h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I wish to throw down the gauntlet (all in the best possible taste) and see just where it takes us!
Just add your piece to The Never Ending Fiction and who knows, we may write a best seller between us all.

Chapter one

It was amost up to 4.00pm The last of the autumn afternoon sunlight came filtering in through the large circular window of the attic office which Sticky Malone rented from Morrie the Jewish talent agent who had his offices on the floor below and who’s wife ran the bagel shop at street level.

Sticky sat behind a large leather toped desk with his back to the window idly tapping the keys of an old Imperial 90 type writer and getting ink all over the roller.

To the left of the machine sat a large brass desk lamp with a green shade. The bulb did not work and Sticky could not be bother to replace it.
To the right of the type writer sat a bottle of Scotch which was half empty and a glass which was half full.

Sticky lit another cigarette and was about to put the glass to his lips when he heard footsteps in the corridor. A shadow appeared against the frosted glass of the office door. The handle slowly turned, the door opened and in walked ---------

it's your turn - take it away!

"The handle slowly turned, the door opened and in walked ---------"
... Dusty Shiver. Dusty was the gal that had broken Sticky's heart. He'd never aloud himself to feel anything for dame again. She'd done him wrong. And she walked into his office like she owned the place. This broad was trouble and Sticky knew it.
Sticky reached for his scotch and sat back in his chair nonchalantly. Sticky knew how to play it cool. He had nothing but ice in his heart and it was moll's that had put it there.
Sticky through back his scotch and then broke the silence...

It maybe a corny misquote but of all the PI offices in all the towns in all the states you had to walk into mine. After all this time Dusty what brings you back here?

Pardon me if I pull up a chair and park my butt, but it’s been a long haul to get here and these heals are killing me.
Dusty lent across the desk and removed the cigarette from Sticky’s hand and took a deep draw on the Camel, then blew out a great puff of smoke through her scarlet lips.

Come on Dusty spill the beans ----------

"Are you in trouble, are the bricks giving you stick?" asked Sticky in his broad New York accent. Dusty did nothing to reply, she took another blow on the cigerette. Silence and smoke filled the small room.

"Come on babe, give me something to work with here!"

"You were always in a rush weren’t you Sticky?"

"Oh please, you don't come all this way to stir up..."

"It's so cold in here, can we go to the bar across the street".

Sticky felt confused, she had been in the room for what felt like forever. The hate between them when their relationship ended was still there but then she wanted to go out with them. 'What is up?' Sticky asked himself with increasing anxiety. One thing was for certain however, he would'nt find out here.

It had started to rail when they hit the street. A yellow cab rushed by and felt it’s mark on Dusty’s silk stockings.
He bent down to brush off the water spray.
Sticky resisted the temptation to push her flat on her face in the sidewalk.
They crossed the street and entered the bar. It was dark and stale smelling. They sat down at the bar when the barman, an ex-boxer type asked if they wanted a drink.
“Bourbon” Sticky replied “ and make it a large on, the broad’s paying”
“Make mine a Dry Martine” Dusty added placing a ten dollar bill on the bar.
As the barman reached out to retrieve the money Sticky’s hand fell on his wrist. “leave it there till we’ve drunk it all, the bottle as well.”
The barman nodded and returned to drying glasses at the other end of the bar,
Sticky downed the shot then asked Dusty once again to get to the point.

"I'm in trouble Sticky"

Sticky knew this, this is as much as he did know.

"I got on the wrongside of Jack and now I'll pay the price"

Sticky crawled through his memory. He knew the city like the back of hand. He knew every low life, thug and prostitute in the neighbourhood none of them named Jack.

"I did'nt know who else to turn to" Dusty continued as Sticky thought.

"Who is Jack?" asked Sticky.

"Please Sticky" she said as he imagined a tear roll down her hard faced cheek. "Don't ask too much".

"I only want to know who this guy is who is causing you this trouble?"

Do I have to spell it out to you Sticky, Jack, you know Jack it was he and his Moll that caused all the trouble.
Not the two that went up the hill? Quizzed Sticky.
No, Sprat, him that had the trouble with his weight and was on a fat free diet.
Yes, and his wife who would never stop eating fatty foods, they were no problem to her. Added Sticky.
Did you know what it was that they ate? Whispered Dusty.
No! probably a family bucket from KFC or a Whopper from Macdonald’s or something! Sticky shrugged his shoulders.
Sticky you know all these models have been going missing lately, well if I said Hannibal Lector was a vegetarian would you get the idea! Dusty was looking around with fear in her eyes.