“Who?” Ares blurted out.

Trace turned to face Ares. “Dan Westguard, the largest financial banker in this city. He’s well known for financing tons of rehab projects as well as contributing millions of dollars to the community.”

The first thought that popped into Ares’ head, he went with. It seems automatic. Ares turned to face Trace. “Did he have any enemies?”

“Not that we know of. ‘Course his dealings were very secretive. He …” Trace’s voice trailed off.

“Great.” Ares rubbed his thick beard. “Find out all you can about this man’s private dealings. That’s the only way we’ll solve this case.”

Where in Hades name did those words come from?

“We’ll get right on it. Boys,” Trace turned to face two uniformed officers standing at attention.

“Yes sir?”

“Get after those facts.” Trace barked rather than spoke the orders.

“Roger that.” The two uniformed officers saluted and headed towards the car.

“John, I hope we can solve this case before the news spreads.”

Letting out a long sigh, Ares let his shoulders slump. “Me too.”

Turning to face his office, Ares looked back at the window. He’d have a better view of this case after some sleep.

“Let me get going, uh, Trace. I’ve got phone calls to make.”

“You’ll keep in touch?”

“As always ...” Ares nodded shakily. For some reason, seeing a dead body up close made him sick now. Odd that, since he’d seen tons of humans slaughtered by his soldiers or his own hand.

“Great. That’s what I like to hear, son. Call us.” Trace put a large hand on Ares’ shoulder. The weight of Trace’s hand was heavy, making Ares feel threatened at the fact that another human, a mortal, could hurt the former god of war.

“Oh well,” he shook his head and walked back across the street.

***

“I still can’t figure a thing out in this environment,” Ares threw his hands up in frustration. Tossing his gun down on the desk, it landed with a loud thud against the hard wood. The office smelled of booze and gun powder. Didn’t this John Mars have an assistant?

Pacing around his office, he tore off his coat, tossing it to the chair beside the door. “I don’t understand a thing in this world.”

A loud poof made Ares jerk around to see the familiar glittery pink cloud before his half sister appeared.

“Trouble, John?”

The familiar feminine voice rankled his nerves even further. “Damnit yes. You know what the matter is.”

Aphrodite stepped closer to him, her fingers pressing into his chest.

Ares found himself pressed against his desk. “Let’s talk.”

***

Picking up the clock beside his lamp, Ares noted the time. It was almost 6 AM. His half sister had just left after filling him in on the missing details to make this world more bearable. He now had an understanding of automobiles, weaponry, customs in the States, how men were supposed to behave, and what everyone expected of him. For that knowledge, he was grateful.

“Of course if the Fates or anyone else finds out that I’ve told you anything …” She let her voice trail off. The threat was understood.

“Skip it,” Ares warned. “I’ll get back at all of them eventually.”

“Right.” With a kiss, she was gone.
He closed his eyes and wondered what was going to befall him next.

Damn the Fates for their cruel games!

His body was tired. The sun would be up soon and others who occupied the building with him were already up, wandering around in their offices though nobody had stopped to ask about the shattered door.

Or the large hole across the hall. It appeared that nobody occupied the office as late as Ares or his counter part, John Mars.

Looking out the window, he saw the most beautiful view of anything he’d ever seen. The sun began cresting over the building tops. The air tasted of salt and brine as it flowed in through the open window behind his chair. Seagulls could be heard in the distance amongst the traffic and rail cars. The mere size of what Ares saw just outside his own window was overwhelming. He’d seen and conquered entire armies of men, slaughtered and ruled villages, but this world was so new to him.

The opportunities were abundant for someone of his stature, except that he didn’t have his powers. Looking up at the tiled ceiling and back at the door again, Ares shrugged his shoulders, exhaling a powerful breath.

Leaning forward with his elbows on his desk, he closed his eyes in thought. Someone had an object that contained his powers and the only way he could get them back was to learn whatever stupid lesson Hera had in store for him. Damn his luck.

And damn Zeus for his poor taste in women!

The old man made mistakes.

If he were going to play the part of detective in this world, he might as well examine the building across the street. Later. He had no idea what he was even looking for on either account.

Shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes, trying to force himself to stay awake though he had no idea why. He was starting to lose his mind from lack of sleep.

“Mr. Mars?” a woman’s voice echoed in his tiny office, disturbing him from his thoughts.

Ares looked up. “Aphrod – excuse me miss?” He rubbed his eyes again. “Can I help you?”

“My,” a tall, voluptuous woman clutching a tiny black purse stepped through the debris, wearing high heels. Her auburn hair was done up in a bun atop her head, exposing pale flesh of her slender neck. His jaw dropped when she stepped forward.

