Levey had been watching for a few folk in The Steel Tribute for weeks. He had managed to pick a few pocket here and there, walk away with a few hundred dollars over the course of the weeks and even split some of that profit with the barkeep. The guy's name was Ted. He was only about 5 and a half feet tall, but he was round enough to not have to worry too much about the place getting rowdy. Well that and his shotgun under the counter.

Levey tried to not play any of his co-workers when they were there, which was more often than not. But lately he'd seen a redheaded girl coming in. Levey had taken two weeks and pegged her as a reporter. She didn't have much in the way of jewelry, but she had cash. She came in normally once a week, toward the end of the week, and blew a load of cash. Levey was going to get himself a piece of that pie soon.

"Hey Ted, can I get an old fashioned?"

Ted nodded and made the drink before placing it on the counter, and Levey summarily handed over a five spot to cover him for the evening. He was sure tonight he would make it back.

For now, Levey just sat back against the bar, near the rear corner and watched the door for a redhead with a good sense of fashion.

Tamsyn wore a black pencil skirt and a white blouse with small mother of pearl buttons down the front.  Her red hair was perfectly coifed, set up just like Jean Harlow's latest style from the cover of Photoplay magazine.  Her lipstick, 'borrowed' from the counter at Marshell Field's just this afternoon, was a shade called 'shameless' and it perfectly described how she felt tonight.  

Business had been damn good of late, at least when compared to her time in New York.  She wasn't going hungry so much since joining The Red Right Hand less than a month ago.  She'd spent a lot less time on her back and a lot more with hands in pockets and picking simple locks.  While she wasn't opposed to the earlier brand of work, it was risky, and diamonds were only valuable because they weren't available to everyone. 

One day there wouldn't be a man on this continent, neither Gangster nor Politician, who would have the kind of scratch to get her to remove her clothes again for anything other than the fun of it.  Tonight, however, was a very different story.  She had some cash to spend, but God willing she'd find herself a fool man... young or old it didn't really matter... who she could get liquored up and part him from his greenbacks.  She may or may not have to sleep with him in order to relieve him of his funds, she was open to doing what she had to, but one way or another she was going to enjoy a hearty dinner, some high dollar wine, and end the night in a big fat profit.  

Entering The Steel Tribute she made her way to the bar and Ted smiled at Tamsyn.  "If it isn't my favorite wine drinker."

"Did you manage to get it?"  she asked the bartender eagerly.

"Did you get the cash?"

She chuckled and opened her purse pulling out a small wad.

The bartender sucked a breath.  "Alright, yeah, I got it.  In fact, I did better than I expected.  I managed to get a 1903 Château d’Yquem."

"Old and fancy."  she chuckled.  "Perfect."

A quick back and forth over a fair price and Ted was uncorking a white wine to serve to the redhead who looked a little more Irish than she sounded.  In fact, if anyone had only heard her voice they would have pegged her as an Italian immigrant immediately and yet... at a dozen paces or more away there wasn't a hint of Italian in her looks at all!  

"Thanks Ted."  She said sipping her wine and then smiling at him.  "Oh... this is ... heavenly."  Giving Ted a generous tip she put the much smaller bit of cash back into her purse.  She'd spent nearly every penny she'd had to taste this small bit of heaven in a glass and had been worth every penny.  She decided to savor her prize a bit longer before returning to the hunt for tonight's unsuspecting mark.

Levey had been watching, waiting. He had also been nursing a single drink for most of the night, he tried to keep that tab of his for his mark's some of them could drink. He was just debating getting up to get a second drink, in fact he'd stood out of his chair, when that lush redhead walked in and up to the bar. Levey almost jumped for joy. He'd pegged her right, the timing, the wad of cash she flashed at the bar. It was perfect.

He made his way over to the bar and sat next to her. When he opened his mouth he laid on the Texan accent thick. He normally only used it in situations like this. He found that pretty girls liked the accent.

"Scuse me miss, but you look like a dime. I hope you don't my saying so."

He lifted his glass to her and took the final bit out of it before nodding to Ted to fill it back up. The barkeep did and slid it back to him. He managed to catch it with one hand and wink to the woman he sat next to then.

"I'd offer to buy your drink, but looks like you already got you one. Must say, pretty gal like you with a glass of wine sure does look nice. Might look better poolside with the sun beatin' down on us, but I'll take a dark bar in Chicago if I get to spend it with you. Name's Lee, what's yours?"

He did not extend a hand, but instead simply waited and took another sip of his drink. He normally reserved using the name Lee when he was conning someone. Sounded more American than Jewish. More people opened up to you if you had a boring name it seemed like.

