Clyde stuck out his hand to catch the ice cold glass which had been sent down the length of the bar. Grabbing the beverage, he nodded to the bartender and turned o face the center of the establishment. In the middle of the high ceilinged room sat a piano, being skillfully played by a woman in a seductive black dress, who was barely visible in the dark and swirling smoke of the room. He caught her eye and saw the white glitter of her teeth flashed at him. Leaning one elbow back on the bar he tipped his black top hat to her with a grin and raised his glass in a toast.
Out of the corner of his eye Clyde saw the door-keep slide the metal viewer in the door. The slide was only half-way opened when he slammed it back into place and turned to everyone in the room.

“It’s the coppers! Clear out!”

No sooner had the door-keep shouted these words than the entire speak-easy erupted into chaos. The bartender attempted to grab as many bottles as he could as he sprinted for the back door. Clyde remained at the bar, enjoying his drink and watching the frantic struggles of the clientele. He couldn’t help but chuckle, all these well-to-do people afraid of suddenly loosing their prestige and good standing within the community, lives all built on lies.

Some ran for the bottles of liquor at the bar, others fought in the mass attempting to get through the rear door, and even a few stood motionless; no doubt terrified of being arrested by the police for violating prohibition. The heavy oak front door finally gave way to the attempts of the police and Clyde calmly set his drink on the counter. As he walked perfectly composed around to the back of the counter, it was evident he believed his dark double-breasted pinstripe suit would keep him camouflaged, at least for the time being.

As he walked amongst broken bottles and a few remaining scuffles he saw a limp figure huddled behind the counter. Carefully walking around the small mass at his feet he reached up and grabbed the cash register. It was slick in his hands, obviously someone had been here earlier but not had a chance to get into it. Pieces of glass, likely the remains of a smashed bottle, littered the vicinity of the counter. After carefully lifting the heavy steel frame he threw it against the bar’s mirror just behind him.