My Entry into the Finish the Story Contest - WEEK #41!

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This is the first week back for the Finish the Story Contest after a short break and we have a great new person leading this now. Thank you @calluna for stepping up to help as the realm of @bananafish grows. This week is a new format with more chances to win so feel free to check out that link and enter the contest. Thanks to @tristancarax for a good start but I just couldn't finish this up in 500 words. There I go breaking rules again. Still I hope you enjoy my finish to the story this week.

Hunt More Precious than a Green Stone
by @tristancarax

I watched Belinda getting onto the cable car that was headed up the hill. Quickly, I ran and jumped onto the back as the cable car began to pull away.

I would have had trouble with the ticket agent if it wasn’t for the gun in my hand and the badge on my belt. He backed off with a quiet stare. Following my gaze, he was bewitched by Belinda’s beauty. He darted after me. She had this effect on men of weak mind. I would have fallen off if it wasn’t for the bar slamming up against my back. Tossing the man off the trolley, his body cracked and thudded as he rolled down the hill. A blood-soaked street ...

I turned my attention back to Belinda. Fuck! She’d vanished. That fucking prick! I’d been hunting down this woman for weeks with no luck. I’d have no clue as to where to scour next if it wasn’t for the letter I found at my feet addressed to me.

It was 3 a.m. when I arrived back to my flea-infested motel. A new record for me as the days without sleep turned into weeks of nightmares. Insomnia is a bitch.

The Captain at the precinct had kept me longer than expected. He was viscerally upset when my employer had spoken to him over the phone. ”What do you mean ‘set him free?’” the captain protested. ”This man of yours just killed a man, for no apparent reason, with a slew of witnesses around,” his voice rose a little louder, becoming squeaker, ”and I’m to let him go?” His eyes darted in my direction. I saw him about to crack. ”What am I supposed to tell the press?” My employer ensured him that he’d take care of the press if the precinct did its job and labeled the body bag with the tag ”DNI” (Do not investigate).

Reluctantly, the Captain released me. My employer had ties to power most would never dare touch. Those who dared to challenge him were usually found with a couple missing body parts in the middle of town or possibly at the bottom of a flight of stairs. ”Unsolved” murder/suicides were abound. This place was beyond crooked.

I sat down on the bed. I finally had time to get to the letter I’d hidden in my trench coat pocket that was hidden beneath a pocket. This pocket had saved a few useful items in the past when I’d gotten into trouble for the blatant disregard for life.

Other than the obvious clue ”Addressed to you, Detective,” she had left a kiss mark, formed from the blue lipstick she wore.

I slapped my neck. ”Fucking fleas!”

Opening the letter, I read:

Dear Detective,

I know why you don't sleep at night. I've watched you in your half-hazy sleep toss and turn. Yes, I've done my research. You thought I didn't know about you? No matter.

Pay attention.

Your awakening is coming. You first have to chase this mouse a few more times around the block before your mind will be free enough to see that the shadow and the light cannot be without the other.

You have been to the Garden. Follow the smell. Seek the maid who is more precious than a green stone.

Your employer is banking on the life you've lead up until this very moment.

A sweet kiss, Detective.

There was a knock at my door.

I walked over to the door looking out the peephole. Nothing was in sight so I slowly opened the door. On the mat was a white rose with a note on it. I picked up and the smell reminded me of a place I had been. The note was simple “Jade Garden Tonight”.

I headed out as the sun went down. She thinks she knows who I am. When I get the chance I will show her how wrong she is. I have been to this place before that is for sure. As I get out of the car I can see the white rose bushes and the same smell is in the air. This is the place for sure but what does she want me to see. At night this park is as bad as any other around here I see shady men all around. What is this “maid” more precious than a green stone?

All I see is a few drug transactions taking place. After a few hours of this, I walk over and buy what the man is selling. He only had one drug something new he said. I look at the bag it has an “M” on it. Could it be the maid she wanted me to find? There hasn’t been anything else to go on so I take the blue pills. I start to feel a calm come over me unlike I have known in years. I feel myself falling.

I wake suddenly in a bed I don’t know. How long was I out? I look around and see water on a table with a note. I start to drink as I pick up the note.

“You needed some sleep before I came to talk to you tiger. Relax I will be in soon.”

I check for my gun and it is gone. I also check the door it is locked. They even got the knife in my boot. I can feel eyes on me so take a seat in the chair and wait.
The door opens and Belinda walks in. Her look as always would control a lesser man. But I don’t fall for those tricks. She sits down across from me and tosses a folder on the bed.

“Did you ever wonder why your employer picked you to find me? You are willing to kill. You have so many skills that you never really thought much about it I bet. But he has a sick mind and he wanted to toy with you again. Take a look.”

I don’t have a better move that I can see right now. So I grab the folder and look inside. Pictures of me a younger me and different me. When I had reason to live and reasons to be careful. Where did she get these? There is more the accident. These reports I haven’t seen these before. It was one of his trucks.

“Got that folder from him he loves what he made you into and now loves to use a man he destroyed to fix his dirtier problems. See dear there is never light without the dark.

“How did you get this?”

“Oh, that is just one of many of his dirty secrets I am aware of that. That is why he wants me gone. Now though maybe we can come to an understanding?

“I am listening”

She goes over who my employer really is. He has ruined more than just my family and she asks if I am willing to take him down. Her plan is simple. Report that I finished my work. Belinda is no longer a problem and when I met him for payment. I take my revenge. She has a nice poison for me to use that will give me time to leave. The details start to fade as the rage builds in me. But I make the call and plan the meeting.

I walk into his home with a lock of her hair as requested. He offers me a drink and as he pours I pull out my gun. I start to hear the clicks and see that I am out of bullets. As he lays on the floor bleeding out that rage fades a bit. I hear some shots and feel some pain. I see the life leave him just before I close my eyes. I am coming dear it is time.