Shaunessy Goes West in Winter. by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Chapter 13

Carla was driven back to Police Headquarters. Striker overused his rear view mirror, watching a soundless woman staring wistfully out a side window at the ordinary houses and people. She wondered what it would have been like to be them, standing unmoved in the pathetic, freezing weather. Right now, she felt jealous at not having had the chance to find out.

The two escorted her into the station as Chief Kerry was finalizing a phone call to New York City police. He hung up and stared at Carla’s face questioningly. She lowered her eyes to the floor and made the slightest shake of her head, as if to say; “I don’t know.” Shaunessy led her to a cell constructed of cinderblock walls recently painted white, only interrupted by a small barred window, seemingly out of reach near the low ceiling. As she willingly went in, Shaunessy was moved to gently ask; “Are you all right?” simultaneously realizing that he had asked one of the dumbest questions of his long life.

Carla snorted a near laugh, mildly shook her head “No,” and whispered; “Yeah.”

Shaunessy rejoined Striker and Chief Kerry, who were standing near the chief’s desk in the main room. Chief Kerry said; “I’ve just been telling Striker that New York is claiming

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 212

jurisdiction and they’re sending someone to pick her up. Should be here tomorrow.”

Shaunessy made no response, thinking one not necessary and his mind sorrowfully on Carla. While murder was an unforgivable crime in his book, he couldn’t help but wonder what any reasonable person would have done in her situation. He didn’t know the details of the act itself, but couldn’t dismiss the possibility, that if he had walked in her shoes, he might have done the same thing. He grinned when he got the thought that instead of “shoes,” he might have been more correct to think;

“high heels.”

Breaking his momentary reverie he heard the chief say;

“Shaunessy, are you all right?”

Shaunessy snorted a near laugh, mildly shook his head “No,”

and whispered; “Yeah.”

Chief Kerry looked at Shaunessy sternly and said; “What was that?”

Shaunessy forcefully said; “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Do you expect me to be jubilantly celebrating?”

The chief, somewhat surprised and taken aback, grimaced and continued; “Well, anyway, our job is done and I want to congratulate the two of you on your fine work.”

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 213

Striker thought he might be intending sarcasm, wondered what everyone knew and mumbled; “Thanks,” while he casted furtive glances in all directions.

Shaunessy waved his right hand dismissively and said;

“Thanks. But, frankly, sometimes you just get lucky.”

The three silently nodded in agreement. Chief Kerry said;

“You boys may as well take the rest of the day off. Well done.”

He smiled and intended to joke on himself, when he added; “I can handle it from here.”

Shaunessy made a small laugh and said; “Great. Thanks.”

He held up the index finger of his right hand and said; “Let me just take another look at the killer. I want to be sure she’s nice and secure for you.”

Shaunessy went through a door into the cell area. When he got to Carla’s prison he saw her naked body dead, hanging from the bars on the room’s only high window. Her sneakers were on the floor and her limp broken-necked body was held in the air by the joining of her University of New Mexico sweatshirt and her black denim pants. For the first time he was 100% certain that she was a victim of the cruel fixed game; innocent, no, but a victim nonetheless. He used his key to open the cage door and felt like screaming, but stifled himself because he knew that real men didn’t do that. His mind silently wailed what was not allowed him in the “real free” world; “No. No. No. Why? You

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 214

might have been found not guilty,” his eyes moist. He took one last look at Carla’s now twisted, but still beautiful face, couldn’t tolerate any more, wiped his eyes with a fragment of her black denim pants which he retrieved from the floor that must have ripped off while she committed her last act. He disgustedly threw it back on the cold, hard concrete floor and walked back through the door he entered.

Striker and the chief were still chatting near the exit door. Shaunessy walked in their direction and interrupted their conversation to flatly say; “She’s dead. Hung herself.” Both were quiet and looked at him appearing shocked. Shaunessy fought back his tears and angrily added; “Where can you go to escape this kind of shit? It was a scene something like this that was the final straw in making me leave New York.” He raised his voice further, as he chokingly added; “I came out here to give out fucking traffic tickets, God damn it.” He walked out the front door and heard Chief Kerry matter-of-factly say; “There is no escape. Aren’t you old enough to have figured out that one yet?” Shaunessy didn’t turn or say anything, walked to his car and drove home.

Striker and Kerry entered the cell Shaunessy had left open and viewed the body. Striker’s mind raced. He was feeling something he couldn’t adequately describe, finding it more complex than anything he could recall experiencing. Chief Kerry

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 215

looked at Striker and thought he saw sorrow, duty and inarticulate questioning displayed.

