Chapter 7
2761 Words
Meanwhile, at a quaint little place decorated entirely like a race track with pictures of race horses, champions all, in a circle on the walls, Jack is sitting at his table and staring at Jennifer with his cold blue eyes.
“Jack, I can’t blame you for being upset with me. I couldn’t say yes to marry you because I didn’t know what you would think of me when you found out that I lied to you-”
Jack interrupts her. “Oh, you mean about you and Lauren being sisters!”
Jennifer starts to cry. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Jack. I just didn’t know if I could trust you.”
“That’s all right, baby. Do you trust me now?”
“Yes, Jack, I do,” she replies as she grasps his hand.
“What did Lauren have on Moreno?” Jennifer hesitates. “Remember, baby, no more secrets.” He says “Patting her hand”.
I think she was trying to blackmail him.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” replies Jennifer. Jack looks at her like he does not believe her. “Really, Jack. All I know is that she had an old picture of Jefferson and Moreno together when they were in New York. I think that’s what they were looking for in your hotel room.”
“I do too,” says Jack. He then looks into Jennifer’s eyes as if he could see right through her. “Do you know this guy named Deerfield?”
“No, no, Jack. Who is he?”
“He’s probably the guy who ransacked my place.”
“Is Lauren alive, Jack?”
“I don’t know, baby.”
“Please find her Jack.” She says as she squeezes his hand.
“We will.” He turns and calls for a waiter. “I’m starving. Let’s eat, baby. I have a craving for some oysters. You know they’re an aphrodisiac,” he announces to the waiter as if he expects a prize.
They finish eating and Jack takes Jennifer home. When they pull up to her hotel,
Jennifer says, her voice trembling, “Jack, there is one more thing I did not tell you.” She looks into his eyes. “Jack, Lauren and I are biracial.”
“Bi- what?” says Jack with a blank look on his face. “What are you talking about, baby?”
“Our mother is black, our father was white.”
Jack sits with his head on the steering wheel then says, “Wow. I will be honest, that is somewhat of a mind blower, baby. I never would have believed that but now it all makes more sense.”
“What makes more sense?” says Jennifer.
“I’ll explain later. But you’re my girl,” he says. “You got that?”
Jennifer is crying and smiling at the same time. “I knew you were telling the truth when you said that you loved me,” she says as she wipes away her tears. “That’s the real reason,
Jack, why I ran out when you asked me to marry you.
You know Jack, one of the reasons I fell for you is because you remind me of my father.”
“Oh? Did you lie to him too?”
“I’m sorry for the deception, Jack.”
“I’m just kidding, baby. But no more surprises, please. I don’t think I can stand anymore. Did Jefferson know?”
“I’m not sure if Lauren told him or not. That’s really the real reason I did not answer you about marriage. So now you know.” As he bends over and kisses her on the lips, she says, “You will find Lauren, won’t you, Jack? I love her so much.”
“Are you sure she wants to be found?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, baby, I think I saw her a few nights back with one of her colored friends.”
“You did? Are you sure, Jack?”
“No, I’m not sure it was her, but her friends paid me a visit, to tell me to stop looking for her.”
Jennifer is not sure what to say or do. “She sits there a little confused” then says “Jack, I don’t care what they said. I want you to find my sister.”
“And you have not seen her?”
“No, Jack, I swear I haven’t. No,” she says again as she grabs his hand. “Okay, baby I believe you. I just wish you had been honest with me from the very start.”
“So that’s what’s next? ” says Jennifer.
“Next! Replies Jack’ you go up to you room and get some sleep baby.” They kiss’
He starts his car and heads for his hotel room. As he is driving, he reaches into his pocket for a cigarette. He takes a long puff and slowly blows it out. His mind wanders back to when he first saw Lauren Jefferson at the club. What a beauty. He wonders what it could be that she has on Moreno! He soon arrives at his place. It’s been a long day and he can’t wait to get into his bed. Soon he is dead to the world.
The next morning Jack has gotten up early. He fixes a ham and egg sandwich and eats it on the way to his office. He is at his desk going through some papers when someone knocks on his door. “Come on in,” he yells. “The door is open.”
