Sam Spade 04: Case of the Missing Heiress

This story is copyrighted 2006 by Kaereni, may not be excerpted, reprinted, reproduced, or reposted in any form without the express written consent of the author. Visitors to this web site may read or temporarily download pages but are not permitted to modify or re-distribute them.

The story contains sexual activities and situations that are to be read only by readers above the legal age of consent. All characters in the story are above the age of consent. The story is not to be read in locations where such stories are illegal. If you are not of legal age, or live in the wrong place, please exit this site immediately.

Author's note: Special thanks go to obsidian with a little o, Lady D, Arianne and my editor Ed. Without whom this story would not have been possible.

*

I was sitting in the graveyard as the sun prepared to rise. My rear end was cold and sore from the unresisting concrete bench as I contemplated life and Cindy's grave. It was bad enough that I damned Cindy with my actions and words, but I had also missed her funeral. I found a kind of peace in this desolate place that could not be found anywhere else. Everyone knew that this was my alone time. Well, almost everyone, I was sitting and wishing I could talk to her face to face once more when I heard a woman's voice, shrill and squealing like a rusty wheel, behind me, "Samantha Spade, I must talk to you."

Looking up to the heavens I asked, "Even in the middle of the night, and in a graveyard, people come to me. Is there no peace for me anywhere?" Turning I saw a "bluebottle lady." The matronly woman's hair looked as if someone dumped blue ink on it in the darkness while her dress was in modern tacky and if the fur she wore around her neck were real, I would eat a dead bird. Sighing I said, "Look lady, I don't know you, I don't need your money that bad. So... come to my office after 9 am or not. Either way, leave me alone." Looking past her, I raised my voice, "Jimmy? Will you and Angela show this...lady to the gate?"

"Now, now, Miss Spade. Is that anyway to talk to a Countess?" Her voice grated on my nerves like someone running their fingernails over a chalkboard.

"If you're a countess then I'm a cocker spaniel." I said standing and facing her. I looked past her but did not see ether Angela or Jimmy headed this way.

"I don't have time to teach you manners child. I need your help finding my chider... Errr, daughter." The woman said going nose to nose with me. Whoever she was, she had the aristocratic shtick down pat. She pulled out a passport and handed it to me. "I received a call that this was found at the airport."

It seemed I would not get rid of the old bat unless I at least looked at the passport. Opening it, I saw it was from England and saw a head shot of a lovely young woman. Flipping through it I noticed the entrance stamp but nothing else. Going back to the front, I read the name aloud, "Cynthia Rose Williamson." Looking at the woman, "My rate is one thousand a day plus expenses. I will need a ten thousand down payment in advance... Cash." I knew this would get rid of her. No one carries cash anymore and if they did, not that kind of cash at night in a graveyard.

"Done." She said and opened her oversized purse. She pulled out two bundles of 100-dollar bills and handed them to me. "This should cover twenty days."

I stood there looking at the bills and red passport. Darn it I did not want a case. The rate was just to get rid of her. Now I was stuck again tracking a missing person. I looked up to find a way to tell the woman to piss off. However, she was nowhere to be found.

Jimmy came up with Angela, "You called Sam?" he said.

"What took you so long?"

"What do you mean dear?" Angela replied, "We came just as soon as you called."

"Hmmm..." I looked down at the two bundles and passport. "Let's go home. We have a case."

As I rode in the back of the car, I thought back over my life. There used to be a time when I was alone, Sam Spade detective. That has all changed, now I am the head of

The Hidden Mask

the most exclusive agency in the eastern seaboard. If you have a problem and no one can help you, seek out the "Hidden Mask." The days of doing footwork and whispers to my informants are long gone. Now I sit like a spider at the center of my web while my staff does all the legwork. Even though I am the center and head, I cannot do anything myself any more. The only times I am able to be alone is visiting Cindy's grave and on the pot. Giving a snort of sad laughter, I realize that my staff would wipe me if they had half the chance.

I looked up at Angela's and Jimmy's heads and felt a wave of isolation sweep over me. Here were my two closest friends and loves, and yet I am alone in the back seat, "Jimmy, pull over." When we stopped, I leaned over the front seat, "Track this passport. I want a full profile on my desk as soon as possible." Handing over the cash I added, "Trace this. I want to know if it hot."

