The 2022 “Hammered: an Ode to Mickey Spillane” Author Challenge Entry

Acknowledgments: Thank you to ChloeTzang for organizing this challenge and a huge thank you to all the participants of the past challenges.

*

Prelude – Baltimore, MD. May, 1938. Tuesday night.

Alice Masters sipped chilled wine next to the swimming pool in her expansive backyard. One would hardly know that they were in a major city. Trees and hedges lining the property kept out the hustle and bustle of the surrounding area. Not that there was much hustle and bustle in this quiet upscale neighborhood, but no traffic or street sounds penetrated Alice’s carefully crafted sanctuary.

The pool, inspired by a trip out west to California with her husband, was a new addition and Alice had thrown three parties already this year to show off their newest symbol of wealth. Situated right next to the house, one could walk through the french doors from their living room and jump right into the cool, blue waters. Summers could be uncomfortably humid, and the pool had been presented to her husband as a way to stay comfortably at home instead of running off to the Eastern Shore once Baltimore became a sauna. But Alice loved the pool by night so much more than during the day. The way the light swam through the water and reflected off the side of the house gave everything an ethereal glow, a sense of other-worldliness.

Sanctuary was an accurate term, Alice built her backyard as a refuge from the normal day-to-day duties that required all of her attention and focus during the day. Responsibilities and relationships downtown could be forgotten and left behind. At night, Alice would slip out of her uncomfortable clothes, dive into her pool, and pretend that she was free of the stressful life she choose to lead with her husband. Floating, looking up at the stars, Alice was free. Tonight she was celebrating. Wine and a companion to help distract her and her husband from the troubles that beset them.

The beautiful platinum blond girl sipped her wine and smiled back at Alice from the other side of the outdoor couch. Only Alice was naked, still glistening from her swim. Clara was in a silk cocktail dress that left little to the imagination. The cool air and attraction to her hostess caused her nipples to harden visibly through the thin material of her dress. Clara had been invited out to the house once before and things had gone well, she was invited back again to swim, flirt, and make love. For her part, Clara had been excited to see where her evening was to be spent, she loved swimming and the Masters were a charming couple.

Alice was a beautiful woman at 40 and one could see how stunning she had been at 25, Clara’s age. Her high cheekbones, brunette hair, ample chest, and hourglass shape made her the envy of all the other married women at the parties she threw. Alice had a way of smiling that put even the most out-of-place guest at ease. She was a belle of the high-society scene, and with that came a certain pride, a way of holding herself that let you know she was in charge. Even naked, sitting sipping wine next to a pool; Alice was the mistress of her own house.

Clara in contrast, was innocence personified. Her smile, her openness, her obvious giddiness caused by one glass off wine all belied her lack of worldliness. This, Clara knew, was a large part of her charm. That and her ass. Everyone complimented her ass. While Alice’s smile made others relax, Clara’s smile brightened any room she was in, it inspired people around her to make her smile all the more. It was this smile that Clara turned on Alice after finishing her wine.

“I feel like I’m over-dressed for this party,” Clara said drinking in the naked sensuality of the woman sitting across from her. “It would be rude of me not to join my hostess.”

Standing, Clara pulled her arms out of the slight straps of the dress and allowed her tits to swing free of the silk fabric. Taking a long step toward Alice, Clara sat next to the woman on the couch and leaned forward to kiss her stunning hostess.

///

Guy Masters was having the second worst week of his life. An incident at work the week before was taking all of his time and focus away from his normally quiet life. Even worse, the press knew what had happened and were having a field day speculating and inventing new ways to make what was a bad situation an embarrassing one. Alice had called him at lunch and told him that he was to be home before 9, regardless of how many policeman or reporters demanded his time. It had been a welcome distraction and a good story to excuse himself from the office. The police detectives and federal agents had everything well in hand, there was no need for him to sit in his office with nothing to do but sit with his dick in his hand. Guy called his driver and arranged to be home at 8, an hour earlier than his wife’s ultimatum.

