CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Paul in Jail

This is Chapter 14 of Lanterns of Babylon. If you would like to read the story from the beginning, please click on the pink tabs above.

Paul was fuming. He knew Senta had stolen his money, but his typewriter? Why had she taken it? As tired as he was, he was going to stay up until she came home so he could confront her.

Around 4:30 a.m., there was a knock at his door. Paul was nodding asleep to a “Gilligan’s Island” re-run. He got up from the couch and headed for the door. Surely she hadn’t come by to apologize.

As he flung the door open, Paul screamed, “Where’s my typewriter?!” Standing there was a man in a suit and a policeman who had Senta in handcuffs. “What’s going on? Paul asked as he quickly calmed down. The suit held up a badge.

“I’m Detective Dave Wilcox of the L.A.P.D.” He then held up a piece of paper. “This is a search warrant issued by Judge C. Cowin of Los Angeles County.” He nodded to Senta. “This lady here says you deal drugs.”

Zeke got the call around 7:00 that morning.

“Zeke? Did I wake you up?”

“No, I’ve been up for hours,” she yawned. “Paul?”

“Yeah, it’s me. I was wondering…could you come bail me out?”

 Suddenly she was wide-awake. “You’re in jail?!”

“I’m down here in the city lockup.”

“Okay, give me an hour.”

“Don’t hurry Zeke. They’ve got me in a cell with The Girl Scout Killer and a lawyer who was cited for contempt of court. To be honest, I’m more afraid of the lawyer.”

“Okay, stay there.”

She hung up. Stay there? Did I really say that? She laughed. I’d better wake up before I get behind the wheel.

Ed sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee. He had an early start today and lot of painting ahead. Then the phone rang. He picked up the receiver, but before he could say hello, he heard his daughter on the other end of the line.

“Dad?”

“Zeke, everything okay?”

“Yes. I need some cash. I can pay you back when I get to the bank later.”

“Sure honey, how much do you need?”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t ask, but I think the bail bondsman will only take cash.” 

Ed almost dropped the phone. “Come again?”

“I need bail money.”

“And why do you need bail money?”

“I got a phone call from Paul. He’s at the police station.” Ed hung his head in thought. That crazy kid. She’d fallen for this no good… “Dad? Are you still there?”

“I’m not happy about this Ruth.”

Ruth Evelyn was her real name, and when her dad called her Ruth, she knew he was not happy.

“I said I’d pay you back.”

“It’s not the money Ruth, and you know it.” Ed listened in silence to the other end. When she finally spoke, he felt a sledge hammer pop him in the chest.

“I love him Dad. And I trust Paul.”

“Ruth, you’re old enough to make your own decisions. And I’ve always admired your level headedness…but you’ve got to listen to me. This is not right.”

“Can I still have the money Dad?”

 He sighed. “Okay, but you’re making a big mistake.”

“I’ll be over there in a few minutes. Thank you Daddy. I really love you.”

“I know. I know, Sweetheart,” he said solemnly. Then he hung up the phone and shook his head.

When Zeke got to the Police Department, she found Paul waiting for her on a bench outside the holding cells. Zeke stopped, amazed he wasn’t being held inside.

“You’re out?” 

Paul looked at her with tired, puffy eyes. “Thanks for coming Zeke. They released me about a half hour after I called you.”

“What’s going on?”

 He led her to the exit. “I’ll tell you about it on the way to The Pancake House. Breakfast is on me.”

Paul had not been charged with drug possession. The search of his apartment yielded nothing and after talking to Detective Wilcox, it was obvious to the police that Paul had been an innocent by-stander.

“Why did Senta accuse you of such a thing?” asked Zeke as she poured maple syrup on her pancakes.

“Who knows? She was raving when they took her away. She said she needed a fix real bad.”  

Zeke shook her head. “Poor Senta. Of course I feel sorrier for you.”

 Paul was scarfing down a ham omelet, and took a moment to swallow his milk and wipe his mouth. “Don’t feel sorry for me. Senta’s the one who’s going to jail.” 

Zeke was getting angry. She didn’t like what Senta did to Paul, but what really made her mad was Paul’s sympathy for the girl. Zeke knew this wasn’t a Christian attitude, but as she stabbed her waffle with a fork, she couldn’t help it.

“Senta deserves to go to jail.

“True. But I wish I could do something for her.” Zeke started on her side order of ham. She was attacking her food, half from hunger, half out of anger.

 Paul took note of this violent form of eating. “I think the waffle was dead when they pulled it out of the oven, Zeke.”

 She ignored his remark. “You did all you could Paul. You were nice to her. You got me to help her. You tried to set a good example, but with her, it didn’t take.”

“Maybe I didn’t try hard enough.”  Paul looked like he’d lost the World Series on a bad pitch.

Zeke felt a pang in her heart for him. “You can plant the seed, Paul, but you can’t change the heart. That’s God’s department.”

 He looked miserably at his food, picking at the remainder of the eggs. “I guess you’re right.”

She took a long sip of coffee and gave it some thought. Paul was too wrapped up in Senta. And yes, she was jealous. Dear Lord, help me. I don’t like this feeling.

“Paul, I can’t tell you how to lead your life, but Senta doesn’t need your love. She doesn’t want it. And she doesn’t want your help either.”

 He gave her a wry smile. “What you just said sounds like a good idea for a country music song.”

“Maybe I’ll put it to music.”

 He looked down at the unfinished omelet. “But how can I help her, even if she doesn’t want it?” 

