This is a vintage Harm City story from the archives.

DeSales and Theresa were models, living and working in downtown Baltimore in the 1970s before the urban renewal and re-gentrification made it a city where bums could no longer sleep on a wooden pier next to a WWII submarine. It was after dark when they finished their fencing lessons, strapped on their high heels and headed home. This was before Baltimore was one big urban hunting preserve. However, their karate instructor had told them to travel together at night.

It was cool out, perhaps autumn. Light jackets were worn. As the two tall young ladies walked by a staircase leading up into a brownstone building a man in a coat came up beside DeSales and groped her. She stepped back and slammed a sidekick into his torso which sent him reeling back against the stairs. The pervert was now in a semi-reclining position against the stairs. DeSales and Theresa stood side-by-side and pumped sidekicks into his torso until it began to seem like a sadistic undertaking. They used their heels—without breaking the spikes. On telling me this story DeSales remained unsure of the damage they inflicted since the man was wearing a heavy coat. She did not even attempt to suppress her backward looking smile.

The girls walked to their car thrilled with the turn of events.