dr satan's abyss of the hungry undead

[themirrorthief]

DR SATAN'S ABYSS OF THE HUNGRY UNDEAD



written by L.I. Sene

this is an old one I came across, seems like it should be posted here so here goes




The brand new, candy apple red, 1932 ford coup rolled into



town trailing a cloud of dust and dislodged gravel. It cruised up



and down the little town's mainstreet before settling in front of



the rundown brick building that served as a police station. Steve



Harrison got out and stretched his tall, bull like frame while



his deep blue eyes noted every little detail in sight, at least



such as there were. He grimaced at the heavy layer of grime his



car had picked up on the long drive, then he removed a photograph



from his wallet and studied it one more time.



The girl in the picture was pretty, real pretty. She had



long blonde curls and a smile that could make sane men take crazy



risks. Harrison had received nine hundred dollars from her brother



to find out what had happened to her. She'd accepted a job as school



teacher in this little backwater Alabama town called Nobles. Then she



had apparently up and vanished from the face of the earth. There



didn't appear to be a single soul who knew a darned thing about it



either. Harrison's gut said that somebody somewhere in this rundown



little whistlestop knew something. It was his job to find that



somebody and he intended to do precisely that.



The big detective swatted a fly off his tanned face and uttered



a curse under his breath. "Damn this heat." He figured it was nearly



a hundred degrees outside and moist as molasses.







The Chief of Police was a tall gaunt man with nervous eyes.



He didn't seem much impressed by the big man from out of town,



leastwise he tried to act that way. "You came a long way for



nothing Harrison," the cop said and took a long draw on his



smoke before dumping it right there in the floor. The detective



noticed that the butt found plenty of company. "I would greatly



appreciate any little thing you can tell me about the case. Susan



Winters has some relatives out west that are mighty worried. I



can't go back to them without at least trying."



The Chief shrugged and relaxed. He put his feet up on the



battered oak desk and looked thoughtful. "Well, Miss Winters



came here about four months ago to teach school. Around a month



back she disappeared and hasn't been heard from since. The



way I see it, she met some fellow...married fellow, and up and



skedaddled with him."



"Maybe," Harrison rumbled, his deep voice contained a tinge



of pessimism. "Any man around here vanish at the same time as



Miss Winters? If your theory is correct, who went with her?"



Chief Rollins nodded. "Nobody around here besides her has



turned up missing, but there are lots of other little towns in



the area. No reason to think it had to be some gent from Nobles



that took up with her. Could have been somebody she was writing



to from way off for that matter. The little house she rented was



checked out by me personally and most everything was gone, course



she didn't bring much to town with her except a suitcase, a fancy



handbag, and a lot of blonde hair."



"Anybody know of a man who took special notice of her?"



"Ha," Rollins chuckled. "She was a damned pretty woman. I



imagine every man in town took special notice of her...myself



included, yes sir. She didn't pay nobody no mind though, a nice



polite girl she was that kept to herself and her work. She wasn't



around long enough to warm up to most folks the way I see it.



That's why nobody has much they can tell you about her."



Harrison walked back into the street and frowned as a heavy



truck passed, leaving a wake of choking dust that fouled the thick,



humid air. The big man mopped his brow and looked none to happy.



He had a hunch that the small town cop had withheld a few nuggets



of information about the missing girl. Little backwater towns had



few secrets that somebody didn't share. It didn't figure.



The next couple of days did reveal a some things. Nobles



was a damned unfriendly place toward strangers. Each time the



detective mentioned Susan Winters to anyone the subject was



quickly changed or he was given the standarized reply, "she was



a good teacher and the kids liked her, to bad she left town so



soon...and without telling a soul." Harrison even tried getting



a few of the local barflys good and sauced before dropping some



choice questions. Even they, drunk as skunks, would get that odd



look in their eyes and clam up tight. Harrison soon took to sitting



outside the town's only general merchandise store. He casually



sat there with a cigarette and calmly stared down everyone who



passed his way. He'd never in his life seen people that would



walk past a man so fast. Why he wondered if he'd jumped up and



said BOO! that half of them might have just dropped dead right



then and there. He had no idea what was going on but something



sure as hell was. All he could do was wait and watch...for as



long as it took.



As it happened, circumstances changed his third day in town.



Growing frustrated and bored, the big detective decided to take



a little ride out in the country to do some thinking and a little



drinking too. The heat and dust had gotten worse and a couple



miles outside of town he'd just about decided to turn around and



return to his hotel for a nap. He took another swig of brandy



when juat about then he noticed an older looking black man on foot.



Harrison was getting a little tight and he felt sorry for any



man forced to walk in this inferno. He stopped and the old fellow



quickly crawled inside. "I appreciate the ride Mr, it sure is a



hot one today. I walked into town this morning to pick up some



medicine for my back. It would have been best to wait 'till near



dark to head back but I don't cotton to hanging around near city



folk more than I need, especially folks in Nobles, no disrespect."



The old man rambled on. He was light skinned and spoke a



lot better than most colored Harrison'd encountered, must've had



a little education. The big man just felt glad to hear a friendly



voice. They hadn't rode far when the fellow, who said his name



was Ed Norvine, pointed to a little cabin partially hidden beneath



several big oaks. There Harrison noted a stream that the stout



little ford crossed with no trouble. "Why don't you get out and sit a



spell Mr. Harrison. I got some beans and coffee and its a mighty



cool place with all the shade I got, and most days there's a little



breeze blowing aross the crick." The place did look like a choice



spot to do some serious drinking and the detective's clothes were



soaked through with sweat.



"Sure," Harrison said and handed his bottle over to Norvine



who took a long swallow. "Brandy shore is a man's drink alright,"



Ed said with a smile. Their eyes were starting to glow and the



two men were stepping lightly before settling into a couple of



crude but comfortable old rockers. Norvine warmed up the beans and



made some coffee. The old man proudly handed a hot plate to the



big detective. "I got some young squirrel in these beans, sure is



tasty." Harrison shoved a hefty spoonful in his mouth and then



another and another. "Mighty tasty," he agreed.



When they'd finished the meal Norvine took a pipe from his old



overalls. Like a lot of old men, he had a faraway look in his tired



eyes. Plenty of memories to think back on Harrison figured. The



big city man poured the last of the brandy into both men's coffee



and wondered if his life would have been different had he never



left the south years before. Not that he wasn't mostly satisfied with



the way things generally went. A man couldn't stop wondering about



things, especially when he was drunk and that was precisely what



the odd pair were after a short spell. They rocked, did some



thinking, and a lot of drinking.