A middle-aged gentleman peeps through the door then slowly comes in. “
Hello, Mr. Spade.” He pauses then says, “Are you Mr. Spade or Mr. Sawyer?”
“I’m Jack Spade.”
“My name is Jonathan Peterson, the third.”
“Yes? What can I do for you, Mr. Jonathan Peterson the third?” Jack asks without looking up at him. Peterson is dressed in a three-piece pin-stripe suit and he reeks of money; one of Jack’s biggest weakness.
“Mr. Spade, I need you to follow my partner.”
“And why do you need that?” replies Jack, with his feet still propped up on his desk.
Peterson leans over and says in a whisper, “I think he is having an affair with my wife.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Peterson,” replies Jack as he gets up from behind his desk and attempts to open the washroom door. “That’s funny!”
“What?” replies Mr. Peterson .
“Oh, nothing,” says Jack, “ wondering why the door is locked.” “I just can’t take the case at this time.”
“But I will pay you five thousand dollars!” says Peterson.
Jack stops and pauses for a second. “Did you say Five thousand bucks?”
“Yes, Mr. Spade. You heard correctly.”
“Okay, let me think about it. I will get in touch with you.”
He gives Jack his business card with his
Address. After Peterson is gone, Jack wonders if he should take the case.
Five thousand is a lot of money. As he is thinking, Sonny comes in. He’s an employee, someone they use off and on to help run down leads. He has a small speech impediment that only shows up when he gets nervous. He is a thin man in his early twenties; he’s the kind of guy that if you told him to jump, he would automatically say
“How high?” Yes, he is a yes man, but a loyal and good one. Jack and Joe could depend on him for just about anything.
He’s just come back from a rough night of searching for leads on Mrs. Jefferson. He slowly moves over to the couch, flops down on it and throws his feet up on the other end. He pulls his hat down over his face and starts to snore.
“How’s the search going, Sonny?” says Jack as he puts down the card Peterson had left.
“It’s going the same as it has been going! Nowhere!” replies Sonny. “You know what I think?” he says as he tips his hat up from his face.
“What?”
“This lady is dead!”
“Well if that’s true, we need to find the body.” As Jack says these words, he can’t believe he is saying them. “Have you seen Joe this morning?”
“No,” replies Sonny. “He’s probably on his way in right now.”
Jack hesitates for a second. “Yeah,” he says, “you’re probably right,” trying not to show how concerned he really is.
“Do you know why the wash room door is locked?” “No. Where’s the key?” replies Sonny.
“Good question,” says Jack. “It’s usually in the key hole.” Then he asks him,
“What do you think about us taking on another case?”
Sonny looks up, tipping up his hat, with an expression on his face as if he didn’t hear what Jack said. “You know, I thought you said what did I think about us taking on another case?”
“I did,” replied Jack.
“Are you nuts?” Replied Sonny, stuttering a little. “What will Jennifer say?”
“Don’t worry about Jennifer, I can take care of her.”
“Okay,” says Sonny, “you’re the boss.”
“We’re not getting anywhere with this Jefferson case anyway. And Sonny, he’s willing to pay us five thousand dollars!”
Then Jack gets up to leave, telling Sonny that he’s going to see Mr. Peterson. “If Joe comes in, tell him about the new case; and if Jennifer comes by, don’t say anything about Peterson.”
“Okay, Jack,” replies Sonny. “
Mum’s the word,” as he gestures to his mouth as if locking his lips closed.
“And see if you can find the cleaning lady; she may have an extra key to the washroom.”
“Okay,” says Sonny.
Peterson lives in a luxurious estate located in the heart of Knob Hill, an area of
San Francisco where the elite live, and still parties day and night like in the old days of Sin City. Jack walks up to the door and rings the doorbell. Soon a very pretty young lady dressed in a skimpy little black and white outfit comes to the door. “
May I help you?” she says politely, but looking Jack up and down as if he is a dirty beggar asking for a handout.
