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Feb-15-2009 03:31

New York - 1931

I was framed. I did not kill her, but who would've believed me?

Life was getting grimmer as citizens felt the real pinch from the great stock market crash two years ago. My private investigation business was losing a load of clients. Most of them had gone bankrupt, or worse, jumped off the Chrysler Building. Mrs. Gatsby was a loyal client. My only mistake was becoming too intimate with her.

That day, I received a note from her, asking me to meet her in the VIP room of the Astor Theatre. The room was dark when I got there; I thought she was playing naughty. Before I knew it, I was hit from the back, and woke up to find blood all over me with a knife in my hand. Mrs. Gatsby was laying two feet from me, stabbed to death.

I heard the police whistle nearby, and I instinctively ran. Two officers saw me and chased me down three blocks before I loose them. I quickly returned to my office, washed off the blood and changed. I took what was necessary, including my revolver, and composed perhaps my last letter on my prized Remington typewriter. I made some carbon copies, and send the letters to my detective friends before I went into hiding.

They were my final hope.

((Note: I posted this beginning at Shades of Mystery, but I thought it'd be nice to see where it leads in Noir. Hope you'll enjoy it. Feel free to improvise! ))

Feb-18-2009 02:58

((Note: I can still call my Joseph as Inspector Joseph but then people may get confused, therefore let's call him I. Joseph. I think that would do.))
*Next morning, 10 am, in the jail*
I. Joseph was called for his statement.
"Now what kind of statement I am supposed to give? I don't know who Mrs. Gatsby was and who killed her and for what motive.", thought I. Joseph as he proceeded under the care of two constables aiming their tommy guns at him.
As they entered the interrogation room, I. Joseph knew exactly what he needed to do and now had a wide smile on his face.
"Sit down Mr. Joseph.", ordered the inspector in a polite way which was rather a bit surprising for I. Joseph.
"Hmph! I won't sit and I won't answer a single question until you call my lawyer.", said I. Joseph like a stubborn kid
"Your lawyer? Why would you have a lawyer?", asked the inspector in amazement
"Why cannot I have one?", asked I. Joseph, raising his eyebrows
"Mr. I. Joseph, we know you are a former inspector of CID and we know that you are currently a PI. Now, why would a PI have a lawyer?"
"That were old days. I have given up the job of PI and now I am working at a restaurant. However, is it forbidden for PI's to have a lawyer?", I. Joseph said in such a manner that the inspector was dumbfounded.

Feb-18-2009 02:59

"Scotty, here!" Zeo hissed.

Scotty walked over to Zeo in his prison guard uniform. He just got off from work and planning to relax with a few drinks. "What is it Zeo?"

"You know that Inspector Joseph you guys have in custody?" Scotty nodded, "He's innocent. Don't ask me why I know. Just so everything you can to help him."

Zeo bought Scotty a few drinks. He had helped the young lad out quite a few times in the past, and got Scotty his current job. They drank together for a while before Scotty headed back home. Zeo was again drinking alone, sorting out in his head all that had happened.

Feb-18-2009 03:04

((I.Joseph and I posted at the same time. Chronologically the bar scene happened the night before.))

Feb-18-2009 03:10

*the lawyer (Mr. Nicholas Horsburgh) came*
"Mr. Horsburgh, I am being falsely accused for committing a ruthless crime. You ask these cops to release me right now or they will have a bad time, paying rounds to the court persistently.", said I.Joseph as soon as his lawyer Mr. Horsburgh entered the room
The inspector felt really upset by the sudden attack and did not speak for a minute.
Mr. Horsburgh smiled at I. Joseph's behavior and asked the inspector: "What are the charges against my client?"
The inspector was again dumbfounded.
After a short period of time, I. Joseph was out of prison, breathing fresh air. He thanked Mr. Horsburgh and walked towards his apartment. He searched his drawers and found a card under a jumble of papers.
IT WAS HIS DETECTIVE LICENSE
He grinned and stepped out. He was out on the streets once again as a PI.

Feb-19-2009 02:49

Since it seemed like the police was not looking for him, Zeo decided to return to his apartment for a short visit. He already took with him what was necessary on the day of the incident, but he missed his Macallan single malt scotch whiskey. It did cost him a little fortune to obtain it. Of course, a short nap wouldn’t hurt, for he liked his nice King size bed, where many ladies had visited in the past. As he approached the backdoor through the fire escape, he sensed that something was wrong. He took out his revolver and cocked it. He peeked into his apartment.

War Zone. Someone was here: Someone was looking for something. Files were scattered all over the floor, and his collection of whiskeys shattered. He supposed his collection was thrown down in anger. 'I guess the Someone couldn’t find what he was looking for.' Zeo induced. 'There was no police type, so it wasn’t the cops; then who was it, and why?'

Zeo unconsciously touched the packets of photos in his breast pocket. He supposed any one of those photos could be the reason. Cautiously he left the building and returned to Tricky Mister.

Feb-26-2009 17:11

"Scotty, did you talk to Inspector Joseph in custody?" Zeo asked him. The evening was settling in at Tricky Mister.

Scotty shook his head. "He's been released today. He bought in a big lawyer an' all." Zeo felt relived. Scotty eyed the man suspiciously and downed his drink. Suddenly, he got up.

"You're leaving early again?" Zeo asked.

"Well, yeah. The inmate had been acting up lately. I need all the energy I could muster." Scotty gave a smile that didn't touch his eyes. "See yeah 'round." He went up the small flight of stairs and exited from the door.