"I know who you are and what you came here for."



Harrison was caught off guard. The words were soft spoken



but seemed to break the stillness like thunder. "Oh yeah," the big



man replied. "I suppose everybody in town knows now...if you



ask me its mighty queer how folks around here react whenever I



bring the subject up...mighty queer for sure."



"You don't understand them, meaning no disrespect," Norvine



answered with a hint of sadness in his voice. Old Nobles is



going through some hard times lately. There ain't much work



around these days for folks and what money is coming in is bad



money if you ask me. Yessir, things have changed a lot. I reckon



it don't surprise nobody that folks have started turning up missing.



That poor girl ain't the first one, maybe not the last."



Harrison leaned forward in his chair. "Look Norvine, I ain't



looking to bother or hurt anybody in any way. I'm trying to help



a friend and his family. They thought a helluva lot of that girl



and I suspect she was quite a fine woman besides. If you could



tell me anything that would point me in the right direction I



would be mighty grateful and some awfully good folks would be too.



There might even be some money in it for you...Susan Winter's



people are pretty well off."



It was getting dark and the shadows played strange tricks



with the old man's features. Maybe it was the booze but his eyes



turned funny looking and his big gnarled hands moved after a



quirky fashion...almost like he was making some kind of signs?



After a while the old man spoke again, "I ain't scared like a



lot of folks, done seen and been in a lot rougher places than this.



I like it here though, and don't like seeing mostly good people



start creeping around, sorta ghosts of their former selves." There



the old man paused as if chosing his next words carefully. "You



seem like a honest fellow and I know its a good thing you showed



up here. A few miles out on the east side of town is a cathouse.



It does good business too. The girls look good and don't charge



to much although the liquor is to damned high if you ask me. It



ain't even good hooch either. Anyhow, a man called Dr Satin



owns the place. He has a gambling house over that way too.



Some local folks have lost everything in that place, its crooked



the way I see it. Hell, Dr Satin owns half the town now and



lord knows how much land. Some folks have started calling him



Dr Satan. He was alright at first but the longer he's been in town,



it seems like the more hurt and hard feelings have gotten stirred up."



Harrison gave the old man his full attention now. All at



once he felt stone sober and he gripped the arm of the rocker



with anticipation. "But I reckon there's more about this Dr Satan?



"



Norvine nodded and downed the last of the booze. His face



twisted into a grimace that Harrision knew didn't come from the



taste of the brandy. Twilight was falling and the breeze picked



up with an eerie low moan and the detective began to feel an



unlikely chill in the air. He figured the creek flowed with some



especially cold water...maybe spring fed, and the wind did blow



across the chilly stream.



"You see Mr. Steve, Dr Satin...Dr Satan has another place that



most nobody around here ever talks about cause I reckon its the



kind of thing a town keeps quiet. This place does special things for



girls, fixes it when they get in trouble and ain't got no place better



to go."



"Uh huh, an abortion house I reckon?"



"Yessir, that's why the Dr is called Dr but he really ain't



one. He was a veternarian over in some other county, that's all.



He don't take good care of them girls and one or two pass on 'bout



every month. He pays a little money to the family of the dead



ones...they're mostly poor folk see. Some don't even pick up the



bodies and the Dr sells them to some colleges back east and maybe



even up in Nashville. That more than makes up for what he has to



spend in hush money."



"How do you know all this if you don't mind me asking?"



Harrison asked politely as possible.



"Oh I worked there for a spell, cleaning up. Even helped move



the dead bodies and things like that. I couln't take much of it



though and quit...complaining about my back which does bother me



some. I was worried at first but..." the voice trailed off for



a few seconds before breaking into a throaty laugh. Harrison



wondered what in hell the old man found so funny about dying girls?



"I guess I will tell you a little secret about me, folks in



these here parts think I'm deaf and dumb."



"Well, I'll be damned," Harrison exclaimed!



"Its better for a colored man that way. Folks feel a little bit



sorry for you and mostly leave you alone, and they don't bother with



not making a racket if they're sneaking up on you...maybe that would



be the best part." Norvine laughed again and slapped his knee.



Harrison smiled, "you're a plenty clever old cuss I reckon."



"Yessir, anyhow, back to what I was saying. If anybody knows



anything about that poor missing white girl, I don't doubt that it



would be that scoundrel Dr Satan. He ain't nobody to mess with if



you can't handle a lot of trouble though. Worse of all he has a witch



that works for him."



"A witch?"



"I swear it Mr. Harrison. I know about witches and if there



ever was one I'd consider Miss Rose a prime example of the kind."



"I think I'm gonna have to pay a call on these people, anything



else you can tell me Norvine?" Harrison paid close attention to the



things the old man said but he didn't put any stock in witches. Of



course he kept his peace in that regard.



"Well they got a big ox named Luther that works for them too,



and three or four other bad apples. Luther used to be boxer, but



that was before he got all strung out on opium and such. They



got that and some bad chinamen over there too."



Harrison spent the night with Norvine but left before dawn



the following morning. Satin's property was a few miles out east



of town. The big detective stopped for a heaping breakfast at the



hotel and quickly left town. During the ride he checked to make



certain that every cylinder in his .45 revolver was loaded. It felt



good beneath the light sports coat he wore. The slender blade



concealed in his right trouser leg was equally reassuring. He



was a man used to trouble and he knew how to prepare for the



worst.



The morning was a little bit cooler. Harrison lighted a smoke



and tried to enjoy the ride despite the bad road. It didn't take long



before he reached a place that matched Norvine's discription. It was



an old three story house that must have been something else back



during its prime but that time had long since passed. It badly needed



several coats of paint and a few of the shingles had almost broken



loose and stood at weird angles. Two or three flapped in the slight



breeze like forlorn flags. A couple of sprawling old willow trees sat



in the front yard suppying shade and killing most of the grass. It



wasn't a very inviting place and Harrision felt sorry for the girls



that had to come to a "clinic" like this. People had a way of getting



in tight spots though, and that made for hard decisions. Harrison



adjusted his hat and tie a bit and tossed his cigarette on the ground.



He wasn't an especially clever or subtle detective. His style was to



stir the pot until something floated to the top. His skill with a knife,



gun, and bare fists generally overcame his shortcomings. He was



no Sherlock Holmes and didn't much give a damn.



