Note: This Blog was originally published on July 10th 2024.
Hello my friends. Welcome back.
Today I just wanted to share something that I’ve had under my belt for a while, and is something I am considering doing more with. Basically I have always enjoyed creative writing, and while I know I’m not amazing at it I also don’t think I’m that bad, and have been complimented on my work several times. However usually what I tend to do is play with ideas, whether original or derived from an existing work, creating settings and characters, or sometimes even full plots, while not actually sitting and writing the story out.
Some time ago however I actually sat and finished a short story, inspired by some more cyberpunk aesthetics, and reading Neuromancer has me revisiting it, and I remain proud of it, and so I thought I would share it here to be judged.
So I hope you all enjoy this story, which I have titled “A Simple Case”.
A Simple Case
Blue lights flash in the alley, casting long but brief shadows in the dripping dank. I watch the investigators as they pick around the carnage, their ivory white suits standing out against the gloom. The paramedic next to me washes the wound on my arm, making me wince as the alcohol touches the raw flesh, causing my throat to emit a low growl. I bring my other hand to my lips, to take a long drag from the vape burner I’m holding. I exhale the smoke, savouring the taste, enjoying the light head rush from the leaf, as I spy two officers in suits coming closer.
I take the measure of them. The first is tall, balding, thin, and severe. His cheap brown suit almost looks like it’s hanging off of him. His shirt is unbuttoned, his tie pulled loose, implying a relaxed and casual attitude that his face belies. His thin lips are drawn tight, and he is rubbing the scruff on his chin. If I had to guess, based on that scruff and the dark circles under his eyes, he was woken up to come here tonight. The second is younger, with a full head of hair that’s almost breaking police regulations with its length. He’s clean shaven and baby-faced, making him seem even younger than he probably is. He isn’t in a suit, with an open hoodie over a check shirt and jeans. He looks less like a serious police officer and more like a kid playing dress up. The older one speaks, “Are you Mr Solomon?” I nod in the affirmative, and shrug my jacket back onto my shoulder as the medic finishes applying the bandage. “I’m Detective Dandridge, and this is my partner Detective Bryce,” he indicates his partner, who is pulling out a tablet to take notes, “we understand you called this in?”
I scoff. “If you say so. I didn’t want you boys in blue getting in my way. You only got called in cos I took this hit in my arm,” I gesture to the arm the medic patched up, “and my medicare was auto-alerted. If I hadn’t gotten hit you probably wouldn’t have found this until the morning.”
The older one, Dandridge, grimaces, muttering something under his breath and shaking his head. The kid, Bryce, looks angry. “Hey pal, you realise this little incident of yours has just wasted a lot of time for us? We should haul your ass in for this!”
“Go ahead kid.” I’m verging on laughing at this little prick and his attitude. “My paperwork and license is all up to date. Everything I did here was legal.”
That pissed him off. “Legal? Legal my -“Dandridge puts a hand on Bryce’s chest, and holds another up in front of me. “Okay fellas take it easy. We can handle this calmly.” His voice was calm and measured. Clearly he was a skilled diplomat. Probably due to his age, I thought, glancing at his grey hair and receding temples. Cops don’t tend to get old unless they’re skilled at talking to people. He gives Bryce a stern look, and I’ll give it to the kid, he calms down. I expected a little asswipe like him to swing for me, blue boy or not. His hackles are still up, but I’ve got his measure. We both know I’ve got the power here, not him, and he doesn’t like it.
Dandridge looks back at me as he lowers his hands. “I’ve heard of you Solomon, so if you say you’re up to spec then I’ll buy it. But why don’t you just tell us exactly what happened? Just so we know exactly what went down.”
I make a show of rolling my eyes as I take another long drag on my burner, shifting my weight on the wall. Probably the only dry part of the wall in this leaky alleyway. “Fine, but you won’t like it. I got hired to find a cheating husband. Pretty standard contract.”
Bryce scoffed at that. “And that led to all this?” The disbelief on his voice was palpable. I glared at him, and smirked.
“I told you you wouldn’t like it.”