Something wasn't right. Zeo could feel it in his bones. "Cyrus," he called over the bartender. "If anyone asks for me in here, I never existed." Zeo slid some greens over the counter.

"Who?" Cyrus took the cash and smiled. Zeo finished his drink and headed up for the door. There were many shadows outside, cops. "Scotty you ungrateful son of a brat!" Zeo muttered, heading back down inside. "Where's the backdoor?"

Cyrus pointed to the left, and said in a low voice "If someone's looking for you, that door is probably guarded. Why don't you head for the men's room? There's a ventilation window large enough. I just want no trouble in here."

Zeo had to trust Cyrus on that. The washroom was filthy and smelled of vomit. There was a small window in the upper corner. He rushed into the last stall and locked it behind him. Stepping onto the water closet he opened the window and looked out. There were two uniforms by the back door ten feet way, looking in the other direction. Zeo crept out of the window with stealth.

When he was almost out, washroom door popped open. There were some shouting and a gun shot was fired very close to his feet. Zeo pulled himself totally out onto the alley.

The shot had alerted the two cops by the backdoor. They noticed Zeo and yelled "stop!", as if he would. Zeo sprinted away. Shouting, gunshots and footsteps followed him for four blocks before he lose them all.

Feb-27-2009 04:44

"Geez" I thought "A girl can't even leave town for a couple of days without something bad happening!"

I had come home from a couple of days spent at a beauty spa (not that I needed it but a girl gotta do what a girl gotta do) .........to find the local paper plastered with stories of Mrs Gatsby's murder and the arrest and release of I.Joseph.

Everyone knew who Mrs Gatsby was. She was always in the papers at some fancy fundraiser or dressed to the nines at the Mayors for dinner or some such. She was the local celebrity. All the young girls aspired to be her.

Those of us in the know knew better.....Her husband was a cheater and she herself wasn't beyond a little game playing. I knew she had been close with another P.I. I knew, Joseph Zeo. I knew Mrs Gatsby was no saint but she didn't deserve to die like that. I wondered who this mysterious I. Joseph was. I seem to remember a copper with that name. A detective. And a good one at that. Somewhere in the back of my brain I remembered seeing a news story about his retirement. Hmmmmmmmm...........

I turned my attention to the mail............

Feb-27-2009 04:57

Scanning through the mail I chucked the bills into a pile on the coffee table and relaxed back on the lounge. The rest of the mail looked either personal or work related. One letter was a bit strange.........just my name and address written in what looked hasty writing..........do I recognize that hand?

I ripped it open first. A letter from Joseph Zeo. Brain clicking into gear. The news stories about Mrs Gatsby and now this from Joseph Zeo. Quickly I scanned the letter. Joseph needed my help. I picked up the phone and dialed his number. I was already thinking that I probably wouldn't get an answer but I was shocked when I heard the phone answered and a gruff voice said "Yeah" down the line to me. I knew that wasn't Joseph's voice. I bit my tongue and the voice on the line said "Who is this? What do you want?" Gently I replaced the receiver.

"Think woman" I said to myself. If Joseph managed to get this letter to me, did he manage to get any more sent? Hmmmmmm, Who to call first? I decided to try Acemasters. I got Scarlett on the phone and asked if Ace was in. She told me he was out at the time. I decided I could trust her enough to mention Zeo's name. I was in luck. She told me Ace had said Zeo was coming to stay with them. Eureka. I told Scarlett I would be over there soon and hung up the phone.

After making myself beautiful I jumped in my car and sped over to Ace's.......

Feb-27-2009 10:53

Zeo knew he couldn't run forever. He needed to clear his name. It's been a day since he talked to Ace; he wondered if his friend had found out anything about George Gatsby.

Since they could no longer meet at the Tricky Mister, the situation left him no choice but to visit Ace at his place. Zeo just hated the idea of putting his friends in this mess. By tomorrow morning Zeo's portrait would probably be all over the newspaper. If he needed move about freely, tonight would be his final night.

Dodging all police petrol in a causal manner, Zeo reached Ace's place safely. Zeo knocked three times. Moments later Scarlet opened the door, and hugged Zeo so tightly he thought she was trying to arrest him. "We've all been waiting for you, Joseph!" she exclaimed.

Zeo hushed Scarlet, pushing her back inside. He checked to make sure no one saw them together and closed the door behind him. "You know about my current situation, Scarlet, it's best that we lay low. Actually, I don't want to be here. I just need to know if Ace had found out about anything, then I'll be gone." Zeo wanted to kiss Scarlet so badly. He refrained.

"Don't you dare say that! You're staying, and that's finally." The lady got some iron in her. "As for Ace, well, he hasn't been back all day. I'm actually a bit worried about him. He hasn't called, I don't know where he went." Scarlet frowned. Zeo feared that he had already put his friend in trouble. The lady continued, "Well, you're not the only one looking for him. Look who's here!"

Walking into the living room, Zeo saw the young beautiful Lolita dozing off on the couch in her travel coat.

Mar-1-2009 14:39

I heard the knock at the door and opened my eyes to find Zeo standing there. I jumped up and hugged him as hard as I could. It was so good to see him.

Scarlett followed Zeo into the room and the 3 of us sat down. Zeo looked beat. But you could also see the light in his eyes when he looked at Scarlett. I smiled a secret smile to myself. "Maybe when his name is cleared I can help these two get together" I thought to myself.

As typical women we didn't give Zeo a chance to relax. Scarlett poured him a drink and we both started firing questions at him. We wanted to know all the gory details.................