He walked up on the porch, eyeballin' a couple of men tinkering with



a truck around to the side of the house. They gave Harrison long, hard



eyed looks and he tipped his hat...real casual like. He knocked on the



screen door which barely managed to hang on to its rusty hinges. The



front door stood slighty ajar but it was to dark inside to see much of



anything. He noticed the two fellows had forgotten about the old



truck and stood at the edge of the house giving him their full



attention. Harrison paid them no mind while he waited. Instead,



he enjoyed the antics of a dirt dobber as it flew back and forth on



the porch. He was about to knock for the third time when a woman



came to the door. She must have weighed a good 325 pounds and



wasn't much over five feet tall. She had a face and big dark eyes



that might have been pretty minus all the paddings.



"Hello, what can I do for you?" she asked. Harrison was not



a man easily put ill at ease but something about the woman's



girth, her eyes, and especially her voice, seemed to somehow give



him a slight queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Maybe it was



just the squirrel and brandy he'd loaded up on the night before?



"My name is Steve Harrison and I've come to town to find out



any information I can about a young woman named Susan Winters.



I've asked just about everyone in town about her and thought



maybe she might have visited with Dr Satin about some health



problems or what not. As far as I know he is the only doctor around



these parts. I just wondered if he might have treated her at some



time. I'm only looking for information ma'am, anything I can take



back to her family, they're worried sick about her disappearing like



she did."



The woman invited Harrison in real polite like. She showed him



to a straight back chair in what passed for a parlor. The woman



introduced herself as Rose. She fetched another chair and sat



beside the detective. Harrison had that strange uneasy feeling yet



again when she leaned closer than he figured was necessary. Could



be she was hard of hearing or something. He truly found the woman



quite repulsive but at the same time oddly interesting. She began



talking and didn't wait for more questions.



"Oh yes, I remember Miss Winters. She was such a pretty young



girl and a real good teacher they said. I saw her around town a



few times and we had some real good little chats about this, that,



and the other. She was a real sharp dresser too. There wasn't a



buck in town that didn't give her a second glance. I don't recall



her ever coming out here to see Dr Satin however. She did attend



church real regular though, and wore the cutest hats you ever did



see. I wonder where on earth did she find them? We don't have



stores like that around here. I like it here though, its real nice and



quiet don't you think? Will you be staying long Mr Harrison? A fine



looking man like you would be a nice addition to the town. We



don't get many big good looking guys passing through here at all."



The woman named Rose just rambled on and on like that. The



big detective normally didn't have much use for talkative women,



epecially fat ones with thinning hair, but he couldn't force his eyes



away. Something in her voice seem to mezmerize him. He had the very



unsettling feeling that he'd known her for a long time. Despite the



fact that he found her disgusting, he wondered if he couldn't have



sat right there in that delapidated parlor and listened to the woman



talk all day long, night too. Harrison didn't seem to realize that



he could not look away from her dark eyes. He sat there half numb



as she rattled on and on. Luckily his stupor was relieved somewhat



by someone knocking at the front door.



"Oh please excuse me for a second. I need to pay those men



for some chores they've been doing." Rose got up and went to the



door where she spoke in subdued tones to the two men that the



detective had noticed earlier. Harrison couldn't understand



what she was saying but he had a chance to shake the cobwebs out



of his head and get to his feet. He knew one thing for a fact, he



had to get the hell out of there right at that moment. He walked



towards the door just as the men left and Rose again focused



her attention on her new guest. "Leaving so soon, I thought you



wanted to wait for Dr Satin to return?" As soon as she spoke



the weird sensation returned to his stomach and his head felt



as if he was a kid again getting spun around and around on the



playground. His own voice seemed hollow and far away when he



addressed his fat hostess. "Oh, it can wait. I got a lot of ground



to cover and time ain't on my side. Hopefully we can speak again



Rose, thanks for everything."



The woman seemed genuinely disappointed and she moved out



of his way hesitantly. When she finally did give ground he shot



out the door despite the weakness in his thick powerful legs. The



big man somehow found the strength to walk straight back to his



car. He fired the coup up, turned it around quickly and gunned the



gas. A mile down the road his head started to clear and he found



himself wondering what the hell had gotten into him. He even



considered turning around and going back but something told him



that this was not the time. Worst of all, he knew that he wanted



to see Rose again. Thing was, he couldn't figure out what in hell



gave him that vague, but gnawing longing?



Harrison took a fresh bottle out of the glove compartment and



took a real long swig. It made him feel a lot better and he was just



about to take another when he noticed something in the road ahead.



It was that same truck he'd first noticed back at Dr Satin's place,



and those same two men he'd seen were apparently changing a flat.



Harrison slowed to a stop and waited while one of the men walked



up to his car. He has a big man, as big as the detective. His face



was scarred and his ears cauliflowered. "I'm guessing that would



be Mr Luther," the detective mumbled to himself under his breath.



The ex-boxer carried a tire iron in his meaty fist. He had a



big smile on his face as he sidled up to Harrison's coup. The big



detective suddenly regretted having taken the top down on the



car earlier in the morning. "Well, how you doing this morning



mister...?" That was all Luther bothered saying before swinging the



iron at Harrison's head. The detective was ready for him though and



threw his body sideways. He received only a glancing blow on the



left shoulder. It still hurt like hell, and half numbed the big man's



arm, but he easily managed to kick open the door that he'd partially



opened just moments before.



The door caught Luther just below the belt and the air went



out of him like a balloon pricked with a pin. He gasped and fell



back in the dirt, sprawling there temporarily stunned. His partner



came charging up hard with a wrench in his hand. His small eyes



were filled with hate and Harrison leaped from the car just in the



nick of time. He dodged the wrench and shot out a straight right



that just nicked his assailant. The man was bald and thick sweat



glistened on his naked scalp as he pressed the attack. One blow in



the right spot would have finished the detective but Harrison wasn't



about to fight a strickly defensive battle. He retreated, snatching



up Luther's tire iron in the process. He maneuvered into the open



and waited for baldy to make the next move.



There wasn't a long wait. The sweaty thug yelled a battle cry



and charged straight on. Harrison was caught a bit off guard by



the man's quickness and his agressive attack. The heavy wrench



whistled past Harrison's head, missing by inches. The big man



managed to block the next two swings with the tire iron but his



arm was jarred to the core and numbness began to spread rapidly



through the nerves and muscles. Harrison changed tactics and



hurled the tool with all the strength in his bull-like frame. At



point blank range he couldn't miss. The improvised missle struck the



bald man on the forehead and gave him pause. The brute took



a moment to shut his eyes and try to shake off the fog as blood



gushed down into his face from a shallow, but heavily bleeding



gash. Harrison wasted no time taking advantage of his luck. A



powerhouse right to the jaw felled baldly like a sack of potatoes



thrown from a truck. He dropped in the dust and lay still, a pool



of blood soiling the dirt beneath his battered head. A few of his



teeth were spat out impulsively and he was done.