Tamsyn smirked at the Texan.  He didn't strike her as her usual mark but he'd do in a pinch.  She smiled at the compliment to her looks, it wasn't part of the ruse, she liked that men noticed the effort she put into herself and her appearance.  

Lee, as he introduced himself was coming in hot and heavy, maybe she wouldn't need to work so hard to get him alone and take him for everything he was worth on this particular night.  She sipped her wine, then as she put it back down she replied, "Tamsyn."  

She almost never gave the name Thomasina.  It didn't sound quite as exciting, in her opinion, as her chosen nickname which was odd and exotic.  Men liked a good mystery and a name like Tamsyn didn't sound like it came from anywhere anyone had ever been.  If he wasn't getting lost in her eyes, or the shine on her lips, perhaps the mystery of her name would befuddle him into foolish mistakes.

"Do you know, the ancient stories of my people say that there was a liquid that humans could drink to become Gods?  They called it nectar.  I think," She smiled conspiratorially, "That the Frenchman who bottled this wine might well have hit upon the recipe.  And, if you play your cards right, perhaps I'll share my bottle with you."

She sipped her wine.

"Is that a Texan accent?  Perhaps I'm reading too many dime-store novels, but I thought all men from Texas wore cowboy hats and owned six-shooters."

Levey chuckled as he sipped his drink.

"How about you come sit at a table where we can have a private conversation and I'll tell you all about Texas. I'll tell you anything you want to know darlin'. You just sit back and bat those pretty little doe eyes and listen till I talk too much and then, maybe if I do play my cards right, you can leave with me."

Levey was mentally shaking his head at himself. He was being too far forward, but again, the Texan in him said that was perfect. Women loved a good strong character. That's why the damned six shooter dime-store crap the woman bext to him just mentioned sold so well.

He stood then, and took her by the hand, careful not to be too rough, but just enough that she would buy that he handled cattle for a living instead of delicate fabric. He led her over to the table he had just gotten up from and he let her sit first before he did. He took off his jacket when he did and slung it over the back of the chair. He was careful to let the gunmetal tap against the side of the chair then.

"Might not wear a cowboy hat Miss Tamsyn, but I'll be damned if ya'll catch me without my pistol anywhere. You see a Texan, you can bet your bottom dollar that boy's got a pistol on him somewhere."

He sat down across from her.

"So, you said somethin' bout stories of your people back at the bar. You don't look Greek."

He smiled a wicked thing then as he brought his glass to his lips and sipped. Nobody expected a smart cowboy. Tonight was going to be a whole lot of fun.

As the man boldly began talking about leaving the bar with her, she did everything she could not to smirk.  The man's ego was disgustingly huge.  It was not only going to be easy to part him with his cash, but it was also going to be a pleasure to do.  She took his hand and let him lead her to a table.  When she heard his pistol tap on the chair though, her body instinctively went rigid.  

He really does have a gun!

That took things to a whole other place.  Leaving a place alone with a man who knew how to handle a weapon?  She'd never done anything so fool hearty before.  Suddenly she wasn't so sure about her cowboy.  Part of her considered making an expeditious retreat at the first opening.  Then he mused at her heritage and Tamsyn found herself wrinkling her nose.

"No.  Not greek but that you're well-read just made you a whole lot more interesting, Cowboy." She shook her head.

"The Romans claimed those Gods too and arguably some would say they are my people ... well, half.  My mother was Irish.  My father Italian.  I," she chuckled, "... obviously picked up a lot of my mother's look.  What about you?  Where did your people hail from ... or did you spring forth fully from the American frontier fully formed and ready to rope and ride?"

Levey frowned at his counterpart.

"The Romans stole those gods from the greeks."

He sipped his drink again and changed tack quickly. Not time for a debate, time to flatter.

"I did, in fact, spring directly up from the ground. My family found me when they were surveying for oil. I came right up with it as if Texas herself had just birthed a newborn babe. Explains the greased black hair pretty well doesn't it?"

He winked and let his smile return to his face.

"Truth be told, my family moved here about a year before I was born to start a new life. They're managing pretty well, but I gave up the home on the range to live the big city life. It sure ain't all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes gettin' up at the crack o' dawn to ride hard all day is the easier life."

He glanced up and down the woman across from him then and settled on her face. She had a nice look to her, if she wasn't here just for the money, Levey might actually take a shot at bringing her home. Might was a lie, he would. But now he had to focus. Damned this vixen for being so distracting.

"So Italian huh? And Irish? I've got nothing there, change of subject. What do you do for fun Tamsyn?"

