I knew that silhouette behind the beveled glass, a dame like no other. My traitorous heart leaped against my sternum. She pushed her way into my office, the scent of sweet nectar nearly knocking me out of my chair. Of all the offices of all the PIs in this godforsaken city, she had to walk into mine.

“Ah, Miss Jesi, you grace my door yet again.”
“Why Detective Young, you thought you could be rid of me?” She crossed slowly to me, smiling and unfurling her boa. The siren had me mesmerized in her song.

The slit in her dress revealed a luxurious leg that she placed on my desk, sitting sidesaddle upon it’s metal top, and leaning over she grabbed my collar and pulled me in for a kiss. Either she was strong or I was weak, because when my lips touched hers, I forgot all the trash in all the dark alleys in this catacomb of a wasteland.

Then the wall was blown off and the vacuum pulled her from my arms. The city was taking her, and leaving me behind. “No!”

I awoke, to see her smiling down on me. “I’m here.”