Sitting Maltepe Escort in the back of the car, Guy loosened his tie and allowed himself a moment to close his eyes. He had not slept more than four hours a night for the past week and now the stress was starting to tell on his face. Bags under his eyes and a gray tint to his otherwise dark hair were a new addition to his appearance and made him feel older each time he looked in a mirror. Once things had settled back down, he would take a vacation. Time away would do him good. Alice would know where to go. She always knew what he needed.

The car dropped him off in the driveway by the front door lit by a lamppost in the hedge. Guy fumbled in his pockets for his key, but found the front door unlocked. When he switched on the light in the entrance way, he noticed something odd. Wet footprints led from the back of the house to the door and back again. Guy smiled. Alice always swam naked in the evenings, she must have come out to turn on the light for him.

Shedding his jacket, tie, and shirt as he moved toward the kitchen to fix himself a drink, Guy noticed that the lights in the pool were on and lighting the living room. Then he heard the moan. Long and low, he knew immediately it was one of the noises his wife made when she was close to cumming. Interest piqued, Guy walked into the living room and surveyed the pool area beyond the french doors. His wife, naked and on her back on the couch, was being eaten out by a lithe platinum blond with an ass that looked eerily familiar.

Maybe today would not be one the worst days of his life.

Peeling off clothing as fast as he could, Guy caught his reflection in a mirror Alice had hung next to the french doors. Tall and dark, Guy was proud of keeping the weight off that so many of the other bank presidents seemed to acquire along with their titles. Already aroused, he opened the doors and approached the couch on the far side of the pool.

Alice saw him first and threw him a kiss as she writhed in pleasure. Clara, focused on the job at hand, did not know he was there until he pulled her dress up to her waist and spread her legs with his foot. Guy reached down and ran a finger from the blonde’s clit to her asshole. Wet did not begin to describe how aroused the young woman was. Not needing to waste any time on foreplay, Guy plunged his cock straight into Clara’s cunt from behind. Now Clara squealed in pleasure, but only for a moment before she went back licking Alice’s clit. Not for the first time, Guy and Alice wondered if cute Clara had cum just from his entering her.

First going fast and then slow to keep his pace reasonable, Guy knew he would need to hold back for as long as possible to make his wife happy. Their agreement on sharing others was that he would always finish in her, never in one of their playmates. He was her husband after all. Their ten year marriage was only two years old when Alice had caught Guy fucking his secretary. Watching dumbfounded as his wife march into the hotel room, Guy expected her to cause a scene and leave him. To his surprise, she kissed the secretary and stripped off her clothes to join them in bed. After the shocked secretary had left, Alice had instituted the rule. Well, rules. The only other rule was that if one of them was going to be with someone else, the other one had to be present. No sneaking around fucking others behind backs. Honesty was important and Guy had gladly agreed to both rules right there in bed. Once a month or so, Alice would invite someone to join them for an evening. They were not always female so Guy was not always a participant, but it was always hot and it always ignited their love life for a few weeks.

Clara had been the discovery of the century. Alice used a discrete service and they had sent over a few girls disguised as delivery people. Clara stood out with her bobbed hair and lithe figure. Alice and Guy agreed that one of the things they loved about Clara was how wet she was at all times. She had probably arrived at the house wet that first day. Their last session had almost proven too much for Guy and Alice had to remind him at the last moment that his seed was hers and hers alone. This time Guy would control himself and show his wife the respect she was due.

“Time to switch positions”, Guy announced. He helped Clara up onto the couch to straddle his wife’s face and pulled his wife by her knees to the edge of the cushion. In this new position, Guy could watch as Clara, hands on hips, rode his wife’s face to orgasm after orgasm. He reached out to cup one pert tit and Clara steadied herself on his arm, eyes closed. Clara’s tongue licked her top lip in a way that told Guy he would not be lasting much longer.

///

Half an hour later Guy, Clara, and Alice lay cuddling on the couch in the living room having been chased indoors by the colder night air. Clara and Alice lay in each other’s arms trading kisses Ümraniye Escort and talking about the latest gossip in town. Guy, sensing that he would not be missed, got up to make them drinks in the kitchen. He came back with three glasses of wine to find Alice on her knees in front of the couch sucking on Clara’s pert little nipples. The nude women continued to make love while Guy watched, draining his drink and then one of the others. Fifteen years ago, he would have been back at full mast participating. Now he was relegated to watching.

