Kizzy caught her hat with a trained reflex. Living in the Windy City had made it her second nature to keep her clothes clutched as tightly as possible to her body.

Of course, her hat also had about ten thousand dollars worth of cocaine sewn into the lining, and there was no way she was letting that go flying all over Lincoln Park. Kizzy set her hat firmly down upon her head, her eyes busily scanning the idyllic summer scene before her. Children playing, old ladies gossiping, a young couple picnicking beneath a tree. Perfect place for a drug deal, right? All she needed was her contact--and his money, of course. Kizzy glanced at her watch and gave an impatient sigh. He was supposed to be here now. She reached down to scratch her leg, mentally cursing the cheap stockings she'd grabbed in a hurry.

"Well, hello there! I do believe I found what I'm looking for."

Kizzy looked up to see a thin man with a too-pointy face standing next to her, his jacket slung over his shoulder. When he spoke, it was with a strange lisp. She knit her eyebrows together briefly before smoothing her face into a smile and leaning back against the bench, removing her hat and holding it in her lap. She batted her eyelashes in false coquetry and spoke in a sugared tone.

"And just what would that be, my good sir?"

The man sat on the bench next to her, his arm casually sliding around her shoulders. Kizzy stiffened and gave the man an uneasy look.

"Only the most beautiful woman in all of Chicago--nay, all of Illinois, at least."

Kizzy chuckled uneasily and scooted away from him, glancing around her. Still no sign of her contact. Had this guy scared him away? She flashed her smile back to the man and began to rise to her feet.

"Well, thank you for the compliment, sir, but I have an appointment for...um, now. And I have to go."

"Calm down, lady. I've got Sidious's money." The man spoke in a low tone, his sharp black eyes cutting upward to meet hers. Kizzy sat back on the bench with a relieved guffaw and whispered back to him.

"Sorry. I thought I'd missed you or something. The stuff's in my hat."

The man nodded, turning to her with an expression of infatuation before speaking once more.

"My dear, do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?"

Kizzy tilted her head in confusion, then whispered hastily to him.

"Look, I was to understand that this was a completely professional deal--and I'm going to keep it that way or it's off. Now, where's the money?"

The man chuckled and put his hand under her chin, pulling her close and whispering in her ear.

"Safety deposit box number two-oh-three, that's two zero three, at the First Bank on Dearborn Street, across the street from Pedro's Bar. I'll give you the key now."

He suddenly kissed her, his tongue shoving something metallic into her mouth. Kizzy pulled quickly away from him and slapped him across the face, the sound ringing through the park and drawing more than a couple stares. The man had grabbed her hat and was already up and moving away from her, waving it toward her with a laugh.

"I'll just take this as a souveneir! If you want it back, you can find me!"

Kizzy rose to her feet, her fingers resting against her lips as she worked the key out of her mouth, pulling it out and hiding it in her palm. She turned around to see the two old women staring at her with open mouths from a few benches away. Kizzy wiped her lips with the back of her hand, gathered her things, and made her way swiftly from the park. One of the women called out to her receding back.

"Good for you, dearie! There's nothing useful that man could have given you, anyway!"

Kizzy glanced at the key in her hand and chuckled. Well, we'll just see about that. She shook her head back and stepped to the curb to hail a cab for Dearborn Street.

I liked this one and you choose a very interesting tittle, i wonder will there be a part two to this. If so let me know so i can read it. I take it you get good grades in english class. punctuation was nice.

Watches Jackson's insane rant about english class and giggles at "tittle".

That was one of the best i have read in a wile thank you for sharing Kates.

I liked this :)

Actually, it was Kizzy who wrote it.

Well done as usual, Kizzy.

Sidious, I'm sure lorrie was just referring to my amazing comment, eh?

Good luck getting your hat back, Kizzy!

I laughed at that comment myself.

Perhaps Kizzy can give a few punctuation lessons to anyone who may be in need of them.

Hearing Kizzy's story, Gina applauds.

Excellent Kizzy... I especially love the pick up line...

She winks at her, lights a cigarette and walks away.

Velma stands on the edge of the crowd gathered around Kizzy, listening to her tale. Eyes narrowing at the sound of someone sticking their tongue in Kizzy's mouth, Velma snorts to herself.

Mother dearest always did tell me that Kizzy was playing her. I guess the truth comes out eventually!

cool

nice!

awsome

Really good narration.

Am I the only one who is anxiously waiting to see if the money was indeed where promised.

No sir. I am also very interested in hearing the second part of this story.

Wow yours is better than mine....