Jack Spade: Dream Detective

Chapter 8

After Jack is gone, Kimble has a seat and begins to look though the piles of paper on his desk. Soon there is a buzz from his intercom. “Kimble, get in here,” an angry voice says.

“Yes, sir,” replies Kimble, and goes to see the Captain.

Kimble knocks on the Captain’s door. “Come in, Lieutenant. Have a seat,” says the Captain as he points to a chair directly in front of his desk. “I won’t beat around the bush,

Lieutenant. I know you are a good cop but I don’t approve of this friendship you have with this private d**k Jack Spade!”

“With all due respect, sir, that’s none of your business, or concern!” “It is my concern if

it interferes with you doing your job,” replies Captain

Johnson, who seemed to be getting a little upset with Kimble’s reaction.

Look here, Peter, let’s both calm down. We don’t want to get off on the wrong foot. But listen, I need some answers about this Lauren Jefferson case. The mayor is all over me for answers; they want this case closed.”

“My men are doing the best they can, sir, under the circumstances.”

 “Circumstances?” replies Johnson. “What circumstances?”

“It just doesn’t look like a missing person’s case, Captain.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think its murder, sir.”

“Murder!” replies Johnson. He pauses. “Okay, do whatever is necessary but find

Lauren Jefferson.” Kimble gets up to leave. “

Wait a minute, Peter,” says Johnson. “How long have you known this Jack Spade?”

“Since we were kids, sir. He’s a good man Captain,” replies Kimble.

Johnson shakes his head and smiles, as if he agrees. When Kimble is outside, he takes a big breath and sighs with relief.  “Realizing that sometimes Johnson can be a Pain in the Butt” But he means well. 

                                                       *********

At the club Jack is sitting at a table, enjoying the show. For the first time in a very long time, he seems to be relaxing. Jennifer has completed her number and is sitting at

The table with him. “Baby,” she says, “I’m tired. I think I’ll go home early. Will you drive me home? I don’t have my car.”

“Sure, baby,” says Jack. “You think Moreno will let you go?”

“No, but I will tell him that I’m not feeling well.” She gets up and goes to Moreno’s office. After about twenty minutes, she comes back and looks down at Jack with a confident smile. “He raised Cain but said it was okay.” They leave for Jennifer’s place. On the way, Jack starts whistling a song that Jennifer has sung at the club. She smiles, saying, “You whistle pretty good, baby.”

Jack gives her a quick glance and replies, “It’s all in the lips, baby.”

“Oh, I see,”

Says Jennifer, smiling back.

Then Jack says, “You ever see that movie with Humphrey Bogart and

Lauren …what’s her name?”

“Bacall,” says Jennifer.

“Yeah, that’s right… Lauren Bacall…you ever see that movie?”

“Which one?” says Jennifer, laughing . ”They made more than one together.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. It’s the one where Bogie is sitting in a chair and Bacall says to him ‘you can whistle, can’t you, Steve? Just put your lips together and blow.’”

“Yes,” says Jennifer, “That was To Have and Have Not.”

 “Well,” says Jack, puckering his lips, “I got my lips together.”

“Yes, I see,” she says then leans over to give him a kiss on his mouth. They hold the kiss so long he almost runs into another automobile. “Be careful, Jack,” Jennifer screams.

“Wow, that was close,” replies Jack.

“Just keep your hands on the steering wheel… at least until we get back to my place,” she adds, smiling. Jack smiles back with a gleam in his eyes.

“And I can hardly wait,” replies Jack.  there was one thing I never understood about that movie’ said Jennifer’ What’s that says Jack’ trying to look like he was interested’ In the movie the Bogie Character’s Name is Harry Morgan’ but Lauren Bacall’s character keeps calling him Steve!...Jack Just Smiles, and says maybe Ba Call liked the name Steve better!.

                                         *****************

On Saturday, He decides to take Kimble’s advice and take a day off, at least in the morning. He and Sonny drive up to the race tracks to watch a few races. He was never a heavy gambler, just a few bucks here and there.

What he really likes is watching the horses. They are magnificent animals, each one standing bold and tall, believing that he or she will be the winner. In this case only one filly is in the race. As they are going over the race card schedule, they come across her name. “Running on Empty, that’s about how I feel,” says Jack. “Put a hundred down on her nose,” he tells Sonny. While he is waiting for him to come back, he spots Moreno in one of the booths; he tips his hat to acknowledge him and Moreno nods back.

