The Mysterious Coat

by Nicholas Walsh

  ‘Look at me, I’m Robert Taylor, rock star!’ But he sees the audience floor is empty and he stops smiling. ‘Oh, you didn’t see me, did you? Sorry.’

  On the wall, he sees all the posters of past gigs by all the singers and bands with their styles and types of music. There is rock, pop, rhythm and blues, rap, hip-hop and other styles and types of music, all who had performed at the Duke of York Hotel before.

  ‘I wish I could be a rock star. I’m not sure if I would be just like Charles Manson who also wanted to be a singer. I don’t know what type and style of rock music I should use. Would it be normal, rock and roll, rockabilly, hard rock, heavy metal, punk, alternative or grunge? I’m not sure if I am a fan of music.’

  ‘If I’m going to continue my escape from the police pigs, I’m going to use a false name and a false passport. I’m going to escape from Australia and move to another country. Maybe the USA. I could hide in Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Washington DC, Cleveland, New York or Miami. Or maybe it could be England. I could hide in London, Liverpool or Manchester.’

  Robert then leaves from the stage, walks to the door, and looks back towards the stage and says, ‘Well, I still think of my rock and roll dream.’

  Robert also looks at the secret room that he had visited before when he was disguised as a mysterious person with the mysterious coat.

  He sees that the room is empty. It has a stage with a pole, tables, table-tops, chairs, stools and a bar.

  ‘Where are the girls?’ He walks to the stage and takes money out of the two pockets of his unwashed jeans. This is the money from his three shooting victims, and also the money from the cash register machine of the firearms store. He puts the money near the pole on the stage floor. He walks to a desk which has got a pen, lots of feedback papers and a box on it. He takes the pen and one of the pieces of feedback papers and writes on it. After he finishes writing, he puts the pen back on the desk and reads the feedback paper.

  ‘Dance for me please! I wish the girls would come back soon. If I am recaptured and arrested again by the police or even kill myself, it will be disgraceful. I’m not sure if the girls have moved to the strip clubs in St Kilda, the central business district of Melbourne, other suburbs, or other hotels which may also have secret rooms for striptease, table-top, lap and topless dancing. What am I going to do now because there is no one here at this secret room of the Duke of York Hotel! I want them to come back, bring them back!’

  He walks to the door and opens it.

  ‘If they don’t come back to the Duke of York Hotel, I’m moving to another hotel with a secret room!’ Then he slams the door shut and walks back to the main bar.

  As he enters the main bar Robert thinks, God, this is ridiculous! The entertainment area is empty because the people, the singers and the bands have gone, and the secret room is also empty because the dancers have gone! This is a real nightmare for me! I’m going to be alone now. I have got to escape to the Northern Territory or the Netherlands which has got a euthanasia law. I want to take control of my life before the law gets me again! He walks to the window and sees the police who are still patrolling Fritzeg Street. Robert then walks to the barman’s office, picks up the phone and dials. He’s waiting and looking everywhere around the room until someone picks up the phone.

  ‘Hello this is LifeSupport Helpline, can I help you?’

  ‘Hello, it’s Robert speaking, I need help.’

  ‘Why do you need help?’

  ‘I have a problem.’

  ‘What’s your problem about?’

  ‘I have a problem when I entered the Duke of York Hotel and I saw the rooms were empty, and the people were not there.’

  ‘Hang on, are you Robert Taylor?’

  Robert is shocked. ‘What?’

  ‘I said, are you Robert Taylor?’

  ‘Oh, don’t be an idiot, who the hell are you?!’

  ‘It’s the LifeSupport Helpline, for goodness sake, I am trying to help you.’

  ‘I don’t need help, you mongoose!’ Robert shouts loudly.

  ‘Listen, Mr Taylor, don’t be verbally abusive to me, or I’ll call the police right now.’

  ‘I’ll kill you, so get stuffed!’

  ‘Right, that’s it, Mr Taylor! I’m sick of you verbally abusing me. You’re such a rude person. I’m going to hang up the phone now! Good day and goodbye.’

  Robert hangs up the phone, turns very mad and gets angry. He pulls the plug of the telephone out of the wall and throws it onto the floor. The telephone smashes as Robert shouts.

  ‘Crap!’

