Chapter Ten
“I hate the valley,” Hector grumbled.
We’d been waiting outside Ronald Davies’s apartment house for a couple of hours and my partner was getting cranky.
“Why?”
He took a deep breath. “The fucking air here is nasty.”
“You live less than ten miles from here.”
“So,” he said. “What’s your point?”
I didn’t bother to go into it with him. Throughout the day we would bicker with each other over nonsensical things. Sometimes it was fun, but I was too tired at the moment to rise to the challenge.
“Hey Goldie ain’t that him?”
“Yep.”
He was in his sixties with obviously dyed brown hair. He had a slender build and was wearing torn jeans and a red polo shirt two sizes two small that stretched tight against his chest. I presumed when he took Mrs. Howard out he didn’t wear this type of gear. She’d never be interested in a guy who dressed like he was a member of a boy band.
Hector took out the picture Bryan had given us and checked it out.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Look at the face not the clothes.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “That’s him. Should I go and beat the shit out of him?”
“No.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“We won’t get Mrs. Howard’s money that way.”
“A couple of smacks in the face and he’ll give me the money.”
“No, I don’t think that will work.”
I had a weak stomach for violence. I also didn’t want to see Hector get in trouble.
“Okay then what’s your plan?”
Plan? I was supposed to have a plan?
“Let’s see where he goes first.”
We watched him walk around the corner and I got out of the car to follow him. He entered a restaurant called Café Venice where booths lined the walls and tables with red checked cloths and wine bottle candleholders. It was crowded and had a dimly lit large bar on the right hand side of the restaurant. It was a type of place where the door opened and everyone shielded their eyes from the light.
I glanced around and saw Ronald sitting at the bar. I knew that if I wanted to get this guy’s attention my work clothes and pony tail weren’t going to cut it. I went back to the car and called Jeff and Jason. I asked them to go to my apartment and pick out a slutty outfit and bring it to me. Jeff almost squealed with joy over the phone. They loved dressing me up. I had already told them about the situation with Mrs. Howard’s con man and they begged me to let them help. Jason had been an actor before going to law school and never really gave up the dream. He saw this as an opportunity to show his hidden genius.
“Okay girl what’s the plan?” Hector asked.
I didn’t have one yet.
“The plan is… when my friends get here you’re going home.”
Yolanda had already called five times and by the tone of Hector’s voice I could tell she was not happy about his extracurricular activity. He never told me any details of their conversations and I pretended I didn’t hear. I just looked at my phone pretending to read my messages or out the window. I didn’t blame her. She had three kids under the age of five and was constantly living in survival mode. I didn’t want to be the cause of any problems on the homestead. Jeff and Jason were more than eager to take over his shift and besides they’d be able to blend better than Hector.
“What?”
“You need to go home. It’s getting too late.”
“Shit I don’t have a fucking curfew.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Okay maybe I do, but I can take the heat from the wife.”
“No you can’t.”
Hector was about ready to argue with me, but I held up my hand to shut him up.
“What friends?” He asked.
“Jeff and Jason”
“You mean the diaper guys?” He chuckled. “What the fuck are they gonna do?”
I gave him a nasty look. “First of all I can take care of myself. And don’t forget they tackled those repo guys with painful swollen asses.”
“Okay girl. No need to get all pissy with me.”
His phone buzzed again. He didn’t bother to look at it. We both knew who it was.
“I appreciate you wanting to help, but you should be at home.”
“You’re scared of my wife too aren’t you?”
“Yep,” I said. “Totally.”
Even though I hadn’t met Yolanda I knew it wasn’t wise to piss her off. I didn’t want her mad at me for keeping her husband out too late. If she terrified Hector and the boys she must be a badass.
Jeff and Jason pulled up behind us. They were in Jeff’s white Prius.
“Figures,” Hector mumbled when he saw their car.
“Be nice,” I said. “Not everyone needs an engine the size of a small country.”
I was a little worried about my two worlds meeting for the first time.
Jeff and Jason eyes widened when we got out of the car and they took in Hector’s girth. I did the introductions.
“My… you’re a big boy,” said Jason when he shook Hector’s hand.
Hector didn’t say anything. Instead he slid his eyes over to me.
Jeff slapped his arm. “You are so rude,” he said to Jason. “He doesn’t have a filter over his big mouth.” He said as an explanation to Hector.
“That’s cool. My wife embarrasses me sometimes too.”
Jason was going to say something, but Jeff elbowed him.
“Hey make sure you watch her back tonight,” Hector said to Jeff ignoring Jason completely.
Then he got in his car and with a roar drove off.
I slapped Jason’s arm. “Why’d you have to say that?”