Kerry briefly put his arm on Striker’s shoulder and said;

“You go on home. I’ll wrap up the details.”

Striker obediently turned to leave, but after a step he turned back to the Chief, opened his mouth, however no words came. He slowly shook his head and continued out to his car.

Instead of going directly home he drove around Vista de la Feria, returning polite waves the few souls brave enough to be out in this weather gave him. Wanting to be alone, he drove to the river. He got out and stared at the mid-day sky for what seemed like an hour. Feeling invigorated he drove home and un-customarily parked right in front of the main entry door. For a second his wife Julia thought it might be someone else. Seeing she was wrong she opened the door and stood there in her pink cotton dress. Striker got out of the car and Julia curiously said; “Home early?”

They hugged cursorily, then faced each other in the living room. Striker said; “I saw something really strange today. I was at the river watching the sky.” He paused and thought he saw curiosity on Julia’s makeup free face. “The reason it’s been so cold lately isn’t due to the lack of sun or too many clouds. It’s that the clouds only occupy half the sky, but always manage to be in a position to block the sun. At least

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 216

one of them is going to have to get on a different course. It’s that simple.”

Julia was surprised, thought she detected possible multiple meanings in her husband’s observation. She warmly smiled at him and asked; “What kind of useless poetry have you been reading lately?” utilization of the word “useless” an obvious attempt at humor.

Striker seriously replied, saying; “I don’t think its poetry. Shaunessy recommended some book to me that I hated at first, but came back to me today. I’m going to have to ask him its name again, because after the first few pages I stopped reading, thinking it was the absolute worst thing I’d ever seen.”

Julia said; “Sounds like a good idea,” and they embraced.

Shaunessy went directly home, feeling depressed and immediately told Margaret of the events of the day.

Imagined sympathetic and consoling response.

“Thanks, but I think I’d rather be with you.”

Imagined chastising response.

“Do you know how long I’ve been doing this garbage?”

Imagined positive and “So what?” type of response.

Shaunessy sadly said; “I’ve really had it.”

No imagined response.

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 217

Shaunessy walked into the kitchen and was surprised to see a cake box on the table. He called out; “Did Isabel leave this?”

Imagined statement of the Landlord’s name, Ramon Gutierrez.

Shaunessy opened the box and looked at the cake and said;

“It doesn’t have any icing.”

Imagined question; “Isn’t the cake enough for you?”

Shaunessy paused a few seconds and said; “After a day like I had today you have to ask difficult questions?” He made a small laugh and said; “Of course the cake is enough for me.

Without question. But I’m also sure that I like the icing and I’m ninety percent sure you do too.”

Imagined correction of the percentage and response of;

“Wait for spring. It always comes back again carrying loads of icing.”

“You know, I don’t think it’s the cold or the clouds that bother me about this place. It’s the lack of rain.”

Imagined re-iteration of; “Wait for spring.”

Shaunessy was delighted to eat some plain cake, went to bed and slept soundly and peacefully.

Shaunessy was woken by a bellowing phone the following morning.

He astutely said; “Hello.”

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 218

“Shaunessy?”

“Yeah.”

“Chief Kerry. We’ve got a huge problem and you have to come in right now.”

Shaunessy said; “What happened now?”

“It’s really complicated. I’ll try to explain it to you when you get here.”

In a grudgingly accepting tone Shaunessy said; “Be right there.” The phone went dead.

Shaunessy aimed his conversation at Margaret and said;

“When the hell am I going to be able to just give out traffic tickets?”

Imagined response of; “That will have to wait. There’s still work to be done.”

“Oh damn the whole thing, Margaret. I want to be with you.”

Imagined solitude.

Shaunessy grimaced and thought; “Work!!!” The word reminded him of Maynard G. Krebs feeling on the subject, announced regularly on “The Dobie Gillis Show,” and mentally laughed at the old memory. He had a quick coffee and dressed, wondering if Margaret knew that he really didn’t want to leave this beautiful planet, at least not yet.

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 219

He heard Margaret’s voice say; “Sure I know that. Don’t worry about it. We’ll have an eternity.”

He walked out the front door, pleased to see that the sun was strongly shining and feeling that the temperature had gone up a few notches. As he opened the car door, he whispered; “I can hardly wait for spring.”

OBVIOUSLY TO BE CONTINUED

Shaunessy Goes West In Winter Page 220