Traces

by Paul Jr. Logan

  The atmosphere returned to its usual form, and I could even see where I was going. As we passed the fidgety Afro, he tried to get up. Heidi kicked him sharply with the toe of her shoe, and he went silent. And after that Heidi still says I like working for an audience.

  Cooper leaned over Miguel, who was regaining consciousness. Kim stood in the doorway and she looked at us terrified.

  - The ambulance is on its way, she said.

  - Are you going to call the police? I asked Cooper. He spat.

  - Help me drag this scum down the street, he said. That's all they deserve.

  Heidi was on her knees in front of Miguel, her stockings were ruined. I'm not the only one who's going to need a new suit tonight. Her delicate fingers gently touched the Mexican's head.

  - Your friend will be alright, she said. The wounds aren't very serious.

  I could hear the siren of an ambulance. Sam Cooper looked up at me and said:

  - I didn’t manage to thank you. I do now.

  With those words he got up and headed for the door. Kim stood in his way, and he patted her on the arm. She stared at us for a few seconds and then followed him. I leaned against the wall and sighed heavily. Heidi shook the dirt off her knees, and then raised her laughing eyes at me.

  - A man invites a decent girl to a nightclub, she said. After a few minutes, he starts making out with the first waitress that comes along. And then he gets into a fight, and the girl has to bring him back to his senses.

  - You're right, I said sympathetically. That's why lesbianism is that popular right now.

  13

  - He fell asleep/

  - You could say he spent his whole life asleep, the young man said with the large, graceful glasses that he put aside the paper. The wavy hair reached to his shoulders, but at the same time there was nothing feminine about it.

  - You shouldn't talk like that, Wade, Warren said reproachfully, turning to his son.

  - But I'm right, Dad. My cousin Rowan has spent his whole life suffering and reflecting. And when he was faced with a really difficult problem, he broke down.

  - Rowan is a nice guy, Warren Vaughn said. But he wasn't lucky enough to get a good father. He didn't get the upbringing he needed in order to become a real Vaughn. Still, he is part of the family and soon to be part-owner of the Vaughn’s bank.

  - I doubt that, Wade said sharply. He's not that brave and devoted to our family to sacrifice his freedom for the family interest. You cannot fail to understand, father, that he will give the stock to this scoundrel as soon as they fall into his hands.

  - You're not being fair to your cousin, the banker pursed his lips. I mean, he had the courage to admit his mistakes and ask for our help. Not everyone would do such a thing.

  Wade adjusted his glasses, which was not necessary. He always did that when he wanted to look meaningful. He did it involuntarily.

  - Let it go, Dad. He's in a lot of trouble and he's asking for help, it's natural. You don't have to be brave or responsible to do that.

  Warren Vaughn pursed his lips even harder. Wade smiled slightly. He knew in his heart that his father agreed with him. Would he have been so concerned for his nephew, if he hadn't owned a considerable part of the family bank?

  - What do you think, Alison? The banker turned to his daughter.

  Alison Vaughn's silky hair shimmered a little, and it was just as beautiful as her brother's.

  - You've already made up your mind, father," she said in a warm, bosom voice.

  - And we will support you. Won't we, Wade? Her brother smiled and spread his arms. She was born 2 years before Wade. But in Robert Ferdinand Vaughn's will was clearly stipulating that the stock could only go to firstborn grandchildren. She was born a girl, and she got nothing.

  - Alison's right, Wade said. You've already made up your mind, Father. After all, each of them shares the interest in keeping the stock in the family.

  - Are you sure about the people you hired? -- Alison asked. Wade shook his head.

  - I've made inquiries, Liz. I've heard a lot of people say they're good, but they're not magicians. If the police have their claws in Rowan, it's going to be hard to get rid of them.

  - That's why I wanted to talk to you, he was having trouble finding the words. The problem was, he didn't know how to inform his kids about the possible scenarios. His bank and his family were in danger, and his instincts as a businessman told him to act quickly. But he couldn't decide what to do.

