SHUTTERED — a Murder Mystery

CHAPTER ONE

The note read:

“Dan, please see me at the Flower-Hat. Signed: Lois.”

When Lois La Monte starts to sing at the Flower-Hat, a classy Sunset Strip bistro, the velvet curtains form an inverted V, the lights dim, and an orange spot illuminates her in front of a microphone.

Describing her as “picked up” is insufficient. She is a bundle of wrapped-up curves, well-rounded and soft, embraced by a black gown with more twists than a mountain road. Lois sings in a low and lazy manner, with just enough sadness to make him want to climb up on the stage with her.

He scorches through a few numbers, letting them smolder around the edges. Then, the curtains close, the lights come on, and he is left hanging — no encores, no repeats, no extra helpings. That’s it. Men hang limp, and women bite into their lips.

This invitation to paradise wanted to see him, indicating she might be in some trouble. That was alright with him, as he was the go-to guy for jams, buttered or smeared. A couple of years ago, when he was with the Bunco Squad, he did a favor for Lois when a couple of boulevard hoodlums tried to force a fast contract on her. Since then, he received gaudy Christmas cards just to keep things friendly. Now, as Detective-Sergeant Dan Winters of Central Homicide, he was…