Venice Beach

POSTWORD

PROLOGUE

VENICE BEACH BOARDWALK - 5:28 A.M.

Ray walked down the boardwalk at Venice Beach. There is a path for bikers, skaters, walkers, and posers. There are rich people, street people, and everything in between. Ray glances out at the soft light on the water and takes another hit off the fat joint he is carrying.

Ray is a loser. A hater who doesn’t believe in life. He is a decorated ‘Nam Vet who came back feeling cheated. It might have something to do with the 80+ verified kills he made on patrols at night through ‘Nam and Cambodia. He used to like to drop acid and go on all-night patrols. Ray said he could sense them in the dark like sonar when he was tripping. But he wondered, "Why the fuck did he even go if the pussy’s weren’t going to take it to the little fuckers and kill everyone of them?" He hates that the USA did not win, so he takes it out on everybody he can. Especially the ones who cannot fend for themselves or the ones living under the 8-ball. Like I said before, Ray is a fucking loser.

Later in the day at Venice Beach proper, the clowns and the fortunetellers, the dope dealers and the lowlifes will start to gather. There will be German tourists clogging up the walkways just dying to get down to the basketball courts where the serious nig-nog B-Ballers will be blowing out the rim and talking shit. At the end of the day the sun will die into the Pacific Ocean somewhere out past Catalina Island. A place that signifies you’re either rich or just terminally stupid. To Ray Venice Beach is the center of the unknown universe. A bum’s paradise. A loser’s paradise. A killer’s paradise. This is an area for the wealthy and the down and outs hand in hand. This morning there are nasty rituals being carried out with all kinds of desperate people. Welcome To Venice Beach.

CHAPTER 1

THE SANDS MOTEL RM. 144 - 5:37 A.M.

Dawn gets up off her knees by the side of the bed from giving the grease-ball a sloppy head-job. She climbs on top of him, straddles him.

So daddy, like this pussy? Dawn purrs.

The man is gasping for breath. He is very drunk. She starts to hunch him, but he is not moving much. So she fucks for him. She is getting frustrated. She needs her dope. She flips him over and gets him on top. She wants this over with.

Now fuck that pussy, Big Daddy.

The smelly man is pumping as hard as he can. His flabby titties are bumping up and down. He grinds her, and it gets her excited. His breathing speeds up. The sweat drips from his nose. He pushes himself in as far as he can, lunges at her vagina, and starts to cum. He makes low guttural sounds along with the bed banging up against the wall. Dawn doubles down and really goes for it.

Oh Daddy. OK Daddy!

She goes into a dream state. She’s there, but she’s not really there. From a leather wristband, she pulls out a 4-inch razor-sharp blade and puts it down under his stomach right where his dick starts. There is a violent upward slash. He pushes back. There is a look of pleasure and shock on the man’s face as his guts are exposed. She is very turned on now.

Dawn hits orgasm. It blows her head off. He falls on top of her. She still feels him inside of her. She pushes him over and slides out from under him with the cherry-red blood all over her. She lights a cigarette and just watches him gurgle for a minute. Sweet satisfaction. He is so perfect lying there like that. So peaceful, but all pigs like this should be dead. She gives him a kiss on the back of his head in between gurgling sounds. She turns up the radio and gets in the shower. Ina Gadda da Vida is playing. The long version. The hot water feels so good to Dawn’s broken body. The red human color washes away and goes down the drain. Just like it never happened.

BUS STOP - 5:45 A.M.

Ray gets off the bus at Lincoln Blvd to walk the rest of the way. Down by his crash pad, he spots an old pick-up truck. He lifts the hood and steals the battery out of it. He walks up the stairs to his shitty room. Ray lives in a dirty, burned out looking place with food, dirty dishes, and cat shit everywhere. The cats name is Zero, and he’s lying over on the windowsill. Ray takes the battery and hooks it up to an old 8-track car player. He puts an original tape of Blue Cheer on and rolls a joint. He feed’s the cat. He gets a hit on his pager. It’s Dawn. He calls her back.

What’s up, Little Mama?

I need to get with you and hook up some shit, Dawn blurts out.

Ray chuckles. He likes to stress her out. Well, I got it.

I’m on my way. I’m about 10 minutes from there. Don’t you leave man!

Don’t worry baby, I really need to see you.

You motherfucker. I ain’t going through that shit again.

Again Ray chuckles. She always makes him laugh. Well, forget it then, you fucking whore. Fuck you!

They both wait for the other one to say something. Dawn breaks the silence first because she is the most needy. Well, fuck it! But this is the last fucking time you motherfucker!

I’ll see ya, Bitch. Ray slams the phone down. Fuck that inconsiderate bitch-fuck.