  - We can't entirely rely on these people, father, Wade said. In a week they will wash their hands of us and say they did everything they could. Maybe they won't even ask for a fee. But that won't solve the problem.

  - Can you think of anything better?

  - Of course. Understand, Father, that we are now faced with a very important dilemma. On the one hand, losing control of the bank. On the other Rowan's freedom. And we must act in a way that solves both problems.

  Yes, Wade, Rowan is your problem. Alison put her leg over her leg and squinted at her brother. You were very happy when Aunt Claire got pregnant, and you were only seven years old. She was all grown up and she understood.

  - What are you suggesting, son? Wade put his fingertips together, then spread his hands apart.

  - If we want to settle both issues, we should start with the most urgent one. Rowan is threatened with imprisonment, right. But it won't happen anytime soon. You said your detectives found some evidence of his innocence. Well, that's great. So we don't have to worry about that for now. Now we need to get to action. We don't know what cards we have in the hands of our opponents. They may have something we don't know about.

  - You've always been a good talker, Wade. That's why you're our dad's favorite child. Or is it just because you're a man?

  - What do you mean? The banker asked anxiously.

  - Look, father. Let's say your detectives have completely solved the problem of that whore's death.

  Warren Vaughn nodded his head approvingly. That slut! He thinks his sister is a little whore too. Men...

  - And we're sure we've won the case. But who can guarantee us that these crooks don't have something we don't know about? Some new charge that they've been saving for the last minute? And when Rowan gets his hands on the stock, they'll nail him to the wall again. But this time, we won't have time to help him.

  At the word "guarantee," Wade's voice became harsh, but then softened again. He didn't want anything to happen to his little naughty cousin, did he? Rowan the sweetheart.

  - You're right, Warren Vaughn slammed his fist into the armrest of his chair. You're right. Right now all we can do is defend ourselves. And they're capable of hitting us anywhere. Damn it.

  - That's why we have to warn them, father, Wade leaned over, a ray of light bouncing through his glasses. Rowan trusts you. He's sure it's all right now. You and I know it isn't, but he's a weak man, and he's better off in the dark.

  Warren Vaughn nodded in agreement.

  - He'll have to sign a document committing himself to transfer his stock as soon as it goes to him. That way there's nothing the extortionists can do to him. They'll have to go directly to you, and you'll be able to stand up to them.

  The little bastard Rowan is sleeping peacefully in the guest room, and Wade has already skinned him and started gutting. And his father supports him fully. To be precise -- because those are the banker's thoughts. It's just that he's always been so much ranting about family honor that now he needs someone to do the dirty job. Of course, that would be Wade.

  The banker fell into silence. His son's cold eyes were hidden behind the shiny lenses of his glasses.

  - I'll do it for Rowan, Warren Vaughn finally agreed. It's the only way I could protect him. Old hypocrite.

  Wade clapped his hands lightly and hopped out of his chair as a balloon. He never felt bad about being short.

  - I'll start drawing up the papers immediately, father, he said, and headed towards the door.

  Alison stood up, too, and adjusted
her skirt. Neither of them thought to ask her opinion. Well, it will be what she wants, after all. Let Rowan rest in peace - it is not for him to decide his fate.

  - I'm going to bed, Dad, Alison said. Warren Vaughn nodded, not looking at her.

  She went down the front stairs and out of the house. The night hung over the rooftops of Los Angeles skyscrapers. Alison pulled her car out of the garage and drove into town.

  Wade Vaughn was finishing the last paragraph of an elaborate document when Alison parked her car in front of the high-rise with dark brown side walls. It was located in an upscale neighborhood. It was in a prestigious part of town, and she had rented an apartment there.

  Alison didn't notice the green used car parked at the end of the block. The man sitting in it took a big bite out of a cold duck sandwich and picked up his camera. He managed to take three pictures before she entered the building. The first and third should have turned out fine, but the second got blurry.

  As Alison rode up in the elevator, the cheerful face of Wade stood before her eyes. Wade's face. He had felt victorious when he had pushed his father to massacre his cousin. Poor guy.

