A Hard Rain

"It was raining in the city by the bay. A hard rain. The kind of rain that..."

A slender hand slid over his shoulder and down his chest, leaving a trail of heat before lifting, reaching out, tapping a control.

"No rain."

He caught that hand, holding it as he half turned, frowning.

"No rain?"

"None."

"Fog?"

"Not one wisp."

"Drizzle? Mist?"

"No and no. And don't pout."

"I'm not pouting. Dixon Hill *never* pouts."

"All right. A sulk then, and a rather unbecoming one."

A hand slid silkily along his jaw. He'd groaned deep in his throat and turned fully towards his tormenter.

"Luscious Bev," he husked, leaning forward, eyes locked on those red, red lips.

"That's another thing... Delicious Dix."

"What did you call me?"

"De-li-ci-ous D-i-x," she drawled, all honeyed voice and ruby lips.

"Not exactly a name befitting a P.I., dollface."

It took him less than a second to realize his mistake. The hand was gone, the red lips thinned and those blue eyes sent ice straight into his veins.

"Luscious Bev the dollface."

The tone of voice was carefully neutral. Not good.

"Bev, I..."

That hand reached past him tapping a command on the control panel. Beyond the arch they could head the unmistakable sound of rain.

Torrential rain.

Another tap on the controls...

Thunder, no doubt accompanied by lightning.

One final tap.

Was that hail?

Hands were on his shoulders, turning him towards the entrance, towards the dark, gloomy city that Dixon Hill loved. A pointed chin pressed just a little too hard into his shoulder as she whispered into his ear.

"The mystery's waiting, Dix. Go solve it."

She released him with a gentle push forward. He took a step, then looked back uncertainly. Inexplicably, she was sliding her skirt slowly up. He couldn't help but stare. Too bad he wasn't looking at her face.

"By the way," she added, "it's Bev-er-ly."

And then it was too late. He found himself alone, in the rainy city by the bay, wondering what had gone wrong and how he would explain that shoeprint on the back of his coat.

:::end:::

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