Harrison was half turned to look for Luther when the daylight



exploded with darkness and stars. His quick movement had



spared him the full force of the punch but the big detective was



thrown back in the dirt. He glanced up through blurred vision to



see Luther looming overhead. The former boxer was in his favorite



stance and smiling broadly. "Git up mister and take your whupin'



like a man or if you want, just lay there and I'll stomp you like a



dog. Either way I'd hate to be in your shoes city boy."



Harrison had done a little boxing but he could hardly boast of



being a former professional pugilist like Luther had. In a stand up



match the detective wouldn't stand a chance. Harrison had done plenty



of street brawling though and he hoped Luther's confidence could



be used against him. While his head cleared, Harrison bought some



extra time by spiting out a few choice words. "You call yourself



a boxer? You're nothing but a washed up bum working for a bunch



of nutcases. Just let me stand up and I'll teach you a thing or



two about the proper way to use your fists."



Luther grinned broadly, "sure Mr Private Dick, anything you say.



Git up and teach me all the stuff you've learned about boxing while



chasing cheap dames and harassing cheatin' husbands."



Harrison stood and wiped his face clean of dirt, sweat, and



blood. Luther was plenty cocky and enjoying himself as he danced



a bit, then did a little shadow boxing with the air. The detective



assumed some kind of boxing stance and moved toward his supremely



confident opponent. However, instead of closing and throwing punches,



he drifted warily until he had Luther just where he needed him.



Harrison lifted his shoulders high and tucked his head low. He



lunged down and hard towards Luther's midsection. The thug was not



ready and backpeddled rapidly as Harrison's full weight fell against



his chest. The street fighter gave the boxer a powerful shove and



an instant later the hapless Luther pound himself pinned against



the back of Harrison's ford. Luther had a thick head of hair and the



detective got a handful in each big paw, then yanked the overwhelmed



man's head back several times in succession. Each yank brought Luther's



skull into jarring contact with the coup's trunk. Luther struggled



hard but pretty soon he went limp and Harrison let him slide into the



dirt alongside his bloodied partner. Not a merciful man by nature,



the private investigator was plenty riled up. He buried the toe of



his boot into Luther's ribs a couple times and enjoyed the sound



of bones snapping. Satisfied that he'd gotten his message across,



Harrison knocked the truck out of gear and pushed it into a deep



ditch. Then he pulled his .45 and shot out all four tires and the



spare.



The big man drove back to his hotel and cleaned up before



grabbing a bite to eat. He shoveled down mashed potatoes,



green beans, and a huge steak while marveling at how a little



action did wonders for a man's appetite. He crammed the last



roll into his mouth, paid and headed for the closest bar. It was



still early and he figured on doing some quiet drinking and some



hard thinking. He strolled into the Crow's Nest and bought a



bottle from the disinterested man tending bar. Harrison sat



down in a quiet corner and poured himself a stiff one. It didn't



take no genius to see that he'd stirred the pot in the right place



because things had started cooking. If there was no connection



between Susan Winters and the clinic, why had they tried to



rough him up? The answer to that one was obvious.



The way Harrison had it figured, Miss Winters had gotten



in trouble and gone to Satin to get it taken care off before



the town found and out run her out of Dodge. The good Dr had likely



botched the operation, gotten rid of the body, and nobody was



the wiser. Besides, Dr Satin had plenty of money to smooth



things over when he had to. They had made a mistake and showed



their hand by trying to bust him up. Now things were gonna



get complicated every way around. Of course the Satin gang wouldn't



go down easy with all the dough they were making in these parts.



"Mind if I join you for a minute?"



Harrison looked up to find a pretty, dark haired woman clad



in a tight dress and displaying plenty of handsome cleavage. He



wasn't exactly looking for companionship but he had a little time



to waste...and what better way? "Sure, grab a chair." The detective



stood until the young woman had seated.



"Thanks mister," the girl replied as she settled in, displaying



plenty of nicely formed calf in the process. Harrison rubbed his



square chin a bit and wondered whether Nobles might not be quite as



dead and buried as it had appeared previously?



"You're Steve Harrison aren't you?" The brunette asked as



she stirred her freshly poured drink. "That's right, but I don't



believe I caught your name sweetheart?"



"Stella Walsh, I don't get into town that much, been staying



with my sister at her place a couple miles out."



"Is there something in particular you wanted to talk about?



If so, you would be one of the few I've had the pleasure to meet."



"Well...,I understand that you might be looking for Susan



Winters. I knew her pretty well. It could be that I might be able



to give you a head's up. It just might be that we could help each



other if you know what I mean?"



"Keep talking," Harrison said. He lighted a smoke and handed it



to the girl before lighting another for himself. Stella took a long



draw then swatted at a horsefly that had settled on her shoulder.



"Damn flys and vermin, I'm sick of this filthy town," the girl



exclaimed and gulped down her drink. Harrison quickly poured



her another. "You were saying...?"



"I'm sure you've heard about Dr Satin...Dr Satan's what I call



him. I used to work for him. I guess you could say I was one of



his girl's...you know?"



"You mean you were a professional?"



"That's right, but I've gone straight now. I just need a little



cash to get the hell out of here and start over someplace else, anyplace



else."



Harrison nodded and continued pouring, Stella was a danged lot



cuter than most working girls. She probably had't been at it to



long yet which was a good thing. "How did you get to know Susan



Winters, it don't figure that the new school marm would fall in



with a girl in your line...no disrespect of course."



"Yeah, it was a weird thing. I was walking into town late one



night and a thunderstorm blew up all of a sudden and there I was,



without even an umburella. I figured I was screwed when an old



model A stopped and I got in. It was Susan that picked me up.



We didn't go but a few yards when all hell broke lose and she



decided to just pull over and wait it out. She was cautious like



that you see. Anyhow, we sorta hit it off. A few times after that,



whenever I was in town, I would sneak out to her place late and



take her a bottle. Then we'd just have a good old time drinking



and talking about all the stuff girls talk about. Susan was a



little more hard edged than she let on but we kept our relationship



secret so she wouldn't lose her job. Susan wasn't all that much



worried though. She was just looking to save a little money and



then move on to New York or Chicago where a girl could have a



real life. We even talked about me tagging alone. Maybe it was



just talk but who knows?"



Harrison looked back and studied Stella's eyes before shrugging.



"Well, that's nice and all but I don't see that it helps me out much.



I need to find her, her family has paid me good money in advance."



