I'd been following leads for days, hoping to catch a break. It was out there somewhere, it had to be. Persistance and determination would lead me to it, perhaps a little luck too. I took another quick look at the current crop of candidates for perhaps the fifteenth time, smoke from the joint between my teeth swirling lazily past the brim of my fedora, towards the lamp above my head.I started when I heard the footsteps on wet pavement behind me and slunk a little deeper into the shadows. Could it be the law dogging my heels? I waited, trying to catch a glimpse of whoever approached, each approaching step sounded like tolling of a bell. When the revelation came it was not some flat-foot, she was a dame like no other I had seen in these parts. I knew who she was, though, everyone did, there was no other dame so Tall or so Tempting. For a moment I considered stepping out and introducing myself, but then I remembered the work that brought me this far. With a sigh and another toke I watched as she walked on by and stepped through a drape-covered doorway.Silence descended around me and I slipped out of my position, aiming to get a little closer. Would tonight be the night? Or did I have many more nights such as this ahead of me? I moved towards another alcove and was almost there when I heard a rumbling behind me. I dived into the shadows of the alcove just as the auto rounded the corner, the white landrover was unmistakable with the personalised plates reading "LMTLSS" and the awesome knowledge of who the driver must be.Only when it passed did I realise I'd lost the reefer in the dash for cover. I fumbled with the cigarette case for another, I needed that sweet Acapulco scent to calm my nerves. I knew the light from my match could give my position away no matter how much I attempted to conceal it, but I had to take the chance. My heart was beating like a trip-hammer and I couldn't operate like that.I held my position and watched as more people approached the building across from me from every different direction. Some of them were known to me from previous encounters, some had pointed the way for me and others I'd pointed the way for. I noted the arrival of Shannon, Skippy_Jif, Vlad1m1r and others. I almost missed Guru, so well had he disguised himself. Still they came and still I waited.Should I dart across there now? The silence had fallen again and the shadows were deep. I was sure I was the only one left on this misty street, we'd all taken enough precautions to avoid the detection of the law and their paid stooges.I took a breath and braced myself to step out, when a lithe figure in a black mask stepped to my side. The joint fell from my lips to hiss out on the pavement.I gazed, speechless at the man in black."Come, join us." said The Dread Pirate Roberts, "this is what you have been looking for."We crossed the Road, side-by-side and stepped through the Silken doorway as the shadows became a whisper of a memory behind me.***SR Noir by LouisCyphreHope you enjoyed it. :)