CHAPTER 2

RAY’S SHITTY APARTMENT - 6:20 A.M.

Dawn gets out of the cab. She starts up the stairs. She gets to Ray’s door and knocks. Her mouth is dry and she needs a hit of medicine really bad.

Come on in, whore! Ray says.

She opens the door and walks in. Ray is naked at the kitchen table. He’s eating Froot Loops. Que Pasa?

Fuck you, man, I got’ta piss!! She throws her bag down on the filthy couch and heads for the pisser. Ray sees that Dawn is a real mess this morning. He doesn’t care. He thinks it’s funny and, anyway, the cunt deserves it. All you can smell in the apartment is cat piss.

Where’s the dope?

I got it right here, whore!

Well let me have a little taste, will ya?

He cuts her off Look Bitch, you know the deal. When I get what I want, then you get what you want, right?

You god-damned little faggot! Dawn screams back.

Ray gets up and walks over to where all the dirty dishes are. He turns on the water holds the dope over the sink. I don’t even do this shit. It’s bad for you! I could care less. You just want me to dump it? He tilts the bag over, and a few grains run out onto the dirty dishes. Dawn lunges at him. He stiff arms her, pulls it back, and laughs. Dawn looks at the dope, then looks at Ray, and figures she might as well get this over with. She goes into the bathroom, sits down on the filthy toilet, and pisses. She’s got the dope sickness. It is on her now, no doubt about it. She twists the leather wristband around and checks the blade. She smiles because she’s still feeling the tingle from earlier. She stands but is very shaky. She walks back out into the room where Ray is.

Alright, you douche-bag !

Ray chuckles to himself and lies down on the couch.

Bitch, get over here and suck my balls. Ray is trying to do his best Andrew Dice Clay bit he thinks. She takes off her top and her little titties fall out. She gets down on her knees. She takes him in her mouth and starts to hit it hard. She wants this over with.

She settles into a rhythm. She thinks about the heroin hit she has got coming. It satisfies her. She sucks hard. His breathing is faster. His lungs are pumping. He is lost in a halo. Ray hits glory and feebly tries to stand up.

Here whore! Here whore! Ray lets go, and Dawn does the best she can with all of his mess. She reaches for the blade. She is gonna kill the motherfucker right then and there, but Ray starts to fall over on top of her. She can’t hold him up.

Mother-fucker, g_d-dam! Dawn screams. Ray falls and knocks her back. They both land on the floor. Ray is breathing hard and starts to laugh, this real sick-ass high laugh that he does. It just sounds perverted. Dawn has had enough of Ray this morning and all his sick fucking shit.

Get off me, motherfucker! Dawn screams. She is so tired. She needs a hit. She has had it with Ray. She wants her dope. Get up, you little dick motherfucker, get up! Ray continues to laugh and breathe hard. Ray gets up and starts wiping himself on a dirty t-shirt. Give me my dope! Now fucker!

Ray goes to the drawer and throws over the bag Knock it out, Bitch!

She grabs the bag. Not enough time to hit up. She’s got to get the medicine inside of her fast! She is weak. She tastes the dope. She looks at Ray startled! This ain’t heroin!

Ray turns around and looks at Dawn and, in a slightly sophisticated tone, says No, it’s not, Bitch!

You told me it was smack. You cock-sucker!

Ray turns towards her with a look of pure hate and evil. No I didn’t, you fucking bitch he screams back at her!

Dawn is totally pissed. What good is this? You mother-fucking, god damn motherfucker. Ray starts to laugh and his little dick starts to curl up and hide. Where’s the shit? I want the fucking smack! Get me the smack or I am going to kill you! screams Dawn.

Fuck you, there ain’t no smack! Get the fuck out now! Ray turns and grabs Zero and tosses him across the room. Zero’s seen this routine before and quickly runs under the bed. Fuck this shit!

Dawn surveys her options, but the mean-ass monkey has a direct line straight up into her ass, and he is screaming very loudly! Her body is burning. She has got to get something in her to take the pain away. Anything at this point. She grabs up the bag from Ray, quickly buries her face in it, and takes three huge pulls before he can grab the bag back.

You motherfucker. Ray screams!

Dawn stumbles back. In a few seconds the first wave of the dope hits her. It starts gaining speed by the moment. Mother fucker, what kinda shit is that?

It’s fucking crank bitch! You did $100 dollars worth at least! You’ll be up for a week. Ray is totally pissed off. You owe me another head job you fucking, Bitch-Fuck!

Dawn’s lip starts to curl up, and she can hardly get any words out. The dope is hitting her hard, and her nose is burning.

Yeah? Well? Why don’t you suck your own dick, you asshole!