Tamsyn wanted to press the issue of Italian and Roman importance in the world, but an intellectual debate and trying to prove a man wrong about something was no way to loosen his belt.  Men needed their egos stroke... and sometimes other things to get their guards down.  This one wasn't hard on the eyes, she figured she'd have fun on both ends of the job, but that was no reason to lose focus on what mattered here.  

Money.

"I love the picture shows.  I enjoy riding in fast cars with faster men..."  She smiled into her glass and the tip of her pink tongue darted out to lash up the last bits of her drink on her lips before she continued, "... and believe it or not you're not the only one at this table with horseback experience.  I really love riding horses, though it's been a while since the last time I was in a saddle."

She paused and thought a moment, maybe it was the wine getting to her but when she spoke she said something a bit too vulnerable and honest, "Truth be told I feel like I've spent most of my time here in America just living to work, not the other way around.  Not been a lot of time of fun and hobbies ... at least not yet."

She shook her head trying to dismiss her moment of seriousness.  "What is it you do here in the Windy City, for fun and profit I mean."

Levey finished his own drink then and decided he would indulge her before he got up to get them more.

"I work in a textile factory. Not exactly roping cattle I know, but it pays well, better than the cattle ever did."

He chuckled then a bit and continued.

"I will say though, I haven't had much time for fun myself. This too, this isn't exactly fun, it's more of just keeping sanity in check. I say to myself 'You gotta get out, you gotta do something for yourself once in a while.' and I wind up in this place more often than not."

He shrugged and got up to get them another round and then turned and looked Tamsyn in the eye.

"You want to maybe change that? I mean, I know it's sort of forward, but what do you say we leave the bar and go for a walk and find something fun to do. I've got a few bucks in my pocket, you've got a few in your purse. Let's go have a good time tonight. For the sake of the old gods."

He smirked at that and put both glasses down on the table, holding out his hand for her and her and those luscious red lips of hers to take.

He did have cash.  This was a nice thing to hear, though he had that gun too.  BUT... if she did take him to bed tonight, he'd fall asleep and maybe she could take the gun as well as his cash.  Then she'd have a gun of her own!  Granted, that would mean needing to find a new bar to hang out in.  Damn shame that, she liked this place and Ted had a nose for good hooch, but a gun meant protection and in this life that she was living she could stand for a bit of that.

"Alright,"  she said with a smile, putting her hand into his.  "Let's honor the old gods, as you so creatively put it, and have a bit of fun." 

She chuckled. 

"Question is, do you got something in mind, Cowboy?  I mean, I could stand for a long hard ride," she pointedly looked him up and down as she made her double entendre, "but the night is still young and I'm pretty sure there must be something else we can occupy ourselves with first.  After all... what if we're just two ships passing in the night and this the last time we'll ever see each other again, like in all those romance stories.  If we don't make the most of the evening, we might live to regret it one day."

Levey stiffened at Tamsyn's comment about a ride. He was not prepared for that sort of forwardness from a woman. She was too pretty to be that forward. Weren't pretty girls like this all coy and shy about that? That was his experience at least.

Of course, that didn't matter right now.

"Well I have a feeling you and I can have a good time going to the park. Sun's down, anything and anyone we find there is probably up to no good anyway. Trust me, we'll have plenty of fun."

He winked and realized that he had just changed his mark for the night. He had backup now. A woman could scream and scare off most anyone. Between that and his gun, anyone walking through the park was going to lose some coin. And Levey had a good spot on a guy who dealt in some stuff that nobody liked to mess with. That type of person was likely packing heat, but he was also likely packing a wad full of cash.

"What do you say? Stroll in the park in the dark? Two young kids up to no good? What could be more fun?"

Of course, he carried a gun, he wasn't an honorable cowboy... not here in the city, he was a criminal.  Her smile turned into a smirk.  Was he inviting her to help him get into trouble?  Had he just flipped the script?  Was he trying to get out of her crosshairs by inviting her to help him put the mark on someone else?  When had he realized her game?  Was it the riding comment... damn, too far.

Still, it didn't break her heart that she wouldn't be working alone tonight, even if she didn't end up with her partner's gun... unless, of course, she did.  It wasn't impossible to think of a situation in which she could help him lift cash from someone in the park and then after a roll in the hay she could relieve him of his gun while he slept.  

Oh yes, this plan has potential!

"Alright, I'm game.  You and me, we could make a good team."  After leaving her seat she looped her arm into his.  "I'm sure we'll find something in the park worth our attention.  This time of night I normally wouldn't go there alone, but with you by my side... well, I think it's us that the rest of the world needs to worry about."

