*SOUL STAR* ~ My "Happy Christmas" to You

*SOUL STAR* ~ My "Happy Christmas" to You

"If, as Herod we fill our lives with things, if we consider ourselves so important that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary?

For each one of us . . .

There is a desert to travel.

A Star to Discover.

And a being within ourselves, 

to bring to Life."

 A Happy, sacred, loving, reflective

and most of all

 JOY*FULL Christmas and Holiday season

 is heartily wished to ~

... the finest family of friends ~ fellow writers,

 ... promotional publishing colleagues.

 ... and delighted discovering readers AT THE BIJOU

In oh so many ways, you Enlighten my life,

and stir how I wish to reach the sky the higher.

"When you look into the stars . . . 

you see the souls of heroes."

HAPPY*CHRISTMAS! 

Merry all the holidays!

I love you guys . . . with gusto

~ Absolutely*Kate

AND THE PROF

JiNGLE NELLE, JiNGLE NELLE ~ by ABSOLUTELY*KATE as NOIR NOEL ring-a-ding-dings AT THE BIJOU

"COP A SEAT. I'LL BE RIGHT WITH YA."  ~  superb shadows ala emdot 

JiNGLE NELLE

JiNGLE NELLE

 

~ by Absolutely*Kate

You didn't just get an off-white vellum invitation with the fancy schmancy deckled edges to come deck the halls with the hoity toity high hats at Fortunato's Supper Club slipped under your doorway, y'know. I needed to be minglin' and jinglin' like I belonged at that ritzy bash on Tonawanda Street come Christmas Eve night. Otherwise, someone I didn't want to was gonna get hurt. Real bad hurt. The kind that don't leave no shadows no more.

So I had to call in all the markers on all the darb tricks I could trade of any hustled angle to be made. I'm Nelle, Nelle Callahan, gal gumshoe of some gumption, some say. Me? I don't say as much as some do, but what I do do is work all the angles til their more prominent points stick sharp in my noggin. That's when a crime scene unfolds itself keen, and the coppers can pitch their pinch. Man oh man, this time though, I had to be slick. Slick and quick. Word warbled from the Canary last night, was a hit was coming down smack dab in the midnight rendition of "Oh Holy Night". Cripes. A Holy Nativity execution. Joseph, Mary and Jesus, what'll they think up next?

Doesn't take three wise guys with half a starring brain to figger the sacrilege a few extra Garbinos nosing around this gritty city without pity by the bay have stunk up lately. It all started at the Flamingo -- yeah, the Vegas dream, the cha-ching, cha-ching, but that's a long story and I only got a short span. Lemme make some calls. Cop a seat. I'll get back to you.

~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~

"RING-A-DING-DING" pic ala Trace Meek

"Lena's the headliner? Really? You're not gaming my gam? That star siren is gonna croon"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" during the final surf and turf seating? Yeah, sure Benny, I can do backup. I soitently can. Stuff your chucklin' Ben, I can do sultry, I can! You just ain't been in spiffy joints at the most fortuitous times to feel my sultry coming on. But it can, Bennerino. And, oh, it does."

With his chuckle gone guffaw, "Well then Dollface, you got yourself a gig. Be there at 7 square and you're in like Jake."

A jangled groan dangled her end of the phone. Benny deciphered the shatter-clatter heard next to be Nelle's cup o'joe going saucer/cup over the edge. Shame if the dame marred up that old mahogany desk any more. That piece was heirloom, priceless. If the drawers could mumble. But that numbskull of an ex-partner Jake shook this dame bad by tryin' to shake her down. Detectives shouldn't oughta get shook. Nope, not by a long shot in Benny's book. That's why he kept an extra eye or four peeled on the lookout for this kid. He'd promised her Pop in the old days back at the precinct, and the old days were always somethin' to hold onto, somethin' to respect. "Whoa there Nelly girl. Sorry. Didn't mean to spit out his name. Shake it off kid," Benny gruffed, though not all that rough. "You ain't got no lollygagging time girly."

