Chapter 1.

My name is Jack Jericho. I'm a detective.But i don't investigate cheating wives or crooked business partners.I investigate things that bump In the night.

How I got started in paranormal investigations is a long story.Something took my wife from me.Rose was my whole world.Now she's gone.I've been running around leads ever since.

It's a tough racket,looking into the dark and creeping things.Most people won't even admit they believe in ghost or goblins, much less consult a detective about it.And the cops they aren't interested in solving the strange side you know because you used to be one of them.Now I work for myself which means most months the bills go unpaid.This month being no exception.

I'm at the office, feet up on the desk, a paperback in hand when a leggy blond in a pinstripe mini-skirt and a black fedora with lipstick, the colour of temptation saunters in.

My eyes make a slow trip up those legs to a narrow waist and then linger on her… lips before set settling onto a pair of eyes that promise sin.

She gives me the treatment. I can't tell if she likes what she sees or she's sizing me up to the job.

Ignoring a pair of tatty office chairs,she perches herself on the corner of my desk instead and crosses one leg over the other revealing a lot of thigh.It's still kind of night rerun I never get tired of watching.She takes a cigarette from her purse and I flick open my Zippo. She takes a long drag, below his team of blue smoke up towards the cracked ceiling and says, "So you're are a private ****?"

"Public **** as well," I say. "What can I do for you?"

"Someone's trying to kill me," she says.

"Why would anyone want to kill you?"

"That's what I want to find out."

I chuckle."Fair enough.But we haven't been introduced yet."

"Sissy Tease."

I clear my throat.It's suddenly hot in here.I resist the urge to put a finger in my collar and tug."And why do you think someone is trying to kill you?"

She doesn't answer right away.She shudders almost imperceptibly,but I pretend not to notice. I wait her out.

Finally she says, "I'm part of a burlesque show, Mr. Jericho.In fact, I've just become the headline act."

I'm are curious as the way her face pinches as she admits this,but I merely say, "Call me Jack," and lean back in my chair, knowing she's about to explain herself.

She nods and takes a breath. "okay,Jack like I said, I'm now the top dancer- the reason they sell tickets.That's why someone is trying to kill me.Only not in any normal sense.You see the other headliners have all died."

"How's that?"

Sissy shrugs."Different ways.Joanie got run over by a bus and deedee fell out of a sixth floor window."

"Sounds sounds like a pair of unfortunate accidents," I tell her.

"That's just what the boys down the station house said." She gets up and paces the floor. "But you don't know all the facts Joanie was paranoid about crossing traffic. It was practically a phobia with her. She had a brother, see.He got run over and killed when Joanie was only 10. it stuck with her."

"That sort of thing always does."

"There's no way Joanie walked out into traffic without looking first."

"Either of them take drugs? or drink?"

She gives me an exasperated look "Just 'cause we're dances doesn't mean we are booze hounds as well, Mr.Jericho."

"You didn't answer my question."

Joanie liked to hit the bottle but wasn't drinking that night. I know that for a fact. I was with her 15 minutes before she died. She hadn't touched a drop and Deedee was straight-laced. A good kid. She fell out of a hotel window that doesn't open.Just fell right out. Even the police couldn't explain it."

I lean back and make a staple out of my fingers. "That is suspicious.The cops look into it?"

She snorts. "In a city like dead-wood cove? Couple of dancers turn up dead, no one cares. The police put it down to accidents."

"They aren't very open-minded about this sort of thing," I agree. "What do their deaths have to do with you? Why do you believe you are next?"

"Both were headliners," She says.Both had my party before they died. Someone or something killed them, Jack. I just know it. Won't you help me?"

I weigh my options. This is the first paying gig I've seen in a while and I could really use the money.

"Keep your shirt on doll. I can help you but it ain't cheap."

"I have money," Sissy glances down as the fashionable a small handbag she's clutching. "How much do you charge?"

"$50 a day, plus 100 upfront."

Her lips press together in a small frown.It's a hefty fee, but she knows all the same. If there really is more to these deaths than accident, I won't know until I investigate but Sissy believes there is and that's usually enough to separate a client from the greenbacks.Hey I've got bills to pay. She goes into her purse and counts out the money.

With the money part out of the way, I turn to the real business. I say, "So did Joanie and DeeDee have any enemies? Jealous ex-boyfriend? Money problems?"

Sissy only shakes her head.

"What about you? Any enemies?"

"No, but there is this one guy…"

"Go on."

"He's a regular at the club. Comes in every Friday night. Kind of a quiet fella. He asked Joanie out a couple of times."

"So did she go out with him?"

"Of course not," Sissy almost laughs. "He's a real creep."

"How's that?"

"He never looks you in the eye, but he is always looking. Kinda like he is undressing you with his eyes."

"It's a burlesque show," I say. "Is there much to undreass?"

Sissy narrows her eyes at me.

I shrug. "Tell me more."

"He's pale with watery eyes and a ring on his pinky, with one of those five pointed stars."

"A pentagram?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Now we are getting somewhere. He could be an occultist of some kind, worshipping some forgotten evil god. The girls might be blood sacrifices, though most of this old-time evils prefer ****** blood. I've spent long enough in this business to learn things like this. The guy might be worth checking into. I ask, "Know where he lives?"

"No. But today is Friday he will be at the club at 8:00 PM Sharp."

"Good. That will give me a chance to check out the rest of the Clientele."

"Thanks for taking my case, Jack. I'll see you tonight?"

"Count on it, doll."

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