Another hot, rainy afternoon made me reconsider postponing that drink over at Mel's Bar. I loosened my tie and went back through the ledgers. Something wasn't adding up over at the Bureau and it reeked of dirty money and worse laundry. I cringed at the painful squeal of the overburdened chair across the room. My sometime business associate and all-the-time hired thug, a big chap going by the moniker Tin Man, looked ready to complain yet again that he was miserable in this summer's heat. The guy's shirt was wetter than a man swimming with concrete shoes. I held up a hand to forestall his grumbling before he even got started.
That's when she walked in like a cold current in a warm ocean. My eyes traveled up those shapely gams til they met in the middle and up towards that red pout she carried on her pale face. A low whistle echoed from the desk across the room. Apparently, Tin had gotten a good look at her, red heels to soot black hair, and liked what he saw. He was seeing only her good side; I got the full effect of the woman's bad side. Those pale green eyes were both beautiful and deadly as a viper's. If those head-lamps were turned on anyone in anger, I knew that fellow wouldn't survive the encounter. I fought back an unseasonable shiver. "What can I do for you, Miss?"
Her voice was cold enough to keep my beer chilled all day. "You are Ralin Thalin, yes?"
I raised an eyebrow. Was she asking or stating what I could expect to find on my tombstone? "I am. And you are?" My eyes flickered over to the nearby window, calculating just how far a drop it was to the street below.
Ignoring the wooden client's chair parked near my desk, she nestled her curves into the old leather sofa I used as a bed on those lonely, dark nights. She folded her claws over her lap and smiled up at me. I was instantly reminded of a snake ready to strike. "Valia Rosa. I've come to see you about a murder."
Tin and I exchanged nervous glances. "Are ya arrangin' one or wantin' to solve one?" His gravely voice rumbled across the room like an earthquake rising to the surface.
That's when she walked in like a cold current in a warm ocean. My eyes traveled up those shapely gams til they met in the middle and up towards that red pout she carried on her pale face. A low whistle echoed from the desk across the room. Apparently, Tin had gotten a good look at her, red heels to soot black hair, and liked what he saw. He was seeing only her good side; I got the full effect of the woman's bad side. Those pale green eyes were both beautiful and deadly as a viper's. If those head-lamps were turned on anyone in anger, I knew that fellow wouldn't survive the encounter. I fought back an unseasonable shiver. "What can I do for you, Miss?"
Her voice was cold enough to keep my beer chilled all day. "You are Ralin Thalin, yes?"
I raised an eyebrow. Was she asking or stating what I could expect to find on my tombstone? "I am. And you are?" My eyes flickered over to the nearby window, calculating just how far a drop it was to the street below.
Ignoring the wooden client's chair parked near my desk, she nestled her curves into the old leather sofa I used as a bed on those lonely, dark nights. She folded her claws over her lap and smiled up at me. I was instantly reminded of a snake ready to strike. "Valia Rosa. I've come to see you about a murder."
Tin and I exchanged nervous glances. "Are ya arrangin' one or wantin' to solve one?" His gravely voice rumbled across the room like an earthquake rising to the surface.