“Yeah,” said Jeff slapping his other arm.
“Well excuse me,” Jason said. “I was in a state of shock. I didn’t expect to see Big Foot’s rather large brother standing in front of me.”
Jeff and I continue to chastise him until Jason agreed to make some cookies for Hector to apologize.
I knew Hector would forgive just about anyone if they gave him food.
“Now let’s get out the slut outfit,” Jeff said rubbing his hands together unable to contain his excitement.
I climbed into the back of their car to get changed. Jeff assisted in the transformation. Jason peered over the front seat to supervise.
When I saw what they had picked out my mouth hung open.
“I said slut not exhibitionist.”
They had picked out a blue knit miniskirt I usually wore with leggings because it barely covered my ass. A black low cut top that made my C cups look like DD’s and black fuck me sandals they had bought me a year ago and I had never worn.
Jason made a disgusted sign with his hand. “Oh please…you need to spice it up. That old con man would think you were going to beg him for change in the outfit you’re wearing.” He pointed his finger up and down at my jeans and t-shirt.
My outfit wasn’t that bad.
I pulled off my clothes and put on my costume. That’s the way I had to think of it otherwise I’d never be brave enough to wear it. Jeff did some magic with my hair and makeup and I was ready. For what? I wasn’t sure yet, but I knew I’d think of something once I got there.
“What’s the plan,” Jason asked.
Again with the plan.
“You’ll see,” I answered. “Just go along with whatever I say. Think of it like an improvisation class.”
I got out the photo of Ronald and showed it to them.
Jason smiled. “This is going to be fun.”
Fun? Was he insane? I was dressed like a ‘ho and felt like I was going to throw up. Hardly a joyous night for me.
We walked in and headed straight for the bar. I sat down next to Ronald and gave him a smile. He looked me up and down and licked his lips. Jason sat next to me and Jeff pulled up another bar stool so he
was facing us. Jeff tried to order a white wine spritzer, but Jason talked over him and ordered us three glasses of red wine. From the look of the other patrons this wasn’t the type of place that guys would order spritzers.
“You want to invest how much?” I said to Jeff trying to get the act going.
“Ah…as much as I can,” he said not sure where I was going.
“You won’t regret it. I have tripled my money in less than three months.” Jason said lowering his voice trying to butch it up.
I could feel Ronald leaning closer to us.
“Can I put another ten thousand in?” I asked Jason.
“Yeah, but try to keep it to yourself. We don’t want it to grow too fast,” he said.
“Excuse me,” Ronald said tapping me on the shoulder. “Could I buy all of you a drink?”
His voice was deep and gravely. It sounded like he had been smoking since infancy.
I gave him a snotty look. “We already have drinks,” I said turning my back to him.
Playing hard to get works every time.
“Do you want it all in cash again,” I asked
“It makes it easier to hide the profits,” Jason said.
We went on about our imaginary money making scheme and how the profits kept flowing in. I could feel Mr. Con Man practically salivating over our every word.
Ronald tapped me on the shoulder again. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but over hear.”
“Then don’t,” I said turning my back to him again.
“Excuse my friend Veronica she can be a little abrupt,” Jason said.
Veronica? That’s the best he could do?
“A woman so beautiful is allowed,” he said in a voice so smarmy it made my stomach curl. “Would it be possible for me to join you?”
We got him.
Jason looked at Jeff and me for pretend approval. We both nodded letting Ronald see our reactions. We were appropriately dubious then gave him the okay only after checking him out with questioning suspicious expressions.
Mr. Smarmy turned his bar stool so it was way too close to me and gave me a wink.
I wanted to stick my finger down my throat and gag.
He introduced himself as Donald. How original.
“So tell me what kind of business are you in,” Ronald asked looking like a dog waiting for a treat.
“We’re in porn,” Jason blurted out.
Great. Like this guy needed that kind of visual.
“Really,” Ronald said sneering at me and giving me another once over.
“I don’t act,” I clarified. “I produce.”
“What a pity,” he said smiling at me.
His capped teeth were so big he could barely shut his mouth.
“We make short porn reels that we sell over the web,” Jason said clearly enjoying his own performance.
“Isn’t there already a lot of porn on the web already?” He asked.
From the sound of it he had first-hand knowledge.
“Yeah but we’re specialized,” Jason quickly explained.
Ronald leaned in closer. “Really. How?”
Jason looked at me, but I was drawing a blank. We both stared at Jeff for help.
“We do shaving videos,” he spit out.
What?
Jason and I stared at Jeff in disbelief. Luckily Ronald was intrigued and didn’t see our expressions.
“How exactly does that work?” he asked.
