We were dancing, my client and I. But it was much more than just a dance. It was like doing the fox trot and getting your pants pressed at the same time. Or an anatomy lesson in four-four rhythm.

I believe in the personal touch when it comes to a client and man, oh man, this was one time I meant to put my theory into practice.

I’m Shell Scott, a private investigator with 20-20 vision, particularly when I have a 36-22-36 assignment. This assignment was a chaste girl who was being chaste-by me.

And I was being chased, too, by an unfriendly hired gun who wanted to make me a headline on the obituary page. Gangdom’s funeral directors had decided I was going to be their next client.