“They told me you were different, but you standing there in torn leather proves it.” Her tone was definitely sarcastic.

Ares looked down at himself and back at her again. “What do you want?”

“What every other dame in this city wants, a perfect husband, a family, two point five kids and a white picket fence.” She waved a hand off, looking around the office. Tendrils of hair fluttered around her face.

“Skip it. What’s your real reason for coming to see me?”

“What does a woman want when she comes into a detective’s office?”

Ares sat up and leaned back against the chair. Picking up a pen, he began tapping it on a pad. “My help. So, what can I help you with?”

“Help me find my father’s killer.” Her expression was dead set. Her chest stuck out proudly as she stepped over the debris in the doorway.

“They said you lived a different life but I thought they were kidding.” Her tone remained dry.

The urge to rest his feet on the desk had to be suppressed. He still needed new clothes and to expose this woman to more leather would probably terrify her. How did one explain blood stains on leather pants in this day and age? “What can I do for you?”
The closer she came towards him, the more he noticed her. A buxom figure, a pretty face, unscarred. Two blue-green eyes sparkled with intensity only a moron would miss. Red, pouty lips that were made for kissing captured his body’s attention. Every fiber in Ares’ body was alive with desire.

He stiffened.

Her lips were delectable, plump treats made just for kissing. Or...

“Mr. Mars?”

“That’s what the plaque says.” Standing, Ares crossed his arms.

“Well, I want to hire you to help me find the killer. My father was –”

“Dan Westguard.” He spoke matter of fact.

An eyebrow rose. It didn’t detract from her beauty. “How did you know?”

Ares sighed heavily. “I was called in several hours ago. You know he was found across the street from here. Also, it makes sense that you’re coming to me this early in the morning. Guilty conscious? What’s your name?”

“No!” She jerked her chin upwards.

“Then who are you?”

“Linda,” she turned her head away. She set a hand over her eyes, hiding her expression from Ares.

Stepping out from behind the desk, he took a step forward.

Startled, Linda inhaled a sharp breath.

It must not be every day that she saw a man dressed in leather from head to toe.

“You’re…oddly dressed for this time of morning.”

“Yeah, I was out uh, partying last night before I got the call from
Trace.”

“They’ve always said you were an odd man, Mr. Mars.” She smirked.

“Yeah.” He scratched his head.

“They warned me that you were a womanizer, but you haven’t made a move yet.”

He laughed. “It’s been a long night.”

“Don’t try anything with me, Mr. Mars.” Her lips formed a thin line of displeasure that Ares wanted to kiss away.

He offered her a hand. “Call me John.”

She refused his touch. “So will you take my case?”

“Yes, of course.” What the hell was he suggesting? He didn’t know a thing about this time other than what his half sister had told him, nor did he really care. But Linda Westguard was something else entirely.

He’d love to take her right over his desk.

Linda ran a manicured finger over her hair, the early light of the sun shining off the ring on her finger.

She brought her hand down to her hip. “That ring,” he whispered.

“Pardon me?” She brought the ring finger up into the soft rays of sunlight peeking through the window.

“Oh,” running his hand over the curly hair of his thick black beard, “the ring on your finger caught my eye. It looks exquisite.”

“Thanks. I don’t know where I got it from. I think my father gave it to me when I was young.” Extending a hand outward, she waved it around, fingers splayed, giving Ares a better view of the shimmering reflection of the light off the gold. There was no doubt about it; this ring wasn’t made during this time.

“Do you know how old it is?”

“I’ve never bothered to find out, no.” Linda glanced at him, turning her head sideways. “Why are you so interested in my ring, Mr. Mars?

Do you want it as payment?”

Shaking his head casually, “I used to collect jewelry in a past life,”

Ares turned his head away, scratching the back of his head.

“Do we discuss your fees now?”

“No, we can discuss those … later.” Ares grinned, “I’m not cheap, you with it?” He exhaled, puffing out his chest.

Her eyes roamed the line of his body. “I understand. I’d be willing to … compensate you,” she winked. “But don’t mistake me for being fast.”

Her frown even looked cute.

Ares recognized that she was trying to play him as women often did back in Ancient Greece. If he could get the ring off her finger and examine it closer, then he’d go along with her ploy. “I’m sure we can work something out.”

A beam of hope rushed over her face too fast for the untrained eye to notice. “Great. Where do we start?”

“You start by telling me everything you know. Where were you last night at the time of his death? Who were his enemies? Why would someone murder him?”

“Mr. Mars, I don’t know any of that other than where I was last night.”

He stepped forward, aware that his size made her intimated. “Then I suspect you’re hiding something, lady.” He waited for a response.

Linda batted an eyelash. “Never.”

“Then tell me when you found out about his murder.”

