Now Playing: The Songbird of the West
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Episode Sixteen concluded with:
“We are both trapped
by our jobs. A singing career makes for a very lonely, isolated existence. But
I wouldn’t want to change. There are such special rewards in what I do. I
suspect that being a detective is much the same way.”
Dehner experienced a tornado of emotions, all of which he kept in check. But
his will power was eroding. His voice wavered a bit, “Good night, Miss
Whiting.”
“Good night, Mr. Dehner.”
The detective tried not to look behind him as he scooted next door to his room.
He stepped inside, his mind full of vivid pictures of his evening with the
Songbird of the West.
He didn’t see the weapon coming at his head.
Episode Seventeen
But
Dehner did hear a thump as the giant leaning on the wall beside the door came
at him from behind. The detective hit the floor, did a quick roll and buoyed
back onto his feet. That trick saved him from a concussion, but it also made
him lose his Colt .45 which dropped from its holster onto the floor.
A huge dark shape moved uncertainly
toward Dehner. The intruder stood slightly under seven feet and appeared wider
than the doorway. Rance speculated that the man must have entered sideways.
The giant’s breathing was heavy and
he seemed confused. He had intended to whack Rance as he entered the room. Now
circumstances forced Goliath into a plan B.
The detective didn’t want to give
his adversary time to focus on B. He feigned a move to his left as if he were
going for his Colt. The giant also went after the gun and Dehner delivered a
hard kick to the man’s knee. The mountainous shadow bellowed and went down on
both knees which caused him to bellow again. Dehner grabbed the club from the
giant’s hand and slammed it against the top of his head. The giant’s entire
body flattened onto the floor.
Dehner picked up his gun and pointed
it at the moaning figure. “On your feet, Goliath!”
The big man rose slowly, complaining
in a child-like voice about his injuries. “Ya didn’t hav’ta hit so hard.”
As the detective, gun in hand,
prodded Goliath down the stairs, he mused that the big man had probably fought
very little. His size would be enough to back off most adversaries. So maybe he
could be forgiven for his low tolerance of pain.
But Dehner kept all sympathy out of
his voice when he got the intruder out of the hotel and onto the boardwalk.
“You tell Bruce Patten to leave Miss Whiting alone and to leave me alone. There
will be no more warnings. Understand?”
“Yeah.”
“Get going!”
Goliath limped off. Dehner watched
him for a few minutes and was not surprised that the giant was heading for the
Silver Crown. Dehner headed back to the second floor of the hotel.
As he walked down the hallway,
Carrie stepped out of her room. “What happened?”
“Patten sent a man to beat me up. He
wanted revenge for what I did to him earlier this evening. I think you may have
a point about the fatal flaw. Bruce Patten isn’t fit for the West.”
“I’m very glad that you are fit for
the West, Mr. Dehner.” Carrie slowly retreated back into her room.
Dehner found himself back in his
hotel room listening to Carrie Whiting, who was singing as she got ready for
bed. The young woman was singing a love song and for a few moments Rance Dehner
wondered if the song wasn’t for him.
The detective laughed at himself. A
beautiful woman can give a man some crazy notions.
Rance Dehner didn’t sleep much that
night, but when sleep did come, it brought some very interesting dreams.
Monday: Episode Eighteen of The Songbird
of the West