The contract was simple. At first. But all of my most interesting cases start simply. A wife comes into my office with the same old story, crying and sobbing. A husband who isn’t paying attention anymore, who spends more time out of the house all of a sudden, who spends his time between disinterested and lavishing attention. Easy. What I used to call my bread-and-butter cases. Follow the guy, snap a few dirty pictures of him betraying his nuptials, give them to the wife, and get paid. And that’s how this started. Little Luisa Zhao, a pretty young thing in her twenties with bright purple hair, had said her husband had been acting strangely for a couple of weeks.
Jason Zhao had been easy to find. He worked on the docks, using a crane to offload all those big crates from the boats that come up the estuary. His boss said he was a hard worker, but even he’d noticed Jason’s behaviour had changed recently. He turned up late a few times, and his productivity was down. I got permission from the boss to work undercover on site, to watch Jason, and soon spotted him spending a lot of time with a younger dockhand, who I learned was called Clay Phillips. But then I noticed the two of them arguing. Jason was angry, in fact at one point I thought he was gonna throttle Clay. I knew I needed a bug somewhere it could overhear them. I just had a hunch that whatever was going on between them was behind Jason’s behaviour. I got permission from the dock manager, and he got the night guard to let me in to put a bug in both Jason and Clay’s overalls. All I had to do was wait a day or two. I settled into the office the next morning, ordered pizzas in for the day, and listened to the audio feeds, jacked in as the two of them started shift. I didn’t have to wait long
After a couple of hours they had a shift break, and the two met up. Their voices were low, but I had all sorts of apps working on the feed to clean it up, and give me a text transcript. Jason didn’t sound happy. Clay had talked him into something, and now it was causing them trouble. I was wondering if Jason was keeping a specific secret from Luisa, after all, he wouldn’t be the first, but then Clay mentioned drugs, and it clicked into place. The two little boys had gotten greedy, and taken something that didn’t belong to them. It was a well-known secret that drugs came through the port for the mob, especially all that valuable raw opium from abroad, and everyone in the city could tell you not to cross the mob, lest you end up in a bag somewhere. These two had been silly, and gotten themselves in deep. No wonder Luisa said he’d been troubled at home.
Clay told Jason to come with him tonight, to see the boss, and get this all straightened out. Jason worried about telling his little housefrau, wondering how she’d react. He even said she must be thinking he’s cheating on her. Maybe he’s smarter than I thought. Clay said if they could just get a meeting with the boss, it would straighten everything out. Jason agreed, but from the language he used he wasn’t happy about it. I made sure I was at the docks to follow Jason as he went home. He wasn’t in his apartment longer than half an hour before he came out in a hurry and got back into his beaten up little car. It was easy to see why he’d been tempted to steal from the mob. Clay probably mentioned dollar signs and desperate Jason jumped at the chance for some extra scratch – to get a new car, move him and his wife out of the slums, maybe even get some security to start a family. I almost felt bad for him. He wasn’t the first kid I’d seen go down a bad path trying to make a better life.
Jason met Clay outside a club near the Vice District. Casinos and strip joints lined the block, with hookers of all types plying their trade on corners, while low-level hustlers played rigged street games to hook people into losing the last of their dollars after they got thrown out of the casinos and bars. I parked my own car as I watched the two of them head into a large bar with a sunrise made of neon and xenon lights above the door. The scantily-clad dancers in the windows left little doubt as to what sort of establishment the Sunrise Lounge was. I walked towards the bar, politely refusing a proposition from a striking young masc with a fishnet top over lean muscle and smoky eyeliner framing some lovely green eyes. Maybe when I get the money from this job. After all, it’s been a while since I indulged like that. Approaching the bouncer I wave my forearm over the payment pad he offers, debiting my account with the contactless chip I’d had implanted. I’ll have to make sure I itemise the expenses invoice. He ushers me in, and my senses are overwhelmed.
The music pounds, a heavy synth and bass beat but with plenty of reverb, providing a dirty sound. The main lights are dimmed, but neon strips on the wall cast coloured glows across the room, while bright spotlights focus on the main stage. There are about two dozen tables, with some of the larger ones doubling as pole stands for different dancers. There were at least three femmes and two mascs in different stages of undress dancing on those poles, each surrounded by groups of patrons. On the main stage a group of bodies writhe, cavorting in sexual decadence before the crowd. It was hard to tell how many there were, but it was at least five. There was a strong smell in the air, a mixture of colognes and perfumes, but it was tinged with sweat and sex, and an unmistakable hint of alcohol sanitiser.