  Stepping out of the elevator, Alison pulled a key from her purse, but she didn't need it. Just as she reached the door, it opened.

  - You've been waiting for me, my hero, she said in her warm chested voice. He stepped forward, and his arms wrapped around her. Alison's strong body shuddered with desire, she lightly bit the man's ear.

  - I've been waiting for you, Craig Ruell said.

  Alison hugged him tightly, and their lips met. Her tongue began to move slowly into his mouth, her fingers digging into her lover's back. Ruell felt pain, and a smile flashed in his eyes.

  Don Martin put the notebook aside and leaned back in the car seat. The detective reached for his sandwich again. Even cold, the duck remained very tasty, Michael didn't know what he'd lost this evening.

  14

  I didn't know if the Tropical Butterfly had performed stand-up comedians. Anyway, I got lucky and didn't hear any. The advantage of the ineptest and ugliest stripper is you can always turn your back to her.

  - You know, lady, Sam Cooper said, until that day I thought I knew what hell was. Believe me, I was wrong.

  A picture of a smiling Craig Ruell laid before him, and he had no trouble to recognize an old comrade-in-arms.

  - Do you suppose Captain Bradford knew beforehand that he was going to leave you in the jungle? I asked.

  - I think so. And I'm sure he knew exactly what kind of crap we were carrying in that box.

  Sam Cooper took a sip of his glass and looked at me. He still hadn't asked us from where and by what name we knew his old foe. But I was sure he would ask.

  - Miguel had just been taken away, Kim said as she came over to our table. She didn't have to tell us that, since Sam and I were the ones who helped the paramedics to load him into the ambulance.

  Cooper wanted to say something, but didn't do it in front of her. Kim sank into the chair beside me and smiled invitingly. Apparently, her suspicions about me had just disappeared.

  - I've never seen a guy who's looking for a cute little negro for his girlfriend, she grinned. Or is she your sister?

  - Kim, back off, Cooper said tiredly. We're having an important conversation.

  I guess she wanted to hold my hand again, but after the ex-sergeant's words, her intentions changed. She got up and sat on my lap and put her arm around my shoulders. When I said that her face was not dirty, I was wrong.

  When I looked at Heidi, I saw that her eyes were laughing, though her sensuous lips remained serious. She often does this, for she knows only I can understand that she is laughing. My body was still aching after the fruitful conversation with the closet, and I could not appreciate the humor of the situation.

  I consider myself attractive, but not enough to be assaulted all day by women of all ages. I cautiously wrapped my arms around Kim's hips to get her off me, but she got it wrong. She leaned toward me, her half-naked breasts as a hot bandage glued to mine, and her mouth was dangerously close to mine. I tried to tilt my head away, the chair beneath me swayed, and the very next moment my back was against something hard again.

  The warm, soft body of the waitress pinned me to the floor. My nose was bumped right between her pink breasts. I tried to wiggle my legs, but they were pinned firmly against the chair by her buttocks.

  This was a turn of events that delighted the maiden. She chuckled, wrapped her arms around my head and began to reach for me.

  - My little dolphin, she murmured.

  - Sam, I squeaked unheroically, Sam.

  I heard the cheerful laughter of the guy, and then Kim soared through the air and landed somewhere far away from me. I tried to stand up with all the dignity that was left in a situation like this.

  - Take care of her, Andy, Cooper told the bartender, directing Kim with a heavy slap on the buttocks. She shrieked in displeasure, and the bartender grinned widely.

  - Glad I could entertain you, I said, settling on the chair. Maybe I'll even be invited to the show here.

  - It was really fun, Cooper agreed, patting me on the shoulder. I didn't even want to think about what my costume had turned into.

  - We were talking about Kieran Bradford, Heidi said. Her eyes were still laughing.

  - That's right, Cooper turned serious in a flash. The bastard.

  - We know you weren't the only one who got away, I said.