"What do you think happened to her Steve?"



The detective liked the way they had moved quickly to first



name basis. "I'm sorry Stella, but to be honest I think she's long



since dead. I wouldn't care to comment much beyond that. I do need



solid proof though, before my job here is finished."



Stella swallowed another drink and shook her head. Her eyes



were a pretty shade of green and they flashed at Harrison's grim



declaration. "I think she is still alive...although I don't know for



how much longer. You see, I been doing some thinking of my own."



"I'm listening sweetheart, whatever you got to say, I'll admit



you got me all ears."



"Ok, but if you think she's dead, who do you think did it?"



The detective really didn't care to say but he played a hunch.



"I was thinking that maybe she went out to Dr Satin's place to get



a problem fixed and wound up dead. Way I hear it, that happens



pretty regular out there. They got rid of the body, hushed up



anyone that was wise with a few dollars and there you have it."



"Not a bad way of looking at it. Satin is a butcher and that's



a fact but its hard to find anybody else in these parts that provide



the kind of "services" he does. Besides, he was in love with Susan."



"What the hell?"



"Yeah, he was on the schoolboard that hired her and I'm thinking



that jerk took to her right away. I saw proof in her room one night.



There was a big flower arrangement, fixed up real expensive like, and



I took a peek at the note. It said something like, I will always love



you and please consider that I would give you everything you ever wanted



and protect you no matter what the circumstances. It was signed Dr.



Satin."



"And what was Susan's opinion of the good doctor?"



"Couldn't stand the sight of him. She sorta had to be nice to



him because her job depended on it, him being on the schoolboard



and all. She said that she had let him know that it all ended with



friendship. She even made up a lie about being in love with another



fellow back where she'd come from. He didn't like it one bit but



that didn't stop him from acting a fool over her. She was starting



to get a little worried. It was her opinion that Satin wasn't all that



normal and she wasn't crazy about the work he did either. The old



devil creeped her out."



Harrison opened his wallet and peeled out a fifty. He handed



it to the girl. "I hope this helps you out Stella." The girl's



green eyes grew soft and large as she folded the bill carefully and



tucked it away somewhere in her purse. "Thank you so much Steve,



you're the best thing that ever happened to me in this dead end



hell hole."



"Maybe you've helped me more Stella." The wheels in the



big man's head weren't the best greased but they were turning



in furiously fine form at the moment. "Do you think Satin might



have gotten overly anxious and kidnapped Susan? That's the main



gist of what I'm getting from our talk."



Stella leaned closer and whispered, "That's exactly what I



think and Satin is more than capable of any filthy trick in the



book. I wouldn't doubt that he has her locked away somewhere and



is having his fun until he gets bored and then knocks her off. Or



could be he'll have that horrible bitch Rose do the dirty work



for him. She's worse than the devil by all accounts. There are



more rumors going around about that woman...."



Harrison has already factored all that into the equation. "I



need to get to this so called Dr Satan and on the double. Then we



shall see if his tongue loosens after the proper encouragement.



And I got pleanty of neat ways to encourage lousy rats like him."



Stella nodded and attacked another fly, "he makes his late



rounds over at the clinic around eleven pm. Most nights he beds



down there for a few hours in his own room before clearing out just



after daylight. His room is on the first floor right across from



the well."



"Does it have a window?"



"Sure does Steve." Harrison smiled at this sweet tidbit of



of timely information.



"I'm tired of talking business Stella, I know you've changed



your ways and all but I was wondering if maybe you wouldn't mind



killing a few hours over at my room in the motel. You might call



it a kinda celebration before you catch the next bus out of here."



Stella smiled and her eyelashes fluttered. Harrison bought



another bottle and the couple walked over to the hotel hand in



hand. "Man, this is a hot town," the detective complained.



Stella gave his hand a little squeeze, "I reckon its gonna



get a lot hotter before the day is over."



"Hmmmmm...."



It was near one AM and Steve Harrison waited in a stand of



trees, watching the delapidated building that served as a makeship



medical facility. All the lights had long since been turned off



and the detective had just finished his last cigarette. Still, he



paused for an extra minute. It wasn't like him to be hesitant



when doing this kind of job, but that damned Rose had done something



he simply couldn't comprehend to his normally iron clad nerves.



Grudgingly, he admitted that an inside voice whispered a need to



see that tub of lard again! He shook his head with disbelief at



himself. It made no sense. There was just something about her



eyes and voice that did something to a man. Standing this close



for hours had made the ghastly sensation worsen. Harrison began



to feel anger at himself for such damned foolishness. Getting mad



had always helped him get a clearer grip on matters and it worked



again at the present. It was time to get down to business.



He hadn't seen a sign of a watchdog so it was easy to slip



up to the side of the house where the doctor's room was located.



It was a stroke of luck that the window was raised although it



wouldn't have made sense otherwise. Who in their right mind would



try to sleep in this heat with the windows closed? Then again, the



detective felt fairly certain that he was dealing with people who



likely functioned with abnormal mindsets.



The old screen didn't present much of a challenge to Harrison.



With surgical precison he used his razor sharp blade to cut it



out. Then, with practiced ease, and quietly as a stalking panther,



he hoisted himself up and slipped through the window.



The room was dark but within seconds the detective's eyes



made the adjustment. An electric fan rattled near the bed where



the doctor lay on his back snoring loudly. "Sleep well you bastard,"



the detective whispered to the darkness as he slowly eased closer to



the unsuspecting slumberer.



His big mitts slipped around Satin's neck and thick fingers



dug into the sallow flesh around the man's throat. Satin's eyes



flew open but he couldn't utter a sound other than a muffled gurgle.



"Good evening Dr, I know its a bit late for a house call but I need



to talk to you right away. I want to know where Susan Wnters is



and you have exactly ten seconds to tell me what I need to know



before I break your scrawny neck and go looking for that fat



harlot Rose to get the information I need. You two are thick as



thieves anyhow...now you got five seconds." To put emphasis



on his point the big man's fingers probed yet deeper until Satin's



eyes literally reached the point of popping loose from their deep



sockets. "Don't worry Doc, I'm gonna lighten up just a hair and



give you one last chance. If you say anything besides what I want



to hear, or if you yell for help...I'll take this fist here and drive



your big nose right throught the bottom of your brain."



At that moment of apparent triumph the detective felt some



cold hard object against the side of his head. "Just relax Mr



Big Shot, one flinch and I blow your sorry excuse for a brain right



out of your hard head. Now raise your hands as high as you possibly



can you idiot." Luther had gotten the drop on him but how? The



big Lee-Enfield bolt action crammed against his temple posed an



even more pressing problem. The lights came on and big Rose waddled



into the room. "Good lord, what is going on in here?" she grunted.