Dawn is really fucked up. She’s got’ta get some air. When she opens the door, Zero sees an escape route and flies out from under the bed towards her. Dawn can barely make out the black fur thing running at her and instinctively kicks the fucking thing in the head, stumbles out the door, and tries to make it down the steps. She can hear Ray hollering and throwing things. She has got to get outside.

Ray runs out of the apartment, leans over the banister, and throws a brick at her, neatly lodging into the wall above her head. It’s life or death now. She bursts through the door and feels the damp ocean air hit her skin. It feels good. She can breathe again. Dawn starts running towards Lincoln Blvd. barefooted. Her nose is starting to bleed a little, and she wipes it off on her arm. It’s going to be a long day for Dawn, but she’s been here before and knows what it takes to live and thrive in her own personal, fucked up, Venice Beach cosmic universe. Amen.

CHAPTER 3

WELLINGTON PENTHOUSE – 6:41 A.M.

Chris and Carrie are at Chris’s downtown LA penthouse. They have been up for two days doing mounds of cocaine. Crazy and cranked Chris lays out a 12-inch line. Sweating, Carrie looks at the size of this line and says, Oh fuck, Baby, I might die!

Chris wipes the credit card across his lips. He feels so alive and in his element. If you do, I’ll die with ya, Baby. Do it!

Carrie puts the glass tube down on the line and rakes across several inches of the sweet stinging powder. She gets about four inches in and has to stop. She is gagging. Chris takes the tube and finishes it off. They start laughing. Carrie kisses him hard. He pulls her shirt off. Slowly they make their way back to the shower and get in, but only for a few minutes, because Chris comes up with a novel idea. Come on, let’s go up on the roof!

Naked and wet? Carrie questions slyly.

Fuck, it’s the best way to see LA!

They both run out on the deck, wet and naked, and then up the side-stairs, stepping out into a twisted universe of steel and glass. Chris takes Carrie to the north side of the building. They peer out at the fabulous Hollywood Hills from the 48th Floor of downtown LA. They are living the high life these days, literally. The mother bag of blow that Chris bought on credit is about half of what it was two days ago. Chris ran his tab up with a smalltime local mob guy to $10K. A real cheesy grease-ball, wanna be bad guy, but still a very dangerous man. Chris has never fucked this guy on a deal. There’s some kind of an unsaid brotherhood of those who buy coke on credit from their dealer. At all costs they must pay them as soon as they can so they can keep that account always open and available. It was Chris’s plan to sell most of the shit, but he and Carrie have been locked up at the top of the world, living in an altered universe, and that plan is all fucked up now. Chris’s cell phone has been blowing up for the last 24 hours. It is a cloudy, rainy-ish day in LA. It’s like the universe decided to cheat the beautiful people out of perfection. When they run out of shit, it’s gonna be a bad ride down, but Chris keeps Valiums and oxycodone on hand for that problem. Chris will have to deal with this grease-ball sooner than later, but right now he just don’t give a fuck. He’s falling in love. Fuck it!

CHAPTER 4

THE SANDS MOTEL – 9:45 A.M.

Traffic is backed up both ways in front of the Sands Motel on Washington Blvd. Detective Macey is just pulling in. There are black and whites already there. There is a cleaning lady and the manager of the motel talking to police out front in the parking lot. There are two news helicopters circling overhead. Macey gets out of his car. OK, look out, let me in here, says an agitated Macey. He walks through a small crowd, whistling. So, where is the guy that runs this shit hole?

Sergeant Pendergrass points towards the office. Yes, sir. He’s over there with Davis.

Macey walks over to the officer OK! So what do we have here on this fine morning? Macey is still whistling. Macey is a disgusted, tough old cop. He’s 52. Addicted to cigarettes, beer, amphetamines, and porn. Not married, divorced 3 times, no kids. Just an angry man.

The young officer is well aware of Macey’s standing inside the LAPD and wants to make a good showing. Well, sir, this is Mr. Bates. He is the manager. Under his breath, the young officer leans over to Macey and says, Sir, it is a fucking mess in there.

Macey takes in the message, like it means something, but Macey don’t give a shit. He looks over at the sickly looking motel manager, lights a cigarette, walks up to him, and says, Hmm, so Mr. Bates, why don’t you tell me what you know, sir?

Bates is kinda greasy and very gay. His hair is slicked back with a white trash wave in the front. Well, this guy comes in about 5 A.M. He gets a room, Bates says.

Macey follows up, Was there anyone with him?

Bates has a corn-hole-ish smile on his face. Well, usually there is. People don’t stop here because we got free HBO.

