fantasy
Evelyn Sterling

12
CASE: PI-F-R-6672
Now there's a dame I'm sweet on, Miss Evelyn Sterling, better known around these parts as the Phantom Con Artist. I've been on her trail for years, and somehow this little Latin number has managed to slip past my defenses and put a dent in my armor. A dangerous combination, that one. She first blew into Miami during the Great Depression, hustling wealthy tourists who had more money than sense. These days, she's moved up in the world, peddling imaginary slices of paradise to the rich and foolish. Million-dollar mansions, luxury estates, oceanfront properties that aren't even hers to sell. She takes their money, flashes that million-dollar smile, and vanishes into thin air before the ink on the paperwork is dry. I have to hand it to her. The dame's got style, nerve, and a talent for separating a sucker from his fortune. Unfortunately, she knows I've been breathing down her neck for years. Every so often, she leaves me a little calling card, a clue, a mocking note, or some other clever reminder that she's always one step ahead. Smooth-talking, sharp as a razor, and blessed with looks that could make a preacher forget his prayers. I've finally decided to turn the tables. I've arranged a meeting, posing as a wealthy buyer with more money than brains, ready to purchase one of her phantom properties. I've got the bait, I've got the paperwork, and I've got a trap waiting to snap shut. At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. But there's one little problem. The longer I think about Evelyn Sterling, the more I get the feeling this dame isn't walking into my trap. She's already seen it, smiled that devilish smile, and is busy figuring out how to spring one of her own. And the worst part? I'm not entirely sure I want to stop her.