A Question of Guilt

Robert had said they were going to a party...

Irene shivered as she felt her way down the narrow, winding stairs. People were everywhere, weaving slowly around the basement room and talking in hushed tones. There was an unfamiliar, sweetish smell in the smoky air....

Opium! She turned to her escort in alarm as the sickening realization struck her. But he pushed her farther into the crowd and said with a leering smile, "Come on, Irene. We're going to feel good."

She drew away from him in horror, but her cry of protest was drowned by a piercing whistle. There was a commotion at the top of the stairs and then a voice yelled, "Police!
It's a raid!"