"I went outside to take a leak and caught a glimpse of this



big baboon sneaking around the house. I saw that he was trying to



break into Doc's room so I ran back inside all quiet like and got



this here cannon. Looks like I done caught me one big old dumb



city possum."



Rose shook her head but didn't seem all that annoyed. In fact,



she acted pretty pleased at the latest development. Dr Satin wasn't



taking things nearly as well. He hopped out of bed and rushed to



get dressed in dark pants, shoes, and a white labcoat. From some



hidden location he produced a .45 automatic. "Keep him covered Doc



while I frisk him...you can bet he's got a rod on him." Luther



quickly found the detective's pistol and stuffed it in his waistband.



Things were looking bad, damned bad.







Dr Satin was above medium height, thin, with sharp features



and dark, close together eyes. He scowled at Harrison with pure



hatred burning through his expression. "Mr, you just bought your



fool self a world of trouble. I hope you enjoyed life because in



a minute it will be all over for your worthless, nosy carcass."



Miss Rose lifted her pudgy hand and shook her head. "Now let's



not get all excited everybody. Mr Harrison doesn't seem like the



bad sort, he just made a mistake. Why, we could use a big strong



man like him if he were made to gentle out some. Things have



gotten doggone filty since that old drunkard Norvine ran off. Why



I bet Mr Harrison could help us out a whole lot if we just do a



few things to relax him and take away all these terrible manly and



agressive prejudices. Luther, do you have your razor on you?"



"Sure thing Miss Rose, I got it right here like always." Luther



pulled the blade out and brandished it. Harrison wanted to take



that thing and shove it up Luther's backside but something held



him back, and that something was more than the gun pointed close to



his chest. With every word Miss Rose said, he, for some insane



reason, wanted to be agreeable to whatsoever whims the fat lady might



came up with. He was still at himself enough to realize these were



hardly natural emotions he was suffring. A sinking feeling spread



though the detective's anxious mind. He may have taken on one



job to many. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he struggled to



move, just move, but suddenly it seemed impossible. Rose kept



right on talking and smiling. All three fiends were smiling in a way



that forced ice water through the trapped detective's veins.



Rose reached up and stroked Harrison lightly on the face. Her



touch was sweaty and her hand smelled like fried chicken, but



the big man didn't mind, although he also felt like throwing up.



"You see, I've seen men like Mr Harrison before...they get excited



to easily and go around making trouble for good folk. Its really



just something some men are born with I reckon, poor things. He



will be alright, probably just sweet as a little lamb after we take



that nasty tongue out...along with a few other parts he won't be



needing no more. Mark my word, he'll be gentle like a little lamb



after the procedure, they always are."



Harrison fully realized where all this was heading and finally



sheer mad effort forced his body back a step or two. "Don't touch me,



all of you stay back. I'll kill all of you for this!"



Rose cooed again, calm as could be, "oh you wouldn't really



Steve, you just need calming down. After a little quick operation



and some healing you'll be just fine in a week or two...and then



you'll be a lot of help around here, and real gentle too. Don't you



want to be happy and relaxed dear?"



Harrison couldn't move a muscle. All he could do was groan "no,



no..." Luther pushed him down on the doctor's bed. Satin took the



razor and grinned like the monster he was inside. "Now, keep the gun on



him just in case, but get back a little...this job's for a professional."



Harrison's eyes stared out in frozen horror as he felt Rose loosening



his clothing. He wanted to scream but only managed to whimper sadly



like a little whipped child. "Hurry up Rose, I ain't got all night,"



Dr Satan demanded. "It'll only take a minute Doctor."



The words hadn't much more than left the fat woman's mouth when



an unbelievably loud explosion rocked the old house right up to its



rickety ancient rafters. The lights went out immediately, they'd been



shot out! Somebody had fired a shotgun into the room and doused the



world with blackness.



The sudden explosion yanked Harrison back into complete command



of his body and mind. Instinctively he dove out of the bed towards



the back wall of the room. Chaos had broken out, quickly he heard



shouts, frantic commands, and several more shots. Two or three bullets



struck the boards just over the detective's head. Splinters showered his



face as several more shots were directed towards the window. Everyone



was obviously firing blindly and Harrison grabbed for the five shot,



.32 calibre snub nose he carried in a special holster behind his



knee. As soon as he cleared the weapon, he began peppering the



room with lead. He fired all five shots as soon as he could pull



the trigger, trying for the areas where the three assailants had



been standing at last sight. There were more shouts, then a man's



scream soon followed by a pronounced thud. Harrison dropped the .32



and drew his knife. Things got quiet awfully quick. The only sound



the detective could hear was a slight creaking of boards as if an



unknown someone was slowly slinking away.



Harrison dimly recalled seeing a flashlight on the nightstand



beside the phony doctor's bed. As quietly as possible he fumbled



in the dark until he felt the object at his fingertips. He flipped



it on to find a room filled with smoke and overturned furniture.



Rose lay on her back with chubby arms spread wide. The bullet had



entered just below her left eye and exited the back of her head.



She was good and dead. Her eyes were open and he glanced once then



quickly away. Some vague tendrils of the witch's power still



clung to him though they were fading fast.



Luther was on his knees with his arms around his stomach.



He'd been gutshot. He was breathing heavily and barely seemed



aware of his surrounding. Harrison glimpsed the straight razor



and felt tempted to put it to good use, but there wasn't time.



Instead, he raised a heavy chair and brought it down on Luther's



head with all the force he could muster. Following that crash



the back door suddenly slammed. Harrison cursed, "no way in



hell I'm letting that filth Satin get away!"



He raced through the house and crashed through the backdoor.



At first he couldn't see a thing but then he caught a glimpse of



the white labcoat vanishing into a stand of timber scattered beneath



a large hill. "Good mister, putting that coat on is gonna be one



of your last mistakes." Harrison sprinted after the doctor and



covered the ground to the trees in seconds. He got another quick



look at the white object racing through the trees and pumped his



powerful thews even harder. Now it was becoming fairly easy to



track the Dr who was slowing some, obviously being in no shape



to run far. However, just when the big man appeared seconds from



overtaking his prey, the Doctor seemed to disappear.



Harrison had not had an easy time chasing the man in the



dark but now he was really puzzled. He couldn't hear anyone



running and it obviously Dr Satin had found a hiding place...but



where? The detective had no intention of waiting until daylight



to finish this. Nothing was nothing left to do but utilize the



dim beam of the flashlight to make a careful search of the immediate



area. One thing was certain, the Doctor had to be close because



nothing could move in the dark without making at least a little



racket.



