A calling card with no name or address, just a number…a lethal number

The Smoke has a weakness for sob stories. And when a friend hands him a mysterious calling card, asking for a favor, he senses a sob story coming his way. And sure enough, a woman desperately needs his help.

The card appears innocent enough.  A simple illustration of a parrot in blue ink. No name. No address. Only a telephone number. But calling than number has consequences. And the beautiful woman has failed to tell him just how deep she’s in.

Before long, the Smoke comes face-to-face with New York’s underworld. And after overhearing a gangland boss ordering a hit on a government official, he’s thrust into a race against time to prevent an assassination

Sob stories…they usually come with dead bodies attached.