Guinn Ardens was not the kind of woman you’d want to meet in a darkened alleyway. Not that she was ugly, and the sight of her would terrify. No, no, the scary thing about this kind of woman is what she might be capable of. Problem was, I was about to meet her in such a place and time of night. I had also had a relationship with her that sort of soured. Not that we here bad together, but we were bad for each other all the same. It was a screwy situation made screwier with the knowledge I now had from Mary O’Bleek.

Guinn, the new head of criminal operations in San Metro, was working with the commies. I was the right kind of man though to kick up some fuss with the wrong kind of woman.

I started the ball rolling. “Remember when you said that I could ask you anything?”

She gave me the eyes. I knew then I was in trouble, and bad. “I never said that!”

“Well, I need for you to sing me this tune all the same. I know you used me to take over Jones’ operation. That’s fine. But the girl, Sappho, I know she’s in with the communists. What’s your angle on it?”

She looked genuinely hurt. I was pretty sure she could have me killed for this, cause she’s done worse to people who have said less.

“Ace, I took advantage of a bad situation.” It was cold outside, and her breath made circles in the air. It was almost hypnotic, but not so much so that I didn’t notice her stick a hand in her coat pocket. I’d have to watch myself. “If I didn’t take things over, someone else would have done it. And the first thing they would have done was come after you.”

“Sure sweetheart, that’s a real pretty tune, but it doesn’t sound like something in your repertoire. And how are you connected with the commies? What would you have to gain from working with them?”

“Nothing! This business I’m in benefits best with the freedoms only America offers. Communism kills the profits! Bottom line! I’ve even been working against those kinds of elements in this city. But it sounds like you aren’t going to believe a breath of what I’ve said, so why don’t you just piss off? I’m a busy woman with important people to deal with.”

She turned and walked away. A better man would have stopped her. Hell, a lesser man would have stopped her too. But I was just cautious and stupid enough not to follow my gut. I let her disappear into the San Metro night.

On my way home however, I thought a lot about what she said. Everything sounded pretty and sweet, but then there were the lies! How could I make my next move when I didn’t even know what to make of things?

Luckily, I didn’t have to. She made the move, and it was in all the papers. You had to love this dark woman of style!