Walkin' All Night

Ernest walked into the lobby of the five star Seattle hotel. A penthouse suite was available, and he took it. He wasn't rich in the traditional sense, but he never lacked for money. After he received his room key, he had a short conversation with the concierge, and headed for the elevators. He caught more than one glance, as he was a tall and handsome man. At 6'2" and just a bit under 200 pounds, he was fit without working at it too hard. His dark hair and skin made his glacial blue eyes stand out enough one might miss the strong chin.


When he went into his room he checked it for various things. He traveled quite a bit, and it was simply habit, then he showered and put on fresh clothes that were quite expensive. The cab was waiting as he exited the lobby, and he gave the directions obtained from the concierge. The vehicle pulled up in front of one of several neighborhood strip joints. Ernest really enjoyed them, but for a different reason than most. Sure, he enjoyed looking at nude women, but he gained more pleasure by giving them enough for rent or whatever they needed, without having to do something sordid. Perhaps it gave them some self worth or an esteem they didn't have before. The regulars rarely liked him, and it had cost him a tooth awhile back. Once he'd bought that first private dance, and instead conversed and resolved a money problem, word got around. It was time to go after a half dozen girls, and he left a surreptitiously as possible.


He wandered down the street, aiming generally toward his hotel and looking for a taxi. It wasn't anything new from most city's seedy parts. Girls on the corners smiling and making offers of good times. A gorgeous woman with wide, almond shaped eyes called to him. Her jaw was narrow, with cheekbones large and high, all of it topped of by curls of auburn hair. He crossed over, walked up to her, and made a little small talk. Ernest went quiet when a man with a shaved head, lots of body ink, and ugly jewelry sauntered into the light of the alley. The girl turned.


"So, you like the look of my new girl, old man?" His smile was evil, "She doesn't come cheap!"
"I am not your girl, connard!" She hissed.
His eyes were locked on Ernest, "So, what you got to spend?"
"Look there seems to be some disagreement betwe..."
"No, it's not like that at all. Now you pay me for my time." He lifted his shirt to show a pistol.
"Look, I..." But before the pimp could finish that sentence, she snatched the weapon with cat like speed from his belt and pointed it at his face.
"I told you once, I belong to no man." She expertly unloaded the gun and threw it down the alley with a clatter. "Three times won't be a charm."
She grabbed Ernest's arm, "Let's walk, eh?"


Eventually, he hailed a taxi. "Can I drop you somewhere?"
"Sure, I've been looking for a ride all night."
She slipped into the door after he opened it for her, she slid a bit, and he climbed in. "Fairmont Olympic, please."
She swore in accented french. "Merde! I did not need that!"
"Québec?"
"Oui. Tu?
"N'importe où et partout," He switched languages. "Why didn't you need that?"
"Life's tough enough without riling up the bad guys. Where are you headed, besides that fancy hotel."
Ernest paused. "Well, I have some early business that just came up, so I suppose I was headed for bed."
"Why don't you let me tuck you in?" She cooed.
"Well, I believe that would actually hinder sleep, as well as be expensive," He said, "Neither which has me saying 'no'."
"Victoria," She said and gave him a firm kiss.
"Ernest, and I liked that."
"All you had to do was ask."


On the ride up in the elevator, the kisses were deep. That was abnormal. When he swept her into his room, poured her a drink, then took her to bed, it was also unusual. But the next few hours would be stranger. He took her places. Ernest took away all of her defenses, with his nibbling, and sucking, and making good with his manhood. It was an odd occurrence that happens rarely. Two people, excellent at sex, meet for the first time. He took her in several ways, several times, even once where anyone else was not allowed. They finished the last foray into indulgent lust, both scratched and bitten for one more sweat dripping session.


