The Dalton Files: On the Flip Side
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I wasn't terribly surprised when the knock came on the door. I was expecting it, just not this soon. I opened the door just a crack and peered at the familiar face on the other side. I was expecting to see this face. I closed the door, felt for my heater, slid the chain lock off, and opened the door.
Flip Callahan walked through the door and raised his hands in the air. He knew the drill. I patted him down and found something in his coat pocket. I reached in, pulled out a flask, and handed it to him.
I didn't bother asking him how he found my address. I have been working the streets long enough to know that guys like this have connections, maybe even some in the police force. I thought of Hank, but while he could be malicious I didn't think he was a fink. Please forgive me, God, for another intrusive thought.
I told Flip I would offer him a drink but I didn't have anything. It was too tempting to have it around. He said, "That's okay, you see I brought my own." He took a slug from the flask. "I've been expecting you," I said.
"We have to talk, you and I," Flip replied. I agreed with him. "Take a seat."
We sat down, but didn't say anything right away. We were trying to size each other up. I spoke first because I needed to determine if Flip was on the level or if I was being set up. "How do I know you are telling me the truth about Mary? How do I know that ledger page is real? How do I know you are alone? This is too good to be true and my instincts tell me not to trust you. I don't intend to be your patsy."
When you are in my business, you trust your instincts or you could end up in a pine box.
Flip noticed the cigarettes on the end table and asked, "Do you mind?"
"Not at all, help yourself."
He grabbed a cigarette, tapped it on the back of his hand four or five times, and put it in his mouth. He struck the table lighter and lit the cigarette. He put the wand back in the lighter, stood up, took another slug from the flask, inhaled deeply, and walked around to the back of the couch.
He put his hands on the back of the couch and started talking. "First of all, if I wasn't alone you would already know about it. I'm not very comfortable talking about this, so don't interrupt me. One day Dan came in and started talking about this new dame he found. He said she was a real fine tomato."
"I don't know how much Mary would want people to know about what happened to her, you'll have to ask her about that yourself when you find her."
That was an interesting comment. Either he was really protecting her, or he was setting me up. I didn't know which one it was, but I didn't like the sound of it.
"He finally introduced us one day. She reminded me of Hedy Lamarr, you know, the Hollywood actress. She is beautiful," I nodded my head. He went on, "My favorite actress. Mary was beautiful too, but when I started getting to know her I realized how different she was from the type of dames that usually hang around guys that run in my circle."
"She was just so different, I said that already. I don't know, so innocent. I fell for her and we started seeing each other on the sly. She talked a lot about God and how she felt guilty about what she was doing. I never heard anyone talk like that and it made me a little uncomfortable."
I saw an opportunity I couldn't let go of. "I need to talk to you about that. When you were kicking my teeth in the other day you said a guy like you can't go into a church. I used to feel the same way and I want you to know Mary can help you with that, she helped me." Flip was visibly uncomfortable at the God-talk, but I had planted a seed and perhaps someday Mary would water it.
I was starting to feel a little better about this guy. Perhaps he was telling the truth. "What about the ledger page? How do I know it's real and not a setup? Why didn't you take it to the cops if you wanted to free Mary so badly."
Flip walked back around to the front of the couch and grabbed another cigarette but didn't light it. He sat down and began speaking again.
"You don't know it's real and you never will. This is something you are going to have to trust me on. I know it's hard, but there's nothing I can say to make you believe me." After a pause, Flip went on, "As for the coppers? I never went to them because I don't trust them, and if I went in there alone I would have had the bracelets slapped on me so fast my head would be spinning. I wasn't interested in going to a neck-stretching party on account of Dan. But now with you I have an ally, and an ex-copper to boot. Maybe we can plan this out."
Flip continued, "Now let me ask you a question: what are your intentions for Mary? Do you love her?" It was my turn to stand up and walk around to the other side of the couch. "Flip, Mary saved my life and I've never had the chance to thank her. And now, from what I've heard, I might have the chance to help return the favor and give her her life back. That, and some answers to lingering questions, is my only interest in Mary."
I walked back around the couch and sat down. Flip looked satisfied and relieved. He was wondering if I was competition, and I had just assured him I wasn't.
At this point I heard that gruff little meow I had grown so used to. Gumshoe came into the room and walked over to us. She looked at me first, and then she looked at Flip. She looked back at me and then meowed again. She seemed to be sizing him up. Then she rubbed against his leg, jumped up, and sat in his lap. She decided it was safe for her to trust him.
No matter how hard I try, I still have trouble trusting people. I've asked God for help and I'm working on it. But I trust Gumshoe more than most people, and when she decided it was okay to sit in his lap, I decided I had to put my trust in him also. I still believe--I know--God sent this cat to me when I needed a friend, and I believe Gumshoe was telling me I could trust this guy too.
Flip had one final request for me. It was about Mary's homecoming, if there was one. I made him a promise...
Continue reading The Dalton Files: Get Thee To The Nunnery on August 15th.
Source: The Dalton Files: On the Flip Side
