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CHAPTER 55: DANGEROUS DAMES
The rain splattered against his window, drowning out traffic noises two stories below. This sudden cloudburst had not provided much relief from a heat wave that had been gripping the city. Thin trickles of sweat coalesced into a rivulet down the back of Detective Mike Perry’s neck.
He sat, as if unaffected by the heat or the storm, still in his fedora and trench coat, rolling a cigarette. One tough, gnarled hand with knuckles like iron worked dexterously, performing the familiar task. The other, balled into a fist, rested at his forehead as he leaned over at the desk, staring into space. Staring into the eyes of countless murder victims, countless crime scenes, in this hellhole of a city. His city.
Perry didn’t react to the first two knocks at his door. It was only when he heard it swing open that he seemed to break out of the trance, and calmly raised his eyes. Standing in the doorway was a tall, buxom redhead with smooth, round elbows. “I need…” She started breathlessly, and then collapsed to a knee. Mike sprang up, sat her in a chair, and poured her a tall bourbon, which she drank in a single gulp.
“I’m so sorry.” She continued after a brief pause. “I’ve been running from them all day.” She stopped suddenly, and looked to him under full, dark lashes, as if expecting him to interrupt. Perry stared back, with no sign of emotion.
“My family. I was always the black sheep, you see, and after they’ve finally trusted me with it, now that it’s lost, I…” She looked ready to break down again. Perry poured her an even taller bourbon. She drank it and stood up. “It was a mistake coming here. I should just turn myself in.” She headed back towards the door.
“Hold on.” Perrys gruff, deep voice froze her to the spot. He rose, slowly, and she felt something stir deep within her- a powerful, ancient, female longing. “Come here” he almost whispered, and she felt herself go weak in the knees as he leaned in and brushed her hair back. “It was in your ear the whole time.” He said, and pulled out the thing she was worried about.
The rain splattered against his window, drowning out traffic noises two stories below. This sudden cloudburst had not provided much relief from a heat wave that had been gripping the city. Thin trickles of sweat coalesced into a rivulet down the back of Detective Mike Perry’s neck.
He sat, as if unaffected by the heat or the storm, still in his fedora and trench coat, rolling a cigarette. One tough, gnarled hand with knuckles like iron worked dexterously, performing the familiar task. The other, balled into a fist, rested at his forehead as he leaned over at the desk, staring into space. Staring into the eyes of countless murder victims, countless crime scenes, in this hellhole of a city. His city.
Perry didn’t react to the first two knocks at his door. It was only when he heard it swing open that he seemed to break out of the trance, and calmly raised his eyes. Standing in the doorway was a tall, buxom redhead with smooth, round elbows. “I need…” She started breathlessly, and then collapsed to a knee. Mike sprang up, sat her in a chair, and poured her a tall bourbon, which she drank in a single gulp.
“I’m so sorry.” She continued after a brief pause. “I’ve been running from them all day.” She stopped suddenly, and looked to him under full, dark lashes, as if expecting him to interrupt. Perry stared back, with no sign of emotion.
“My family. I was always the black sheep, you see, and after they’ve finally trusted me with it, now that it’s lost, I…” She looked ready to break down again. Perry poured her an even taller bourbon. She drank it and stood up. “It was a mistake coming here. I should just turn myself in.” She headed back towards the door.
“Hold on.” Perrys gruff, deep voice froze her to the spot. He rose, slowly, and she felt something stir deep within her- a powerful, ancient, female longing. “Come here” he almost whispered, and she felt herself go weak in the knees as he leaned in and brushed her hair back. “It was in your ear the whole time.” He said, and pulled out the thing she was worried about.