The Dropped Apostrophe

The Dropped Apostrophe stood and removed his ear protectors. His Sonic Pulse detonation had worked a treat. The lights, alarms, and vehicles in the surrounding area were all out of action. He used his crystal glass cutter to score a large oval shape in the window in front of him, looked around for dramatic effect, and then pushed the oval inside, where it shattered into thousands of pieces as it hit the floor. He looked around again, for dramatic effect, and lifted his left leg so he could step through the now open window.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” A female voice from inside the room stopped the Apostrophe in his tracks. The scantily clad woman walked into view, carrying a small candle on a saucer.

The Apostrophe looked at the woman standing before him for a few uncomfortable seconds, before bringing his attention to her face. He smiled. “I don’t believe it. Rue. Rue DeNite. After all these years. I knew it was you.” He stepped into the room.

“I said, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Rue repeated, slightly more sternly. “This is one of Lou’s places.” She added, watching the Apostrophe’s face.

“Is it? Oh.” The Apostrophe said then repeated,”Oh… is it?”

“What are you doing here, Dropsy?” Rue asked, as the Apostrophe kicked a largish shard of broken glass to one side.

“I’m making a withdrawal from this casino’s safe, if you must know. The last time I was here, I made a mental note of where it was, and worked out it was in the vault in this room.” The Apostrophe pointed to the wall behind Rue.

“It was in this room, but Lou moved it to the other side of the building and two floors up. I don’t think your sonic dampener will keep the power out long enough for you to get to it before the alarms sound.”

The Apostrophe pondered for a second and cast his eyes once again over the corset and suspenders, fishnets, and white high heels. “Not the normal security uniform, Rue. Are you still dancing at Lou’s Under The Sea Strip Club, or do you do private parties now?”

“Bottom of the Sea Strip Club and Lounge, to get the name right, Dropsy,” she walked close to him and slapped him across the face with her free right hand. “And that is for your last comment, and for leaving me at the club the last time we met.”

Rubbing his cheek, the Apostrophe laughed. “Lou’s goons threw me out and told me never to return. It was hardly my fault they took me through the cash room on the way… I have nimble fingers. So, if you aren’t giving a private party, why are you here?”

“Lou. There was a cat fight between two of the other girls in the cloakroom, and my trenchcoat got caught in the middle, ripped in two it was. Lou offered to give me a lift home, but brought me here, received a phone call, and dashed out, saying ‘hey, doll, wait here a while, something to sort, I’ll be back to get you home soon, make yourself comfortable.’”

Not entirely ignoring her, the Apostrophe wanted to move forward. “Second floor, you say?”

Rue tutted. “You’ll never make it. But I can help you. Promise to give me half the takings, and I’ll help. Tie me up. I’ll say some thugs came in. The CCTV’s broken, and probably fried with your dampener, so I’ll say you weren’t here. I’ll say it was the Pinchems… the burly ones. Tie me up, give me the money, and we’ll both be richer. Or, I could tell Lou the whole true thing…”

---

Featuring, and introducing Rue DeNite, a provocative dancer at the Bottom of the Sea Strip Club and Lounge, over in Clark’s Universe . Seems her and The Dropped Apostrophe may have known each other in the past, in their previous lives… but will the Apostrophe accept his old friend’s offer of ‘help’?