I spotted the two of them sat around a table near the stage, with a waiter taking their order. Jason looked embarrassed by the stage show, in fact he was probably glowing as much as the neons. I found a table in a corner, a booth with a good view of the stage, giving me a line of sight that wasn’t too conspicuous. I tapped my iDrive, trying to record my view of them, but saw a popup message in my vision, saying all recording devices were prohibited in the club. Understandable, but damn infuriating. Meant I had to pay more attention to them than I’d like to, affecting my ability to blend in. Clay whispered something in the waiters ear, and he walked off, and I settled down, trying to make myself look natural, as though I was here for the skin show like everyone else, and not spying on the punters.
“You know if you relax a little, you won’t stand out so much.” The silken voice purred in my ear. I almost jumped, not realising I’d let someone get so close without noticing. They saw me start and smiled slyly, a mischievous look playing across their eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, but you looked so out of place I felt I had better make you welcome, before you sprained something.” They slid into the booth opposite me, long legs covered only with nylon stockings, held up by suspenders linked to the sheer lace bodice they wore, its bright cyan colouring standing out against their pale skin. I found my eyes wandering over every curve as I took in their figure, from slim waist and bottom to a modest bosom, at least in comparison to some of the other dancers. Their eyes remained fixed with mine, like two blue pools staring back at me. Real as well, or the most convincing fakes I had ever seen. They extended a gloved hand, bare fingers tipped in an olden and submissive gesture. Speaking again in that purring voice, they introduced themself, “I’m Azure, they/them, and I’d love to join you this evening, if you’ll have me.”
I briefly broke their eye contact, to see the waiter bringing Jason and Clay drinks. Several drinks. Looks like they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. I took Azure’s hand, planting a kiss on the back of it to complete the gesture. “My name is Solomon, he/him, and I’d be glad of the company.” I relaxed a little, as they leaned back in their seat, crossing their legs under the table, with one foot tracing along the inside of my right calf. “But,” I said, before things could get too heated, “but I need to watch someone.” I discreetly flashed them my investigator’s badge, and indicated Jason’s table. “I’ve been hired to watch that guy. Jealous wife.”
“Ah,” they smiled wickedly as they leaned closer across the small table, “I can do that, but it might cost you extra.” A mercenary after my own heart. I nodded. “So what do you want me to do?” They asked, delicate fingertips brushing the side of my neck as they leaned in closer.
“They’re here to see someone. All I need is to blend in and watch them until they meet whoever they’re meeting. Keep me company, help me look inconspicuous, and I’ll pay you for your time. Deal?” Fortunately my standard contract covered expenses like this.
They kissed me lightly on the lips. Their lipstick tasted of a fruit I don’t think I’ve ever eaten. Probably something exotic and extinct, with all the climate trouble over the last few decades. “Deal handsome.”
That damn smile again. I got the feeling they were going to be very pleasant company.
The next couple of hours flew by. Whoever Clay had been hoping to meet was definitely making them wait for it. Jason was getting more and more anxious every second, and I’d seen him tap his own iDrive several times. Luisa must be pacing the floors, but she’d stopped trying to get hold of him a while ago. I’d sent her a message saying Jason was fine and I had eyes on him, but I doubt that had calmed her any. Whatever happened here she might leave him anyway at this rate.
Azure had played their part to perfection. Moving and sitting next to me, draping their slim arms around me while fingers danced across any bare skin they could find, making a show of drawing my attention to the stage every time the main act changed. The pile of bodies had untangled a while ago, with all seven of them bowing after their gloriously orgasmic finishes. Several people near the stage had caught some splashback, which had made me chuckle. They had been replaced first by two femmes clad in tight latex, who were suspended together on ropes in suitably pornographic fashion by a masc in a very realistic looking leather outfit. The act now was a masc, naked, and rigged on a large cross, upside down, being whipped by a tall dominant femme in a crotchless catsuit. Every time the whip connected with his flesh not only did his skin almost glow red, but both of their erections twitched. This club truly seemed to cater to all tastes. Azure had been interesting too, asking questions about my case. I’d indulged them where I could, omitting the drugs I’d learned about but telling them basically everything else. They had also crossed the booth and now sat next to me, their body curled against mine, one arm across my shoulders, bringing their face tantalisingly close to my own.
