Runner-up 4

Hauser didn’t recognize the number displayed on his cell, but the voice was familiar. He relaxed his grip on Baby Doll, but kept his loafers on -- just in case.

“It’s me, Lola,” breathed the sexy female voice. Hauser sighed with relief.

Lola Cucina. The hottest FBI agent he’d ever worked with. When he’d asked her to tail Falco as a favor, she had said she was done with Vegas and headed toward L.A. anyway -- no problem.

His Latina ex-girlfriend had showgirl-style smokin’ good looks, and brains that put many a power broker in their place -- even if that place was prison.

Hauser had tender thoughts about Evelyn, but it was Lola who had rocked his world. They were a couple for about a year, but work got in the way. They broke it off to avoid ending up in a “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” situation.

Relationships were hard enough without double lives and double lies.

“Your boy Falco is leaving a trail all over the map. The same people contributing to his campaign are showing up at A-list parties in Vegas, and some of the showgirls have been earning substantial extra money by taking their ‘dates’ back to a couple of very specific high-rollers’ suites at the Bellagio.”

Lola paused a moment to let Hauser take this in.

“There have been some interludes captured on a flash drive. One of the girls, Darla, is friends with a stripper named Carmen who dances at the Clown Room in Hollywood.”

“Carmen’s new love interest is named Falco, and he’s told her things, though she doesn’t know who he is. Darla said Carmen called her and wants to send her information which will save her life.”

Hauser thought what a colossal idiot he was to have let Lola get away. “Thanks, Lola -- you’re the best there is.”

“Anything for you, Honey.” Lola rang off.

Hauser tightened his grip on Baby Doll. It was time to call his buddies for backup. Things were about to get very interesting.

The goons were still outside Falco’s, and no one had left the house. Bonner, being a producer, must be the active link between Falco and the goons. Bonner must have something on Falco and was likely manipulating Falco for political gain.

Poor Evelyn had no idea her politico husband was such a slime. If she were his wife, Hauser mused, he’d treat her better than that.

But then visions of Lola entered his head. If he could just have both women in the same woman, he’d settle down for good.

He’d finished pushing buttons on his cell phone, and his three ex-colleagues were now on conference call.

“I need you all here now -- my neighbor’s having a little party, and it’s time to bust it up.”

Suzanne Schweizer writes poetry and short stories in her spare time, and “would love to get paid to write.”