~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~

SWANKY TIME! ~ Pic ala JCarbaugh

Amazing what tinsel can do to a toddling town. Up, down, all around ~ shiny, sparkly,  jolly as promises waiting to jingle, the swanky ballroom at the Fortunato Supper Club was hollied to the hilt with silver and gilt. There was no guilt backstage where Nelle jiggled body parts to fit into her bodice part where jingly rhinestones would shake their shimmy like Lena's sister Kate showed her. She'd sultry her part behind the songbird. Piece o'crumb cake. But now, here . . . silver shimmeries all adjusted, she had the advantage of real solid vantage from stage door left. Heavens to Murgatroyd -- there, behind gold fringe of the red velvet curtain, she could eyeball the real floor show setting up now . . . Her mind met her suspects ~

There. That's Jack Rhinegold. Fresh and frisky outta San Quen. Hell on a pistol up close and personal, and rumour smirks it -- at fifty paces cold. Could be him leanin' his leer into that chorusline cutie's cleavage. Could be. Or the button could be the money guy. They always surmise where to bury the bodies so as not to mess up the manicure. Word had it the big cheese could be one of Lansky's boys. He'd surely have the means. Watch his eyes Nelle. Read his play-by-play. 'Member how Pop taught ya, "The eyes show their truths and spit their lies." Ain't it the truth. Best to keep my peepers on this creeper's.

WAIT! Holy Cow! Who's the dandy comin' down Fortunato's red and green spiffed staircase now? Arm in arm with a Sheba wannabe all winter-whited in fake fur and sparky zircon. Well, well, well, if it isn't my jerk Jake, jostled by none other than the new thug in town. The youngest Garbino boy. Danny. Brains behind the operation if they'd only give him the chance. Danger lurking if he took it. A two-timer and a doubletimer. Hmmm, it was all addin' up.

"NELLE! D'ya hear me? We're ON!"

~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~

Hangin' back with Lena's sister Kate, slinging backup croons to holiday tunes, the view lookin' over the togged-to-the bricks hoofers was in the groove, swell. I scanned for my man, the mark of the hour. "All is calm, all is bright", I warbled tender, soft and mild. Then I saw him. The man I knew as a child. My brother. No other. State legislator Patrick R. Callahan gladhanding from the corner table, near the bar. Pat had parted ways with Pop when he parlayed too political. Groping fingers in too many pockets was bound to not get a guy the heartiest of handshakes. And that kinda reaching out irked a mob not fondly meddled into. This not-so-silent night was just waitin' for a midnight clear.
  
What I didn't expect to fall clear down, was the single satin strap of Lena's knockout jet black gown. One note too high, one arm too flung and there her left breast . . . barely hung. Jostling fellers in the front row through rich rubes three rows back rose to the unappreciation of their dates for better eagle-eye ogling. Kate lost no bum's rush elbowing the push to step me up to the open mike. You had to do these things in my line of undercover work. Tight spots come even under shining spots. Shows must go on. That's just how the biz is.

Trixie, my trusty silver derringer, was pressed tight to my derriere. Amazing what a glitzy swathe of garland can do to protect a hip gal around her holidays. I nodded to Joey the jazzy bandleader, found the next note, carried on the tune. It was clearly comin' on midnight high and I wasn't sure yet how this scene was going to shake down, or who I'd have to take down. Best to keep my peepers peeled. Something would be revealed. Somethings usually are.

THERE! His chair screeched mean motion into sudden commotion, as he drew his heater on our "dear saviour's" cue: "Long lay the world in sin and error pining". Yeah, it was Lansky's guy. I glared him in the eye, clutching the best weapon I already had in the clutch. The open mike's reverb revved as I yelped out, "WATCH OUT BAD GUY! SANTA DON'T LIKE NO POLITICIANS BUMPED OFF IN MY ACT!"

Stunned, the shooter turned to the stage. God I could see his rage. So I turned up the volume and vamped, "YOU BETTER WATCH OUT ~ YOU BETTER NOT POUT ~ ~ " Joey caught my drift, winked, and brought in the band with a whole new wriggle to their rift. Sammy backstage reangled the audience spot. What a mess. This was gonna be no clean getaway.

Near the center of the white damask round tables there arose such a clatter when Chief Gus Donovan knocked over Mrs D's chicken divan platter, standing, the better to see what was the matter. Without hesitation, he signaled his boys in blue in back. My big brother meanwhile, shunned the courage he'd always lacked. He tabled his decision to stand tall and dove under his damask.

~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~

The jig was up. I remember Joey, wrappin' the night with a wicked rendition of "Jingle Bell Rock". On a Fortunato matchbook, he slipped me his number, but heck, I already had Joey's number. I remember Jake, leavin' his Suzy starlet babe sputterin', comin' up and comin' on to me with that same simmer-steam from his old blue eyes, actin' kinda surprised. "That really you, Nelle? Silver shimmers curve you crazy Callahan. Y'know, I've been meaning to call and -- "

Jake was cut off for a hundred number of reasons I won't go into to keep the Christ in Christmas when the hand on my back turned me firmly around. And I remember Patrick, standing there -- tall, lean, but quaking much too much in his hotsy totsy white wingtips to appear any more -- threatening or mean. "Uh, Sis, I owe you one."

