Tom Harris, P.I. (Part one)

Monday Dec 20, 2004

His jaw clicked. Tom had a horrible habit of opening his mouth very slowly until it created a light sound. Doing such was a kin to perhaps a man popping his knuckles only much more disconcerting.

Tom, a private investigator by trade, was training a new hire that day at the bar. Unlike Tom, Belvidere, the new hire, had no ability whatsoever to hear. Though most would find this a terrific disadvantage in the advanced and private practice of espionage, Belvidere always insisted that it was when his hearing left that he became a true and capable detective of the world.

Tom didn’t like Belvidere and didn’t believe that a man without auditory capabilities would be a capable investigator. But a recent series of lawsuits against the Private Investigation industry had run many of his colleagues into the ground. His so called contemporaries, though Tom called ‘em rivals, were getting in trouble for refusing work to people with disabilities. Belvidere had a fairly amazing track record of investigative police work but he also, “Couldn’t hear shit,” as Tom had so elegantly put it to his attorney.

At first Tom was not attempting to antagonize his newest employee. But every time he repeated his horrible jaw-clicking-habit, Belvidere would prepare himself to read Tom’s lips. His eyes would widen, his focus would intensify. Silent Pop. No words. Just the opening and closing of his mouth.

Sure, showing Belvidere the ropes was part of the business of the day, but there was another reason these two were on the wrong side of town so early in the morning. Hilda Spanky, horrible name I know, had hired Tom’s firm to tail her husband. Standard fare really.

Hilda’s husband, Steven Spanky III, was a regular at this divey gin joint in the wrong part of town. Hilda hadn’t seen much of her husband for the past few months and wanted to know how he was spending his time. Tom and Belvidere had followed him here.

What Hilda didn’t know and what Tom and Belvidere were about to find out was Mr. Spanky the third wasn’t cheating or involved in violent business dealings; he had found himself in women’s clothing and he loved it so.

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Tom Harris, P.I. (Part one)

Monday Dec 20, 2004