“Look at them,” they purred in my ear, “your guy is nervous. And not just because of where he is. He’s antsy. He doesn’t want to meet whoever the other one is waiting for.” She was right, but I asked her why she thought so. “His drink. He’s barely touched it.” A simple observation to a trained eye, but a nice spot for an amateur. They were right. Jason had downed his first drink, a large measure of some liquor, obviously an attempt to settle his nerves, but now was nursing a beer that had lasted him a while. Meanwhile Clay was several drinks deep, his movements clumsy, and a gorgeous femme in his lap as he let all his cares go.
“You’ve got a good eye.” A genuine compliment. They had earned it. “Natural talent? Or do you practice?”
They chuckled lightly. “It’s a skill. I’ve been watching people around this city since I can remember, always wondering what they’re up to. What they’re thinking. Comes in handy in my line of work.” They took a sip of the cocktail they’d ordered. Well I’d been billed for a cocktail but I doubt they had any alcohol in the glass if they were working.
I thought back to how Azure had introduced themself to me, spotting my tension and then coming over. I nodded appreciatively. “You’re pretty good at it.”
“Good enough to hire? Need some company on those lonely stakeouts?” There was almost a sing-song quality in their voice, as well as a seductive purr on certain words. I get the feeling I was being toyed with, and strangely enough I didn’t mind. I turned to look and caught them eating the cherry off the stick that had decorated their cocktail.
“You’d probably be bored.” My turn to smile, as their expression changed to a mock upset. They made it very easy to flirt. A real talent. I was losing myself in the glint in their eyes, when they got my attention.
“Look!” I turned back around. A large figure in a tailored suit that still looked like it would rip if his muscles flexed was moving towards Clay, with one of the masc waiters. Besides his size I noted that he had several other distinguishing features, such as his multiple silver rings, his black beard, shaven head, and, most especially, his red tinted sunglasses being worn indoors. Clay froze as he saw the big guy approach, which was understandable as this behemoth made the bouncer outside look tiny by comparison. The femme he had been enamoured with a second ago forgotten, and she took the opportunity to slink away into the shadows of the club. Clay and Jason looked terrified, as the waiter introduced him. The big guy barely moved, just nodding his head.
“You ever seen him before?” I asked Azure.
“No.” I believed them, not sure why. “But he came from upstairs,” they pointed towards an opening marked VIP, with a tattooed masc bouncer on one side guarding a velvet rope, and a pretty young femme behind a desk on the other, “and I only deal with downstairs clientele. Independent operator.” They shrugged.
I watched as the waiter led Jason and Clay to the VIP. I knew then wherever they were going, I needed to follow. I had an instinct that whatever was going to be said in that room was what I needed to understand exactly what was going on. I was certain Jason wasn’t cheating, his unease at just being in this place had sold me on that, but I felt I needed to find out what was actually happening. I could sense there was danger waiting for those two upstairs.
“I need to get in there, is that possible?” I asked Azure while keeping my eyes focused on Jason as the bouncer led him past the rope, the big guy following him and almost pushing Clay through.
“There’s private booths up there, but it’ll probably cost you.” They stood up, and extended a hand to lead me. I took it and followed them, and they started leading me around the club to the VIP entrance.
Azure led me into the VIP lounge. I had to pay a sizable fee for the privilege, getting an alert on my iDrive from the bank. Things will be a bit tight until I get paid, but I suppose this is why I charge expenses. Once we were upstairs there was a hall, with a dozen or so recessed alcoves. Rooms for hire. The first couple we passed had a screen drawn inside, blocking any view, but the third was open, with one patron clearly enjoying the company he had purchased, as three mascs and a femme performed in front of him. The fourth was empty, but the fifth was the jackpot. The screen was mostly drawn, but there was a gap, and I recognised the shoulder of the heavy that had collected Jason and Clay downstairs standing on the left of the opening. I indicated to Azure, and whispered to them to watch the hallway, as I ducked in beside the screen.