He also gets an unexpected visitor.

Just then Sonny returns. “Who was that?” he asks.

“I’ll tell you later,” replies Jack.

The horses are at the starting gate then the announcer can be heard over the loud speakers. ”And they’re off, Running On Empty takes off like a cannon, and the boys never catch her, they’re in the last lap and it’s Running On Empty by two lengths; they’re in the home stretch and it’s Running On Empty by four lengths; it’s Running On Empty, the winner by six lengths… up the rear it’s Guiding Light second and Shooting Star third, fourth is Rainbow Heaven.”

“Well, this turned out to be a pretty good day,” says Sonny, smiling.

Jack turns to ask Sonny something and just as he does, he feels the vibrations of a bullet zip past the left side of his ear. He quickly ducks for cover, pulling Sonny down with him. The bullet goes through to the race track where it hits a horse in the neck. There is pandemonium.

People are running and screaming all over the place; the track is like a mad house. A lot of the horses are out of control, running wild. Jack and Sonny run down to the track to see what they can do to help. Most of the horses are under control but one horse is still running wild, directly towards a woman. She is frightened out of her mind. Standing there screaming, she can’t move.

Jack sees the calamity about to take place. He jumps on a water faucet then everything seems to go in slow motion. Jack is flying in the air towards this out of control, four-legged locomotive with her nostrils flaring, moving at full speed. Suddenly

Jack is on the horse’s back; he somehow manages to steer it away from the lady. “Hold it, girl, easy, girl.”

Funny thing about it is this horse turned out to be the winning horse from the race that Jack had won. He finally got control and stopped the horse just a few yards away.

After things settles down, he finds Sonny where he had left him. “Are you okay, Sonny?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. How are you?” Sonny still has his mouth open. “Jack,” he says,

“How did you do that?”

“That,” says Jack, smiling, “That was nothing. I almost grew up on a farm.”

They soon find the jockey who was riding the horse that was shot. He is still a little shaken up. “I can’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt my horse, or me,” he says, looking up at Jack with tears in his eyes.  

By this time the police had arrived, and blocked off most of the exits and begun questioning most of the spectators. Jack and Sonny were still with the jockey when the police tried to open the locker room door. They bang on the door. “Who’s in there?”

When Jack finally opens the door, Kimble is standing there with half of the police force behind him. “Well,” he says, smiling at Jack, “I hear you are somewhat of a hero!” “Oh, it was nothing,” replies Jack.

 Then he asked him, “What are you doing here, Jack?”

“You told me to go to the tracks, don’t you remember? Anyway,” says Jack as he takes him to the side, “I don’t think the shooter was after the jockey.”

“You don’t?” replies Kimble. “Was he shooting at the horse?” he says, smiling.

”No,” says Jack. “I think the bullet might have been meant for me.”

“For you?” replies Kimble. “Why for you?” He turns his attention to his men and tells them to

Check out the horse.

Pretty soon one of them come back and tells him, “The horse is dead, Lieutenant,”          then adds, “The wound looks like it’s from a rifle.” No’ Kidding says Kimble”

“So tell me, Jack, why do you think the bullet was meant for you?”

“I said ‘might’,” replies Jack. “Because our friend Moreno was also at the tracks, sitting behind me in the stands.”

“Oh, that doesn’t mean anything, Jack.”

 Then the medical examiner comes in. “Where’s the victim at?” he asks. “ Right out here, “says one of the cops. ”Trying to hold back his laughter’.

Kimble yells, “I want that bullet, Doc, as soon as it’s out.”

In about twenty minutes, the M.E. comes back with a disgruntled look on his face.

“I’m not a veterinarian, Lt. Kimble,” and drops the bullet in Kimble’s hand.

Kimble looks over at Jack. “You really think Moreno is mixed up in this?”

“If not,” says Jack, smiling, “you got a real mystery on your hands,” as he starts                for the door.

“Where you going now?” yells Kimble.

“To my office,” replies Jack. I’ll see you later.

When he and Sonny get back in the city, Jack goes to his office. It is midafternoon now. He has just won two thousand dollars at the track.

And maybe somebody tried to kill him; he’s not sure about that part. But in his business someone is always trying to kill him so he’s still feeling pretty good. He calls Jennifer to tell her of his good luck.

