Rebbelle needed a consistent supply of meat, it wasn't easy being a cannibal in this world. It wasn't like she could go down to the  local butcher shop and order a pound of ground human round. She sat on her front porch watching the sun set along the horizon spreading a golden pink hue  across the clouds.  She tipped her head back as she took a long draw of the amber liquid in the bottle, she enjoyed the mild burn as it slid past her nasal passage.

Her thoughts continued to run through her mind. 

She needed something she could do that would give her an ample supply  of meat without bringing  her any undo notice from the law.  Something that would be equally useful to the  local crime families that ran the not so legal parts of this world.  She shooed the irritating cloud of gnats that flitted in the air near her face as she watched the jack rabbit hop across the field. She had  just  been sitting there  her mind blank enjoying the view for several moments when it came to her.

That is exactly what her and the crime families had in common.

Bodies.

She needed them and needed them in an inconspicuous way, and they needed them to disappear in the same way.

She decided to open a small shop to be a cover business for this venture of becoming a cleaner for the criminal world.  But what would her cover business be. She had to  come with something that wasn't related to its real purpose or had everything to do with the true purpose, she thought with excitement. Like hiding right out in the open.  

She ventured out to find a location for her business, she needed something with steady but not high traffic to fit in. She strolled around Detroit all day looking at various buildings for rent, taking notes on a few phone numbers for perspective locations.  Absently walking she found herself on a dead end road with a turn about. When she assessed her surroundings her eyes lit up...

She found one  it was like love at first sight. She felt  it would be perfect it was at the end of a cul-de-sac the last building as a matter of fact. An old dry laundry service, it was a small white brick building with a large window to left of the door. It had a large sign out front with black lettering ...

The Cleaners

  The edges of her lips curled in slight smile. Perfect name she thought as she checked the lock to find it unlock. She walked into the building the only other entrance was through the back door that lead into an alleyway.  She opened a door just off to the left side of the room and found it lead down to the basement. She really liked the large basement that came with it she could lay out a butcher table in the center of the room, and there were plenty of shelves for her brine jars. It had a nice fireplace with a huge bare wall where she could place drying racks. Her eyes shone brightly as she walked through the place. 

She would have to find the owner of this place and offering them a deal. It wouldn't have to be much she thought as she looked at the built up dust and cobwebs around the joint.

After several weeks of snooping around she found out the owner of the cleaners. She had convinced him to sell her the old cleaners as is he signed the business over to her  and she handed him the cash for the purchase. She took the deed  to the property and the key to the door thinking to herself that would be the first thing she changed was the locks. 

As she walked through alleyway that lead to her back door she placed her fingers between her lips and gave a shrill whistle that could be heard for blocks. Knowing the boy would  be there before too long she enter the back of her small flat.  About thirty minutes later she heard a familiar rap at the door. 

Come

She plainly said knowing who it was. The ten boy she had been expecting stepped in.

You called? He asked excited she had some work for him.

I need you to get it out to the family heads that there is a new Cleaner in town. Special price if they use the discount code loose lips sink ships. Only tell the family heads they will share this with who they choose.

She handed the boy a couple of loose bills. Here is a couple dollars for your effort kid. Now leave.

The boy turned and left the room in a haste to do his job.

She repainted the black lettering with fresh black paint making it boldly stand out against its  background. She climbed down the ladder the bucket of paint clasped in her grip.  She stood back and looked up at her handy woman work. No paint drippings and the letter was straight and bold. perfect she smiled to herself.

The Cleaners

She walked through the white door making the bell chime as the edge of the door hit it.  She checked the side door to the basement making sure it was locked and placed a sign on it that read

Employees Only.

Everything  was ready for her opening day. She would collect her bodies under the guise of laundering clothes.

She flipped the Closed sign over to the We're Open side and waited for customers.

  A male mannequin  and female mannequin stood near the door dressed in the most popular  and current style these were  the only adornment in the shop. Rebbelle busied herself working a bright  stain some lady got on the  dark cocktail dress.

She had been toiling away at a chocolate stain some guy had gotten on his white dress shirt.   She dipped her toothbrush she was using into the bowl of water then the bowl of dry detergent coating the brush head with abrasive cleaner. Pushing the detergent covered brush int the cloth she scrubbed it in a circular motion .

The shop phone rang her assistant answered the phone. 'The Cleaners how may I help you. his voice was friendly as he asked. His eyes narrowed as her heard a male voice on the end say Loose lips sink ships. He set the receiver down a and walked to the front of the shop. Spotting Rebbelle near the long cleaning table and wash basin he raised his voice a bit.

Ell phone.

She lifted her head from her work and puffed a hard breath to blow the strand of hair from her eyes. She lad the brush down and quickly rinsed her hands in the sink basin at the end of the counter.

This is Ell. was all she said. The man on the end proceeded to tell her that a clean up job was needed. She grabbed a pencil and a nearby pad of paper and scrolled down the address.  How big of a mess is it? She asked curious just how many body bags she would have to take with her.

This had to be the place, the sign said 'Cleaners' in big bold letters. The girl named Elle who Marian met many months ago had given her the card. At that moment, she hadn't thought that she would ever need her services yet here she was . She pushed the white door open, the bell ringing as she did. Looking around ,she found the place to be dark and quiet.

Marian walked towards the counter and called out, "Excuse me , is anyone here?"

As she waited for someone to show up she began to wonder if she had the right place. There were mannequins around the place and it seemed like a regular cleaning service establishment. She thought about leaving but then there was the mess back at the hotel. The cops would definitely find her prints at the place if she left the room as it is. 

"Elle?" she called out once more.

Vociferus had wrapped up his job for today. It was a cold-blooded success. As he walked about in the streets, he approaches a pay phone. He then looks around to make sure no one was around with prying eyes. He pulls out his wallet, takes out a business card with a number on it.

He inserts the coin then dials the number.

"Hotel Detroiter. Room #27." He says before hanging up and walking away from the booth.