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Brought to you right from the dark recesses of an insomniac's mind. Join Sam-Steele, Private Eye, in this four part serialized tale of MYSTERY! SUSPENSE! ADVENTURE! Sounds like your typical pulp fiction/film noir? Way more than that, cuz this heroine is in drag. We could tell you that this writer directed 2 music videos for Ani Difranco, worked as an Independent Producer for CBC, sold a documentary on Stonewall 25 to WTN, and wrote and directed an all-female western "SPAG" that has played everywhere from Japan to England to Texas. But that would be bragging wouldn't it?
For those readers who are tuning in to "Wake up Screaming" for the first time, please see February and March archive for Part I and Part II.
Part III: Wake up Screaming
I am at work. The crew is filming in a jewelry shop. The dolly operator pulls the camera back and I realize that he is going to smash into a glass case. I am unable to move. The top of the display wobbles in the air and I see it crash down, glass spraying everywhere. I know everyone is cut. First aid rushes around to help the wounded. I look down at my hands and they are slashed with glass chars. Three of my fingers are peeled back, the bone exposed. He is speaking Spanish and standing over me in my bedroom. I know he is seconds away from strangling me. I force my way out of sleep by yelling.
My upstairs neighbor is smashing around. Three a.m. He must be coming home from a club. I curse him and fling on the light. No Spanish man. I roll over and think about being Sam.
HOLLOW CRIME PT. 3.
I was starting to think that people would start to call
me lumpy. I have an egg on the back of my head from where
my alley visitor left his welcome mark and a nice black eye
where my head hit the uneven pavement. You'd think they would
fix the roads with all the taxes we pay.
SAM: Good morning, Maggie.
I crossed into my office, trying to avoid her morning commentary. Maggie already had a martini on my desk with a bourbon chaser.
MAGGIE: I thought you might have made some friends last night.
She tossed an ice bag onto my desk and sat down. I placed it over my eye with great appreciation.
SAM: You are always looking out for me.
MAGGIE: Someone has to. So, who was it this time?
SAM: A shadow. What do you know about a detective named Licks from
Chicago?
MAGGIE: Real name: Jessica Rachel Bicks. Blonde and deadly. High
case solved ratio and if she loses, someone pays. She is way out of your league.
SAM: I already had a date with her.
MAGGIE: And a successful one, I see.
SAM: Where is she staying?
MAGGIE: Usual, the Royal on 5th.
SAM: Why do you put up with me?
MAGGIE: I still think there is hope for you.
I jumped up and gave Maggie a kiss on the cheek. She was a swell gal.
I straightened my jacket. The shirt was a little wrinkled but had no blood stains. The Royal was uptown. I bypassed the clerk with a smile and a fiver. Think I could have had a date. Made a note to drop by later after her shift.
Room 1040. A suite to boot. Phil must pay well. I was about to knock on the door but changed my mind. I used my pocket tools instead. The door opened with ease. The living room was in slight disarray. It was obvious that she had a nightcap and started undressing on her way to the bedroom. I followed the trail of clothes. The bedroom was dark. The blackout curtains were drawn. My eyes took a second to adjust. There she lay, asleep. I crossed the room to sit in the chair next to the bed. I heard a loud click.
LICKS: One move and I'll blow it off.
SAM: Is this how you greet all your guests?
LICKS: The unwelcome ones.
She turned on the light. She was wearing baby blue satin pajamas. The shirt just teasingly undone. She was also holding a large revolver.
SAM: I think you can put that down.
LICKS: To what occasion do I owe the wake up call?
SAM: I want to know what else you know.
LICKS: Now you are boring me. I told you the skinny
last night. Go play in someone else's bedroom.
SAM: I like yours. I could get used to the style.
LICKS: What lady gave you the shiner and what line did you use?
SAM: I think a friend of yours did this. I got clocked leaving the
diner.
LICKS: Bad luck for you. I need my beauty sleep.
SAM: Talk to me about Nick.
LICKS: He is pure slime. I don't get to close
to him. Bad breath.
SAM: Remind me to floss. Get dressed. Let's go
for an early drink.
LICKS: What time is it?
SAM: Six.
LICKS: It is early.
I couldn't help but linger on my way out of the bedroom
and sneak a peak at her as she slid out of bed. Definitely
out of my league. I searched the room for a pick me up. Only
gin. I mixed two tonics. She came out of the bedroom smelling
like a million bucks. Licks took the drink gratefully and
sat down.
LICKS: I called it off with Nick last night. He showed up here around
four, unannounced. I still think he is a dead end.
SAM: How did he take the bad news?
LICKS: Fine, I persuaded him with the same greeting I gave you.
SAM: Comes in handy to be packing.
LICKS: So I've heard.
SAM: I want to visit Nick tonight. You'll get
me inside. I want to poke around with the guy who poked me
last night.
LICKS: If you insist, I know Georgine, the chorus
girl. She'll let us in the backdoor. I still think you are
barking up the wrong tree.
SAM: Like an old dog marking its territory, that's
me. I want us to make a few calls before we head over.
While we waited to make our move in the Amazon, Nick sat in his office, the lights dim. He was finished the first bottle and on to the second by the time Sil found him.
SIL: You should watch that stuff, boss. A guy loses his heart with
a girl but loses his head with the drink. Bad things can happen when you lose
your head.
NICK: What does it matter, Sil ? I treat the dames right and they
still leave me. I have no idea what Phil had over me.
SIL: Nothing, boss. Phil had nothing on you. You have businesses.
You are an influential man in this city. Things move or stop moving with one
word from you.
NICK: You are always there for me.
SIL: Come on and lie down on the couch for awhile.
Sleep it off. In a couple of hours Rachel won't matter.
NICK: You're right. You are always right.
Nick moves to the couch with great difficulty and lies down. Sil closes the lights.
NICK: These dames mean nothing. I have been wasting my time.
SIL: You need someone more your speed. Someone who understands what
makes you tick.
Sil sits down on the couch. Nick is obviously passing out.
Sil takes off Nick's shoes. He slowly removes his shirt.
SIL: You need someone who will stand beside you, no matter what
goes down. Someone who wants all of you, not just your money.
Nick grumbles his agreement. Sil lays down slowly on top
of Nick and starts to kiss him. He plays with his nipples.
Nick is out of it now. His body is reacting merely to Sil's
touch.
Licks was right. Georgine let us in through the back door and flung herself onto Licks.
GEORGINE: I missed you baby.
LICKS: Likewise.
GEORGINE: See you after the show?
LICKS: We'll have a drink.
Georgine slipped back amongst the chorus girls. I couldn't
help but grin.
LICKS: What?
SAM: Just know one of the girls. That was an understatement.
LICKS: Let's see you work some of your magic.
She was referring to Nick's locked door.
SAM: I am a firm believer in Lady's first.
The moans from the room stopped us both.
STAY TUNED MORE NEXT....
Contact Lynne Kamm at 5a7@avivalasvegas.com. Make sure to put Lynne Kamm in the subject
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