San Diego, California, December, 2077, Friday…

Frank Suarez sat down at one of the few free tables to briefly watch the dancers. He did not consider them to be particularly erotic. Indeed, he thought that there was a certain melancholy associated with their lascivious gyrations. Most of them were women who could not find other work and were trying to turn an honest dollar in the bad economy of Southern California. Some were simply working part time in order to have extra cash for Christmas presents for their family.

Suarez didn't spend much time watching them either. The thick fingers of his left hand drummed a little rhythm from a song he remembered from childhood. In his right was a cocktail menu he pretended to study. When the waitress named Jamie came up to him to ask for his drink order, he stuffed a folded blue business card in her bikini. She didn't even blink but turned and headed to the back of the club.

He liked Jamie. He had seen her many times before and wondered why such a beautiful woman took drink orders from lusting men. He understood that she couldn't dance, had tried and failed, but he thought such innocence and purity deserved better. In spite of her bare tits and falsely bright smile, there was always sadness in her blue eyes. He knew that she had a rough life. She had a four-year-old little girl that her ailing mother took care of. Her story was not unusual.

Apparently physical beauty buys you nothing in this crappy world. Of course, between the genetic engineers and the plastic surgeons, there ain't any reason to be ugly anymore, especially if you're a woman. That Jamie also made some bucks working for his same employer made them comrades in some sense. It amused him. It also made her pay attention to him. Sometimes she even had a special smile for him when he came in. Maybe it was just one employee saying hi to another, but it made him feel special.

While he was waiting for her to come back, a figure from his past sat down across from Frank. His name was Joe Kelly and Frank knew that Joe had been following him ever since he had returned to San Diego. Frank knew that someday he'd have to eventually kill him.

This bad ass had probably been waiting for Frank to get back from his trip. It surprised him, though, that Joe would make a move in a crowded club.

If it was me, I'd have gone after me before I got inside. The newcomer carefully laid a dagger down on the table. It was a real jewel of a knife. The handle looked like carved ivory and the metal gleamed. It looked razor sharp. Frank was immediately wary.

"How you doing, Frank?"