  He stomps on the telephone many times until it’s broken.

  ‘I’m sick of people who think I’m a rude person, I’m totally pissed off, and I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore! I don’t believe anymore!’

  But then he hears some voices talking. Two policemen are having a conversation outside the hotel.

  ‘What’s going on here? What’s Robert doing?’

  ‘I don’t know, I think he’s gone berserk.’

  ‘I think we should talk to Inspector Mack Young.’

  ‘No, not now, soon.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because Mack is bringing the Special Forces team to arrest Robert tomorrow, don’t you remember?’

  ‘All right, whatever.’

  Inside the hotel, Robert says to himself, ‘I know what I’m going to do now, I’ll have to sit down and think to myself.’

  So he walks to the bar, sits down on a stool and starts thinking about what he’s going to do before he is recaptured by the police. He thinks maybe he could drink all the alcoholic drinks, or do a suicide plan.

  CHAPTER 38

  A

  t the coat shop in Fritzeg Street, Dr Airhardt opens the door and Darcy’s voice says to him,

  ‘May I help you, sir?’

  Dr Airhardt walks to the counter and says to Darcy, ‘Yes, my name is Dr Van Airhardt. I’m a psychiatrist and a crime fighter but I need to talk to you right now.’

  ‘Surely, what for?’ smiles Darcy but Dr Airhardt takes a photo of a light brown coat out of his pocket and shows it to Darcy.

  Dr Airhardt says to him, ‘Do you know this coat?’

  Darcy stops smiling and says, ‘Yes, Doctor. I know this coat.’

  ‘How do you know?’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘Well, way back a long time ago, I remember there was a person who had been released from jail and his name was Robert Taylor. I read the news about his arrest at his secret hideout three to four days ago. He visited my shop and he bought this coat,’ says Darcy. ‘After he bought it and before he left my shop, he told me that he’s going to go home, wearing this coat, disguised as a mysterious person, to do crime again and hide somewhere in St Kilda.’

  ‘Do you know what this means that Robert bought it from your shop?’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘No, I don’t know. What does it mean?’ says Darcy.

  ‘It means that Robert puts this coat on as the mysterious coat, and when Robert wore it during hiding in St Kilda he avoided the police, and that coat makes Tyler Brown crazy,’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘Who the devil is Tyler Brown?’ says Darcy.

  ‘He’s my client and he’s working at the Duke of York Hotel,’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘How does that coat make him crazy?’ says Darcy.

  ‘Because his life was crazy,’ says Dr Airhardt. ‘It stalks him at his apartment block, a cafe in St Kilda and the Duke of York Hotel. This coat makes him mad and crazy and he’s not sure whether it was worn by a man or a woman until Robert’s name arrived and we found the coat that makes Robert crazy!’

  ‘I don’t believe it, Doctor,’ says Darcy.

  ‘And also, have you been selling these coats to any criminals who have been on the run from the police and the law?’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘Me?’ says Darcy, ‘No, I haven’t.’

  ‘Yes you have,’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘What d
o you mean?’ says Darcy.

  ‘Because Inspector Mack Young told me that you’ve been involved with crimes like illegal gambling, prostitution and money laundering in your past. You were arrested by the police four times and you have been fined,’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘Look, Doctor, I didn’t sell the coats to criminals and murderers,’ says Darcy. ‘I sell them to anybody, including famous people.’

  ‘Mate, you’re a liar,’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘I’m not a liar,’ says Darcy.

  ‘Listen, you fool,’ says Dr Airhardt. ‘Your business will face another crisis. All the records and papers in relation to you will be destroyed, you will be caught by the taxman, the fraud squad and other. Your business will close, your mansion will be gone, your car will also be gone, your wife and children will leave you, your family and friends will also leave you and you will be bankrupt, jobless and homeless.’

  ‘Please, Doctor, I didn’t do anything,’ says Darcy, ‘I want to keep my business open because I am totally sick of the police who arrested me, charged me, fined me, and they didn’t care if I was guilty or innocent. I’ve got to get help from any person or client that I know in my life to get out of the country Australia, and hide elsewhere in the world to escape this harassment.’

  ‘Right, that’s it!’ frowns Dr Airhardt. ‘I’m going to call the taxman to get you about this crap!’

