Rare James M. Cain story 'Blackmail' published for first time

NEW YORK (AP) — PLEASE SEND FRIDAY JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT

The characters are pure noir: Pat, a “dark, heavily handsome thick-shouldered" young man; Myra, a “cheesecakey” woman whose “thick blonde hair" fell “off her bare head to brilliant brassy effect.”

And they talk the way crime fiction characters used to talk, as crafted by James M. Cain, in a short story rarely seen until now.

“Hello there,” she said.