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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

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.

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Mar-9-2009 15:04

I paid a visit to Scotty over at the prison. I waited til he was on his break and wandered up to him offering to light his cigarette. I was surprised my hand wasn't shaking when I lit it for him. I was very nervous. Scotty had given Zeo up and almost got him killed. I chatted to Scotty for a while and finally got around to asking about I. Joseph. Scotty's face clouded over and he clammed up. It took me quite a while to sweet talk him into giving me the information I wanted.

Finally with address and phone number in hand, I headed off to find I. Joseph with Scotty leering at my behind and checking out my legs. I shuddered when I got back in the car. Scotty was not a nice man. Urrrggghhhh!

I decided the best option was to just go straight to I. Joseph and ask him to help. Driving over there I tried to remember everything I had ever heard about him. I knew he was a retired detective turned P.I. I wondered how he had got mixed up in the murder of Mrs Gatsby.

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Mar-9-2009 15:23

I arrived at I. Joseph's place and knocked on the door. I waited nervously but there was no movement inside. Damn. What now? I went outside and looked around. Aha! The fire escape! Quickly I climbed up and peered in. There lying on the floor was the ex-inspector. I tried the window and it came open. Checking his pulse I made sure he was still alive and then I rang an ambulance. I had a quick look around. On the table was a notepad but the top pages had been ripped out. What rotten luck. I was too late.

I propped open the door of the apartment and left through the fire escape again. I hoped I. Joseph would be ok. The only thing I could do was head back to the Tricky Mister and talk to Zeo again. I decided a quick shower and change of clothes wouldn't go astray though. I stopped by my place to find the door busted open and my things flung all over the place. What was going on? Checking carefully that there was no-one around I grabbed some fresh clothes and headed back to the Tricky Mister.

Zeo was still in the office pondering a packet of photographs.........

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Mar-10-2009 12:12

> There were the mistresses kissing a very ugly George Gatsby, nothing new there...
> Old lady Betha dead in the North Christie, blunt trauma, shoe print, the usual...
> The Crown Jewel of Zimbeeta just before it went missing, it's beautiful... The suspect photos of the gangs from Eastern Triad. One of them was looking into my camera...

Something looked familiar.

"Aha."

"What is it, Zeo?" Lolita asked.

"I think I need to visit dear Valentino."

*continuing, please wait*

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Mar-10-2009 12:53

The flat was simple but elegantly decorated. The wooden floor was scrubbed to a shine, a silver chime donned the window, and the wind was making it sing. On a low table by the wall laid an exquisite samurai sword. I don’t think Valentino knew how to use it. At least, I hope he didn’t.

From the hesitate footstep and the soft gasp, I knew Valentino finally noticed my presence in his flat. Still admiring his decorative sword, without bothering to turn around, I said “Hello Valentino Yakamoto san.”

“Josaph Zao.” The Japanese man stated.

I turned around. Val’s face was paper white. He smelled of fear, not anger. With his passionate love for Grace Gatsby, the man should have been furious seeing her murdered face to face. The only reason that he wasn’t, was that he knew I didn’t kill her. His silence was proof enough.

I threw the photo of the Crown Jewel of Zimbeeta on his coffee table. He glanced at it once, and stared right back at me.

“I’ve seen it.” I said. “Grace had a ring, with that ruby right there, on the day I found her dead body.” I pointed at a strange tear-shaped ruby on the side of the crown. “I had never seen her with that ring before. Did you give it to her before or after you stabbed her?”

Val widen his eyes. He was silent for a long pause. He decided to drop all pretenses. “Where is the fotos?”

“You mean the ones with your happy friends in it? Those who stole that Crown Jewel? Of course I don’t have them here, but if anything should happen to me, the photos go to the police.” The fact was, I gave it to Lolita for safekeeping, and she’s hiding downstairs out of sight at the moment.

I guess they didn’t understand what it meant by “if anything should happen to me”, because someone just slid behind me in ninja silence and knocked me unconscious.

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