kill us!” The calculating Ness then frantically turned onto another dirt road that ran adjacent to a long running train track and desperately thought of a solution to their current deadly predicament as the reappearing LaSalle and Chrysler quickly closed in.

  Both then heard the distant call of a nearing train which felt strangely comforting to them knowing that there was a potential daring escape available from the certain death that now menacingly loomed from behind them. As the determined Ness then accelerated, both within the battered Scarab where silently of the same mind as they saw that the road ahead of them would lead them ominously across the unseen train’s dangerous path. This was then highlighted as the warning red light came on the crossing signaller ahead of them and the barrier slowly started to lower, blocking there rainy path to freedom and apparently condemning them to an unknown fate. Both desperately scanned the rainy night for any sign of the noisy train’s current location and although they did not physically see it, they did see it’s brilliantly lit forward light shine upon the millions of tiny raindrops which lay directly ahead of them. They also alarming noticed that the pursuing Chrysler was quickly coming up behind them and frantically shooting because the chasing mobsters could not only see what the desperately daring Ness intended to do but also sensed the demise of his slowing silver Scarab.

  As the warning red lights where quickly becoming clearer through the rain in all there terrifying clarity, the unseen train’s own forward lights began to brilliantly illuminate the rain ahead of them. This had the effect of silently notifying the equally terrified occupants of the ailing Scarab that the unseen train was almost upon them and caused Ness to press one final button upon his secret art deco control panel. A final button that would either seal their fates within an early grave or miraculously help them survive this turbulently dangerous night so that they could finally put an end to the prime evil that had been terrorising Cleveland for the last few years. Ness then shouted as he pressed this final secretive button and instantly gripped the shaking steering wheel that was violently vibrating under his sweaty hands “HOLD ON!”

  The frightened Merlyo could see that whey where not going to make it as the nearing trains lights became almost blinding upon the falling rain ahead of them but knew that if they stopped they would be brutally murdered by cruel Polizzi and so he said nothing, preferring to die at the hands of the mindless locomotive rather than that of the sadistic mobster. Suddenly flames shot out of the back of the slowing Scarab and it instantly picked up speed and an unseen force violently repelled it forward in an almost uncontrollable fashion, forcing the struggling Ness to desperately hold onto the vibrating steering wheel in order to keep it going in a straight line. Both silently willed the ailing Scarab to sail effortlessly through the safety barrier of the signaller and over the train tracks as it moved swiftly forward whilst the desperate Chrysler’s shooting became more frantic as they struggled to keep up with the escaping automobile. Both men could no longer hold their secretively overwhelming anxiety anymore as they screamed in unison as the barley controllable rocket propelled Scarab sped towards the restrictive barrier which looked intimidatingly strong “Ahhhhhhhh!”

  The Scarab’s signature bonnet then effortlessly smashed through the thankfully flimsy safety barrier and safely transported its two unseen occupants onto the other side of the train tracks with millimetres to spare as the trains loud horn menacingly echoed thought out the night air. The unfortunate following Chrysler quickly followed it but was instantly obliterated into a thousand pieces by the thunderous locomotive which effortlessly ploughed through it with an immense force of unstoppab
le power. The stunned Polizzi could not believe what his eyes where showing him and screamed at his unresponsive driver whilst he pounded the dashboard in frustration “STOP! YOU FOOL! STOP! STOP!”

  The petrified driver remained motionless as he saw his unsatisfactory life flash before his reluctant eyes and upon seeing this the desperate Polizzi then jumped out of the doomed automobile in a last ditch and desperate bid to salvage his life. As he violently impacted the harsh gravel ground and was instantly consumed by a bellowing cloud of thick dust, he rolled uncontrollably as he heard the last death cries of his beloved LaSalle as it mercilessly impacted the iron frame of the thunderous train. The versatile and imperviously mighty train was undeterred in its mission to get to its chosen location by the dramatic end of both mobster automobiles and effortlessly moved on without regard for the total destruction that it mercilessly left in its wake.

