Hat & Coat

Daniel's walked into the Lucky Penny lounge sharply scanning the evening crowd. Although the club was purposely dim and secretive, Daniel's experience as a police detective gave him a keen and quick eye for subtle detail. His experience as an assassin gave him a killers instinct.

His scan turned up three possible contracts he could pull this evening alone. Tommy Squick was in the corner booth suckering some guy out of his cash over a game of poker. His contract, last Daniel's checked was a small ten thousand dollars.

"Best to wait until it goes up." Daniel's thought.

The 2nd was Salvador Dahli. He was sitting center table directly in front of the beautiful brown lounge singer, Ka-Fe who was in the middle of her set. She sang with none other than the trumpet genius, Suede at her back. Salvador's contract was also a small ten thousand dollars if he was merely killed. If it was made to look like an accident though, it became a 10 million dollar bonus. A worthy amount to be sure but Daniel's didn't want to study the endless details necessary to kill the famous Dahli.Then there was Benny Casedonte, a monster of a man. He was also the son of Mr. Casedonte. Daniel's didn't care what the payday was, he didn't have a death wish. After that it was settled. Daniel's would not get an assassination contract from Brian the bartender tonight. He wouldn't turn the carbon copy back in the day following the hit and he wouldn't recieve a drink on the house as confirmation of payment. Officially, tonight Daniel's was a cop.

Now he could focus on more enjoyable things. Such as the beauty at the end of the bar. She had long hair, slender fingers, and pouty lips. Every inch of her body was kissable. She wore a red dress with a tall slit. Just enough of her legs showed allowing Daniel's to fantasize the rest. He walked down to her and placed his hat and coat on the nearby rack before taking a seat. She was sitting alone and drinking a velvety Merlot.

"That's a nice drink" he said motioning to her stem glass.

Her eye's never opened more than half width when she responded. "It's soothes my bad soul."

"Are you bad girl?"

"Sometimes. When I need to be." she said softly.

Daniel's motioned to her glass but made sure to still speak with flirtatious suggestion.

"May I have a taste?"

The beautiful woman slid her glass to Daniels. He raised it slowly never breaking eye contact with the lovely lady and took a sip.

"Thats very smooth. I can see why it comforts you."

The young woman reached out and touched Daniel's forearm. She slid over to within a half inch of his lips with her eyes still half open and said, "Can you comfort me?"

Daniel's smirked confidently and gave a singular nod. They left promptly with no one really paying attention to their exiting together with hands intertwined. The copper door closed behind them as silently as they left.

The next night the young woman returned to her end of the bar. She asked Brian the bartender for a glass of Cheval Blanc 1947. When Brian set the glass down, she placed a carbon copy on the aged wood.

"This ones on the house Miss." he said.

He picked up the carbon copy with his large hands and went back to the work of a bar tender. The young lady sipped her wine quietly as Suede played a solo set. On the nearby coat rack was Daniel's hat and coat. He must have left them.