"No Paddie, we're square. That one was to remember Pop. You have yourself a merry little Christmas. Hear?"

And I heard him exclaim, as I sashayed outta sight, "You haven't heard the last of me Nelle -- No, no, not tonight!"

~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~

 T O   B E   C O N T I N U E D   ?

Well ain't that the way crime goes? Some folks win, some have woes. Some shadowy street not named Desire, I'm imaginin' you and me are gonna meet up again. We'll see how that goes. Til then, I'm Nelle, Nelle Callahan, wishin' you a merry little Christmas too.

(c) 2010 ~ Author Absolutely*Kate

Damp Fedora classic pic ala Bryan Costin 
 

 MORE NELLE,

as she whispers

to Absolutely*Kate

@ 

The Damp Fedora

  

The Will's The Way

The Chocolate Pearl
 

Turkish Delight Gone Sour 

  

 

Absolutely*Kate is prolific author/designer and promoter/publisher presenting NOIR NOEL, then sailing HARBINGER*33. Happily, Kate creates international theatre for the mind AT THE BIJOU ~ where writers' raves become readers' faves. She believes in believers, magic 'neath the shadows of noir and moxie.
  
The world needs more moxie.

Absolutely*Kate is prouder than Santa crossing off his list to be one of the crime-syndicate of authors in the JUST RELEASED ~ Grimm Tales.

What happens when fairy tales go on a crime spree? You'll see . . . 

Joining the teeming (and teaming) talents of Patti Abbot, Jack Bates, Eric Beetner, noirtorious Nigel Bird, Loren Eaton, Kaye George, Blu Gilliand, Seana Graham, Eirik Gumeny, RL Kelstrom, Editor John Kenyon, BV Lawson, Evan Lewis, B Nagel, Sean Patrick Reardon and Sandra Seamons . . . Absolutely*Kate can only promise you ~ never the expected . . . 

Get it for Christmas. Get it for its damn way cool appeal. And while you're at it, sneak in your purchase of  DISCOUNT NOIR in a cool caper of a combo deal.

Santa knows I've been good.

But this book's so good it's bad-good!

HAPPY  CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

JOY   BE YOU.

 Wait Bub. You too Toots. You eyeballed The NOIRtorious Lineup Katie's been presenting?

HERE'S LOOKIN' at  DECEMBER decking NOIR NOEL ~ AT THE BIJOU

   LINK delicious INFLUENCES of ~

 OUR NOIR AUTHORS' "JUST DESSERTS" ~

   LINKS TO OUR NOIR SO FAR ~

  

Kevin Michaels ... Graham Smith ... Julie Morrigan 

  

Chris Rat-a-Tat Rhatigan ... Joe Grant ... AJ Hayes

 Absolutely*Kate co-noveling with AJ Hayes

Paul Bishop ... Anthony Venutolo ... Eric Beetner 

Matt Hilton . . .  Jeanette Cheezum ... Nigel Bird 

 Zelda Martin . . . and The GRIMM TALES Gang ... so far . . . . 

   NOIRTORIOUS COMING ATTRACTIONS ~ 

               Every-other-day cold crimes . . . decking NOIR NOEL in December & beyond:

Ian Ayris ... Paul Brazill ... Kevin J Mackey ... 

Steven Miscandlon  ...  BR Stateham ... 

Luca Veste, on the record 'bout OFF THE RECORD

Sal Buttaci ... Julian Bramwell Slater ...  

Helen Howell ...  Christina Vincent ... Charlie Wade ... 

Darren Sant ... Aidan Fritz ... Lily Childs ...  

Vic Watson ... Fiona Johnson ... Jack Bates ...

Thomas Pluck and the Lost Children benefit show

New Year challenge, new NOIR Publisher, BLASTED HEATH

editor John Kenyon, publisher of GRIFT magazine

with stories of GRIMM TALES' greats 

Rex Pickett picks a surprise ... 

plus . . . return of our pally, the great Randisi ... 

AT THE BIJOU'S Harry B Sanderford ... Matthew Magda ...  

plus return pizazz by our masters of the ceremonious ~ 

Kevin MadDog Michaels and Absolutely*Kate ... 

Why ~ Who knows who's getting into the act? . . . 

RAYMOND CHANDLER may be channeled! 

