Two Tales of Ocotillo Wells

Chapter 1- One Man's Treasure

Ocotillo slid the wallet-sized picture along the table so the waitress could get a good look at it.

I was wondering if you have ever seen this woman? he asked, smiling.

The waitress squinted for a minute and said Why, she famous or something?

No, she works here. Or she used to work here, I think. I just need to talk to her. Her name is Nora if that helps, he said, looking expectantly.

The waitress chewed her gum vigorously, like a cow, and looked down at him with more than a hint of suspicion. You need to talk to her? About what?

She has my little girl.

You some sort of deadbeat dad or something?

Ocotillo felt like he should defend himself but he didn’t. No. So, have you seen her? I haven’t seen my daughter in two years. It would mean so much to me if you could help me out.

His pleasantness seemed to put her at ease. Her posture changed and Ocotillo felt a wave of hope slip over him.

Sorry, Hun. I’ve never seen her.

The wave crashed.

Ocotillo paid his bill and left his coffee half full on the table. He rushed back out to his old VW Microbus and drove down the 14 South. It was going to be a lonely, long trip to his apartment in Mission Viejo.

When he reached the 5 freeway, his cell phone started playing Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. He picked up to answer without looking at the screen to see who it was from.

Hello?

Ocotillo, we need to talk. It’s me, Nora.

Chapter 2

Nora? Hey, where are you? I need to see Haley. Ocotillo spoke while trying to navigate around cars merging onto the 210 Freeway.

Don’t start. Nothing has changed, ‘Tillo. I just need to talk to you-inform you about Haley, her situation. Nora’s voice was firm, trying to be businesslike.

Ocotillo’s response was animated- Her situation? What is it?

Now, I don’t want any help. I don’t need you trying to play no hero, okay.

Ocotillo’s eyes narrowed. Nora, what’s going on?

Now, I’m only telling you this because you might be her father.

I am her father. She looks just like me. Jeez, Nora, tell me what’s wrong.

It’s nothing that you can fix. Nothing I want you to try an’ fix, okay? She sounded like a she was reasoning with a growling pit bull.

No, not okay. Nora, you wouldn’t have called me if you didn’t think I could help. Don’t try to pretend that you’re just trying to throw some charity my way.

Nora breathed a heavy sigh into the phone. Fine. But you’re wrong. You’re daughter- my daughter has cancer. A brain tumor. The doctor’s say she has less than a year. You, me, nobody else, can fix that.

Chapter 3

Ocotillo pressed the phone into his ear. Cancer? Haley has- is it treatable?

It’s not good. They’ve tried to treat her. They couldn’t do surgery. The doctors don’t think that her treatments will- they give her a year. They say regardless, she will have ‘cognitive problems’ is what they said.

When did you find out?

I don’t know. Three months.

Ocotillo leaned forward rapidly in his seat. Three months! Why didn’t you call me before?

Nora let out what sounded like a restrained sob. Hell, ‘Tillo, you accuse me of only calling because I want something, now you’re asking me why I didn’t call sooner. I let you in. I’m telling you now. You should be glad-

"For the record, I am still accusing you of only calling me because you want something. I know your game. Don’t tell me you had some epiphany, a sudden change of heart, like you got up and said ‘you know, I really owe it to ol’ Ocotillo. I’ve been avoiding him for years, moving like a Bedouin, leaving town, and now I’m going to reach out to him.’ I don’t buy it. So stop pretending that you’re trying to be a decent person and tell me what I need to do to help our daughter."

Silence.

I need a hundred thousand dollars.

Chapter 4

Ocotillo wasn’t the type to gloat when he had the upper hand in an argument. Go on. I’m listening, he said.

All the doctors said they can’t do anything for Haley. She didn’t qualify for any... ‘investigational programs’ is what they call it, either. I found a doctor though, who says he can do something similar to a treatment they’ve had success with here.

Here? You mean he’s out of the country.

Yes. I know it sounds bad, but he’s our only option. He’s in Mexico.

You’re sure you’ve exhausted all possible options?

I can’t make the rounds again. Haley needs help now.

Ocotillo thought for a minute. If I get the money, I need to go with you and Haley and see this doctor in Mexico.

"Yes, fine, but can you get the money? Have you been working?"

Ocotillo looked down at his leg briefly, then back at the road. No, not since the accident. But I’ve been getting a lot of calls. Got one last week from someone from Bill Stane’s office.

THE Bill Stane! The billionaire!

Don’t get too excited. He may have hired someone else. Just pray the job is still open.

Chapter 5

When Ocotillo got home, he called Bill Stane’s office.