“Just last night, I …” looking around, Linda appeared to be searching his office for something. “I don’t know. It all happened so fast last night.”

“Then you were with the victim–your father at the time of death.” It was a statement, matter-of-fact.

“Yes ...”

“You sound like you’re in the know. Start talking.” Ares couldn’t figure out who was putting bizarre phrases in his mouth, but all these questions seemed natural. The flow of his voice buzzed with confidence, knowledge and power. He liked the idea that people would be terrified of him in this time, but Linda looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“I didn’t see anything. We were in the apartment across the street. I had too many drinks last night and –”

She burst into tears. Ares broke the distance between them, taking her into his arms. “It’s okay. We’ll find the killers.”

Patting her shoulder, he realized just how soft she was. Full breasts pillowed against him. Her sweet fragrance tickled his nose. Her arms circled his body, tears streamed hot against his bare chest. His groin tightened against his pants. A hand smoothed over the thin leather of his vest.

“I hope so.” She sniffed.

Pushing her from his chest, he held her at arms length. “What were you two doing across the street last night?”

“Visiting a friend. I ran out to get us some cola while Steve and my father talked business.”

“Steve?” A tinge of jealousy shot through him. Ares couldn’t have been thinking clearly. What do I care about this woman?

“Steven. He and my father have been friends for several years. They met just before my mom died.”

“And you two were over having a drink?”

She nodded. “Just a friendly get together. That’s harmless.”

“Of course.” Turning to face the morning sunrise, Ares vision blurred from the bright sun. Ares waited a beat.

The click of heel against his wood floor drew his attention to her.

Looking at her, he waited, forming an opinion of her.

“Have you been up all night, Mr. Mars?” She set a hand on her hip.

He lowered his head. “Yes. I spent most of the night with Inspector Howard before coming back here.”

Peering over his shoulder, she tapped an empty liquor bottle, her fingernail echoing against the glass. “Looks like you had quite a night before the incident.”

“Now wait a minute. You got some nerve, assuming I was up all night drinking. I’m the go –”

Frowning, “Mr. Mars, look. I know it’s early but I just found out that my father has been murdered. I’m hardly in a rational position.”

Ares let out a breath. He’d almost slipped out his little secret. With a heavy sigh, he faced her. Her face had lit up in the sunlight. “All right

Ms. Westguard, let’s calm down. Go back home and get some rest, it’s been a long night for both of us.”

“You’re right.” She turned around, raising slender arms above her head, pulling out a pin. Her hair cascaded down over her face as she shook it out. Her lips were still ever so kissable, but Ares only had one thing on his mind at a time like this.

“Here’s my card.” Linda pulled a card out of her purse, she handed it to Ares. He looked briefly at it and set it on top of a stack of papers on his desk.

“I’ll be in touch with you later this evening.” Ares took the card and began fingering it.

Watching Linda walk out of the office, he snorted when she stopped at the door and glanced over her shoulder, smirking before she left.

***

Eight hours later, Ares woke up with a pounding headache. It seems that John Mars was a hardcore drunk if nothing else. How annoying that Ares found himself reaching for a half empty bottle of Scotch as he raised his head off the desk. His back ached and his neck muscles were tight.

Rubbing the thick cord of muscle of his shoulders, Ares opened his eyes wider to see it was daylight still, but the sun was setting slowly over the horizon of office buildings. The wind brought scents from the bay, salty air, brine and so much pollution that Ares had to wonder how humans had survived all these years if they continued polluting this world.

“Linda Westguard,” he mouthed. Her card stared at him on his desk.

The ring on her finger was the only thing he was worried about; it probably held his powers. Why Zeus would choose to lock his powers in something so small and easily noticeable by a man who used his armies to steal massive amounts of jewelry was beyond him, but hey, who the hell cared, right?

“Zeus is a damn fool.”

“Something the matter, dear brother?”

The pink cloud exploding in front of his desk made Ares wonder if he were seeing things. Had he really drank that much last night?

“Aphrodite, what the hell do you want?” He grumbled the words over his forearms.

“Oh come on now, John,” she giggled like a schoolgirl.

Sitting up, Ares batted an arm at her. “Never mind that. Why are you here now?”

“I’m sneaking away from Hera’s court right now. The old bat’s on the war path, sending others to different time periods as punishment for various crimes as well.”

“So it’s not just me. Good. What is the old man doing about it?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and slid on his desk. “Nothing.

He doesn’t even know.”

He cocked a brow. “Mutiny on Mount Olympus?”

“More like a case of over exaggerated PMS. The other gods are learning quickly to fly straight, so to speak. How are you taking on this role?” Aphrodite picked up the gun on his desk, running her fingers over the smooth metal of the long barrel.

