Greetings AAJers!

This is Vic chiming in from the road. I'm currently just south of Chicago, casing and cruising 'round Joliet. Got my Hertz Rent-a-Car, two unopened bottles, a box full of prime Cuban stinkers, and "Blues and the Abstract Truth" bustin' out the tape deck. The south side of Chicago really IS the baddest part of town, ya know what I mean?

Yep, it's this same Joliet that brought us the famed brothers Jake and Elwood Blues. A little too wild for my taste, but you gotta admire anybody who can hold their booze like that. I really miss those guys. Sure knew how to have a damn good time.

I'm here on a case. Working overtime—taking care of business on a case that's very "hoosh-hoosh." Confidential, you might say. So confidential, in fact, that I'm really not allowed to talk much about what I'm doing around here. Not unless, of course, I don't mind whistling through my kneecaps the next time I want to hail a cab.

OK. Here's what I can tell you: I'm here because of a guitar. A custom-made seven-string beauty, most recently owned and played by a respected swingman from the 1950s, an age of many greats. A good man, who just recently passed away.

The guitar? As solid and round as an armful of Sophia Loren—and swiped. Gone. And I am in the employ of the wife of the deceased, bless her soul, to find her axeman's axe and bring it back home. Hopefully safe and sound.

How'm I doing? I'm doing better than the guy I'm lookin' for, I'll tell ya that. Knucklehead only left behind about a half dozen clues, including a matchbox from the Devil Moon jazz club. So this shouldn't take too long—look him up, lock him up, and spend a couple days unwinding in the big windy. I've done worse.

How am I doing? Right now, I could use some ice.

Nothing like a little live action detective work to make you appreciate tracking down lost CDs and LPs. Sure, it's dangerous. But I have a piece and a permit, so I'm licensed to kill, licensed to thrill AND licensed to chill. And in case things get tight, Lulu's only ten numbers away on this little cellular wonder.

I'll be back next month, with the outcome of this case and other stories from the lost 'n' found. Till then, keep the spirit.

Vic.