noir

- The town is sleeping, yelled Gerry.

Like I'm giving a damn on this lost city, that's why they hired someone like me. I'm just looking at this guy, and he's like everyone else, doubted, angry, lost, but mostly.. afraid. Maybe people like him I'm chasing. Being kicked out of the department and having a 20 dollar private detective license.. sigh, "detective" you say? That's just enough for people like me getting second-rate affair "cases" where I'm just tired... tired of watching twenty something girlies being in the company of old fellows who could be their fathers.

So I'm taking my hat, grabbing my coat and rushing outside, the rent is not paying by itself. Damn! They closed. I hate when I have to explain in front of the tapster, but that's what I like about these night bars, they always have a shortcut... the backdoor. So I'm making my way through that damp wooden fold and finally reach out into the night. Everything seems so numb through the sewer mist. Nothing changed, still those old cold and junky pavers, lucky that the rain is washing this slum. Is raining for days, like my soul watching an empty bottle of whiskey... and I don't care, I need to continue my plan. It's just me, the calm night shades pierced by the warm rain and my thoughts. But there's still something else here, I feel it. Something is moving into the shadows, maybe is the booze that's just playing with my mind, pretty decent role play. Just finished my cigarette, stepped on it and there she is... I knew I was right. That feminine silhouette... oh, those hips and waist... her voluptuous curves are bathing into the neon light and a single glance and I'm falling for them. She looks at me like I'm watching my old dusty reports when I have to cleanup the limber box. The rain continues to fall, but is not touching her, like my courage has gone beside me, without having the spunk of saying her at least "Good night". She's gone already, what's left near the gutter it was distracting me right from the beginning.. her red hair tie. It's shinning in that pond as a dog in its wet box, without food, without hope... poor wet red band.
- Jack, she whispers right after the corner... Jack! Wake up!
I don't get it, my vision is blurry and I see strange lights into the sky... it may be the moon?
- Jack!! It's the last time I'm letting you sleeping on my counter!
- Ahh, pardon, I said with my steamy eyes.
I knew it, it's not my lucky day. There's too much whiskey in my veins and I need to rest. My old small apartment is just a few streets away, hope I can make it. Just like in the old days, when you forgot the count of the cigarettes and the booze was the only friend you had, only that I'm missing my trusty .50 and I have a vague lead... not a single trace.

Enough with this shithole, I'm heading towards my own now. Pulling my stuff together and exiting the front door, but oh, the rain... you make the things so easy when everyone's complaining... I feel comfortable to walk, but not even the second step made and I feel something squishy under my left shoe. I take a look and damn... is that exquisite red hair tie from my dream... how's possible...?

Where am I?...