It was 3 in the afternoon when she walked into my place. The sky was dark, rain soaked the streets. Why is it this dark at three you might ask, the ambiance required it. Still, the mood was right for her to walk into my life.
I could hear my secretary stating. “Mista Peyton not seeing no one today.”
Then I heard her voice. “I must see him, it is important. He’s the only man in this city who can help me.”
“I tell ya, he ain’t seeing no dame today.”
My secretary was dead wrong. I always make time for a good look’n dame. And, I could tell by her voice that she was one I didn’t want to miss. Her shadow crossed the frosted glass of my door and I knew my instincts were right.
“Eva, let her come in!” I called out.
“Alright, boss.”
The door opened and the shadow was only the sampler of the incredible dish served. She stood there, lips that glimmered in the dim light of the room, smoky eyes that beckoned every male with a heartbeat, and legs that wouldn’t quit. She would be wearing red if this story wasn’t noir and everything was in this blasted black and white.
“Private Eye Peyton?” She asked in that sultry tone.
I took my feet off the desk, tossed a toothpick in the waste bin, and gave her as good a smile as I could muster. “Who’s ask’n?”
“I… I can’t really recall. I think I murdered some guy and that I was making fried chicken, or was it pies?”
“Mildred?”
“No, that’s not it. Chase.”
“I don’t have time for any car chases.”
She came around and sat in the chair in front of my desk. “No, Mr. Peyton. My name, it’s Chase. I’m so confused.”
“You need a doctor, not a gumshoe.”
Using her silk gloved hand, she drew out my buisness card from her purse and placed it in front of me. “I woke up on the street and couldn’t remember anything. I had nothing on me except this card, and I knew you could help.”
I picked up the card and realized what this meant. My past was coming crashing to me, my present reality about to shatter. I was enjoying the story so far, but now things were going to get serious.
“Mr. Peyton, why are you narrating everything?”
“Oh, sorry. Force of habit. Moves the story along and is cliché. Fortunate for you, I’m the only person who can help you, and you’ll be able to help me.”
I stood and turned to the window. Opening the blinds slightly, I let in the light, cutting in stark slats across the room.
She
asked me. “why did you do that?”
“Mood lighting. We need smoke or dramatic lighting and I don’t smoke.” I turned and came around the desk to her. “Look, Chase, I need to take your hands.”
She drew back like I was about to mug her. “Mr. Peyton! I’m not that kind of girl… at least I don’t think I am.”
“No, I aint gonna do anything like that. Just, take my hands.”
She took hold and I used a gift that I rarely let anyone know about. In moments, she was dazed and finally woke to reality.
Looking at her arms in shock and then touching the dress and large hat on her hand, Chase stood up. “What the hell is going on! Where am I? How...WHO ARE YOU?”
I tipped my hat to her, “Private Eye Peyton.”
“What? Why did you narrate yourself and who… wait, Private Eye Peyton? That card!”
I held the card up to her, “yeah. Only one guy I know has a card from me. Director Nova. If you had this, then he sent you. I tried calling to warn him, but the phone disconnected.”
“Gar pulled it out of the wall, he...GAR! They took Gar!”
“Someone stole your car?”
“Not car, Gar. My friend, he came to help. Something happened to him, he froze and became a statue and was dragged off. They called him the Maltese Gargoyle...which makes no sense.”
“Makes perfect sense to me, sweetheart. Those thugs are just as brainwashed into this as you. They was changed. But, if they thought he was some item, then he’s probably safe.”
“What’s going on? Why am I dressed like it’s 1940..”
“1930.”
“WHATEVER! Who changed my clothes and how did I get in here?”
I knew she was one serious dame…
“STOP NARRATING AND IF YOU CALL ME DAME ONE MORE TIME!”
“Sorry, sorry, part of the shtick. I’ll try to control it, no promises though. Anyway. Here’s the deal. There’s this lowlife named Rutkowski who operates the local product delivery service. Big business, but just a front. He’s really a seedy gangster boss who has super powers.”
“What kind of powers?”
“You look’n at em dollface.” He held out his hand to the window, showing the city.
“The gray?”
“More than graying everything. He alters reality. Rutkowski has a goal, turn the world into his permanent gangster kingdom, with him as king. He has a massive army of thugs and lowlifes that are as loyal to him as they come, including a few superpowered villains. I have kept him in check for decades, but he tries this once in a while. Something, though, is giving him on hell of a boost. He altered the whole city in a matter of moments and it’s already spreading. The burbs are almost over come.”
Chase went for her communicator, “we have to call BADGE and...what the hell?” her communicator was now a compact with blush and a mirror. “Makeup? Who needs makeup when everything is gray?”
“Part of the problem, doll. Reality is bent, everything here is genre specific. Your clothes weren’t changed, just altered. If you call in the BADGE’s little army, they’ll end up just like you, memory wiped and adjusted to this reality.”
“How are you not altered?”
“Same thing that gave him gave me powers. Our first struggle happened over that?” I showed her a beautiful grandfather clock.
She walked over and examined it. “McGuffin Clock Company, what is it?”
“A device that lets someone change reality to any time they want. It don’t work no more, but the power was given to each of us. He can change reality, I can unchange it. However, he’s stronger than me.”
“We need to find a way…”
The phone rang and both knew by the change in musical tempo that it wasn’t a cheerful call.
I picked up the phone. “Private Eye Peyton here.”
Rutkowski’s voice came through loud and clear, “Peyton, I know that dame from BADGE is in yer office. Tell her that I got her buddy, the stony guy. If she don’t want me to have my boys smash him to bits, I suggest you keep outta my business.”
Chase, who could hear all of this, said, “Gar’s indestructible. BADGE is gonna have your hide…”
I stopped her, “you heard that. Your threats are empty. Give up, you can’t stop both me and BADGE.”
“All I’s got to do is wait fer the alteration to cover the world, Peyton. Your buddy might be indestructible, but he can sink and I’m feeling like go’n fish’n. Now, my boys are gonna keep this city secure, till reality is done chang’n. You keep your nose outta my business and we’ll all be kosher, capeesh?”
“You’re in over your head, Rutkowski.”
Rutkowski laughed as he cut off the call.
Chase asked, “What are you going to do, Mr. Peyton?”
“What I have to, dial N for Nova.” After a few moments and a load of connections, I heard the voice of a man I knew never wanted to hear my voice again.
“Oh, god, you’re narrating yourself again. This must be serious.” Nova was his chipper self.
“Sorry. Yes, it’s happened. We need your help. The city is being held hostage by hoards of thugs led by Rutkowski’s head henchman. We can’t even begin to find out how to stop him without getting them outta the way. Think you can send me some help?”
“Yes. I will send the leagues in…”
“Not in, just to the outskirts. The moment they get in the city, they’ll be taken by the reality change. Just have them scare the thugs and Steelfist back into hiding and let me do my job.”
“Fine, but I’ll still send in more help. Just a few, think you can handle them?”
“Alright, we’ll do it your way. But, only send in a few. My power only works so much.”
“Agreed.”
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