  - I was damn lucky, Cooper grunted. When I went down, I thought I was gonna get shot. The gooks must have thought so, too, because they left me alone. Or they got spooked by the helicopter, they did send a helicopter after us, though I wasn't sure if they understood where to look for us. And even if they had, they might not have sent it anyway. But they did," he paused.

  - You were talking about a second man, I reminded him.

  - Bill Prowell? he grinned wryly. Billy Prowell drives around in his own two-wheel drive limousine now. Right after I got back, I went to see him a couple of times in Oklahoma, but then I gave it up. I can't stand to see a young, healthy guy now sitting in a wheelchair. Now he's an assistant librarian in the town where he was born. Billy was always a smart guy, not like me. The rest of them are all dead. Harry Casper. Juan Pueblo. John Sullivan. Pete Jennings. All dead. We couldn't even bury them the helicopter took only the two of us. The guys' bones are still in the jungle.

  His mighty black fist slammed into the table, and I thought that this guy had something in common with Warren Vaughn. Each of them, in their own way, liked to punch furniture if things didn't go their way.

  - Where is he? Cooper asked out of the blue. Where is the bastard?

  Heidi touched his arm reassuringly.

  - We'll call you tomorrow, Mr. Cooper. In your condition, you've got no reason to even think about seeing Kieran Bradford.

  - I'll see him, the former sergeant sounded confident in his voice. I'll see him for sure. So you'll call me?

  I nodded. I didn't want to lie to him.

  - Do you have a pen?

  I reached into my inside pocket and pulled out a couple of fragments of what had to be a pen. Cooper grinned. Heidi held hers out to him, and he scribbled the number on a dirty napkin. I nodded and slipped it into my pocket. Spoiling this suit any further.

  When we stood up, Sam Cooper took my hand.

  - Promise me you'll contact me, he begged in a demanding voice.

  - Of course, I patted his hand. I still had to lie to him.

  - It's very important to me, the former sergeant muffled. I was their commander. They trusted me. And I drove them to their deaths.

  - It wasn't your fault, I answered. Captain Bradford was in charge of the operation.

  - But they believed me anyway.

  He turned and walked away. His shoulders were slumped, but I don't think it was from fatigue.

  When I arrived at the bar, Heidi was having a lively conversation with the barman. I stood next to them. He didn't see me, and kep
t talking.

  - In ten minutes, I'm changing, his broad face unbuttoned in an open smile of a simple, honest guy. We could go out.

  - Sorry, mate, I said tiredly. The lady's been released on her word of honor. If I don't have her back at St. Quentin's by four o'clock in the morning, she'll be in danger of the gas chamber.

  He glared at me, and I took Heidi by the arm and led her out of the club.

  - I have to watch your behavior all the time, I complained as we caught a cab.

  - It's too bad I had to lie to that man, she said seriously. I liked him.

  - So did I. But we can't have him showing up in Los Angeles and killing Ruell. We need him as leverage to put pressure on Craig, but not more than that. Besides, he could get himself in trouble. Our buddy from Hollywood knows how to stand up for himself, and if he killed Cooper, it'd be on our conscience.

  She nodded.

  - Let's hope we can get some justice.

  I turned to see if the brave sergeant was eavesdropping somewhere in the back alley. If he knew what we were talking about we’d go down in his eyes.

  The cab driver who pulled up beside us looked suspiciously at my ruined suit. I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn't eager to take me in the car.

  - I'll pay for the laundry, I said, and his doubts dissipated.

  - The flight to Los Angeles is still two and a half hours away, Heidi said. We can get some rest at the hotel, and we'll be sure to call Martin's men to keep a close eye on Cooper.

  - I doubt they'll let me into a decent hotel, I remarked sadly. Or should I stop at the supermarket for clothes first?

  - We could stay at a cheap motel. Her supple arms wrapped around my neck and her deep eyes were close to mine. My little dolphin.

  I hummed. Sometimes I wonder if she'd be too happy to let me go swimming in a heated pool with a dozen nude Playboy models. And at the same time, Heidi would be no matter what the only one, with her slender legs. Let’s suppose I know that this is true, but how does she know?