  He walks to the door but Darcy says to him, ‘Look, Doctor, I swear I didn’t do it!’

  But Dr Airhardt opens the door, exits and bangs the door shut.

  Puzzled, Darcy says to himself ‘Did I?’

  At the Duke of York Hotel, Robert is still sitting on a stool which is next to a table and thinks about what he’s going to do tonight. He checks his watch for the time and after checking it, he says himself, ‘Gee, it’s pissing me off. The people are gone, the hotel is empty and it makes me mad. Very, very mad. It’s crazy for me.’

  At Tyler’s apartment block, after Tyler and Angelique have finished swimming at the pool together, there is a knock at the door and Tyler – wearing a towel – walks to the door and opens it. It’s Dr Airhardt

  Tyler says to him, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Doctor. I was just going to get changed.’

  ‘Tyler, I need to have a word with you,’ says Dr Airhardt, so he enters and Tyler shuts the door. He says to Dr Airhardt, ‘What is it about, Doctor?’

  ‘There’s a coat shop here in Fritzeg Street, and that’s where the mysterious coat was bought from,’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘How did the mysterious coat get in this coat shop?’ says Tyler.

  ‘Well,’ says Dr Airhardt. ‘When Robert Taylor visited this shop after he was released from jail again, he bought the mysterious coat and then after that, he wore this coat disguised as a mysterious person, going to do some crime again and hiding somewhere in St Kilda. Here’s a photo of the coat.’ He takes a photo of a light brown coat out of his pocket and shows it to Tyler, but Tyler says to Dr Airhardt, ‘Oh my God, I haven’t seen this photo before. When I saw the real one, that made me crazy. Who made this coat?’

  ‘It was made by a famous international fashion label,’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘Who owns the coat shop?’ says Tyler.

  ‘It’s owned by an idiot crook,’ says Dr Airhardt. ‘I want him to close this shop because I think he’s selling the coats to criminals and murderers because he’s done crimes in the past.’

  ‘Does he claim he didn’t do it or that he’s the victim of a conspiracy?’ says Tyler.

  ‘I don’t think so, Tyler,’ says Dr Airhardt. ‘He’s a liar!’

  Angelique, who is fully clothed after she’s changed her outfit from the pool, enters and says to Tyler, ‘What’s going on here and what are you doing, Tyler?’

  ‘Um, Angelique, this is Dr Van Airhardt,’ says Tyler, but Dr Airhardt turns around from Tyler and says to Angelique, ‘Hello, Angelique.’

  ‘Hi, Doctor,’ says Angelique.

  ‘I have a question for you, Angelique,’ says Dr Airhardt. ‘Did you know Robert Taylor before?’

  ‘Yes, he tried to stalk me,’ says Angelique.

  ‘And also …’ Dr Airhardt shows a photo of a light brown coat to Angelique. ‘Have you seen the mysterious coat which Robert wears when disguises as a mysterious person?’

  ‘Yes, I saw it briefly when I turned around, saw him and kicked his genitals very hard. Then I saw him collapse on the footpath and walked away from him.’

  ‘So you’ve seen this coat when you walked away from Robert?’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘Yes,’ says Angelique.

  ‘Have you had coats before?’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘Yes,’ says Angelique.

  ‘What coats have you had before?’ says Dr Airhardt.

  ‘I had a long coat when I was working for both the Duke of York Hotel and parties for birthdays, bucks’ nights, end-of-year office parties and private parties,’ says Angelique. ‘And I also have a warmer coat when the weather turns cold, during autumn, winter and spring.’

  Dr Airhardt is puzzled and says, ‘Um, what do you do for work at the Duke of York Hotel?’

  ‘A dancer,’ says Angelique, but Dr Airhardt is a bit shocked and says, ‘Oh my goodness! I don’t believe it.’ He puts the photo of the light brown coat back in his pocket, turns around back to Tyler and says to him, ‘See you tomorrow, Tyler.’

  He walks to the door, opens the door, exits and shut the door.

  At the Duke of York Hotel, Robert is looking and walking around the bar and even the main room, but he’s still not sure what he is going to do tonight because he’s facing the destruction of his life.

  CHAPTER 39

  A

  t Tyler’s apartment block, Tyler is now dressed.