I chanced a glance through the gap, and saw Clay sat uncomfortably between two heavy set mascs on a couch encircling a large flat table. Looking to his right I saw who he was meeting with, a large masc snorting a line of a powdered drug from a mirrored tile on the tabletop. One arm was heavily tattooed, featuring a colourful design that glowed under the UV strip light in the room. His other was cybernetic, and a good one too. Top of the line muscle fibers, gold plated lining over the joints, and what looked like realistic silicone skin on the hand. That thing likely had recreations of his fingerprints, it was that good. This guy was clearly the boss, but looking at him I don’t think he needed the muscle. If Jason had two goons near him that was five guys running security, and yet this guy looked like he could handle anything himself. He was wearing a vest, which showed just how large his arm and pectorals were, as well as plenty more tattoos I noticed as he sat back, black swirls and patterns standing out on his neck and shoulders as his pale skin caught the little light in the room. He shook his head as the high hit, a mane of ginger hair flowing behind him, and he leant forward, looking between Clay, and the hidden from my view Jason.
Tapping the control on my wrist for my iDrive, I tried to turn up my aural implant. It had been foolish to try to use it downstairs, as the booming music would have overwhelmed it, but it was quieter up here, the music still thumping, but muffled due to the floor. In fact far louder was the moans of congress from the other booths. The implant helped me filter some of the noise, and I did my best to focus on the conversation inside.
“- let me down ye have boys.” The boss. A thick accent. Scottish, I think? Maybe Irish? Always had trouble telling those apart. “Ye tole me you’d have the money by now. Tis bad enuff ye took mi drugs, but to think you can get away wi’oot payin’?”
“We’re working on it, sir, I promise.” Clay was so terrified I could almost hear his teeth chattering. “We’ve given you what we have, honest, but some of what we spent is tied up. We just need a few more days.” They really had been stupid little boys.
“Is tha’ right?” The boss leaned back, his face mocking them.
“Please Mr Coltrane, sir.” Jason’s turn to be brave, and if not for the pleading tone in his voice he wasn’t doing too badly, although I’d still wager he had a dribble of piss running down his leg. “We returned the drugs we still had, and paid you most of what we made. We just need another day or two to get the last few thousand. That’s all, I swear.”
Coltrane leant forward menacingly, and linked his fingers. “Listen to me boys. You have had all the chances I’m willing to give you. Now unless you can transfer me those missing funds right now, this is gon’ be the last conversation ya ever have.” His eyes darted between them, and when he turned to Clay the poor kid started sobbing.
“Please,” I just about made out Jason’s last pleading whisper, “my wife.” He tailed off as Coltrane looked at him.
“No more chances or excuses kid. People need t’ know they canna steal from me. I can’t be dealin’ wi’ any more arseholes trying the kinda shite you idiots pulled. So unless youze can pay me, now, we’re going fur a little walk.”
I backed away from the screen, Azure turning towards me in shock at my sudden movement. I motioned them to be quiet with a finger over my lips, and dragged them towards the empty booth we passed, hearing movement behind me. My aural implant picked up Clay sobbing, and what sounded like struggle. I grabbed Azure, pressing their lithe frame against the wall. “Sorry,” I whispered, before planting a kiss on their soft lips. There was a brief muffled yelp of surprise, but they soon reciprocated, a hand cupping around my neck. I slightly opened one eye, watching the corridor to see the group walk past our booth back down the stairs, but their eyes remained closed. I pulled away from Azure, and looked into the hallway. I just saw Clay and Jason being dragged by the goons, heading to the far end of the corridor and turning right.
“Well, I’ve been waiting for you to do that all night.” Azure purred, their arms still holding mine in what was left of our fake embrace.
“Why?” I looked at them quizzically as I stepped away. “That’s not what I hired you for tonight?”
“Yeah, I know, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to.” They smiled as they followed me into the hallway. “Independent contractor, remember? Means I pick my own clients. Sometimes, I pick people because I like them.” I chuckled, and I could feel my cheeks blushing at bit. Bit of a confidence boost to be wanted, especially by a professional. “So what now?” they asked.
I moved swiftly to the end of the corridor, as quietly as I could, and peeked around the corner, seeing one of Coltrane’s brutes closing an exit door. The big one with the shades. I’d have to get past him, and quickly, but I definitely couldn’t take him in a fair fight. I mouthed to Azure to wait, and, feigning my best drunken impression, stumbled around the corner into him, apologising profusely.