But she is not as excited as Jack is. “I don’t believe you, Jack! My sister is still missing, maybe dead for all we know, and you are out having fun at the races!”

“Now, baby,” he says, switching the phone to his other ear, “I got this all under control.” He is such a modest man, he does not tell her of his heroics at the track. “

Listen, baby, when I was at the tracks, I ran into a guy who said he saw Lauren two weeks ago.”

“What!” Jennifer cries out. She cannot contain her excitement. “Who is he?

Where did he see her?”

“Hold on, baby. Let me tell you what happened. It doesn’t matter who he is. As I was saying, this guy came up to me and said he saw Lauren about two weeks back, having an argument with a man. From the description he gave me, it could have been

Deerfield.”

“Where were they at?” replies Jennifer.

“He said it was at the club.”

For a second there is complete silence on Jennifer’s side. “You’re saying that

Lauren was at the club, and she didn’t come to see me?”

You could almost feel the hurt in Jennifer’s voice.

“I don’t know, baby, I got to check this out. This guy could have been pulling my leg.”

“Pulling your leg? What’s that? Some kind of slang?” she asks.

 Jack smiles. “Yeah, baby, he could have been lying to me.”

“But why would he do that?”

“I’m just guessing, baby. Moreno could have put him up to it to throw me off the scent.”

“Jack,” replies Jennifer, “you’re confusing me.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I’ll let you know what I find out.

 Bye,” he says then hangs up the phone. He sits back in his chair, wondering what to do next, but before he does anything, he calls Kimble.

“Hello.”

“Yeah, Peter, this is Jack. This may not be anything, but I have not seen my partner Joe Sawyer for a couple of days!”

“What do you mean? You think he’s in some kind of trouble?”

“I don’t know. He has gone off before… no, it’s probably nothing. Forget I called.” He hangs up the phone and drives to the Blue Cage night club. He goes over to the bar, orders a drink and tells the bartender he wants to speak to Moreno. The bartender pushes a button under the bar and a couple of minutes later, Moreno comes strolling out of his office. He looks over at the bartender, who points over to where Jack is sitting.

“Hello, Spade,” he says, smiling. It was with so much feeling, you would have thought he was happy to see Jack. “How did you do at the track?” he asked.

“Not bad,” replies Jack. “I made a bundle on Running on Empty.”

“That’s good,” replies Moreno. “Let’s go into my office.”

“I was wondering,” said Jack, “have you seen our good friend Sam Deerfield lately?”

“Are you going to start that again, Spade? I’ve told you before, I don’t know the gentleman.”

Jack smiles. “

Gentleman?” he says, laughing. “I don’t know Deerfield that well… but I know he’s no gentleman.”

“Well, he’s not been in here since that night you sucker -punched him.” I didn’t sucker-punch him. I hit him with a bottle!” “Whatever,” replies Moreno.

“He didn’t see it coming.” Jack keeps trying to read Moreno’s expressions but there is nothing to read. “Do you know a little weasel called Jimmy the Mouse?” Moreno walks over to his bar and fixes a drink. “Jimmy,” he says. “Yeah, I know the Mouse.” As he takes a sip of his drink, he asks, “What about him?”

”Nothing really,” says Jack. “I just ran into him at the track. I won’t trouble you any longer, Moreno.” Then he pauses. “I almost forgot − that was a terrible incident at the tracks, wasn’t it?”

“What incident?” replies Moreno.

“The horse getting shot,” says Jack.

“Oh? I must have left by then,” replies Moreno.

“Yeah,” says Jack. “Some Jackass shot a horse. Well, I am sorry to have bothered you.”

“No problem, Spade,” replies Moreno. “Drop in any time.” He waves.

As he leaves, Jack is thinking to himself, ‘That Moreno is one cool dude.’

He then goes to Jennifer’s dressing room. She is sitting at her dresser putting on make-up, not that she needs any. “Well, Jack, did you find out anything?” she says as she turns to face him.

He takes out a smoke. “I’m still not sure, baby. When I asked Moreno about the guy from the tracks, he admitted to me that he knew him; and that surprised me.”

“Why?”  

“I thought he would deny knowing him, just like he denied knowing Deerfield.

He’s a cool one, your boss is.” He takes her hand. “I think it was all a lie; the Mouse never saw Lauren ...and like you said, if Lauren was at the club, she would have contacted you, I’m sure.”