"Yes Sam." Angela replied looking at me, "But why did you have us stop here."

"So I can walk." I said getting out.

I could see a look pass between them, "A walk sounds great." Angela said and opened her door.

I leaned down, "No Angela," and closed her door.

Her face had the look of a beat puppy as I turned away and started walking back the way we came. I knew someone would be following me. It was as if they were worried I would do something rash. About a half a block down, I stopped and looked into a darkened shop window. From the corner of my eye, I could see Angela walking towards me slowly on the walk. Shaking my head, I kept walking away. Angela was many things, but she really stunk at trailing someone. She never got the idea that you were not supposed to be seen.

I guess I should have been flattered that they cared and worried about me. Nevertheless, frankly I was getting damn tired of it. I wanted my independence once more. I thought about where I could go to find solitude at least for a few hours but nothing came to mind. Turning a corner, I stopped, leaned up against the wall and waited. When Angela came rushing around it and slid to a stop looking at me I shook my head. "Love, to follow someone properly you really need at least three people. That way by switching off the mark does not realize he is being tailed."

"Yes Sam"

Shaking my head, I turned and kept walking with Angela beside me. At least she was quiet; she knew how moody I was first thing in the morning. I guess living with someone for 5 years' day in and day out does that. Halfway down the block I saw that one of my old haunts was open. It was refreshing to know that some things had not changed. The light outside still flickered like an epileptic's nightmare. "I need a drink," I said as I opened the door and entered the bar.

It was like stepping into a time machine. I had not been in here for as long as I have known Angela, and yet it was the same. The same smell of cheap beer, stale smoke, and the hint of vomit. "Yo Steve!" I called out as I neared the bar. Instead of Steve, the bartender of old, there was a serving bot.

"How may I help you, sir or madam?"

"Bottle of bourbon, glass, and a pack of Luckys," I said my fond nostalgic memories fading.

"I am sorry sir or madam. I can only dispense drink by glass. Query, define Luckys"

I rolled my eyes and was about to say forget it when I felt Angela's hand on my arm, "Let me Samantha, you just go have a seat." As I went to an empty back booth, I felt both comforted that Angela could handle speaking with an idiot robot and hurt that I had lost the ability to order a drink for myself. It took a few minutes but Angela approached the table holding a bottle, two glasses and a pack of Lucky Strikes.

I heard once, that tobacco sticks used to cause cancer and were addictive. I could not believe that anyone would smoke them knowing that they would be hooked and die. Just an old wives tail I guessed as I shook one out and puffed it to life while Angela poured the bourbon into shot glasses.

Picking up the glass, I tossed it back and felt the raw warm alcohol burn its way down my throat. Refilling the glass, I looked up at Angela, "Do you trust me?"

She looked at me so long not answering it seemed as if she had not heard me. Finally, Angela said, "Yes Samantha I trust you."

"Then why can I not have a moment alone anymore?" I said. Sipping the bourbon before downing it, I looked at her, "What is it everyone is so worried about? Do you think I will try to fly off a bridge or stop a train with my bare hands?" Not letting her answer, the words that have been bottled up finally spilled out, "I feel like I have lost myself. I am just a shell of a memory. I miss..." I looked down as my voice trailed off.

As I poured another shot and started to lift it Angela placed her hand over mine stopping me. "Samantha, when you accepted my, I mean our judgment, you knew it was not easy. Gone were the carefree days of living the highlife. You knew you had new responsibilities, and duties to others. Are you saying you have changed your mind and this is too hard for you?"

"No..." I said. I knew that was a lie, and by the look on Angela's face she knew. "Ok it is hard. How can I work with someone always hovering at my elbow?"

Angela smiled softly, "Don't you remember? We made a deal long ago, where you go I go." Her face got serious before adding, "Sam, as Wendy said to Peter Pan, and I am paraphrasing here, Grow up!"

I looked at her in surprise; Angela had always been plain spoken, but never before now, cross with me. I hate when she is right. "Ok love you win." I thought for a moment, "Get a picture of the passport made, Have the sisters, Ashley and Tonjala, cover the cabbies at the airport and see if anyone remembers her. Have Crystal check the cat houses and see if our girl has been picked up by one of the local pimps, she had good connections there. Please have Colleen help Jimmy. Amiee and Heather hit all the hotels starting from the best down, have them talk to the door attendants. Put Sue on car rentals, and you my love, go check the bus and rail routes and see if anyone remembers her."