“You can’t be back here.” He growled at me. I apologised again and made to turn around, before spinning swiftly and kicking him in the balls. I managed to get right on target, and he doubled over, allowing me to grab his head and connect it with my knee, before throwing it hard into the wall. He crumpled and fell, and I heard a light applause behind me.
“Very impressive!” Azure leant themself on the corner, arms clasped in front of them.
I shrugged. “I always got told to take a target down quickly rather than cleanly.” I started to quickly pat down “Shades” here, seeing if he had a weapon. My own pistol was in my car and I didn’t have time to grab it. I found a holster inside his jacket and took his pistol, a large calibre semi-automatic, along with some spare clips from his belt.
“Very sexy.” They winked at me, and I smirked back. Damn it was easy flirting with them. Even now when more important things were happening. I didn’t know how much was performance any more and to be honest I didn’t care. Something about them was just magnetic. They stepped past me, and opened the door. “This should go to the alley that runs behind the block, and they’d have to walk a few dozen metres to get to a car, so you should catch them.” I walked over to the door, checking the pistol, and they grabbed me, pulling me in for another kiss. “For luck.”
“Get somewhere safe.” I told them as I readied the gun, and I flashed them one last smile before running through the door.
I took the stairs two at a time and burst through the fire escape, not caring about the noise. I ran into the alleyway, which even compared to the dimly lit club was dark. The closest light source was about a hundred metres away, as the harsh glare of a solitary streetlight came through the alleyway entrance. I could make our several figures moving towards that light, dark shadows against the brightness, with two sets of big bodies each visibly dragging a struggling smaller one, with a seventh figure following behind. It made me wonder if they kept the alleyway dark on purpose, or if Coltrane used the Sunrise Lounge for his dealings because of the access to it. I could just make out Jason and Clay pleading, their voices echoing off of the high alley walls, becoming distorted and mixed with the noises of the city that formed the background cacophony of the streets. My aural implant would be useless in this place, and it made me wish I’d upgraded my night vision implant, but I’d become too reliant on cameras in my line of work. Didn’t often need to use my eyes anymore in an age of remote drones and spyware.
The figures in front came to a stop, and I saw the smaller figures thrown to their knees, held by the large ones. The final figure, Coltrane based on the silhouette of his hair, extended his hand, and got handed a pistol by one of his heavies. I was surprised he was willing to do the executions himself. I would have bet money he would have had one of his grunts do the job. I was also surprised he was willing to do it here, but then bodies are probably easier to transport than struggling and crying prisoners. Coltrane checked the weapon, and then extended it, lowering his arm towards one of the kneeling figures. I knew I only had seconds to react, so levelled my own gun, aimed as best as I could against the glare, and fired.
My shot missed. I need to spend more time at the range. Too long since I’ve fired a real gun, but it was enough to startle Coltrane. He turned towards me and opened fire, advancing back into the gloom. I ducked for cover, landing behind a large metal dumpster, but his own shots were wide. I figured he couldn’t see me, but I couldn’t guarantee that would last. His arm was top of the line so I had no idea what other implants he had. Two of his heavies had also drawn guns and were advancing, the other two still holding the kneeling Jason and Clay.
“If ye want a fight, then step into tha’ light wee man!” He shouted into the dark, but then turned his gun and aimed it at the kneeling victims. “Or I’ll kill these two scrotes yur trying ta save.” Only one thing for it. I levelled my gun, steadying my aim as best as I could from my crouched position, and squeezed the trigger.
Coltrane went down, the round hitting him square in the center mass. He landed flat on his back and his gun fell out of his hand, clattering across the ground. After a brief moment of shock his men opened fire, and I ducked for cover as bullets struck all around from the automatic weapons. Why couldn’t the guy I frisked have had a weapon like that. Even the other two let the boys go and drew guns, firing into the darkness. I watched Jason and Clay run to the entrance of the alley, knowing they were safe, and realised I could fire freely.