“This conclusion seemed to comfort Jennifer as she nods her head in agreement. “But this doesn’t get us any closer to finding Lauren,” she says.

“I know, baby, I know,” replies Jack, giving her a hug for assurance.

“I’ll see you out front,” she says.

“Okay, baby, but I’m not staying.”

“Why not?” she asks, showing how disappointed she was.

“Well, baby, I’m just doing what you told me to do, finding your sister.”

“All right, Jack,” she says reluctantly. “You run along and do your job.” She closes her door and Jack leaves the club.

When he gets to his car, he turns to look back; Jennifer is waving to him and blowing him a kiss. He reaches out to catch it and places his hand on his own lips as if he received the kiss. He waves back and gets into his car.

As he is driving, he can’t help wondering what Jennifer will do if, after all this is over, he finds Lauren dead. He tries to shake this thought but

It’s there and he has to come to the realization of it.

He drives past a bar and decides to go in for a drink. He finds a table in the corner and has a seat. While he is sitting there, he sees someone of interest. The person he is watching is Jerry Farnsworth, who seems to be waiting for someone. Jerry has already had a number of drinks and a lot of cigarettes, judging from the look of his ashtray.

Finally the person he is waiting on comes in.

She is a colored girl, and quite lovely. They talk for about half an hour

Then she gets up to leave. For some reason Jack thinks he should follow the woman. He gets up when she does, and follows her out. When he gets to his car, a man comes up to him from nowhere and hits him with the butt of his gun. Jack is out like a light. The man holds him up until he opens Jack’s car door then throws him into the front seat. Jack is out for hours. When he finally comes to, he has a lump on his head the size of a baby goose egg; He is still pretty drowsy but manage to drive himself to his hotel.

When the desk clerk sees him, right away he can tell that something is wrong. He runs from behind the desk to help. “Mr. Spade, are you okay? Do you need a doctor?”

“No!” replies Jack. “I’ll be okay. Just help me to my room.” When they get to his room, Jack runs some cold water over his head until he is feeling better.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay, Mr. Spade?”

“Yeah, sure, kid, thanks.” He gives him a twenty-dollar bill. When he is gone, Jack stumbles over to his couch. While he is sitting there, the phone rings. He picks it up on the third ring. “Hello.”

“Hello, Jack. This is Sonny.

Just checking in. Anything going on?”

“Plenty,” replies Jack and he then informs him of what has happened.

“Do you want me to come over?” Sonny asks.

“No!” replies Jack. “Anything on Simmons?”

“No,” says Sonny. “I tucked him in for the night.”

“Okay,” says Jack. “I’m going to get some sleep.”

                                     ****

At last the movie was over’ James was still sleeping soundly, Chloe shakes him a couple of times’ Mr. Harper wake up’ the movie is over’ it’s time to go. James opens his eyes’ and stretches out his arms. And then gives a loud yawn. Was the movie any good’ he says smiling. Yes says Chloe it was great, as she starts to tell him all about it.

As they are walking back to the hotel, James sees’ something that catches his eye

It’s a 1985 Rolls Rose’ with a price tag of 100,000.00 dollars. He knows he can’t afford it, but he goes into the dealership anyway. He talks the salesman into letting him and Chloe sit inside it. 

Thinking that James is a serious buyer he allows it, while they are setting in the car, the salesman gets a phone call. This is really nice’ he tells Chloe. I wish I could afford it. Soon the salesman is back’ Well how does it feel sir? Well says James I could get a better feel’ if I took it for a test run. The salesman doesn’t have a second thought about it’ Fine he says with a big grin’ take it for a spin. He jumps into the back seat, and they are off. While they are driving around the streets of Paris’ James keeps looking over at Chloe’ and winking. Once they are done he gives the man a lot of double talk, about his finances not being what they should be, and he and Chloe are soon out the door.

When they get back to the hotel, they have a big laugh about it. Chloe goes to her room, as dose James. See you in the morning’ Good night Mr. Harper says Chloe. As James Sleeps he dreams.

                                                *****

Its 9 am in the following morning, a Monday, and Sonny has been watching Larry

Simmons’ house since 7 am. Simmons leaves his home at nine-thirty. He drives his 1947

Chrysler town and country to his office; it’s about a thirty-minute drive. He stays at his office until twelve noon then leaves to go have lunch at a diner a couple of blocks from where he works.

After lunch he goes back to his office. He does this same routine for a couple of days, except for this Wednesday.