Strangers Wearing Makeup: Chapter Six [Coffee and a Murder]

I went to meet with Allison again, after the meeting we had at The Shell Beach Club. We were meeting at Cockrun & Ball Coffee House, it was a cafe in one of the nicer, more upscale parts of the city. In this part of the city everyone was a tree hugger. So wrapped up in the idea of saving the earth, stopping global warming, and yet they all smoked like chimneys. How hypocritical can you get? Ruining the ozone with smog and smoke is blasphemy, yet turning your lungs black with tar isn't?
I never did understand those types.
That day was a cool one, a slightly breeze rolling in from the ocean. The sky an overcast grey, like it was one big television screen that lost any kind of signal long, long ago.
When I arrived to the scene a line of Vespas and pompous assholes filled the coffee house. I walked along the side of the shop, peering inside to spot Allison. Then I heard her.
"Gus!" I glanced over and saw her sitting at a table outside, underneath a big green umbrella. I sat across from her. A woman was sitting next to her.
"Gus, I'd like you to meet my friend Amanda." She motioned to her with an arm. Amanda was sucking her iced coffee through the straw, her voluptuous lips pouting. They wrapped around the tiny straw, making it look even smaller. Her lips were glossy. She stared at me, eye-fucking the shit out of me.
In that one look I felt her sucking my dick. The warmth from her mouth spreading throughout my body. The rhythm of her head bob getting me closer to climaxing. The whole time her eyes fixed on mine.
I was broken from my fantasy and brought back to the stark world.
"Gus, Amanda works at The Shell Beach Club; she's a singer." Allison told me, I didn't find any relevance in it, but held onto the information for later reference.
"That's awesome. How do you like it?" I asked Amanda. She broke away from the straw and licked her lips erotically.
"I love it. I meet so many interesting people." She said.
"I'm sure you do." I replied. Then looked to Allison. "Alright, let's talk business."
"Okay." Allison said. "Five grand." She said calmly.
"That's quite an amount, but I can't accept it." I told her.
"And why is that?" She asked getting flustered.
"I'm a private investigator. That means I'm the guy you call if you think he's cheating on you. What you're looking for is a hit man, some soulless monster with no respect for the living." I told her lighting a cigarette.
"What if I made it fifteen grand?" She offered. I dropped my lighter.
"Fifteen? Just like that?" I was taken back by this.
"I need it done, Gus. No one would expect a private investigator to kill someone. After this is done, the cops will be contacting any known assassins around, asking who paid them for the hit." Allison said. I looked over to Amanda who was just sucking on that straw.
"...You make it twenty and we have a deal." I said. I really didn't want to take this job, but I desperately needed some money.
"Twenty thousand dollars it is." She said. "But you'll receive payment after the fact then."
"Why is that?"
"Because I don't just have twenty thousand dollars in my purse, now do I? I'll come into a fortune after Thomas' death, you'll receive your compensation then." She said.
"But what about my collateral?" I asked.
"I could be your collateral." Amanda said licking her lips. "Do you know how much a personal lesson by me is worth?" She grinned. I couldn't help but smirk.
"Its settled then." Allison said. "Amanda, you meet Gus tomorrow and that will be a good enough payment until the assignment at hand is dealt with." She stood up and grabbed her purse. She looked at Amanda. "Go easy on him, he'll need his strength." Then she walked off.
That's when Amanda stood up. She handed me a card.
"Meet me at the club at six forty tomorrow night. We'll carpool from there." Then she started walking off in the opposite direction. She turned back and shouted. "Oh, and Gus! Wear a vest, I think layers are hot!"
I looked down at the card: Amanda Bliss, singer. I did not like how that whole scene played out, it makes me sick to my stomach, replaying it in my head.
I need to get some egg rolls. I should head to the donut shop on Elizabeth street, there's a cute Mexican girl there that gives great head.

-Sir Jestro