“I hate it. I can’t understand a thing that’s going on. Especially the part where I seem to care about the well being of others. And the fact that I seemingly know what to say as this Mars guy.”

Sliding off the desk, Aphrodite set the gun down. “That’s a side effect of her wrath as well. Hera is trying to upset the balance of power by sliding us into human lives.”

“And taking the human lives to Olympus?”

“Exactly.” She leaned her shapely figure on the side of his desk.

“You will find yourself acting more like this John Mars and less like yourself until enough time has passed that you won’t remember even being the God of War.”

A shudder ran through him at the thought. “So how do I stop this from happening?”

Aphrodite scoffed. “You know that old bitch. Go on some stupid journey, learn a damn lesson through hardship, wait for Hera to get off her power trip and return to normal.”

“Except that’s not going to happen, is it?” He mumbled the words.

Aphrodite shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”

Leaning back in his chair, Ares slumped. He put his hands behind his head, closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.

“You know, that woman who was in here earlier?” Aphrodite’s voice broke the silence.

“No. Not really.”

“I can smell your obvious attraction to her. Pursue it.”

He gave her an indignant snort. “Skip it.”

“Come on, brother. Have fun while you’re being screwed.” A wicked smile crossed Aphrodite’s lips.

He turned his head to one side.

She sneered. “Okay. Fine. Have it your way. I’ll be back when I can.”

Poof! Like that, she was gone. Alone, again. Ares leaned back in the chair, setting his feet atop the mahogany desk with a thud. Kicking aside loose papers and an empty bottle, Ares wondered just what he was going to do in order to get out of this predicament.

Ares wondered if the ring on the strange woman’s finger had anything to do with all of this. He had no way of contacting her until he spotted the business card at the edge of his desk. He picked it up and read it again.

Her name and phone number were on the card. Glancing at the phone, Ares reached to pick up the receiver, but realized he had nothing to say to Linda. He’d have to call her later, he decided. For now, he needed to get new clothing, preferably in black.

Surely there had to be stores where he could steal something decent in a large city like this.

Putting on the trench coat, holster and gun, Ares left the building.

The sun above had nearly set but streets were filled with a myriad of people. Trolleys and buses moved along the busy streets just in front of his building.

Ares looked off to his left and walked in that direction. The air smelled of fish, reminding him of Greece, except that the air here stunk.

After a few blocks of nothing but office buildings, apartments and department stores, Ares came to an intersection. The large office buildings were intimidating to the former god of war, but he had more important things to worry about. Like getting better clothes. That trench coat was all wrong for him.

The hat that hung on the coat rack needed to be black.

And the new trench coat, leather.

Loud music and bright lights flashed from a building across the street. He headed in that direction to see what the noise was. People walked around him, offering him things he didn’t want or need. A homeless man sat against the wall, head lolling back and forth.

“Spare change, mister?”

Ares ignored the poorly dressed bastard. One glance at the kid’s tattered rags told Ares all he needed to know and the urge to spit in his face and kick him subsided as he walked past more street vendors.

Annoying little things, also dressed in ratty clothes tried standing in his way. “Jewelry for your outfit, Mister?”

“Get away from me,” he shouted.

The few panderers and onlookers turned away. The crowd quickly parted for him as he continued to hunt for a decent clothing store.

Ares passed a large black man with a scruffy beard that covered most of his face.

“Hey, John Mars. How’s it going?” The man’s gruff voice caught Ares off guard, but Ares stopped anyway.

“Do I know you?” He tilted his head slightly.

The large man laughed loudly. “John you’re a funny guy. Even with that get up, you’re still the man about town.”

“Right.”

Ares turned to face the man squarely. His bald head was large.

Piercing gun steel blue eyes stared hard at Ares. The man uncrossed his arms, extending one large arm towards Ares. “Want a drink?”

“Sure.” John Mars drank a lot it seemed. Just what kind of private investigator was he, anyway?

The man shook his head in amazement. “Mars, you amuse me. I can drink to that, though,” the man laughed loudly and Ares joined him in laughter.

The man stopped abruptly. “Come on, let’s go get that drink.” Even his smile was dangerous. For the first time, Ares felt fear. This man was troublesome. Why would John Mars hang around him? Why would he go out this early in the evening and drink with a large, intimidating black man?

Thirty minutes later, it didn’t matter. Ares and the stranger sat in the bar, knocking back shots of whiskey, laughing and sharing stories.

Ares learned that the stranger’s name was Joe; he was a construction worker who often drank with John Mars. Several hours later, Ares woke up, eyeing his unfamiliar surroundings. His head throbbed and his stomach was a little queasy. Again.

Fuck!