It had started with a song that sounded all too familiar for a speak easy, yet like nothing he had ever heard before. The ragtime drum beat of her heels clacking along the platform, the bass-line building in time with his rising pulse, the piano melody playing along the back of her thigh, the guitar plucking the pieces of clothing off her shapely form and finally that brass, bursting over her skin and blasting her euphoric aura all over him.
He had downed the remainder of his whiskey and had stood up to approach the enchanting music. The sax line swirled with her circular motions as his lip had curled in an approving snarl. The volume had continued to increase as he stalked closer and closer to the symphony of his dreams. Finally close enough, he had reached out an arm to pull the last of the sheer material off her body when suddenly the instruments stopped for the Grand Pause. Motionless, completely still, he could only hear his own nervous heart beating in anticipation. He had spent a few breaths assailing her beauty with his predatory eyes. God, she was beautiful. Unable to wait a moment longer, he had lunged forward...
***
"We just don't have any use for a doll on the Bureau in an agent's role," Detective Morgan explained as he brushed the few strands sweaty hair he had left over his bald head.
Effie bit the inside of her cheek in frustration as she studied the pig-like man who was grooming himself so meticulously in the window of the city's main office. She thought the war had showed men how useful women could be in society, but apparently not. She doubted that this greasy misogynist even made it to a battle as he would surely have not had the balls, let alone physique, to survive.
"Well girly, are you going to ask for a more domestic role? If not you can get the hell outta here and stop wasting my time!" he spun around clumsily knocking some newspapers off his desk, one of which he appeared on the cover.
Effie decided to take another approach, picking up the relevant cover story, "Why detective, is that you on the front of the Gazette?"
The detective's brow furrowed at first, but then upon realising what she was referring to he began to turn a bright beetroot red, "Why, um, yes."
"You look so handsome and mighty important, was this in relation to a speak easy?" she smiled at him with her most adoring grin.
"Uh sure, girly, but I really don't see how..."
"Now, now, don't be modest, it says here you nearly caught the illustrious Wolf..." the moment she uttered his name the detectives nostrils had flared with rage but she continued as if oblivious to his apparent unease "...do tell me all about it, why I've never been in a speak easy before being a moral and upstanding citizen and all," Effie continued, moving around the desk toward the detective.
"Well, there ain't much too them, filthy places they are," the detective seemed to look at her with wary eyes, unsure of her closing proximity to him.
"I bet they are filled with alcohol, cash and..."
"...loose women, yes," the detective finished her sentence for her as she gently pressed her palm on his shoulder.
With the most demure of expressions, she looked up at him through her eyelashes and said "Now, what use would a female agent be in a place full of alcohol, cash and apparently, women?"
The detective gulped, making his turkey like chin wobble. Effie looked down at the pathetic excuse of a tent in the detective's breaches before giggling softly and turning away to head for the door.
"Wait..." the detective panted as she placed her hand on the knob.
"Oh?" Effie spun around, the most innocent of looks on her face at the detective's predictable reaction.
"Just hold on one moment, there may be some need for you after all," Detective Morgan squabbled as he grabbed the phone and began to circle the dial.
Effie, satisfied with her little performance, took a seat and waited for her new employer to direct her further.
An agent for the Bureau of Prohibition,
if only he could see me now
, she smirked to herself as she heard the man on the other end of the line pick up.
"Agent Ness, I think I have just found your new partner..."
***
Agent Ness was a tall man with dark features and a long stride. Some may have called him handsome if it were not for the brooding expression that permanently clung to his otherwise aesthetically pleasing features. He was considered the best dry agent in the business and had successfully infiltrated and shut down every illegal alcohol supply ring in the city. All except for one. And after his most recent failure, he was not prepared to be further insulted by his commander by being partnered with a
girl
.
"Are you shittin' me? How can you trust the Wolf himself didn't send this little lady as another one of his spies?" Agent Ness slammed his fist onto the detective's desk.
"Now, now Ness, we already know he has got half the guys here on his payroll. If anything it's likely this little lady is one of the only citizen's in the city looking for a job here who isn't in league with him," the detective leaned in closer to the young agent and lowered his voice, "plus with the budget cuts we could use a bit of cheap labor."