A professional, British female voice said, StaneCorp Southern California, how may I direct your call?

Yeah, hi. I got a call about a week ago from someone at this number about a security job.

A security job? ...Oh, yes. Mr. Wells! We had almost given up on you.

Please, call me Ocotillo, everyone does, Ocotillo said while smiling, glad to hear the job was still open. Then he became puzzled. How did you know it was me? StaneCorp didn’t contact anyone else for the job?

I’m sorry. I’m not really privy to that information. Mr. Stane’s personal assistant Mr. Edwards told me to contact him when you called. Do you mind holding?

Not at all.

Classical music played over the line and Ocotillo paced the floor. The British voice came back abruptly, saying, Still there. Sorry for the wait. Mr. Edwards wants you to come out to Mr. Stane’s beach house tonight for an interview.

Tonight? At his house? Could you tell me what the job is about?

I haven’t been given those details. I know it sounds unorthodox, but Mr. Stane always works quickly when he wants something.

Yeah, but why does he want me? Ocotillo didn’t let her respond. So, what do I need to bring with me? Does he need a copy of my resume?

No, he already has what he needs. He just said that the job requires that you have good, reliable transportation. He emphasized that it was crucial for the job. Of course, I’m sure you have reliable transportation.

Ocotillo looked out the window at his microbus. It was a grayish rust-color, probably because of the rust.

Yeah, I have transportation, he replied.

Chapter 6

Ocotillo knew exactly where to find Fat Lou at 5 o’clock- nursing a beer at Mutt Lang’s, a Newport Beach bar.

Ocotillo! What brings you my way on such a lovely evening? He said with a lazy nod of the head while remaining in his favorite chair.

Ocotillo sat across from Lou at the little table. I’m going out on a job, some sort of transport thing for Bill Stane.

Bill Stane? Must be some big bucks he’s offering to get you to work in your condition.

My condition? I’m just fine. It’s about time I got back out to work.

Lou craned his head down over the edge of the table to look at Ocotillo’s feet. Looks to me like you still favor that leg pretty badly.

You can still tell? Ocotillo grimaced.

Yeah, ya friggin’ gimp.

Damn. I gotta interview tonight at Stane’s. I’ll never get the job if he even thinks I’m not up to it.

Lou leaned forward in his chair with much effort. Hold on a minute. You haven’t been in no hurry to get no job. You’ve been chasing your nutso ex-wife up and down the state the last couple of months-

Technically, she’s still my wife.

Lou’s mouth fell open. What? You mean you ain’t divorced that crazy bat.

No. I hate lawyers.

Lou rolled his eyes. Yeah, yeah, we all hate lawyers. Doesn’t mean they don’t serve no purpose. Lou sighed. Whatever. Whatever. Doesn’t make me no never mind. Anyway, so what’s the story? I know you didn’t come to get me to go in on this job with you. I haven’t exactly kept up my physique for that type of thing.

You’re right, but I do need your help. I need a car, something professional looking. Something that Stane’s assistant will believe a top rate security specialist would drive. Like an SUV with tinted windows. Ocotillo looked directly at Lou.

Lou laughed. "That’s how you’re going to ask to borrow my car?"

Ocotillo leaned forward. Yeah, if I could, Lou, for tonight. I can’t really afford the money to rent a car.

There was a moment of awkward silence then Lou said, Yeah, sure. Take my car. I gotta ask you one thing, though.

Yeah, anything you wanna ask, go for it.

Why ya doing this, you know, all of a sudden?

Ocotillo told him about Haley’s cancer.

It’s a good reason Lou said and finished the last of his beer. He then held up his index finger and said One other thing, if you don’t mind, ‘Tillo. One favor.

Whatever you want, Lou.

When this is over, get that lawyer I talked about. Lou could see Ocotillo was about to protest and said, Come on! A lawyer could get rid of Nora and could get you sole custody of your girl. We worked for the mob a couple years and you have some moral objection to lawyers. Get over it, man.

I'll think about it. Ocotillo got up and Lou handed him his key ring.

Good, you think about it. Now drive me to my place before you head down there. Lou slowly pushed himself from the chair to his feet.

They walked out to Lou’s Ford Navigator and Lou plopped himself down in the passenger seat. As Ocotillo was climbing in, he felt a sharp pain in his right ankle and winced.

You sure you’re up for this, ‘Tillo?

Chapter 7

Bill Stane’s assistant, Mr. Edwards adjusted his glasses and rifled through some papers, squinting at some detail or another before looking across the table at Ocotillo.

So your name is Orson Wells? Edwards said, looking confused.

"Yeah, my