Macey looks at the sign: ADULT MOTEL. Yeah, I see. OK, what about you? Macey looks over at the maid. She starts talking really fast in Spanish. Hold on, I don’t speak that shit, says Macey. He motions for a Spanish officer to come over. Rodriquez steps into the scene and waits for Macey to give the go. OK, so what is she saying?

The officer listens and says something back to her. They keep talking. Macey is looking around at some of the cars in the parking lot. The officer pulls Macey off to the side. Well sir, she says she knocked several times and, when no one answered, she thought the room was vacant. So she opened the door and walked in. She sees this guy lying on the bed, and she starts pulling her stuff back out of the room. Then she says there is this terrible smell. She sees the guy is not moving. That’s when she goes to get the manager.

Macey spits on the ground and tries to get his underwear out of his crack. Did she say she saw anybody else coming in or out?

Officer asked the woman. He looks back at Macey, She says she did not.

Did she go in the room?

Rodriquez asks her. He turns back to Macey She says she was too afraid to go in. She went straight to the managers office.

OK, forget it, forget it. Fuck it! complains Macey. He looks over at the goof-ball manager. So how long you been running this shit hole?

Bates stands up straight and answers the Det. Well, I got this job when I moved here from Biloxi in, well, ah, August of ’89 … yes August! Bates is wearing a flowered shirt that is tucked into some very tight shorts. His rather large set of nuts are creasing the front of his attire. He’s finished off with white basketball knee socks and brown loafers.

So what do you do here, Mr. Bates?

Well, I’ve got the midnight to 8 A.M. shift, so it works out great for me and my Tootles.

My Tootles? Macey laughs.

Yes, Tootles is my Doberman says Bates.

Macey looks at cop 1 and 2 and then back to Bates. So what do you mean this works out for you?

Well, my Tootles hates to be left alone in the daytime because he likes to go outside. So, you see, I am with him all day, and then I come to work and my Tootles is already asleep. And it … well, it just works out perfect!

Macey thinks what a douche bag. OK? says Macey. He starts to walk away, and then looks back at Bates. Oh yeah, I want a list of everyone who checked in last night. Names, license, credit cards … anything else that might help. He turns and starts to walk away again. Bates stands his ground.

Well, I am not sure I have to give that to you, replies Bates.

Macey lights a cigarette and walks back up to Bates.

Look, Mr. Bates, this could really help us find out who did this. Do you understand me numb-nuts? He sticks his pointer finger into Bate’s chest several times, making his point.

Bates pushes his chest out somewhat and fires right back at Macey. Well! You can’t treat me like this! I know my rights! My friend is a lawyer, and he can get you for that, says an out of control Mr. Bates.

Macey just loves this kind of shit. Yeah? Wow … listen, Master Bates. Macey smiles. That will be your stage name from now on. OK, douche bag? Macey pauses dramatically, You get that info, and you get it right back to me, or I am going to personally stick your head up Tootles’ ass … and you guys can get intimate.

Macey is very pissed. He hates these kind of guys. He grabs Bate’s hand and quickly turns his palm over. Hey, let me read your fortune. He grinds his cigarette into Bates’ hand. Bates shrieks in a kind of gay way. Oh I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Macey says mockingly. He gets right up in Bate’s face for a closer chat. Macey can’t help but notice his green and yellow teeth and the offensive odor. Macey gags a little. Did you eat one of Tootles turds this morning? he chuckles. Look Fuckenstein, you get me that info. Do you understand? Macey looks over at the young officer and says to him Officer! Why don’t you go with Mr. Bates and see that he gets everything we need, OK?. Macey turns and starts towards the Room #144. Have a nice day! he says.

Bates flips his hair, disgusted. He is rubbing his burnt hand. Macey tells the officer just loud enough for Bates to hear. Look, run a check on that guy and also see if the beaner chick has got papers.

The officer is Mexican. Nothing is said, and Macey walks towards the room. A gangsta dude walks out of room #111. They both just put the stare on each other. Macey is alive. This is what he lives for. He’s in his power range, and he feels it. Didn’t I arrest you once brother? Macey stops and lets out a nasty fart and looks at the guy. He digs into his pocket and pulls out his second speed tablet of the morning. He takes a swig of the coffee and gets it down.

CHAPTER 5

THE SANDS MOTEL – 10:12 A.M.

Macey walked into room #144. He hears the radio and notices the bloody dead fuck lying face down in the bed. He walks over. Nobody touched anything, right?

No sir, been waiting on the coroner! says the officer in charge.

Yeah, well that squirt won’t ever get here. Let’s just flip this fuck. The smell is horrible in the room. They start to flip the body, and it feels like it’s coming apart. The bed drips in blood. They flip the stiff, and his guts roll out from under him. Macey catches the stink. Mother fucker!

The dead man is cut