The Golden Years

Mess Up/Clean Up

The men didn't try to disguise their entry, but once inside they became very cautious. Eddie had shoved Riley down behind the couch because she couldn't get to the bathroom, and he positioned himself in the hall with a view of the front door and the living room, in the faint light through the windows. The front door opened at the same time as the intruder from the back door showed himself in the living room.

"Hold it right there and drop the weapon." Eddie commanded.

The man turned and fired toward his voice, and received a flurry of fire from the men coming in the front door. There was a lot of yelling and Eddie dropped to the floor as the intruders kept firing at one another. When the shooting stopped, there was silence, with the exception of a few groans and some scuffling.

Carefully, Eddie reached up and flipped on the hall light, quickly crouching again. One man was sprawled just inside the door, another was leaning against the front porch rail. Blood was soaking through his jacket. Eddie crawled to the living room entry and saw another body draped over the coffee table. He stage whispered Riley's name and a shot sounded, the bullet ripping into the wall above his head.

On instinct, he returned fire, hearing the cry and the thud of a body falling, at the same time as a spotlight from the front door washed over him.

"Gun down! Now! On your face, hands behind your back!"

Thudding boots entered the hall, and Eddie was unceremoniously cuffed and dragged to his feet.

"Riley!" Eddie called. "Riley, are you okay?"

Visibly shaken, Riley peeked up from behind the couch and raised her hands.

"Mrs. Nursewood?" Garcia crossed the room and helped her out from behind the furniture. "Everything is under control. You're okay."

"Thank you . . . what about Eddie?" She came into the hall and ran, falling against him. "What's this? Why is he--"

"It's okay, Riley. They have to do this. It's protocol."

"But you saved me!"

"I did a little bit, but our friends did most of the damage to themselves."

Officer Price came in and stopped, shaking his head. "I might have guessed you'd be here. You just can't follow instructions can you?"

"I was concerned about Mrs. Nursewood, and apparently for good reason." Eddie was led out to the police vehicle, questioned, and locked inside.

"Where are you taking him?" Riley came out, protesting.

"Mr. Banks has some explaining to do, ma'am." Garcia said. "I'm sure everything will be fine. We've already had a talk with him."

"He's innocent!"

"He hasn't been charged or accused of anything, we just need to question him."

"But you handcuffed him!"

"As he said, it's protocol in situations like this, and we don't want any blow back because we didn't follow them properly.

"Can I go with him?"

"I suppose, if you want to. But separately. I'll get you a ride with one of the officers."

She went to the police car and peered through the tinted glass. "I'm coming too, Eddie." Her voice cracked and she turned away so he wouldn't see her tears.

******

Gail flung things from the dresser to the bed in a panic. Her suitcase lay half full of garments, shoes, makeup kits and anything else that might suggest she had stayed in the room. Ashby could get on with his crazy scheme, she fretted, she was getting gone - fast.

The knock at the door startled her so much she felt a pain in her chest. She was looking around for a weapon of some kind when the door opened and a head popped in.

"Gail? Hey, what are you up to?" Jim came into the room, smiling tentatively, and holding out his hands.

"Jesus! What do you want, Jim? I'm busy."

"What's all this? Are you leaving?" He moved further into the room.

"What does it look like? And if you had any smarts you'd be thinking the same thing."

"Why? What happened?" He moved over beside her.

Stuffing her things carelessly into her the bag, she told him, in a few sharp words, what had happened then straightened, and turned to face him. The knife sliced into her chest just below her breasts and jerked upward. Blood sprayed onto Jim's shirt front as he lowered her back onto the bed, her wide eyes seeking his in disbelief.

"Sorry Gail, it's just business." He yanked the blade free and waited until her gurgled breathing stopped.

******

Eddie was released after a harrowing two-day interrogation, by two FBI agents flown in to take charge of the case. His weapon was to be held until he left the country, and his address determined after a firm debate with Riley Nursewood. He would be checking out of the Palm Sands.

"I don't want to hear any more about it." Riley stared straight ahead at the road, steering skilfully through the noon traffic.

"It's not something you have to do, Riley."

"What did I just say? You aren't staying alone in that hotel - and frankly, I don't want to be alone either."

He looked over at her and immediately he thought of his wife. What would Ellie think about this, he wondered? Not that there was anything . . . but . . .

"We'll take your car back to the rental, and settle your bill at the hotel."

"Why do I feel like I'm still in custody?"

"Because you are - mine. I assured those two agents that if they needed to speak with you again, you would be at the address given."

Eddie chuckled, and the smile stayed on his face.

Miss Perky accepted the car back with Eddie's explanation of new accommodations, settled his bill, thanked him and waved him on his way. At the hotel, Riley waited in the car while he packed up his belongings and wandered up to the office, a longing last look at the pool.

"Real sorry to see you go, Mr. Banks." Jim made out a receipt for the cash payment and handed it to Eddie.

"Not my intention, but some business came up that makes it necessary. Enjoyed the few days I had though, and I'll miss the pool."

"Come again when business isn't so demanding." Jim's invitation hit a discordant note, and Eddie read the intensity in his stare.

"I'll try. This being retired isn't the easiest." He smiled and thanked him again.

"Leavin' already?" Hiram was getting a drink from the machine as Eddie rounded the corner to the parking area.

"Unfortunately. It was nice to have met you Hiram, but things change."

"Hmph. Thought maybe it was because of all the strange goin's on."

"What would those be?"

"Well, that Biggs fella, and now Gail's gone missin' and her room's empty."

"Gone missing? Maybe she just checked out."

"I might be old, sonny, but I ain't stupid - or blind."

Eddie smiled at the designation. "What do you mean?"

"Jim was the one cleaned up her room. Told the maid he had some repairs to make. Hogwash, I say. I saw him carryin' all the bedding around to the dumpster after dark."

"You don't believe Jim?"

"'Bout as much as I believe you bein' as retired as you say."

"You're a sharp old boy, Hiram. Word of advice. Keep your head down." He patted the old man on the back and then joined Riley in her car.

Hiram stood watching them drive away.