And if you turn out to be playing me, if something happens to me my dear Cowboy, I'm sure Mr. Winchester will have more than a few words to share with you... but no need to bring that up just now.

Tamsyn and Lee wandered out into the streets of Chicago and made their way towards the park that wasn't terribly far from where The Steel Tribute was located.  The night air was warm and the streets were never really dead in a city this size.  However, unlike her time in New York, she kept her eyes peeled for trouble a lot more actively.  She wasn't the only shark on these streets and if a girl didn't keep her guard up - well, even on the arm of a man with a gun, bad things could happen.

The lush greenery of the park broke up the monotonous earth tones and grays of all the brick and steel buildings about the city.  A babbling stream could be heard cutting through the area, it was a sweet sound that made one want to relax - though at this time of night, the park wasn't the best place to be doing that.  Tamsyn wondered if the place was any safer when the sun was up.  She didn't come to places like this regularly but she was pretty sure it was an ideal place for the criminal minded to meet and speak in relative security.  Likely even do some kinds of business, though she couldn't say for sure what... maybe drug deals?  Tamsyn hadn't gotten her hands dirty with that vile shit just yet, but it was big money, or so she'd heard from members of her crew.  Maybe one day she'd look into it.  For now, petty thief seemed a far safer and less guilt-ridden path to walk.

"When you first got here, was it all you thought it would be?  The city I mean."

Levey shook his head at the question.

"Not even close."

He gestured in the direction they would be walking thought the park so she knew where they were going. When he continued speaking it was with a softer tone than he had before.

"My family is from Houston, big city in Texas, huge really. This is a city too sure, but you know what they say? Everything is bigger in Texas. Here I'll prove it to you."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a fifty cent piece, placing it into her palm.

"You know what that is?"

He didn't wait for her to respond before continuing.

"That's right, it's a Texas quarter."

He smirked then reached into his jacket to slip the gun out and handed it over to Tamsyn.

"I need you to take this. I'm gonna approach the guy, you just gotta stand there and look innocent, and when the moment comes, just hold this up to the guy."

He waited for her to nod and a moment later they approached a man who was sitting on a bench near the edge of the path they were on. Levey laid the Texas on thick once again when he spoke.

"Howdy pardner. Night night for a walk don't you think? Listen, my doll here and I are new to town, but we heard we might be able to find a good time with you? Ya'll know what I'm talking about?"

The man on the bench stood and reached into his jacket, pulling out a small bag. When he opened it up and showed Levey the contents, the Texan nodded and reached into his own pocket, producing a small amount of cash.

"How much for the uh, the smoking kind?"

The shadowy, gruff man with the stubble finally spoke up.

"One fifty."

Levey shook his head then and whistled.

"That's quite a bargain cowboy, I think the lady over there has a different thought on how much that should cost though."

He smirked and looked over to Tamsyn then.

Tamsyn produced the gun and pointed it at the drug dealer and smiled, "Howdy, Partner." 

She tipped her head to him slightly as if tipping a cowboy hat.  Her voice was like warm honey running over the edge of a spoon as she continued playing along with Levey's little game,  "If you don't mind terribly we'd be really obliged if you'd just empty your pockets of us and don't make no fuss about it.  It would be a real shame if someone had to get hurt on such a lovely night."

It was true what they said in Hollywood about playing heroes, it was good ... but being the bad girl was oh so much more fun.

The dealer looked to Tamsyn and growled, then he reached for his pocket, and Levey produced a knife.

"Ah! Not so fast, nice and slow buckaroo, no funny business."

He watched as the man slowly emptied his pockets, drugs first, then cash, and then his own gun. He put his hands up as Levey took a couple of large steps back with all of his belongings.

"No trouble tonight then cowpokes, let me go and I won't even remember your faces."

The gruff gravel of a voice escaped from the man, but it was very clear that he was still angry about this situation. Levey, meanwhile, checked the snub nosed revolver, three bullets loaded and ready to fire. He leveled the gun and pulled the trigger. As soon as the loud sound was gone from his ear he turned to Tamsyn.

"Time to go doll."

He actually did tip his hat to the recently deceased man and grabbed Tamsyn's hand before beginning to run.

"Can't be here when the cops show up, and besides, you don't want to get caught in the park at night right?"

He let go of her wrist now that she was running along side him and they made their way toward an apartment building nearby.

"Fancy a nightcap?"

He asked her as they reached the stoop.

"Or maybe just a place to hide out for the night?"

He stood gulping air, waiting to open the door for her.