  There’s a knock on the door. Tyler walks to the door and opens the door and it is Peter who says, ‘G’day, Tyler. I have taken the dancers home safely, one by one.’

  ‘Well done, Peter,’ says Tyler who is smiling.

  ‘Thanks, mate,’ says Peter.

  He enters the apartment and Tyler shuts the door and says to Peter, ‘So, any drama?’

  ‘Nah, there was no drama for me and the girls on the way home,’ says Peter.

  Tyler stops smiling and says to Peter, ‘Why?’

  ‘Because we had a normal time,’ says Peter. ‘Hey, Tyler, what’s the name of the four other dancers?’

  Tyler is thinking, and says to Peter, ‘Hmmm, I think I better ask Angelique.’

  ‘Where is she?’ says Peter.

  ‘She’s in the other room; she’s upset about accidentally talking to someone about her private job,’ says Tyler.

  ‘Oh, that’s a shame, Tyler!’ says Peter. ‘Maybe I’ll go and cheer her up.’ He walks into the other room to see Angelique and says to her , ‘Hi, Angelique. It’s only me, Peter.’

  ‘Hello, Peter,’ says Angelique.

  ‘You look sad, Angelique,’ says Peter.

  ‘No, I am upset,’ says Angelique.

  ‘What’s got you upset?’ says Peter.

  ‘I was upset about me accidentally talking to someone about my private job and work,’ says Angelique. ‘First, it was Tyler’s parents, and now it was Dr Van Airhardt. I am totally pissed off!’ Her sadness turns into tears.

  Peter walks to her, hugs her, and says, ‘Don’t cry, Angelique, I want you to stop talking to others about your private activities.’

  Angelique stops crying and being sad. ‘Really?’ she says.

  ‘Yes,’ says Peter.

  ‘All right, I will never talk to anyone about my private life and my private work anymore; so that’s it, no more!’ says Angelique.

  ‘Okay,’ says Peter. He stops hugging Angelique. ‘So, what’s the names of your four other colleagues who are dancers?’

  ‘Their names are Bambi, Roxy, Tessa and Sasha,’ says Angelique. ‘All of them are using stage names, not real names.’

  ‘Why don’t they’re use their real names?’ says Peter.
r />   ‘Because they’re protecting their real names by using security,’ says Angelique.

  ‘Mmm, hang on, is Angelique is your real name, stage name or both?’ says Peter.

  ‘Angelique is both my real and stage name,’ says Angelique.

  ‘My real surname is Robinson, and when I was working at the Duke of York Hotel, I protected my real surname by using security. That why I put my first name as a stage name.’

  ‘That’s strange, Angelique,’ says Peter.

  ‘No, it’s not strange,’ says Angelique. ‘It’s like the stripper in Cop Shop.’

  ‘All right, I better go, so I’ll see you and Tyler tomorrow, okay?’ says Peter. ‘Hoo roo.’ He leaves the room, exits and shuts the door. In the hallway, Tyler is standing and waiting for Peter to return.

  ‘Um, how’s Angelique going?’ says Tyler.

  ‘She’s fine now,’ says Peter. ‘She’s not upset anymore, and she will never talk to anyone about her private life and her private work again.’

  ‘That’s good, Peter,’ says Tyler. ‘What are you’re going to do tonight?’

  ‘Not much,’ says Peter. ‘I think I better go and watch television in my flat.’

  ‘Can you see what’s happening to the Duke of York Hotel in the News on television?’ says Tyler. ‘I’m not sure whether it could be live, delayed or both – just like war, disasters and other bad things.’

  ‘Yeah, Tyler, good idea,’ says Peter. ‘I wonder how Robert, who is a crazy bugger, is going at the Duke of York Hotel.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Peter,’ says Tyler. ‘You will find out about Robert.’

  ‘Okay, see you tomorrow, goodbye,’ says Peter.

  ‘Bye,’ says Tyler, so Peter walks to the door and leaves.

  At the Duke of York Hotel, Robert is sitting on a stool and he’s holding a pen from the barman’s office. There’s a piece of paper also from the barman’s office. He starts writing a suicide note. While writing, he becomes sad, half-closes his eyes, lowers his head and breaks down crying in tears. Robert stops writing, throws his pen into the air and it lands on the floor.