Angela just nodded as I spoke and rattled off orders. When I finished she said, "What about Rachel and Frankie?"

"Hm, Ask Frankie if she has any connections in England. If not, send her and Rachel there to get me some more background. If Frankie cannot go, please ask her to supply muscle for Rachel's trip alone." I paused and then added, "That is unless you will go with her to London. Personally I would rather one of our own, someone I know, go with her."

She nodded and said, "I will talk to Frankie about it. What will you be doing Sam?"

I leaned back and drank the shot. "Being the spider at the center of my web waiting for the break we need."

Angela stood and said, "Ok Samantha I will get everyone right on it." She smiled and said, "It's good to see you back to your old self again." She hurried out the door.

I gave Angela plenty of time to get out and drank a couple more shots. I would have taken the bottle with me but, I was not dressed the part of a drunk. Stepping out of the bar, I paused and lit a smoke stick, glancing around, expecting my tails to be in place. I had figured it was a fifty percent chance that Angela would believe me about everyone's assignments. I had broken them down into baby steps and given jobs to each person when normally this is something I can do by myself in a few days' time.

In the time it took me to light the stick, I spotted five others who were not moving in the morning flow of people. Shaking my head, I muttered, "Sad, just sad," as I walked away.

Chapter 2

As I walked along slowly against the flow of the tide of people, I made a note to myself that I really needed to teach a class on following someone. At least my girls were using more than one person to do the job. Seeing a chance, I stamped out my smoke stick and jumped on a stopped bus. As it pulled away, I could see my tails trying to flag down cabs. I rode it for a few blocks and got off. Hurrying around the corner, I went down to the subway, got on the first train, and rode it for one stop before coming up. Repeatedly I would switch transportation until I lost everyone except one tail. Damn she was good. I could not tell who it was but she stayed with me all through out.

Coming up on a recessed entrance, I turned in and waited. I would do to her just as I had done to Angela earlier in the morning. I would surprise her when she turned the corner. However, she did not come around. I waited a good five minutes and then thinking I had shaken her walked out.

"Hello Samantha, I hear you are looking for me," a woman's voice flowed over me like warm honey. There, leaning against the wall around the corner was the woman I was sent to find. Cynthia was dressed in a tee shirt that had been cut just below her breasts. On the front, it said in large red letters "Bite Me." Her black leather pants fit against her body as if they had been painted on. Between the top and her pants, I could see she was into the retro trend of piercing her bellybutton. She pushed me back into the doorway and caressed my body.

I was helpless in her hands, it was as if someone had taken control and turned me into a walking pleasure zone. Each touch sent waves of pleasured orgasmic bliss through me. I could feel her lips and teeth kissing and nipping at my neck. Tilting my head and sweeping my hair back out of the way, I allowed her better access to kiss and have her way with me. Her honey voice spoke softly in my ear, "Just a taste before I go, you don't mind do you Samantha?"

I would not have minded if she had ravished me on the street and left me for anyone else who would have come along. "Anything you want... anything" I said breathlessly.

I felt a stinging sensation just below my neck and moving to between my breasts. Opening my eyes, I saw her lift a knife away and slide it into her boot. Looking down I saw a thin slice oozing blood and then watched as she lowered her face and licked at the blood oozing from me. "Feel so good" she purred, "pain and pleasure at the same time."

I felt the words sinking in to my core as I agreed, "Pain and pleasure...," I moaned as I felt her tongue pleasuring and stinging the cut all at one time. I lost track of time, there was just the pleasure I was feeling, sharp and hot, as orgasms rippled through my body.

She stood up and smiled, her bloody lips making it look as if she had red lipstick on. "Till we meet again Samantha," Her hand reached up to caress my cheek, and then she was gone.

I came out of her effect slowly. I could feel the cut still oozing blood and when I focused my mind on it, I felt the sharp sting from it intensify. At the same time, I orgasmed again from the pleasure I felt. Only half realizing it, I said softly, "pain and pleasure." Shaking my head, I stopped a passing cabbie and headed home. I needed to change my panties and get the cut cleaned up.

