The Most Dangerous Dame

As she faded away, I thought back to a time when we danced in a cramped little room. When we kissed, I was the one who pumped the brakes. Because I knew it was the best thing for her. Now I was the one who couldn’t face the truth. I held on to old memories even though the time slipped through my fingers like mist. I wanted to imagine settling down one day, living a better life with the girl of my dreams. But that dream stood up and walked away because she wasn’t a dream. She was a person, someone with a life and dreams of her own. Someone who was brave enough to cut me loose in order to pursue them.

It was better that way.

“Was that Natasha walking out?”

Detective Flask slid into the seat recently vacated by Natasha. He scrubbed a hand through his hair, looking as if he hadn’t slept in a week.

“You got a real grasp for the obvious, Mack.”

“You think it’s safe for her to be alone with all this heat on you? I got a message from you saying someone was trying to kill us right here in this diner, Mick. Then you pick the exact spot to meet up again? What the hell are you thinking?”

I lifted a finger. “That’s a lot of questions, Flask. No, it’s not safe for Natasha right now. But she’s probably safer than the rest of us because she’ll be anywhere but near me. It was her call, and the right one. And I picked this joint because the grub is good and we’re not expected to be here. I’m not playing by the book here, Dick. Playing by the rules will get you killed in this game. What were you doing here, anyway? I thought you were going to check with Customs.”

He sighed. “Angela wanted to stop for a bite first. Said she wasn’t going to have our date put off because of a little trouble.” He paused. “She’s a special girl.”

I grinned. “Yes she is.”

He frowned. “Hey.”

A skinny blonde stopped by the table. “Ready for another beer, Mr. Trubble?”

“Bulleit Neat this time, doll. For the road.”

“Right away.” She looked at Flask. “And the detective?”

“No thanks.”

“The Dick will take a Manhattan.” I lifted two fingers. “Double the rocks.”

She smiled. “Coming right up.”

Flask glanced after her. “How’d she know I was on the force?”

“You blue boys stick out like a sore thumb. It’s the tension. Starts in the eyes and goes straight to the shoulders. You might as well tattoo ‘cop’ on your foreheads.”

He grunted. “Well, the hard juice is a waste of your dibs, Mick. I don’t drink on the job.”

“Shame. I always drink on the job. Keeps the head clear.”

He didn’t appear amused. “You should have told me you and Angela had history, Mick.”

“Why? Most men don’t wanna know about their dame’s skeletons. We like to pretend they only open the pearly gates for us alone.”

“Skip the innuendos. She could’ve been killed because of you.”

“She’s still living because of me. I had a chitchat with my ex while you were out. She’s the one who’s been cutting throats around the city. Found out what makes her tick and flipped it upside-down. She’s a bit disoriented right now, but I expect she’ll improvise some adjustments to her little scheme real soon.”

“You talked to the killer?” His eyes widened. “And she’s your ex? When did this happen?”

“Slow your row, Ace. She called me. I figured out she was my former partner from the Secret Service. We had a relationship — if you can call an abusive, manipulative, sexually dominating involvement a relationship. I was an assassin and a code breaker apparently too smart for the Service to trust. Natalie was my handler, tasked with keeping me under control. That’s why she’s here.”

“To bring you in?”

“To control the situation. I think she’s trying to jar my memory with these murders. Apparently she used that tactic to control me in the past.”

Flask shook his head. “Pretty sick, even for the Service. You sure know how to pick them, don’t you?”

My eyes drifted to the exit doors. “Yeah. I know how to pick ‘em.”

He followed my gaze. “You did the right thing, Mick.”

I barked a wry laugh. “Yeah. Letting my best gal walk into possible harm’s way never strikes me as the ‘right thing’, Flask. But she has the right to call her own shots.”

The blonde returned with our drinks. I raised my glass. “To calling the shots.”

Flask stared at his glass for a second then shrugged. “What the hell.”

We downed our drinks. Flask wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Speaking of calling the shots, what’s next on your agenda? Other than getting shot again.” He squinted. “Gotta say you’re looking a lot better than when I saw you last.”

“Appreciate the compliment. In answer to the question, I plan on putting the pieces together. Plus I got an ace in the hole. Figure it’s time I pull it out.”

“Whatever that means. I went to Customs after stashing Angela away. Dead end. I didn’t find any evidence of trafficking, and I looked pretty hard. Don’t think I made any friends there.”

“I figured so, but had to check it anyway. I think Natalie must’ve used a handler to smuggle her through another way. Maybe Poddar and Kilby will have some news for me.”