Sunday, July 25, 2021

Weekend Special Short Tales California 2.4 Chapter 3

 3.

 

“I told you to leave it be.” Donnie the Hulk or Don for short, looked at the officer who was lying on the ground bleeding from the gunshot wound and was dying. “I would not have shot you then.”

It was a simple job; walk in and rob the counter. And at 2200hrs, it was closing time and all was well, the lady behind the counter paid up as if she was doing the day’s count but an officer of the law had stepped in for his drink.

“Lacy, I need a drink.” Wrong call at the wrong time and night to do it at the wrong branch.

“What the ---” The Officer saw the gun in Don’s right hand. When the officer reached for his holstered gun, Donnie had leveled the drawn gun at the officer.

“Don’t make it my day. You ain’t Doc Holiday and I ain’t stupid either.” Don cautioned the officer. It had worked but not everyone was buying when it came from the lady.

The lady screamed.

The officer drew his gun.

The Hulk was shot in the left thigh.

That was all Don needed to do soon after.

“Kill or be killed.” Don remembered her training well. That was hours ago in the thousands.

Don the Hulk, they called her.

“Put her at point and she will shield you.” That was the butt of the joke in the mess hall but Donnie did run point. Her truck was the fore in the convoy. The Hulk was given to her as suggested, a huge lady shield with a square face who if was with a different gender could had been a star quarterback. Instead, she joined the Army until she aced her left knee during a convoy ambush. She then joined the logistics; which involved driving through the states on the long night haul nights. She was frustrated and did here round on the Manager which earned her the docks.

“It was a bad fuck. He could not last the pace. I gave him a new hole in his belly. He won’t be fucking even at Hell.” Don told the Judge.

After her release from prison time, she ventured into various off jobs. That did not pay off and she became an enforcer for the mobs where the intimidated may be women. It was fine but the money was not enough, and she joined the small gangs in the robberies. It gave her more money and the zest to live again. Don carried on the new image of the girl next door with the pony tails despite her frame.

“Damn it hurts.” Don limped to her car and then contemplated the action to take. There was a lockdown and the cops are jittery on nights like this. If she was stopped, the cops may even pull her for a felony on her past or worse if they knew of the shootout, she will be dead within the hour. That one was confirmed when they traced her gun to the officer she killed then.

No one likes a cop killer.

Don reached for the phone. The clock was 2211hrs. She has a number he can call. No one answered and it was to leave a message. She did that.

“Hotel California, I am Don 54.” That was his code name. “I am coming in. GSW to the left thigh. ETA ten minutes.”

There was a pause and then the automatic reply came through.

“Ten-Four, Don 54. We are ready for you.” The machine replied.

Don had been there before. It was a mob friend she had picked up at the street. The other had a shootout at some streets away and called Don. She was nearby and being the good Samaritan, she picked up the guy. He told her of the Hotel and took him there. It was her introduction to the place and she joined in with the annual subscription. They also told her the hotel have a morgue and mini crematorium in the basement.

“They will cremate you after you die. No ID’s needed. No sent off but a simple burn off.” Don liked it that way. It was like when you died in action, and your body not recovered, all they could do was a letter to who you have waiting but not Don. She was a single and had no one. Her money was in her safety box or with her girlfriends.

Don arrived at the hotel and saw the lineup of cars. She stopped the car and stepped off. She limped to the entrance and saw the two guys standing by the Ford Expedition with the damaged fender.

“Quiet night?” Don smiled at them. “I won’t bitch on it. What is the time?”

“2300hrs. It’s always at this hour, I was told. Are you going in?” It was Glenn who asked when he saw the limp. “The lobby may be crowded.”

Don gave him the middle right finger. She then proceeded on from there. Once she reached the entrance, the two sentries were there.

“I am going in.” Done told them,

“Not today, sister. The Hotel is fully booked.” It was then the doors opened and the nurse appeared with the wheel chair.

“Take a seat.” Don was told. She did as she was told and was carted in. The nurse looked at the two sentries.

“Don’t ever get in my way.”

Don first sight was the armed men with automatic rifles. She wanted to reach for her own gun but held back guard. She knew that if she does that, she will be dead with more than the holes she has. The nurse appeared then.

“Hey, Nurse. Who is the bitch? And where is my father?” It was Danny who approached the nurse. They met before the elevator.

“Wait for the doctor’s call.” The nurse told Danny.

“That is my father in there. Tell me or I will go up there myself.” Danny threatened. The nurse just ignored him and pushed the patient into the elevator. The elevator doors closed and Danny was left standing there.

Danny knew the rules.

No one disturb the doctor.

No one will harm the doctor.

No one tell the doctor what to do.

Those were the doctor’s rules.

So were the songs he liked to be played at the treatment room. He had a section of lyrics at the lobby. The door does not have a chime. When the chime is pressed it will play this song.

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (any time of year)
You can find it here

 


 

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