Her heart was thundering in her ears as they ran away from the dead man.  The blank stare he had still etched into her mind.  This had just happened.  They'd ... he'd murdered a man!  Right there in front of her and in cold blood he'd killed a man and... and... she found herself smiling.  

We're gonna get away with it.  So much cash!  Holy shit!  More than I'd make in two weeks, maybe a month!

He ducked into the stoop and with his gun still in her grip, she reached out and took hold of his face to kiss him.  Shameless smeared making it a moist kiss, painting both their lips in its high-shine crimson gloss as again and again her lips passed over his caressing them, pulling upon them, devouring them.  Her body was shaking like a leaf when she pulled back from him, both from fear and excitement.

"I could use a drink... and a hole to hide in."  She admitted in short gasping breaths.  

Who the fuck is this guy?!?

Levey nodded and pulled his keys out of his pocket as he pulled the door open for her.

"Third floor. Apartment C."

He followed closely behind her and stowed his new gun away in the pocket of his coat where the last one had been. As they reached the door he slid in his key and flung the door open, closing it behind him and turning the dead bolt he had put in. He turned to see Tamsyn's face looking at him. Her bright eyes were still watery with shock and her lipstick was smeared now, but Levey didn't care in that moment. In that moment his hat came off and he took her by the waist to continue what she had started at the front door.

After spending a brief moment standing in the hall like that Levey managed through a gasped breath.

"You want that drink? Or..."

He left that to hang in the air for Tamsyn to decide on, but he continued to kiss her while she made the decision.

Tamsyn realized then, she had him.  Utterly.  The man was as high on the moment as she was and if she acted now, that would be all that she wrote.  She'd be a fool not to make her move now while she had him dead to rights, even if she did want to know more about him.  The cash was just too big of a temptation.  And so, she'd have her fun and at least walk away with one good memory of the night before leaving with every dime he had.

Clothing came off in a whirlwind of motion.  Guns and a few knives clattered to the floor, right beside the bills that fluttered to the carpet like brilliant green and white butterflies all around their ankles a sight which neither of them could truly appreciate with their lips and hands so busy.  As the two of them went into his room and tumbled down onto the bed, Tamsyn's mind slowly drifted away from the memory of the dead man in the park and focused upon the task at hand.  She was going to give this cowboy the ride of his life and with any luck at all, he might forgive her for what she'd do after.

The sun hadn't risen yet when she finally was sure that Lee's breathing was steady enough that he must be deep asleep.  Carefully she extracted herself from her lover's sheets and tiptoed out to the living room where the money lay all about the floor.  Quickly as she could she gathered every single big and then began to dress.  Picking up the gun he'd had her hold, leaving him with the one he'd taken off the drug dealer, she found his wallet - flipped it open and pulled out the bills inside pausing only a moment before tucking a five back down within.

Finding a pad of paper and a pen, Tamsyn quickly scrawled a note and left it on the coffee table in plain sight.  With one last look into the bedroom to her sleeping paramour, she made a break for it.  

Howdy Cowboy,

Just wanted to thank you for the gun, and the cash.  I was really worried about how I was going to make ends meet this week but thanks to you, I'll be good for a week or two.  Not bad for one evening of work.  Really America is a place of dreams.  For what it's worth, I had one hell of an evening - good enough that I'm not digging through your belongings for more treasures and I'm also leaving you with both a gun and five dollars cash as a professional courtesy.  Of course, you'll understand it when I say that I hope our paths don't ever have to cross again despite all the laughs we had.  Can't imagine you'll be too happy with losing all your hard-earned loot... and let's face it, you did work particularly hard last night (though I hope you found it nearly as memorable an experience as I did!)

Wishing you only the best in this life,

-Tamsyn    

When Levey finally woke the following day he looked around for the Tamsyn. He shook his head when he didn't see her in the room with him. Gangsters and Gentiles had a way of disappearing in the middle of the night. At least a good Jewish girl would have had the courtesy to stay the night and get a bagel in the morning.

Instead he found himself moving into the other room and that's when it hit him. The money on the floor was gone, the gun was gone, his clothes were rummaged through. She'd completely played him for a fool! Worse yet, now she knew where he lived!

He ran to his pants and checked. His wallet was there, but only five dollars were left. He checked for his keys, they were still there thankfully. That's when he spotted the note on the coffee table.

He read it and crumpled it in his hand.

"Son of a bitch. Professional courtesy my ass!"

He threw the note across the room and went back into the bedroom and opened his closet. He pulled out a suit for the day, another gun, and made his way outside. He had to find the girl. She owed him his cut at least.