I sat in my office smoking a Lucky Strike and reading the paper. The Japs were still in Washington trying to negotiate an end to their assets being frozen. DiMaggio had a 40 game hitting streak for the fucking hated Yankees. It was sweltering in my office on Main Street. The fan in the window was succeeding only in blowing hot air around the room. Outside, the palm trees at Five Points corner were still. I poured myself two fingers of whiskey. It was quality stuff, a dime a pint. But, it kept my teeth from staining.
There was a knock on the frosted glass office door. I said, “Come in.”
She did. She was a tall dame with blond hair and blue eyes. She wore a powder blue suit that was tailored and must have cost her the best part of thirty dollars. I straightened my tie and said, “What can I do for you, Miss-“
“Mrs. Stansfield, Sabrina Stansfield.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Stansfield. If you’re looking for Lance Steele, you found him. Please, sit.” She sat in the client chair in front of my desk.
She nodded, almost to herself and said, “Mr. Steele, I have a problem.”
I waited for her to spill it. Most people don’t know how the whole, hiring a private dick routine goes. I really don’t know how it goes either, as each case is different from the previous one. She looked around my office and nodded appreciatively. She pulled a gold cigarette case out of her purse and asked, “Do you mind if I smoke?”
“Of course not.” I lit her cigarette with my desk lighter.
“You were saying”, I prompted.
She took a drag on her cigarette and exhaled with a sigh. “I think my husband is cheating on me and I need you to find out if that’s the case.” It all came out in a rush as though if she said it quickly, it wouldn’t be true.