  The smoking and bullet ridden silver Scarab staggered and limped on through the beyond dirt road as its two unseen occupants laughed uncontrollably within its newly aerated interior. Both Ness and Merlyo were emotionally exhausted and elated at their miraculous escape from the infamous Polizzi and his defeated Mayfield Road Mob. They could not help themselves but emotionally laugh at their exceedingly close encounter with death and joyously expressed their exuberantly conflicting emotions through the act of crying also. The conflicting emotions about the troubling events that had just transpired where only now beginning to sink into their separate minds and saturated there emotionally charged thoughts with an exhilarating determination to relive the spectacular events for years to come. As the victorious pair complimented each other on their various skills at artful evasion, unbeknownst to them there bond of friendship became solidified within the all-encompassing determination to finally end both the congressman and his stooge whom had just tried to murder them. Along with this newfound grim determination was another urge, an overwhelmingly powerful urge to also finally put an end to the Mad Butcher’s reign of terror upon there besieged city.

  As the smoking silver Scarab limped into the rainy night the emotionally charged Ness victoriously honked its horn numerous times to express to the potentially alive and unseen Polizzi that they were victors that night and so was the city which they had both come to love. The disorientated Polizzi heard this defiant signal as he slowly staggered towards the destroyed LaSalle and grimly inspected the remains of a treasured automobile that held a special sentimental place within his black heart. As the trains long line of cargo rumbled past and continued to block the unseen path of the silver Scarab’s escape route, he looked around at the many metal fragments of his beloved childhood dream that where now chaotically spread upon the dirty ground. He then paused as he saw the bent and scrapped silver owl bonnet ornament and picked it to inspect its distorted image which almost made him cry as the endless train continued to move on through the rainy night.

  He then noticed movement nearby the train tracks and saw that his driver was still alive and slowly walked over to him whilst discarding the owl upon the ground. As he got closer to him his unrelenting fury built up with every step that he took because he now saw the driver not only as the cause of his LaSalle’s ultimately tragic fate but also as responsible for letting his elusive quarry escape him. The maddened and almost feral Polizzi then instinctively pulled out his silver owl knuckle dusters and put them on his right hand before hastily knelling down next to the driver. As he salivated with unspeakable rage he mercilessly screamed at his driver and beat him to death with his metal fist, determined to smash his face into an unrecognisable pulp as punishment for his unforgivable failure.

  As he continually smashed the formerly once recognisable face he imagined that it belonged to Ness and relished in its bloodied and total destruction. Vengeful saliva dripped from his wanting mouth as he fantasied about the lawman’s future violent demise and, as he continued to beat the lifeless driver long after the precious life had vacated his motionless body, he resigned himself to the fact that he would kill Ness no matter what the cost. The rain continually washed his bloodied and silver metal hand clean of the sin that he had just committed before he uncontrollably screamed with vengeance at the sightless moon.

  The ominously dark storm clouds bizarrely swirled over the Hotel Cleveland and the nearby Terminal Tower as tremendous flashes of lightening emanated from inside its turbulently unseen interior. Rain relentlessly raged outside the two monolithic buildings which dominated the heart of Cleveland’s skyline and made all within their separate four walls apprehensively look up and debate the curious nature of the storms obviously otherworldly origin. As the concerned Ness looked up at this turbulent sky he marvelled at the immense variety of vibrant colours that seemed to effortlessly develop from within its interior and his mesmerising gaze was only broken occasionally by the chattering of his nearby colleagues.

  The Unknowns were within the private and luxurious 10th floor penthouse suite of the Hotel Cleveland and Merlyo was intently talking to a grim looking Zalewski about his inexcusable inability to follow the elusive Poppy whom had miraculously disappeared after they had left Lindsay’s sky bar almost two weeks ago. She had apparently lost him by vacating the taxi and disappearing within the shadowy streets of the inner city whilst Zalewski got stuck in traffic, an unfortunate by product of the fleeing masses whom desperately escaped the carnage that was on the streets that night. The silently listening Gerber and Cowles where with the talkative pair on the far side of the lavishly large room as lightning struck outside and brilliantly illuminated the room’s skilfully crafted art deco interior.

