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Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

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! ))

Replies

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

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.......

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

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.

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

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.................

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Mar-2-2009 18:30

The coffee was relaxing after running on the street, dodging police all night. I wonder how the crooks could do this as a life long career. I looked at the two girls as I unraveled my 'adventure' the past two days. "Betcha my portrait will be in the New York times tomorrow. Scarlet can you get me a copy in the morning? I just wanted to see how well they drew me." I said casually. Scarlet scolded as me for making stupid jokes at a time like this.

I was now worried about Ace. Where was he? Did he have a bad run in with George Gatsby? I asked Lolita for the favor to check out the man for me, carefully, without any confrontation, just enough to see if Ace had been there or not. “You can say no, Lolita, I know this could be dangerous.” Gosh, she was beautiful.

When I was about to disappear into the night again, thanking Scarlet for her coffee, the girl literally tied me up and put me in the room up stairs. It was already furnished and the bed made. I couldn’t thank her enough, for I haven’t slept well for a long time. With a heart of gratitude I lay my head on the pillow and dozed off like a baby. Only for tonight, I told myself, only for tonight.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Mar-6-2009 23:20

Lo and behold, my picture was in the New York Times as the prime suspect for the murder of Grace Gatsby the very next morning. I thanked Scarlet for the paper and she gave me a reassuring hug. That felt really good. "Don't worry Joseph, my brother will clear your name. You'll be alright."

Ace was now gone for more than a day, and we haven't heard from Lolita yet, I was beginning to think this whole ordeal was bigger than I first thought. If George Gatsby really murdered his wife and framed me for it, Ace or Lolita would've found out by now, found some evidence or got a confession, and it would all be over. The fact that both becoming silent after I sent them in that direction spoke weight itself.

Just as I pondered with my morning cigarette, the door burst open...

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Mar-7-2009 14:42

"Quick Joe" I hissed "Out the window NOW!"

With me following close behind Zeo dived out the window and landed in the back alley. "Oh sorry Zeo" I said climbing off his back where I had landed. I jumped up as fast as I could and raced to the end of the alley. Taking a quick look around the corner I dragged Zeo behind me over to the next block where I had left the car. Just as we jumped in the car a 'flatfoot' rounded the corner.

"Damn!" I reached over and grabbing Zeo's face with both hands I kissed him. Startled Zeo tried to pull away but I held him fast keeping my eyes locked on the flatfoot wandering past the car. When he was far enough past us I let Zeo go hoping the copper hadn't recognized him from the picture in the paper.

I started the car and trying to hold my nerves in check I slowly pulled away from the kerb and rounded the corner.

"What's going on" Zeo spluttered, still shocked by my kiss.

"Your picture is all over the paper. I was trying to hide you from that cop." I told him. "We need to get you somewhere safe and I'll tell you about my night"



Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Mar-7-2009 15:06

I decided that hiding plain sight would be the best option at the moment. After the ruckus at the Tricky Mister I guessed that the bad guys would assume Zeo would never return there and wouldn't bother watching it. I drove past checking the place out and after 3 times around the block I figured we might be safe there.

I parked the car in the alley and we went in. Cyrus was not happy to see Zeo again but I gave him that special look and he calmed down. We asked to use his office and he nodded without a word to us.

Settling in the office I made some coffee and started to tell Zeo what had happened the night before.

I had gone to a club I know. George goes there all the time to grope the cigarette girls and pick up new mistresses. I checked with the girls and 3 of them confirmed that George was there when his wife was murdered. None of the girls like him and they have no reason to lie for him.

"George might be a lecherous old man but I don't think he murdered his wife" I told Zeo. "I think there is a lot more going on here"

I was sitting having a drink watching George........he sure wasn't worried about playing the grieving husband.........when I overheard a conversation. 3 big ugly men were talking about Scarlett. One of them had been trying to court her and he rang her to say hello almost every day. He had rung yesterday and asked her to go out dancing and she told him that she couldn't because her and Ace had a friend come to stay. A friend named Joseph!! Silly broad had accidently given away Zeo's hiding place.



Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Mar-7-2009 15:09

I listened as the 3 of them worked a plan to surround Ace's place and grab Zeo. The one who liked Scarlett made sure that the other 2 agreed not to hurt her. They were just going to grab Zeo and take him somewhere else. They wanted to know what he knew. I had heard enough. I raced back to Ace's and "Well you know what happened next" I told Zeo.

"I think we need to find this I. Joseph" I said. "He might be able to help us."

Joseph put his head in his hands. "How did I get myself into this? My friends are in danger. I don't know where Ace is, and now you want me to involve someone else as well?"

"I. Joseph is already involved" I told him. I think we need to find him.

Zeo told me about his friend Scotty, the prison guard. He told me to go find him and ask him to get I. Joseph's address and phone number. Leaving Zeo to his thoughts in Cyrus office in the Tricky Mister, I headed off in search of Scotty.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Mar-7-2009 23:36

I warned Lolita about Scotty's betrayal of my presence to the coppers last night at Tricky Mister, how that bastard repaid me with all the help I gave him in the past. "Find out about I. Joseph's contact without letting him know anything. You be careful around that two-headed snake as well." I watched Lolita leave, the taste of her kiss still lingered on my lips.

I exhaled, exasperated, and lit another cigarette.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Mar-9-2009 08:47

Through wisps of smoke I pondered about Grace’s death. If George wasn’t the killer, then who? I must reconsider my own case.

Besides George having a motive, there was also Valentino, who was madly in love with that married woman. Val was the type who’d do anything for love. In the heat of passion, of jealousy, he was capable of anything. However, I could not envision him as being able to pull off framing me. I took another deep breath through my cigarette and exhaled. Oh how badly did I miss my flat.

My flat. Someone was there looking for something. Files were scattered all over the floor, yes... Then there were also those brutes at the club whom Lolita had overheard. They were planning to grab me, take me somewhere else. They wanted to know what I knew…

What did I know?

I took out the packets of photos in my breast pocket-- the fruit of my labour for the past months, treasures I never parted with. The photos were all separated in packets according to different jobs: The Gatsby’s mistresses, the murder of the old lady Betha in North Christie, the missing Crown Jewel of Zimbeeta, the mysterious death of the Cello master… I never realized how many projects I had in my hand.

I examined the photos one by one, making sure I didn’t miss any minute detail. I could be staring right at the reason why my drawing was all over the New York Times.

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