When they were done for a moment, she looked at the clock on her phone.
"Do you need to call someone? I thought you were freelance." He said.
"I am, but I check in with a friend. Let him worry, he deserves it."
"Look," He responded as he sat up. "I know you won't be owned, but if you need out, I can fly you anywhere."
He handed her a card, and she said, "I don't want to lose your number because I need a flight. I want it so I can fly again like I have tonight."
"Well, I left you something." There was a stack of bills totaling $2000.
"I'm not taking that." She said. "I had an amazing experience, and sully it I will not."
He nodded. "I understand, but you'll put it to better use than I will. If nothing else, enjoy the hospitality here as long as you wish."
"You... are an unusual person." She was asleep moments after her head hit the feather pillow.


The detectives in the alley looked at the scene and were both disgusted, and they were no daisies. Death was bad, but evisceration was the worst. There was no smell quite like it. It looked like things were about wrapped up, so they headed back to the station.


"Woodland Park? The zoo?"
"Who knows more about animals. This wasn't a house cat."
"Hold on dummies," one of the detectives said, then into the phone, "It was a grizzly?! You're sure?"
"Impossible!" The new transfer from Michigan said, "Not here, anyway."
"What do you know about it, uh...?"
"Mack. Yeah, short for Machk, or Algonquin for bear." He said, "I know a lot about it."
"Well, go on!"
"Bear walkers are a very bad thing. They hunt people, good and bad, we Chippewa had a legend." He shook his head. "How else is a grizzly here?"
"Really?" Several laughed. "You must be kidding!"
"You'll see," Mack replied.


It took a few days, and they were glad there were no more "grizzly attacks" in the city. They had taken plenty of samples, and were waiting on results. When the DNA came back it matched some girl from Canada. Apparently, she was caught bringing Cuban cigars into the United States. Just dumb luck, because the other prostitution charges wouldn't have warranted a DNA sample.


"Well, go hook 'er up! No pun intended." The sergeant told two of his detectives.


She was an mess in the interrogation. Originally picked up for solicitation, the charges grew. When the word "murder" was tossed about, she spilled everything. When she was woke around four a.m., Ernest was nowhere to be found. Security footage of her at a vending machine freed her, and got them a warrant for Ernest's room, which held some unusual items. It was odd to find bear claws built into gloves, and the teeth on a hinge to made it look like a bite when used. Mack would never hear the end of it.


Ernest was brought in, and he promptly called his attorney, who wouldn't arrive until morning.
"Look, I really have somewhere to be." Ernest said to the detective who arrested him with a chuckle.
"Well, if you had a phone, you could let 'em know you'd be late!" He laughed, "Shame!"


Ernest smiled while he waited. No one believed anymore, and it made it easy on him. Who would be looking for an escapee that looked nothing like him? When he knew he was finally alone a quick shimmer turned him to a rodent. It used to take longer and hurt much more, but he was centuries old now. The rat brain was about as far down as he could go and still come back to a higher form. When he reached the roof, he took a seagull form, and lit out to the south. Even in his birdlike brain, he was hoping she would call.

(WC:1454)

Well she was plantin' her feet on the sidewalk
Listenin' for signs of the small talk
Waitin', hesitatin', got tired of all that waitin'
Decided to walk around, that blonde bull
She's been waitin' once again on the home town
There ain't enough room this time 'round
I gotta chasin' that woman all around town
Seems that satisfaction just can't be found
'Cause she's a side street swinger
She's a side street swinger
Got a kiss on her lips for the askin'
Just gotta keep movin'
She's bear walkin
She's gotta wiggle her way up them sidestreets
Lookin' for a ride through town
Well I've been savin' my money for a week
Tryin' to be somethin' real sweet
I can't find the one, you know my luck is so dumb
She's probably walkin' all over the street
She's a side street swinger
She's a side street swinger
Got a kiss on her lips for the askin'
Just gotta keep movin'
She's bear walkin all night
She's bare walkin' all time
She's been waitin' once again on the home town
There ain't enough room this time 'round
But the woman's too scared to try and slow down
Those bulls will just love to take her down town, downtown
She's gotta wiggle her way up them sidestreets
Lookin' for a ride through town
She's a side street swinger
She's a side street swinger
Got a kiss on her lips for the askin'
Just gotta keep movin'
She's bear walkin all night
She's bear walkin all night
She's bare walkin' all time

Songwriters: Paul Barrere / William H Payne