  The lavish room consisted of dark red walls, a large wooden oak table within its centre and a lavishly crafted red carpet of Turkish origin that covered the majority of the wooden panelled floor. The wall had a fashionable art deco electric fireplace skilfully incorporated into it with a large gold trimmed bordered mirror above it and another mirror upon the other wall by one of the three oak doors. One door led to the hotel’s hallway whilst the other led to the toilet and the final one led to a bedroom and each imposed its visual dominance upon the room with their richly coloured deep red woods. A dramatic art deco chandelier hung precariously in the rooms centre sporadically flickered on and off as the lightened raged outside, allowing the two mirrors to brilliantly illuminate the spectacular light show that was developing in all its flashing glory. The only constant light was the brilliantly warm orange glow that emanated from the electric fireplace which provided little heat whatsoever within the abnormally cold room.

  Lightening then struck the imposingly nearby Terminal Tower and Ness watched as the impressively tall tower lit up as the lightening radiated down its apex conductor and brilliantly illuminated the surrounding gloom. This all-pervading gloom appeared to be relentless with its ever encompassing grasp because the towers height was almost completely shrouded from view within the overhanging murky rain clouds. Only when the lightning struck did the shy tower reveal itself to be in existence, reluctantly reconciling itself almost immediately back within its grey shroud of sun blocking mist. The dark shadow of the unseen tower was absorbing what little ambient sunlight there was and had the unwanted side effect of dropping the temperature within the hotel room, giving the cold air a strangely otherworldly winters chill. Unusually cold vapour came pouring out from all the men’s mouths within the hotel suite as they spoke and breathed in the cold air, silently forcing them all to uncomfortably wear their jackets when they would otherwise have preferred to be more comfortable.

  Ness watched as the rain and leaves uncontrollably swirled around the lonely hotel which was now invisible through the mist of the persistent rain, apparently captured within this prison of moist gloom. The pondering Ness then broke his view of this unsettled scene and turned around as the other four men warmly greeted the newly arrived Dr Royal Grossman and his colleague, Dr Leonarde Keeler. The keen archaeologist Grossman was the very same renowned criminal psychologist whom had attended the Torso Clinic years
ago and was famed for having some usually effective methods of understanding the elusive criminal mind whilst his companion was one of the inventors of the new polygraph machine. Many people were impressed with this new machines apparently miraculous ability to understand if an individual was telling the truth or lying by simply measuring there respiration rate and blood pressure. This had made many within the law enforcement departments, as well as the numerous media outlets, aptly refer to it as a “Lie Detector” machine and increased the fame of the young and dashing Keeler to almost epic proportions.

  As Ness warmly smiled at the newly arrived pair, Keeler then immediately began to set up his equipment whilst Grossman prepared his pre chosen questions for the upcoming interview with Dr Sweeney. Keller was by far the younger of the two and wore a smart, grey designer three piece suit that hugged his body well whilst his thick brown hair was parted down the left hand side and was itself something to be marvelled at. Its impressive shape was miraculously held without the use of a hair tonic and confounded the eye with its enigmatic ability to defy gravity. He wore a pair of small spectacles only when he was attempting to closely calibrate his new invention which looked like a complicated maze of wires and knobs within its polished wooden container. This newly promising invention had already been tried and tested back in Chicago and now it sat upon the wooden table whilst the closely inspecting Keeler relentlessly fiddled with its various nobs and numerous blinking dials.

  The older Grossman quietly voiced his selected questions to the concentrating Keeler to ensure that they were both focusing upon the same areas of interest that Ness wanted, both having already familiarised themselves with the Mad Butcher investigation on the way here. Grossman was dressed in smart grey designer three piece suit which was similar to that of his colleagues but fit less well upon his well-nourished frame. His hair had long ago started to turn grey along with his thin moustache and gave him the scholarly look of a man whom was a living repository of vast knowledge. He had an astonishing assortment of pens of all varieties and colours within his upper left jacket pocket that both demanded the casual observer’s attention and appreciation. He wore some unbecoming square spectacles whilst keenly going over his list of questions and comparing them with that of his colleagues as they both prepared for their imminent interview with Ness’s secret suspect. Both these professionals where kings within their own respective fields and had been invited here by Ness in order to help in the questioning of Dr Sweeney.