I was on a train heading into downtown Seattle for a day of shopping and dining when the news was announced over the talkie. It was a snatch job, most likely from the Empyrean engineering basement, and one of my engines was the likely culprit.
I’d known about the Empyrean airship summit for a while now. The announcement had been broadcast on radio so all the shops and small businesses all over the city knew as well. It came with warnings to criminals and opportunity-seekers that there would be a lot of wealthy and important folks in the city for a few days. But even then, it had all just been background noise to me.
I owned a trim little shop in the aerodrome district where I made and sold my inventions. The real money came from the prospecting/mining town that paid me handsomely to keep their machinery operating. I had a few other wealthy citizens as customers as well, but the bulk of my money came from the mines.
But pretty or rich or not, when I heard over the radio that my engine had been nabbed, I knew I had to hunt it down. Even if it meant breaking the heart of the man I was riding with, Arthur.
I smiled and leaned back on the plush cushions. He was a good looking man; a charming smile, a strong chin, and muscles honed from piloting an airship. We’d been dancing around each other for a while, but our last date had ended in a near-bustle and I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue seeing him. I had plenty of money, thanks to my inventions, but I had always thought it a crime to spend money on a man that didn’t match my station in life. But we all had our vices.
Arthur had pulled out all the stops for me this time. I’d worn my best dress, and he was dressed in his pilot’s uniform. He’d even brought me flowers. I’d introduced him to my parents, and he treated them with all the respect expected of a good son-in-law. He’d squired me around town until I gained a bit of a reputation among the cafes and shops. I wasn’t a virgin, but more than a few men had wanted to be the one to pop my cherry, including Arthur.
I’d wanted to let him, and probably still would have if he’d only asked. But he’d gone out of his way to impress me with his manners and attention.
He’d doted on me all evening, never leaving my side. He even obeyed my request for a stroll around the city, at night. We walked through a park together, moonlight illuminating the buildings that packed the park so closely you could scarcely see the distance between them. We watched the stars together as the light dozed on over the dome and Arthur held me close. He’d started to lean down toward me, and I started to feel my inhibitions dropping. But then he pushed me up against the railing, and I knew things were about to get interesting.
I was still safe, then.
He walked me to my door, and I stood there, unwilling to turn him away. I even wondered if he might kiss me on the dance floor, and I almost nodded when he leaned down for it. I was still waiting for his lips to brush across mine when he stopped short and his eyes went wide with surprise.
“What is it?” I asked. “Is something wrong?”
“This is your apartment?” he asked, and I realized he must be faking his surprise to give me an easy escape.
“That’s right,” I said, unsure of what else to say.
“This is a bit more than just your place, don’t you agree?” he asked, taking it all in. “A bit more genteel, maybe, and a bit more prosperous, perhaps?” He smiled, and he was still holding my arm as his eyes swept the lobby. “I really do like you, but this is a bit more than I can afford. I don’t want to ruin a great evening with an argument. I had a lovely time.”
My mouth dropped. He was ending our relationship without even attempting to kiss me!
“But we haven’t even had our first date yet!” I protested. “There is no arguing here!”
“True enough, but I’m not ready to commit,” he said. “Let’s just chalk this up to a bad idea. The engine, it was quite nice. I’ll catch up with you at your shop one day in the near future. Goodnight.”
And that was that. I stepped into my apartment, seething with anger. I suppose he wasn’t the bravest man in the world, but that was pretty cowardly. I can’t deny I liked him for his strong chin and muscular arms, but I thought maybe I’d try to find a man that had just a bit more romantic qualities.
I was still somewhat bothered by the abrupt end to our evening, but I was even more bothered by the engine thief. I had spent a lot of time pouring over repair logs and schematics for that engine, and it was totally unique to my shop. I could tell by just looking at it that someone had to have thought long and hard about how to steal it. It was all of the best parts of my shop, and it was all in one piece.
I was still considering what the thief could have done with it when I walked into my workshop the following night. I barely noticed the detective standing there, at least until he spoke.
“Oh, my,” he said, looking up at me. “Miss, you look breathtaking this evening.”
“That’s good,” I replied. “I like to attract the right sort of clientele.”
“I came by to talk with you about filing a police report,” he said, sounding a bit disappointed. “There’s been another theft.”
“A theft!” I said. “But just look at you! I though you were the best detective in town!”
“This is the best forensic work I’ve ever seen,” he said, and he gestured at a table filled with spent cartridges. The detective had been gently laying each one on the table as he removed it and let me look over the process. “Absolutely brilliant. I’ll let you say goodbye to this one last victim.”
I suddenly felt foolish for being so quick to defend the man. He didn’t look the least bit sorry that he’d helped bring me down, and he still had the best forensic work I’d ever seen.
“He must have been after the same engine,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll be able to track it to its source.”
“You can be sure of that,” he replied. “I’m glad we finished your interview early and still had time to take out on the town.”
“You’re leaving?” I asked. “But it’s too early to close.”
And it was true, but it felt like it was time to close for good. I wanted to go to bed, and I wanted to take a decent bath, and I wanted to have a nice quiet breakfast in the morning. But the detective was already on the way out.
“I’ll be in touch,” he said, closing the door behind him.
I glanced around. There were no loose tools or loose parts on the table, so there probably weren’t any parts in the building. So that left only one place.
“Sammy,” I said, calling for my pet. “I’m going to head home, and you’re coming with me.” He was a strange looking creature, but a good companion.
The cage was already in my carry bag, and he was already caged, so I decided to just throw him in there for the night. I wasn’t sure where he would sleep, but we had a few spare beds and if he couldn’t find a place to sleep, I’d find one for him.
“I’m ready to go home,” I said, speaking as loudly as I could.
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