Here it was. One of those little moments of truth. Should she help Paul help Senta? He would never love me, thought Zeke. Oh, why not?

“You can stand by her Paul. Give it a week or two, then go visit her in jail. When her court case comes up, be there on the front row.”

 He looked at her. “How about you Zeke? You want to go with me when I go see her?”

 Zeke reached across the table and took his hand. “Not really. I’ll just be in the way. But if you ever want me to go to a movie or come over for a game of “Monopoly”, give me a call.” 

Suddenly his eyes didn’t look so tired. “Hey, you’ve got it. In fact, I’ll invite you to join me on a visit to Sears.”

“Sears?”

 Paul looked at his watch. “Yeah, they’ll be open in about twenty minutes. I need you to help me pick out a new typewriter. My old one is going to spend some time in the evidence room.”

Josh got back from the Caribbean and found a message to call Betty, his agent.

“Betty, what’s up?”

“How was the shoot?” The woman’s husky voice from thirty years of smoking was always a welcome sound when he got back from location. Betty was a mother figure for Josh and ever since his career took off, she always had good news.

“There was a lot of sand and surf. Wish you’d been there Betty.”

“I get enough sand and surf in my back yard.” She had a home in Laguna Beach. “Mickey Yulin wants to see you Josh.”

 His hand tightened around the phone. “Is it “Street Shadow”?” Betty’s end of the line was very quiet. “Betty? Come on, don’t be dramatic.”

“He wants you for the part of Speedo.”

“Oh man, that’s great Betty, great.”

“Listen now, this could the best part you’ve ever had, Josh.”

“Tell me about it, Speedo has Oscar written all over it. This is the type of role that Brando would have done twenty years ago.”

“It’s a great part Josh, but I know how you get into your roles.”

 Josh smiled, recognizing the warning in her voice. “And you’re afraid I’ll become a drug addict because I’m playing a drug addict.” Again, there was a long silence on the other end of the line. “Betty? Are you asleep or just terrified?”

“Terrified.”

“Don’t worry. I have enough drugs in me now, I’m probably immune.”

“I’m serious Josh. Valium is as far as I go, but I’ve seen a lot of people’s careers ruined by that stuff they shoot up their arms.”

“Yes mother. I’ll stay off the hard stuff. From now on, I’m only talking to my valium supplier.”

“Josh!”

“I’m kidding. I do plan to spend time at a drug rehab and in one of those halfway houses so I can study up on the Speedo personality.” 

Betty’s voice was truly relieved. “Do that, Josh. And do only that.”

“That’s why they call it acting, Betty. When does the shoot start? I want to go to Goodwill and do a wardrobe search.” He could hear papers rustling over the phone as Betty checked her notes.

“Let’s see…they’ve got a tentative starting date of October twelve in New York.”

“I’ll pack my woolens. Thanks Betty.”

He hung up. Speedo Bonez. He was going to play the tough talking Puerto Rican kid from the Bronx, who became a drug addict and fought his way out to become a respected lawyer. Enrico “Speedo” Bonez was a true inspiration. “Street Shadow” was a best selling biography. It was too bad he couldn’t go see Speedo and spend time with him. Speedo’s own client, a drug addict, during a trial, stabbed the fifty five-year-old lawyer to death. Man, what a role, thought Josh. Al Pacino, Alan Arkin,and  Dustin Hoffman had coveted this role. Several A list actors had been openly campaigning for the part.  After a long, publicized search, Mickey Yulin had chosen Josh Smythe.

He got on the phone and called Claire in New York. She had been one of his live-in girlfriends when he was making a film in San Francisco. As soon as filming was complete, she moved back to New York and Josh went on to other girls.

“Hey Claire, this is Josh.”

 Her voice was cool and reserved. “Hello Josh. Are you in New York?”

“Not yet, but I’m headed up there. I’m going to be shooting “Street Shadow” up there.”

“Sounds interesting.” She didn’t sound interested.

“Yeah, I’m playing the part of Speedo Bonez, can you believe it? Mickey Yulin’s directing.”

“Who’s he?”

“Mickey Yulin? You’re kidding.”

“No, the other one.”

“Speedo Bonez. You know, the guy who was a druggie, but became a great lawyer, then was killed by a drug addict. “Street Shadow”. Didn’t you read that one?”

“I think I’ve heard of it.”

“So I’ll be up there and thought we could get together.”

“I’m married now, Josh.”

“No kidding. Well that’s great.” Just great, he thought. “So Claire…maybe we could still get together.” It was a soft click, but Josh could imagine Claire slamming the phone down on its cradle. “She always had a bad temper anyway,” he said to himself.

He looked out at the blue Pacific. Man, this was great news. Speedo Bonez! He could feel the excitement race through his body.

Josh had wiped the stardust from his eyes long ago, but the thought of playing Speedo almost blinded him. He hadn’t been this excited about a film in years. He wanted to tell someone. He wanted to celebrate.

The little brown address book on his dresser had lots of girls’ names. Most were starlets he’d had one night stands with. He only kept the one’s he enjoyed. He could call any of them and have a girl there in twenty minutes. Yet, he felt detached. This news was too good to waste on a mild acquaintance. Unfortunately, the five or six women he’d had affairs with, were on to other adventures. And Josh realized he had few close friends. Maybe Betty. Maybe.

He went out on the sun deck and breathed in the ocean air. He was one of the hottest stars in Hollywood. “Street Shadow” would make him the hottest. And he was alone.