I.

They say that gin makes a man mean. On the other hand, it keeps me thinking on a slow day. And it was all I could do to keep those thoughts clean when a pair of legs that could have stopped the Crusades strolled into my office and parked on my desk.

“Knock much?” I lamped her gams from apple to stem before bothering with any real eye contact. She was a dish best served with a side of mattress and a chaser of flashing neon outside the window.

“Paulie Drake, right? Gumshoe for cheap. And I can’t afford cheap. Interested?” That one was worth an eyebrow shrug. I leaned back and took another pull at the gin. Seating the bottle back on the desk, I slid it towards her, nodded, and shot from the hip.

“So, some goon is leasing those pegs of yours to the wrong side of the road. He ups ante, less kickback on your end, things start to get rough. Now it’s all knuckles or no business. Honey, I don’t park with the muscle racket.”

She glanced briefly at the gin. “I don’t drink. And you shouldn’t either, if that’s the best you can come up with.”

My brow curtained as I shook my head slowly.“You said you couldn’t afford cheap, honey. Spill.”

She gave with a card. “Mr. Drake. Leslie Harper Cox. Yes, of the Harper Cox family; no doubt you’ve heard of us.” Lashes batted over shifting eyes just enough to let me know this was a sore point. “You might then ask why I can barely afford your services. The fact of the matter is that I have been disowned. Cast to the streets, if you will, but not the streets you have insinuated.” Her eyes shot front and center, locking mine in a cold gaze. I believed her.

I grabbed the booze and leaked another stiff one.“Sorry, Miss Cox. But where do I come in? My wallet’s not too fat these days either.”

“I want you to help me blackmail my family.” A wry smile now, the corners of her lips curling as she cocked her head to one side. “You would be well compensated if they relent to pay. Do you have a camera?”

I laughed, nearly spitting gin. I wiped my lips with a shirt cuff. The other hand pulled a Brownie out of the desk drawer and held it up.“This could be sweet news above the fold. If you spring for the film I’ll take the nature photos.”

Encore of the glacial stare. She dropped an envelope on my desk. The legs got up and made for the door.

“It will be no ordinary camping trip, Mr. Drake.”

Turned out she wasn’t kidding.