“I’d like to see Mr. Peterson, please.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“Just tell him Mr. Spade is here to see him.”
“Very well,” she says then shows him to large room that looks like the library with its rows and rows of books.
Jack is very impressed. He looks them over and is about to pick up a first edition of Huckleberry Finn when Mr. Peterson walks into the room. “Mr. Spade, how nice it is to see you again,” as he hurries over to shake Jack’s hand. “Does this mean you will take my case?”
“Eagerly. But first,” says Jack, “you said something
About five thousand.”
“Yes, of course, but you know I can’t give the whole amount now.”
“Sure, I know that,” replies Jack. “I’ll take a thousand now on account, and the rest when I get all the information you need.”
“Okay,” says Peterson. “That sounds fair.” He goes over to a very large desk, sits down and writes Jack a check for one thousand dollars.
Jack takes it and asks, “Now, what’s this guy’s name?”
“His name is Larry Simmons. He is my business partner,” replies Peterson. “
You can either follow him or my wife, I don’t care which. Just get me the proof that I need to kick that little b***h out!”
“Are you sure there is any proof?” Jack says, showing a little doubt in his voice.
“I’m positive they are having an affair,” he proclaims. Peterson is a highly successful lawyer and business man, worth millions. He is in his early forties, six feet tall, a fairly attractive,
Distinguished looking man. It is hard to believe he is having marriage problems. Jack decides it will be the partner he and Joe will concentrate on for the time being. He gets all of the information he needs from Peterson, description address, etc. then he leaves.
When he gets back to his office, it’s around 8 pm. He goes over to his desk
And picks up the phone to call Sonny. When he answers, he gives him all the information on Larry Simmons and tells him to put a tail on him. Just before he hangs up the phone, Sonny tells him that he hopes he knows what he is doing! “Me too,” says Jack.
He leans back in his chair with his feet up on his desk. As he is looking out of the window, a plane flies by. He wonders where it is headed. He wonders what Jennifer is doing and picks up the phone to call her, but puts it back down again. Something catches his eye across the street. He is immediately captivated by the sight. Deep in his heart he longs for it himself. What is it that fascinates Jack so much? A family! Yes, a man and a woman walking hand in hand with their little girl in the park. As he continues to gaze at the young couple, he can’t help thinking how it would be with him and Jennifer.
He takes out his revolver and starts cleaning it. Lieutenant Kimble taps on the door then comes in. Jack looks up at him and says, “You know, Peter, you’re supposed to wait until somebody says ‘come in’.” Sorry jack, but the door is open. I need you to come down town with me.” “Why?” replies Jack as he sits up in his chair.
“Oh, it’s nothing serious,” says Kimble as Jack turns out the lights of his office.
While Jack is at the police station, Jennifer is at the club rehearsing one of the numbers that Jack loves. In fact it’s the song she was singing when he first saw her. While she is singing, she moves around the stage like a cat, feeling her shapely body in a s****l way, which had all the men in the club watching her with their mouths wide open. Jennifer would simply glance over at them and smile in a way that was saying, you can look but don’t touch. They all knew that anyway. They also knew that they better not look too hard with Moreno around.
***
“You know, Jack, I brought you down here to ask you about the Lauren Jefferson case. The captain is really on my ass.” “What can I tell you, Peter?
We’re just not getting anywhere,” replies Jack.
“You wouldn’t hold out on me?”
“You know better than that, Peter.”
“Okay, Jack.” They stand and shake hands. As they are shaking hands, Peter gets a phone call. “Just a minute, Jack. Hello, yeah, okay.” The conversation is short. Then he says to Jack, “You been to the tracks lately?”
“No,” replies Jack. ”This case got me jumping, got no time.”
“You should find some time, Jack. You always were lucky at the tracks.”
“I just may do that,” replies Jack. Then he looks at Kimble. “You know you could have asked that question about Mrs. Jefferson at my office.”
“Yes I know,” says Kimble with a sinister smile. “I had to give my men some time to check out your office.”
Jack just smiles back. “I know, Peter. That’s why I let you strong-arm me in the first place.”
- Writer