Alice worked her way down the platinum blonde’s stomach and started lapping at her clit. It was amazing how many times this girl could cum. Her own cunt was too sensitive to be touched now after the fucking both Clara and Guy had given her. Besides, it was not often that she got to indulge her interest in women. Alice heard her husband open the door to his study and call a cab as Clara was cumming for the umpteenth time that night. She made a mental note to book a girl’s weekend away with Clara. Somewhere close by but where they would not be interrupted by any men. They were trading kisses again when Guy announced that the cab would be there soon.

Clara, jumping up from the couch and ran out to the patio to gather her dress and shoes. Guy’s wife rolled onto her back on the couch and watched the young woman run about the pool just beyond the doors. Clara’s thin frame stooped to gather her dress, panties, and shoes from the bricks. Alice was reminded of paintings of muses dancing to Orpheus’ lyre, silken wrappings loosly covering their modesty. Alice licked her lips.

Finally finished dressing, Clara dropped her silken panties on Alice’s lap as she passed by to leave. Her parting gift. Guy, robed and playing the good host, saw Clara to the door. Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had needed this. Needed to feel the smooth skin of another female, the tender touch instead of the rough hands of a male. After Monday’s lunch, Alice needed something to pull her back to normal. Rough was all well and good, but Alice believed in moderation.

Voices from the hallway called good night, but Alice was too far away to hear or respond. Her heartbeat was thumping throughout her body, and focusing on that was lulling her to sleep. Alice licked her lips. Sweet, sweet Clara.

Chapter 1: Blue In Green

The first thing Ed Zeit noticed was the smell of perfume. Unfamiliar perfume. Opening first one blood-shot eye and then the other, Ed realized he had no idea where he was. A cramped apartment covered in clothing, empty glasses, magazines, and half a bushel of oranges scattered over the floor. A glass bottle pressed into his ribs as he rolled onto his side.

Groaning, Ed looked down at his watch. He was late. Again. Ed threw back the covers and discovered that at least a few items of clothing littering the apartment were his. A protesting moan from under the sheets identified his paramour for the previous evening. She did not seem to be interested in getting up to help him find his underwear. Or make him breakfast. Ed knew he was on his own.

Ed freelanced some week nights working security for a boxing league when his day job left him free. Boxing matches tended to be pretty tame events, most of the people lost their money with good graces and fucked off to where ever it was they called home once the fight was over. Occasionally a fight fan would have too many drinks and think that throwing a punch was all in good fun. Drunks were easy to roll, and the money was pretty good for standing around looking vaguely menacing. Most of the other security guys were off-duty cops, and they all knew and like Ed as an extension of the respect they had for his boss. One of them had arranged for drinks with his girl after the event, she brought a friend, and so went the rest of the night.

Ed was on all fours searching for his socks when he caught a glimpse of himself in a smudged mirror hanging next to the front door, just on the other side of the room from the bed. While not a muscled bruiser, Ed had strong arms and muscular shoulders. The rest of him was lean from exercise at the boxing gym and his active full time job. Blond hair and an exotic accent didn’t hurt with the ladies, either. His face was narrow with a thin nose and two, sky-blue eyes that were the focal point of his features. Ed kept his hair short to keep morning maintenance to a minimum. Often were the mornings where he was running behind and slowed down by a gut full of cheap whiskey.

Ed eventually found all his clothes and managed to get them back on in close to the usual arrangement. His “date”, eyes screwed shut against the spring light forcing its way through the blackout shades, rolled over and asked where he was headed at such an early hour.

“Work. Where are we, anyway?”, asked Ed.

“My apartment. How drunk were you last night?”

Ed did a quick review İstanbul Escort and decided that it was just a normal evening out. “Not much. Just a buzz. I can’t remember the address here, though.”