The four guys stopped to reload, and I took my chance to move for a different area of the alleyway, blindly firing in their direction as I ran, emptying the clip. One of them was ready before I got into cover, letting loose a hail of bullets, with one catching me high in my left arm, knocking me off balance and causing me to slam hard into the wall. An alert popped up onto my iDrive, saying that my medicare plan had registered my injury, and that a trauma team had been called to my location. Another bill I could do without, and the fact it was a gunshot would call the police, giving me more hassle I would rather avoid. It wasn’t too deep, but it hurt, the bullet lodged in my bicep, and as I did my best to try and block the pain, to ignore it, I found myself missing my time in the army. At least the standard combat stims there meant a rush of painkillers and anti-coagulants from your implant whenever you took a hit, but that implant gets removed when you leave the service. I shrank down against the wall, hidden behind another dumpster, ripping strips from my shirt to create a makeshift bandage. Gunshots continued to echo as I folded one strip to pack the wound, and as I tied it down I winced at the pain, blinking the stars that clouded my vision away.
The four goons let up their barrage of fire, coming towards me and calling out into the darkness. A large saloon car pulled into the alleyway entrance, and two more men jumped out, with one of the brutes yelling at them to look. I reloaded, and looked as one of them came closer to my little hiding spot. I jumped up as he rounded the corner, smacking him around the head with the butt of my pistol, and tackling him as he staggered, hitting him again. I turned the pistol in my hand, firing point blank at his face, his skull exploding as the bullet and compressed gases tore through him, warm blood spraying up at my face. I snatched his automatic as he crashed to the ground, turning and firing a diagonal spray of bullets at two grunts nearby, their bodies dropping as they caught shots in the legs and chest. I ran for more cover, emptying the last shots from the automatic towards the goon closest to the car, but I don’t think I hit him. I ducked again as another hail of bullets struck near me.
Once the fire stopped I ran out, heading towards the nearest goon and firing as I ran headlong into him. Two of my rounds hit him in the shoulder and upper chest. I hooked my arm around his neck as I got close, using him as a shield as I aimed towards another, letting loose three more shots, and dropping him with a shot to the stomach that doubled him over.
The last guy opened fire, and I hid behind the large body of my hostage, as he caught several shots in the chest. His body slumped, collapsing as his life-force drained. I let him go and steadied my gun, pointing into the shadows the last man was using to hide. In the confusion of the battle everything had been turned around, and the alley entrance was now behind me, and I was now the one peering into the shadows to look for a hidden assassin. I was certain I still had at least one bullet, but as I backed towards the street I reloaded anyway, my eyes scanning for any hint of movement in the shadow. Suddenly blue lights flashed behind me, the trauma team arriving promptly, and I caught sight of the last man as he shielded his eyes from the glare, firing at him while he was stunned. Once, twice, three times. Each bullet connecting and staggering him, before he fell backwards.
The battle over, I relaxed, letting myself exhale. My muscles burned from the exertion. My hands were shaking from the adrenaline. The wound on my shoulder throbbed. I turned and looked at the body next to me on the floor. It was Coltrane. Not quite dead, but wheezing. The bullet hadn’t killed him, but from the blood around his mouth, it had probably punctured a lung. Survivable with treatment. I did the arithmetic in my head, and figured the city was probably better off without someone like that. I aimed the gun at him, and fired until it was empty, each bullet leaving ragged marks as it connected, hot blood splashing up at me. Let’s see him survive that. I tossed the spent gun at his corpse, and walked toward the blue lights, seeing not the trauma team I had expected, but police, with rifles levelled. I raised my hands as they came to arrest me.
“And that’s how you found me.” I concluded for the two silent investigators. Thankfully they’d kept quiet and let me tell them the whole tale without too many interruptions. Bryce had been scribbling notes the whole time, while Dandridge had lit a hand rolled cigarette. He took a long drag, finishing it off and flicking the butt away, before standing and looking me in the eye.
“We’ve had our eye on the Sunrise Lounge for a while, as a centre of underworld activity, but our informants hadn’t been able to get much.” He shook his head. He seemed almost impressed. “What you’ve done here, well it will probably upset the power dynamics of the gangs in the city for a while, but it’s removed a big problem. Coltrane was the main drug kingpin in the city.”
“It might have been nice to interrogate him though.” Bryce murmured, but Dandridge fixed him with a stern look. I couldn’t help but smile as Bryce shrinked, avoiding the gaze of his partner.
