Chapter 80

The room smells of fish. A tall black man built like a boxer is leaning against the door jamb. He is dressed in a well cut grey suit that shows of his physique. There is a bulge under his left arm where a Glock 9mm rests in a shoulder holster. A blond in a red dress, low in the neck and high on the thigh is slumped on a sofa, she is beautiful but damaged with track marks up her arm. Her pimp sits on the arm of the sofa, hat pushed back on his head and a thin cheroot in his mouth. He is cleaning his nails with a flick knife. A large black man in a brown derby and striped silk vest sits an upright piano. The window is open trying to get air into the room. It is raining. The rain bounces of the pavement and into the gutter which is flowing like a small river. Across the street is a drug store who's neon sign spells out the words, SODAS, it flashes on and off, red white red white. In the back room there is a high roller game of stud in progress, and down the hall is on open door against which leans a tall black hooker in just a negligee and high heeled pumps. She is in shadow from the single 50 watt screw in bulb hanging from the ceiling above the stair well. A shadow of a man in a trenchcoat and trilby grows down the lino as he climbs the stairs, he is followed by a blond the spit of Veronica Lake. They pause by the door. She takes out a long ivory cigarette holder and turns to the man.

"Light me up Joe." He fires up a zippo and obliges.

The piano player is playing Honey Suckle Rose as they enter the room. She goes over to Fats and tells him that her pal, Joe Coolz, is a great player from England and could he sit in?

'sure, the keys are a little loose but it's in tune." He gets up and and takes his pint of whiskey from the lid and sits himself down next to the hooker on the sofa.

Joe removes his coat and pushes back his hat, adjusts the stool and plays some Bach. There is a general howl of disapproval so he turns the fugue into a rocking stride.

The pimp takes Veronica by the hand and rolls with the beat pressing himself into her, she steps backwards but allows him to stay close. Joe alters the beat and goes into a slow tango. The pimp pulls Veronica into him and leans her over. The sound of raised voices and laughter comes up the stairs. Half a dozen sailors step into the room wet and steaming from the rain. The tango grabs them and they split into pairs and dance around the the pimp and Veronica. Joe Coolz ups the tempo and floor becomes a frenzy of gyrating couples. Fats, enjoying the show, takes a long pull on the jug, and claps his hands in time. Through the window mixing with the red and white neon comes the blue of a squad car. There is the sound of heavy boots on the wooden stairs.

"Hold it, this is a raid."

Detective first class Doil enters the room followed by two uniforms in dripping capes. The floor now has more water than a bath house. The sailors rush the trio and force them back into the hall. The hooker down the passage steps aside as they make for the fire escape. The well dressed black dude follows them taking out his Glock as he gets to the fire escape he turns and fires hitting the 60 watt bulb reducing the hall to just the flashing neon glow. One of the cops fires two shots at random. Veronica falls to the floor with two red marks in her side.