Going past the streets outside; I strolled with my hands dipped into the pockets of my coat. What to do now? I thought. A city I could hardly leave alone due to all the junk and trash it accumulated over the years. With my office wrecked the way it is; I wouldn’t get a client any time soon. I’m hardly in a mood to just move my butt back to it and sit down on a damned chair full of gunshot holes. Screw that. If anything, I got this nice little baby here at least, I thought to myself – looking at the firearm Vinnie gave me to pacify myself. I couldn’t think of anything better to do. Poking the alleys for punks just didn’t feel like my thing. Well, it never was, anyway; I’m a private detective. I walk with such thoughts, not quite sure how to spend my time. That’s when I thought of a brilliant idea. Drink. I need to get a drink. No, not cola. Who the hell gets cola at a time like this, anyway? I want a glass of wine. Those beautiful, exotic drinks that shine luminously under the dim lights of a bar. With that, my legs undoubtedly knew where to carry me next. It wouldn’t want to take me anywhere else for tonight, it seems. And so I hit up a bar. One that I was familiar with. It wasn’t so far away, either. After taking a walk for around twenty-something minutes – I clinked the door wide open, and approached a chair to take a sit. With a single glance; I note how there weren’t any customers around now, other than me. I felt bad for the business, yet I couldn’t help but feel lucky, for some reason. The bartender – as always – was busy rubbing his fine edges of the glass stemware he held over his hands. The wine glass was sparkly clean already – from what I could see.
“The usual,” I say to the bartender. He gives a silent nod in return before pulling out a bottle to provide the drink. Taking a swig of the marvelous drink. I sigh. I sigh hard, dropping the glass before me. This was indeed the best choice I’ve made tonight. After another round, there was yet another series of ringing noises as the door cracked open. Well, the night is still young. Customers are supposed to come here at such times. Nothing to feel bad about; I think to myself. Its too lonely here with the bartender who tends to act like a true professional by being silent, anyway. Well, too silent, if anything. As if like a ghost. The other customer takes a seat beside me.
“The usual,” she says.
Wait, she? Feeling tentative; I take a glimpse of the lass beside me. Fair skinned and pretty. Her blonde hair was long, and wavy. Her face was a porcelain wonder, accompanied by a small nose, lips, and a dazzling pair of bright blue eyes. Her white dress would make her stand out like sore thumb anywhere in the city. Beautiful was a word meant to be used for her. Who’d dress up like that at the dead of night – in such a city, though? A princess? Why here of all places? The faint air of wealth exuded from her so clearly. I took another swig from the glass of wine, as if to ignore the source of trouble beside me. I didn’t feel like bothering to care with such a mood… but then, why was it that I felt like I couldn’t leave such a fine lady alone in a damned city such as this? Such conflicting feelings! The fair young lady seemed to have just had her drink served to her. That wine seemed at least thrice more expensive than mine. God damn it. As she grips the wine glass with her slender arms clad in white long gloves – I turn to compliment her good taste. I couldn’t help but wanting to do so. It was indeed a fabulous choice.
“Fine taste you have here, Ma’am.”
...Only to find a gun – dimly shining under the light of the bar – pointed to my forehead. For real…? My body freeze. It was far too close. The lady sipped her drink coolly, and casually. She was well composed. What lied behind the glass full of ice cubes and exotic drink was the smile of a devil. She didn’t speak. The glint of grin made me feel a chill to my spine, right down to my very balls. Without a thought, I flip out my new little piece in lightning speed, and up to her head. I couldn't stay still for too long. I’d be damned if she shot by now, but she didn’t. There must’ve been a reason for that. I didn’t have the time to ponder about it, however. Seemingly unfazed, she retracted her weapon, and put it away.
“Jack Smith, yes? You seem to be as fearless as they say,” she said. “Albeit, I am slightly disappointed.” In my defense, I was tempted to retort by saying that she was too charming for me to react faster to, but I don’t dare reply while she is apparently undone in her speech.
“I got a job,” she said. Now she was talking, finally. It was music to my ears. “There’s a man I need you to hunt down; a serial killer who took refuge here recently,” she continued. “Up for it?”
I crack up a smile. “I don’t come cheap.”