The big man paced back and forth, growing more frustrated



by the second. He couldn't accept that somehow he'd been out-



smarted at this stage of the game. Harrison had come to far,



risked to much to be defeated now. However, it appeared reality



had other ideas. Harrison began cursing under his breath when



the flashlight's glow briefly settled on something of interest.



It was an old silver mine. Securely positioned double doors held



fast by a large iron lock stoically forbade entry. He searched



the area and found a large stone that he utilized to hammer



the lock into pulp. He nearly ripped the double doors off their



rusty hinges before stomping through. A doubting voice in his



head whispered that this might be a dead end, that the Doctor



had tricked him and now he was somewhere safe laughing his



head off at the big stupid detective. Still, Harrison had a



hunch that he was on the right track. Besides, a man couldn't



just disappear into thin air. Could he?



He worked his way as rapidly as possible through the winding



passageway. After about five minutes he reached a spot where



the main tunnel branched into three. Harrison took the one at the



right and followed it about 150 feet to a dead end. Quickly



backtracking, he continued to follow the primary tunnel that loomed



straight ahead. He passed two or three other tunnels but stayed



the course. He shook off the sinking feeling that this place



was a maze, that a man could wander about for days. After



trailing the main passage for about 300 yards his persistence was



rewarded. Dead ahead a dim light beckoned him invitingly. It



was almost to easy. Then again, maybe the Doctor had figured



no man would be fool enough to enter the mine alone in the



dead of night? Harrison doused the flashlight and continued on



by feeling his way down the damp tunnel.



It was slow going without the flashlight but that was a very



minor irritant compared to the horrible stench that assaulted the



detective's nostrils. Whatever lay up ahead, it smelled damned



bad. The awful odor was part offal, part wet fur, and all animal.



It seemed likely that the Doctor kept dogs somewhere, smelly dogs



at that. That would be a good way to guard his hideout and



cheaper than hiring men. But then again, where in hell were



they and what would he do if they did show up? In his haste,



he'd left all the firearms behind. Now he had his knife in one



hand and the big rock he'd used to smash the lock in the other.



He paused for just a moment, then grimaced and forged ahead. Maybe



it was a damned fool thing to do but he had a lot less patience



than sense. Besides, he'd made it though tougher situatins with



nothing but bare fists.



It took a lot longer to reach the lighted area than he had



originally figured. Finally he got close enough to see that the



source of the illumination was a coal oil lamp placed on a crude



wooden table. The table also played host to a half empty bottle



of whiskey and a leather strap. Harrison's blue eyes narrowed



and he entered the fairly large sized room.



To his left he discovered good sized steel cage. The detective



expected to see dogs there, quiet dogs, but he was startled



to find it held a woman instead. She was dirty, her clothes in



tatters, and her long hair hung matted and damp. Her face was



smeared with dirt and something that must certainly be blood.



Thick white streaks led from her eyes down across her cheeks.



The girl had obviously spent a lot of time crying. Harrison's



eyes flew open wide as his brain grasped the situation in its



entireity. "Damn miss, you're Susan Winters aren't you?"



At first he didn't think she was going to reply or maybe she



was to dazed to speak. However, she pulled herself up wearily



against the bars of the cage and murmered softly. "I am Susan



Winters...I suppose you're one of Dr Satin's new employees then?"



Harrison shook his head vigorously, "hell no miss! My name is



Steve Harrison and your brother sent me here to find you."



The woman's eyes glimmered with hope and she was about to



speak again when, in the not so far distance, a loud bellowing



roar crashed through the cavernous mine. The enclosed area



only amplified the awful, shattering howling. Whatever had made



such a frightful commotion was obviously damned big.



Susan Winter's expressin turned to horror, "We've got to get



out of here quick....Juloonga is on the loose. Hurry! Please



before it's to late, get me out of here!" She was was literally



shouting. "I plan to do just that," the detective replied with



confidence. The girl wasn't much calmed by his assurance though.



Instead she urged him on with pleading shouts while the big man



hammered at the much tougher, and newer, steel lock that held the



cage door closed like a vise. "This thing is plenty stubborn, give



me a minute..."



Susan screamed, "we don't have a minute...just run, run for your



life, Juloonga is here...RUN Mr, it has developed a taste for human



flesh!"



Harrison jumped back just as another, much closer roar



assailed his ears with deafening effect. A huge ape, half starved



but still nearly five hundred pounds heavy, charged into the room



with red, bloodshot eyes that glared grotesquely at the detective



with unbridled rage.



The detective barely had time to raise the stone and send it



crashing into the horrible beast's right eye before the thing hoisted



him off his feet and sent him sailing a good twelve feet through the



air where the stunned man crashed heavily against the rock solid



wall of the mine. He tried to rise but his head was in a fog and his



body had turned into jelly. The ape hesitated to wipe bood from



its eye before approaching the wounded Harrison, moving deliberately



with a small measure of caution. The thing sensed the man was in bad



shape and pounded its mighty chest at the easily won victory. At



last it leaned over to gather the man in those great hairy arms but



the detective wasn't quite done yet. With his last remaining reserve



of strength, the embattled human thrust upward and buried his knife



to the hilt in the great monster's hairy chest.



The ape bellowed with pain but otherwise seemed unaffected.



Perhaps the thing's many layers of muscle were to thick to allow



the blade access to any vital organs. Harrison knew he was



doomed but he felt blindly for something, another rock, anything



that would allow him go down fighting. There was nothing.



The ape hoisted him again and flung him back down with force,



although it was significantly less force than before. It didn't



much matter to the detective who was now unconscious and groaning



in a battered heap. He had suffered cracked ribs and a cheekbone



fracture but no major broken bones as yet. However, one more



toss while he was totally helpless would seal the deal. The ape



moved more slowly though. It looked puzzled and grasped the



thing in the center of its great chest that gave him pain. He yanked



the blade free causings thick jets of dark blood to burst forth



from the ape's body like a fresh spring. The monster bellowed



again with rage and bewilderment. It took a step and staggered



wearily. Another step followed and the creature almost toppled.



Finally it sat down heavily and began a sort of pathetic whimper.



Harrison regained a semi state of consciousness just in time



to see the great ape roll over on its back and begin its death



throes. The big man wiped the blood from his eyes and struggled



to recall what had happened to the gorilla: his thoughts dull, past



remembering that he had stabbed the thing. For all he knew the



damned creature had been shot by someone?