“What my partner means to say is thank you. You’ve done our city a great service today.” He extended his hand. Sure it was probably begrudgingly on his part, but I accepted the offer and shook it back regardless.
“What about Jason Zhao and Clay Phillips?” I had to ask. “Are they okay? Did they get away?”
Bryce answered this time. “They flagged down a police car on the street. It’s why our guys arrived before your trauma team. They’re both shaken up but they’re okay. But I feel sorry for them dealing with that little Latin firecracker.” He gestured down the street, and I turned my head around to see a uniformed police officer trying to hold back a screaming Luisa from a cowering Jason. I chuckled.
“Thanks again Mr Solomon,” Dandridge said. “We’ll be in touch if we have any further questions, but right now we have some paperwork to take care of.” An archaic term. No-one uses paper anymore, but fortunately I understood the reference. I nodded at the officers and bid them farewell, wrapping my jacket against the chill night air. I turned up the street, and began to walk back to my car.
“Leaving so soon?” A voice purred behind me. A smile crept to my lips. I turned around to see Azure leaning against the wall, wrapped in an elegant but long satin coat the colour of their namesake. They smiled back at me, and came off the wall, walking towards me.
“Well I’m surprised to see you again.” It was true. I didn’t think I’d see them ever again, despite how pleasant parts of our evening had been.
“Why? You think I spent all night putting moves on you not to seal the deal?” They were close now, and separated from the heady atmosphere of the club I could make out their perfume. It was exquisite. Something I couldn’t place but it definitely had an effect upon me. As if they weren’t desirable enough.
“Well I was hoping it wasn’t just cos I was paying you, but isn’t every john?” They chuckled.
“Maybe.” They stepped closer, lowering their head and looking up at me. Their hair was cut short, but a slight feathered fringe hung softly over one eye, giving them a sultry look. “But maybe I just liked you. Independent contractor remember? I choose my clients.”
I turned to look at Jason and Luisa down the street. They seemed to be making it up, judging by the passionate clinch they were in. I doubt I was getting paid anytime soon, especially knowing Jason’s financial straights. I turned back to Azure.
“Well that’s good, because I don’t think I have any more money.” I was only half joking. It had been an expensive evening even before the medicare expense.
They drew my head down for a kiss, fingers on the back of my neck, getting lost in my hairline. Their soft lips parting, inviting me in, our tongues exploring that sweet connection. My arms embracing them as I get lost in the kiss, pulling their body closer. Electricity dancing in my senses. I savour every second, before we part again. I catch my breath, caught short, as my heart pounds in my chest and my blood starts to rush, warming my face, and elsewhere.
“I think you’ve earned this one,” they said, winking at me. “But if you want I can bill you double next time.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I offered them an arm, and they linked with me, before we walked back to the car.
Perhaps it had been a better night than I thought.
So that’s that. As I said I’ve revisited this idea. Originally I had a plan for more short stories in this world, but revisiting it the idea of doing more with Solomon is the most appealing. Perhaps this could be the introduction before he gets a much bigger and more intricate story.
Either way this was something different for me in a lot of ways. This was the first time I really tried to write in the first person, and the introduction of a non-binary character made me very deliberate about pronoun usage and gendered terminology throughout in a way that had me addressing a lot of basic language one might use in this story, for example even referring to Azure as a ‘working girl’ wouldn’t be accurate, despite their more femme presentation. I also had a very clear idea of how this story would end up, as the battle in the alleyway was a visual that came to me really early on and completely fully formed, even to the iDrive creating an automatic medical alert when Solomon gets wounded. The iDrive itself was also a key piece of technology that I could perfectly envision – an implanted upgrade similar to a modern mobile cell phone, allowing all sorts of features via physical and software updates, with a private display overlaid on someone’s vision. The rest of the story was designed to wind up at that point, and I decided to follow a detective noir style as that seemed to lend itself to the setting I was envisioning and my idea for the character. Even the name Solomon was something I had settled on really early despite not being clear where it had come from, and I still don’t have a decided first name for the character. I may write more of Solomon, or this world, and I may also share more writing ideas in the future for this or other stories.
Regardless, I hope you have enjoyed it. I hope you all do the very best to look after your physical and mental health as best as you can, and I will speak to you all again soon.
Until next time, my friends. Bye for now.
______
Garhdo
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