Ed swore loudly when she told him. He was two neighborhoods away from where he needed to be. He would have to grab a cab and hope traffic was better than on a usual morning. No time to make it home before work, Ed made a mental note to call his mother from the office. Socks and shoes sorted, Ed grabbed a few of the oranges from the floor and shoved them into his pockets. His wallet was still in his jacket pocket, thank god. Archie had given him hell the last time he’d lost his license.

“Can I go out the front door?”

A snore was the only reply. “Damn,” he thought. “Better take the fire escape just to be safe.” Landladies had a habit of waking early and policing who tried to sneak out of their “young ladies” rooms despite the houses’ strict “No Male Visitor” policy. Once he’d tried to run, full sprint, through the entrance hall and out the door to avoid having an uncomfortable conversation with a matronly prison guard. Twelve stitches later, Ed learned to scout out the fire escapes the night before instead.

Ed smoothed his shirt into his pants, swung his jacket over his shoulder and opened the window. He felt guilty for not remembering his date’s name, but she wouldn’t have heard his farewell in any case. Two minutes later he was down on the street desperate to hail a taxi cab.

///

Ed burst through the office door into the small suite of the detective agency he worked for half an hour late. It usually did not matter, in their line of work most office visitors came in late morning, lunch, and late afternoon. Callers first thing in the morning were a rare breed and were content to deal with Lenore Chance, wife of the managing partner, Archie Chance. Lenore looked like a librarian with her old fashioned hair style, sensible outfits, and cats-eye glasses; but like most things in life, Lenore’s look was designed to put customers at ease not to reflect reality. Her husband, Archie, had trained Lenore to be his assistant in the field and in the office. Ed knew from experience that Mrs. Chance had a mean sucker punch and a sawed off pointed at the front door.

Ed had worked for the Chances since he was old enough to take the detective test and get his own license. Archie was an old friend of his father’s and had been looking for someone to train in the gumshoe business after his old partner, Harris, moved to California just about the time Ed graduated from high school. Ed was an outstanding student, but had little interest in college. A summer working for Archie told both men all they needed to know about the other – Ed was a smart, capable (occasionally punctual) employee and Archie was an easy going, pedantic, skilled detective. Ed learned quickly and took pride in mastering all the trade-craft Archie could impart. A few years into the arrangement, Archie put Ed’s name on the door and “Chance & Zeit, Investigators, Ltd” had been born. Lenore was secretary and ran interference when cases were not going as well as could be hoped. All in all, they were a tight team and they got results. The fact that they all enjoyed it was just icing on the cake.

“God, Ed? Where have you been? Archie waited twenty minutes but then started the meeting without you. Come over here”. Lenore rushed around the old desk and typewriter to straighten Ed’s clothing, re-button his shirt, and arrange his hair in a more dignified manner.

“Meeting? I don’t remember hearing anything about a meeting this morning?”

“They just showed up! Out of the blue! Archie and I found them waiting in the hallway outside the door when we showed up. I made coffee while Archie stalled, but eventually they wanted to get down to business.”

“Slow down, Lenore. Who? Who showed up out of the blue?”

“Them,” Lenore half whispered nodding toward the paper on her desk. “The Masters”.

The Masters has been in the papers for over a week now. The husband was the president of a bank that was robbed and the papers had latched onto the gory story of four dead guards and tens of thousands of dollars missing. It was all anyone could talk about. Ed had even discussed it with the cop and the girls the night before. Baltimore was a town made up of neighborhoods and the four dead guards had come from four different neighborhoods in the city. Two had been former cops. Everyone seemed to know someone who was either related to or had gone to school with the dead men. It was the story that would not die, and there never seemed to be any updates, no breakthroughs, no headway made into identifying the robbers or recovering the money. Instead it was photos and stories of the president and his young wife living the high life while murderous hoodlums walked free in the streets.

“Shit” was all Ed could reply.

“Yes but clean up that talk. They could be the biggest thing to happen to us since Harris going west. You look presentable now. Just go in and Archie will catch you up to speed.” Lenore gave him a last brush and pat and then spun his shoulders toward the main office door.