Reaching the house, I showered and changed into my old suit. Like an old friend, I slid the jacket on and tied the tie in the mirror. The cut on my chest was little more than a scratch but I was aware of it and did not want anyone to ask me where I got it. As I came out of the bedroom there was Angela holding my fedora. Taking it from her I put it on and then kissed her passionately, "Love you so," I whispered to her. Angela melted in my arms and kissed me back, her hands wrapped around my waist.

"Mmmm, you keep that up and we will never get to the office," Angela whimpered as my hands caressed her breasts.

"Alas you are right," I said and stopped. As we drove to the office, I thought again, on how my life had changed. Gone was the little shabby office from before. Now we were in the upper class district and had a whole floor to ourselves. Instead of just Angela and I working together, all my sweet darlings worked for me, even Jimmy closed his second hand shop to join my company. I knew that Don Bruce was glad that Frankie had handed over control of The Pink Pussycat to him again. He was not happy that she had done so only to be closer to me.

When we arrived at the office, I noticed that the place was deserted. I looked at Angela with an eyebrow raised as if to ask where everyone was. "I gave them the assignments already Sam," she said as we walked into my office. I glanced at the north wall and saw the masks, 12 of them, hung up in a double row. I still wondered why they had not turned to dust. Shrugging at the same old question, I moved in behind my shabby desk. Angela had wanted to buy me a nice new one, but I liked my old desk, sticking drawers and all. Sitting down I smiled at Angela, "Off to the rail and bus lines with you."

She smiled back and spoke softly, "Yes mistress, my love. Right after I make you coffee. I know how you can be in the morning without it." I watched her putter around the office making coffee and then bringing me a cup. As she handed it to me, she kissed me lightly. "There you go." When she left, I sipped the coffee and started in on the paperwork. You would think that the boss would do nothing but sit back and relax. Instead, every day I ended up spending several hours pushing paper.

At four pm, we had our daily staff meeting. The news was discouraging to say the least. Everyone turned up empty. Even Jimmy had not been able to find out anything about Cynthia. The suggestion came up that it was all a joke to watch us run around like fools and she never existed. "If it is a joke why pay us twenty thousand up front to find her?" I replied testily. "Tomorrow I want you all to go out again and recheck every place all over. No matter who it is, a person cannot just disappear." Standing I leaned over the table, "Someone has seen her, someone knows where she is, and we are not going to stop looking till she is found. I have never given up on a case, and by damn I will not now!"

Taking a couple of breaths, I calmed myself down, "I know you all are trying your best. But you have to keep trying." Walking around the table, I thought aloud, "If I was new to the city and it was my first night out what would I do? Sleep?" I shook my head no; "Take in a show?" again the shake of the head, "Go clubbing?" That question stopped me. I turned and looked at everyone sitting and watching me circle the table. "I will bet she will be out tonight at one of the clubs."

"Mistress?" Frankie spoke up, "Do you have any idea how many clubs there are here? Better than 500 just in the greater city alone."

That stumped me. We could each hit a bar long enough just to scope out who is there and move on. Even with that idea Cynthia could zig while we zagged and never catch her that way. "Good point" I said, "What if we just hit a few of our favorite clubs each. I know it is a long shot but it's the best I can come up with." I stood at the window and looked out over my loved city. It was at times like this that I wished I lived somewhere smaller. Without turning, I said, "Tonight, go out and have fun, keep track of your expenses, and keep an eye peeled. If you see her call in and follow."

I could hear them talking among themselves as they walked out. Sometimes being the boss sucked. When I turned around Angela and Jimmy were the only two still there. Walking over to them I said with a smile, "My two shadows, Mutt and Jeff. I would love to see what clubs you check out." By the look on their faces, I could tell they had not planned on doing the assignment I just gave out. "Oh yes you both are going out solo tonight, hit as many bars as you can and keep your eyes peeled."

"But I..." Jimmy said

"I don't..." Angela said at the same time.

"Am I or am I not the boss here?" I asked looking at them both hard. I got two nods in reply. "You both have been hovering over me like a pair of mother hens. Well darlings, you wanted me to be your mistress; you wanted me to be the boss. So, when I give an order I expect everyone to follow it." Sighing I sat down and said softly, "I know you both worry." Silence was their reply. Looking from one to the other, I said softly, "Just do what I ask please."