  

ABSOLUTELY*KATE, BOGEY & PALLY PRODUCTIONS

DECEMBER decks NOIR NOEL AT THE BIJOU 

ONCE UPON . . . GRIMM TALES for CHRISTMAS ~ AT THE BIJOU

We share NOIR NOEL

AT THE BIJOU

with this stunning discovery

in Santa's burgeoning book sack ~

( Then stay tuned,

JINGLENELLE

and IAN AYRIS 

 ring back to back ! ) 

Once upon

a fairytale time,

page to page

turned tales to

tantalized crime:

N O W    A V A I L A B L E !

WHAT to your wondering eyes

should appear?

But quick as a flash,

 the dash of Editor John Kenyon,

grifting so clear:

"On Abbot (prolific Patti)

~ JOSEPH AND JASMINE ~

On Absolutely (kool Kate)

~ YOU DIRTY RATS ~
{ Yippee ~ that's Me!  Do enjoy. }

On Bates (nimble Jack)

~ THE FLYING TRUNK ~

On Beetner (ergo Eric)

~ COAL BLACK ~

On Bird (noirtorious Nigel)

~ SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE ~

On Eaton (lurid Loren)

~ KING FLOUNDER: A MONOLOGUE ~

On George (kurious Kaye)

~ HENRY, GINA, AND THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE ~

On Gilliand (true Blu)

~ HAN AND GRETA ~

On Graham (sensating Seana)

~ GATO ~

On Gumeny (enigmatic Eirik)

~ MARY ~

On  Kelstrom  (roarin'RL)

~ CANDY HOUSE ~ 

On  Kenyon himself (jivin' John)

~ THE MASTER CAT ~

{ How fitting be that? }

On Lawson  (bold BV)

~ THE BACON BLUES ~

On Lewis  (erstwhile Evan)

~ SKYLER HOBBS AND THE MAGIC SOLUTION ~

On Nagel (brilliant B)

~ INTERVIEW WITH THE PRAM DRIVER ~

On Reardon (steamy Sean Patrick)

~ DIVIDED WE STAND  ~

On Seamons (stunning Sandra)

~ TAKING BACK ~ "

So fly away, buy away,

sigh away all!

Add ~

  

to your e-reader's

beckon-call!

Brought to you this holiday season by

UNTREED READS

for sale and stocking stuffer needs

PLUS a DISCOUNT NOIR

                 nifty deal of appeal

                         { J U S T ~ C L I C K ~ H E R E }

and colour Santa *happy*.

 

HERE'S LOOKIN' at  DECEMBER decking NOIR NOEL ~ AT THE BIJOU

   LINK delicious INFLUENCES of ~

 OUR NOIR AUTHORS' "JUST DESSERTS" ~

   LINKS TO OUR NOIR SO FAR ~

  

Kevin Michaels ... Graham Smith ... Julie Morrigan 

  

Chris Rat-a-Tat Rhatigan ... Joe Grant ... AJ Hayes

 Absolutely*Kate co-noveling with AJ Hayes

Paul Bishop ... Anthony Venutolo ... Eric Beetner 

Matt Hilton . . .  Jeanette Cheezum ... Nigel Bird 

and  Zelda Martin . . . so far . . . . 

   NOIRTORIOUS COMING ATTRACTIONS ~ 

               Every-other-day cold crimes . . . decking NOIR NOEL during December & beyond

Ian Ayris ... Paul Brazill ... Kevin J Mackey ... 

Steven Miscandlon  ...  BR Stateham ... 

Luca Veste, on the record 'bout OFF THE RECORD

Sal Buttaci ... Julian Bramwell Slater ...  

Helen Howell ...  Christina Vincent ... Charlie Wade ... 

Darren Sant ... Aidan Fritz ... Lily Childs ...  

Vic Watson ... Fiona Johnson ... Jack Bates ...

editor John Kenyon's reveal 

hosting  GRIMM TALES' crime-writers obvious squeal

Thomas Pluck and the Lost Children benefit show

New Year challenge, new NOIR Publisher, BLASTED HEATH

Rex Pickett picks a surprise ... 

plus . . . return of our pally, the great Randisi ... 

AT THE BIJOU'S Harry B Sanderford ... Matthew Magda ...  

plus return pizazz by our masters of the ceremonious ~ 

Kevin MadDog Michaels and Absolutely*Kate ... 

Why ~ Who knows who's getting into the act? . . . 

RAYMOND CHANDLER may be channeled! 

  

ABSOLUTELY*KATE, BOGEY & PALLY PRODUCTIONS

DECEMBER decks NOIR NOEL AT THE BIJOU