Through a thick fog Harrison heard the pleading of a strangely



familiar female voice, "can you hear me Mr, we've got to get out



of here...try to get on your feet. You have to if you want to live,



can you hear me?"



Harrison nodded and gamely tried to stand. This was tougher



than he'd figured. The room was spinning around, and the effects



of the stench mixed with all the blood made him loose his last



meal. He did manage to get up on all fours and painfull retch



the final contents of his stomach. It seemed best under the current



circumstances to just try to sit a spell and pull himself together.



He could just make out the blurred image of the girl's face. Then



he heard her whisper,"oh no...no."



A shadowy figure had entered the slowly clearing line of the



detective's vision. It was the police chief and he had a gun in



his hand. "You look like hell Harrison," the cop declared.



"I've been through hell and more but I'm damned glad to see



you," Harrison grunted and spat blood.



"Get out of the way Rollins," a sinister voice growled. "I want



to finish this bastard myself if you don't mind. Besides, why



should I let you in on the fun, it took you long enough get here."



"Sorry Doc, I had to get dressed before rushing out."



"Nevermind that now you idiot, just get out of the way."



The sight of that big .45 automatic pointed straight between



his eyes did wonders for clearing Harrison's head. The detective



knew he was beat but he wasn't scared in the least. He had done



his level best and that was all any man could do. He mostly felt



sorry for the poor girl, and the people of Nobles. He sat there



and stared down the sneering pair who had him covered. Susan



Winters kept right on pleading for his life all along. No one



payed her much mind until she suddenly stopped and elicited a



startled gasp. Even the doctor looked over his shoulder to see



what was up. "What in hell!" the man shouted.



A woman had entered the room, only she wasn't a normal woman.



Her skin was ashen like concrete and her skin looked diseased and



appeared to be decaying, even worm eaten. Her hair was filthy



and caked with fresh dirt. Where her eyes should have been there



were only black sunken holes with a bit of bluish light flickering



from some place within deep black sockets. Her lips were gone,



drawn back and away from her teeth which were left exposed in some



kind of frightful, feral smirk. Her dress appeared to have been



soaked in mud and she limped along with only one shoe.



"My God!" Rollins screamed and fired several times. The bullets



ripped through the front of the ghastly thing's body but no blood



seeped forth, only the sound of escaping, foul smelling gasses.



The thing ignored Rollins and lurked straight for Dr Satin.



Rollins screamed again and took off at a dead run before crashing



into the unforgivng stone of the tunnel wall and collapsing like



some suddenly deflated tire.



Dr Satin was apparently frozen. Susan Winters cowered in



the back of her cage while the dumbfounded Harrison sweated and



clawed to gain his feet despite woobly legs that simply wouldn't



co-operate. Finally he fell back again, trying to gather strength.



for one more effort.



Dr Satin dropped his useless pistol and it made a clanking



noise as the iron bounced against solid stone. "I...I know you!



"You were one of my patients and you're...you're dead...DEAD!"



The horrible apparition said nothing but seemed to nod ever so



slightly. Then slowly it put its arms around the neck of the



petrified doctor and pulled him close to its rancid bosom. Harrison



watched the Dr's eyes as the horrific embrace lasted for what



seemed like an eternity. Then the thing yanked the doctor's head



back by his longish, unkempt hair. Without another moment's delay



it sank sharp yellow teeth into the man's throat and ripped out a



huge chunk of flesh. Bood gushed and the doctor gurgled but the



bloody embrace continued. At last the thing released the body



of the man and the late Doctor's cadaver crumpled to the ground.



The hideous creature did not look down. It stood unmoving for



almost a minute as if it was confused. Then it sighed sadly and



collapsed beside the doctor's corpse. The two of them lay side



by side as still as death could make them.



"Please, please, please...." It was Susan Winters who broke the



dreadful silence. "The key is in the Doctor's pocket. Just toss it



to me and I'll do the rest...can you hear me Mr. Harrison?



The big man nodded, "loud and clear sister, loud and clear."



Steve Harrison, as tough as they came, only needed a couple



days of rest and liquor before he was past ready to move on. He



and Susan climbed into the coup which locals had washed, waxed, and



gassed up. A small crowd gathered around to wish them well. Harrison



reckoned the town would recover in time, maybe even come roaring



back better than ever now that the spectre of death was gone. The



new police chief closed the door for Susan Winters who looked an



awfully pretty sight all cleaned up and wearing a new dress and hat.



The detective started the engine and pulled away with a slight,



backwards wave of his big meaty hand.



There was one more stop he needed to make before getting



gone for good. Norvine sat under his shade tree and smiled



when the big man got out and walked up to say hello and goodbye.



They passed pleasantries for a minute, then Harrison turned a



little serious.



"I reckon that was you that shot the lights out back at the



clinic the other night?"



"You reckon right Mr Harrison, I figured you was a man that



wouldn't hesitate when you got the scent. 'Course I already



knowed where the trail ended."



Harrison nodded and wiped some sweat off his forehead with



his arm. "You helped me out a lot...but why? Why stick your



neck out for a complete stranger and a white girl you barely knew?"



Norvine just smiled and rubbed his big scarred hands together.



"Ever hear of a colored girl named Celia Pompoloi?" he asked.



"Well yeah, I got her out of a tight spot a few years back while



I was out chasing a chinese murderer down in swamp country."



Norvine smiled again, "you see, she told me all about you a



long while back when she came for a little visit. I'm her father



you know. I also knew you'd show up here some day...I have



a talent for knowing things like that I reckon. Anyhow, I wanted



the town to be rid of Dr Satan and Miss Rose. These parts just



ain't big enough for the likes of them...and me."



The big detective shook his head,"well, I'll be damned...Celia



Pompoloi huh? She was quite a woman. Something else I was kind



of curious about. That thing that killed Dr Satin, I'm guessing



that was one of the bodies that you helped dispose of?"



The old man chuckled and scratched the back of his neck, "now



I wasn't down in that mine with y'all. Can't say that I know a



danged thing about what happened down there, 'cept that you and



Miss Winters came out alive and Dr Satin came out good and dead."



Harrison felt a cool chill run down the back of his spine.



He quickly thanked Norvine again and gave him a fresh bottle of



booze. He returned to the car and climbed in quickly.



As they pulled away the big detective turned to the beautiful



blonde beside him. "I've been some tough places and some real



strange places but hang me, if I never pass this way again, it will



be a thousand years to soon."



"Ain't it the truth good lookin'," Susan replied before placing



her hand on the big man's knee as his foot jammed down hard on



the accelerator.