17th
She was a thin drink of water that wandered in to my life. I could see her hesitate to pull off her driving gloves when she saw the condition of my office. She stood there in a dress, no longer pristine, that sang of better and easier times. You could tell by the look on her face that I was her last hope. Just what I needed, another needy dame begging me to find their father or lover and restore them to the glory of her once-fabulous life.
I ashed my cigarette nonchalantly as she pulled off her hat, letting her shoulder length locks cascade down in wave of curls and perfume, and steeled myself to hear her plea.
“Quite a place you have here,” she said, trying her best to mask disgust as she looked around. “Have you named the rats yet, or have they only just moved in?”
“Listen, honey, I don’t know what you’re doing here, but my door clearly says ‘private dick’, so cut to the chase or chase yourself out.”
“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you. Listen, if you weren’t the very last person I had to turn to, I’d walk out right now and leave you and your rats to consummate this relationship. However, since every other Dick in this town has laughed me out of their office, it seems I have no choice. Looks like we’re stuck with each other.”
“No, it just looks like you’re stuck. I’ve got no need to help you, so get lost, and leave me, my rats, and my whiskey to it.”
“You’re a liar and god-damned bastard, you know.”
“Ah, I see my charm is matched only by your own.”
“I know you need me. I can see it written all over your face and the way you slouch in that chair letting your cigarette ash all over your shirt.”
I sat up a little straighter and casually brushed the ash from my sleeve.
“Honey, you can see I have bills to pay, but I get the feeling that helping you isn’t going to pay them. So take your sob story and get walking.”
“If you help me, your fee will be a million dollars. Take it or leave it, you jaded little Dick.”