Jeff shifted around in his seat. “You know a guy shaves a girl p...pussy and gets turned on and they f…fuck,” he stuttered out.
Jeff wasn’t the type of guy who said crude words or cursed easily.
“That’s sounds good,” Ronald said. “I saw a magazine back in the day about that once. It was called ‘Shaving Monthly’. It was really hot.”
Good God? They had magazines devoted to that?
“Are you sure you only produce the movies?” Ronald asked me.
“Sorry,” I said. “I don’t shave on camera.”
“It could be just between us,” he said running a finger along my arm.
Gross.
“That’s quite an offer, but I’m a lesbian.”
Might as well go for the big L.
“Really? Let me know if you change your mind.”
What an idiot.
“If we become partners maybe I could watch you and your friends,” he added licking his lips again.
“Maybe,” I said giving him a wink.
His eyes opened wide and he shifted around excitedly in his seat.
I swallowed down the vomit that threatened to spew out of my mouth.
“We’re going to expand to other fetishes too,” Jason jumped in. “Like guys who are into feet. We’re going to do shorts with a lot of foot licking and fucking.”
Jason never knew when to stop.
Ronald asked a lot of questions about how we got paid. Jason went into a detailed explanation about the online payment system that we had supposedly set up. He was so convincing I started thinking he should actually go into the shaving/foot licking internet porn business himself.
When Jason was going through the investment details and closing the noose around Ronald I spotted a guy at the end of the bar. He was staring at me with black empty eyes. He had black hair cut very short, and a couple days stubble on his face. He was wearing black pants and a white t-shirt with a thick gold chain that accented the skull tattoo on his neck. I wasn’t the only one who found him creepy because everyone at the bar had left a large radius around him not wanting to invade his space. He raised his glass and gave me a sneer that made me want to go home, lock my doors and hide.
“Veronica?”
Someone kicked me under the table.
Ow.
I turned back around and saw Jeff and Jason were staring at me expectantly.
“We’ll all meet back here tomorrow night?” Jason asked me.
“I think I can squeeze it in around our production schedule,” I said giving Ronald a big smile, who gave me an air kiss in response.
Double yuck.
“Great. I will bring the contracts for you to sign and you’ll bring the twenty grand,” Jason said.
“After I invest in the movies I can watch. Right?” He asked me.
Pig.
“You bet,” I said. “That’s one of the perks.”
Ronald’s phone buzzed. He looked at the number.
“I’ve got to go,” he said then took my hand and kissed it. “I’ll see you later.” He left so quickly he almost knocked over his bar stool.
I searched through my purse to find my antibacterial wash. I slathered it on then squeezed some out for Jeff and Jason who were holding out their hands expectantly.
“Maybe I’ll quit my job and go back to acting,” Jason said. “I am good.”
“Oh, God here we go again,” Jeff said.
“Where the hell did you come up with shaving? You should have said waxing. No one shaves anymore,” Jason said waving his hand around.
When he got excited his hands were an entity onto themselves.
“I didn’t see you coming up with anything better. Licking feet? How disgusting is that.”
“Stop bickering,” I whispered. “He is going to check us out. How are we going to fake that?”
Jason and Jeff looked at each other and shook their heads. “You are so square sometimes sweetie,” Jason said.
I made the talking sign with my hand. “What are two babbling about?”
“Honey they have all kinds of weird stuff online,” Jeff explained. “And we’ve seen it all. If that old perv looks up shaving porn he’s going to find it.”
“Don’t give us that prissy look,” Jason said. “It’s not like we’re into that. We’re just nosy.”
Okay that made sense now. They were worse than me.
“Yeah and the people who make that stuff don’t exactly put their bio at the end,” Jeff said patronizingly. “For all he knows i
t could be us.”
Who knew?
“Did you see those horrible caps on him? George Washington wants his teeth back. Did he carve those things from pieces of wood?” Jason asked. “I think he just wants to give us the money because he is a horny bastard. I don’t think he even cares if he gets it back.”
I glanced back around to make sure Ronald had actually left when I noticed the creepy guy was still staring at me. I watched as his eyes cut to the entryway of the bar. I followed where he was looking and took a deep breath when I saw it was Manuel. The creep calmly put down his beer kept his eyes on Manuel and took off out the emergency exit.
I excused myself to Jeff and Jason who had gotten in a heated discussion about caps and teeth bleaching. I walked over to Manuel who was leaning against the bar drinking a beer. He was wearing baggy jeans and a loose navy T-shirt that still couldn’t hide his brawn.
“Fancy seeing you here,” I said.
“Hector called me.”
Figures.
“Oh…well.”
I was going to see what he thought of Mr. Creepy at the bar.
“What’s up?”
“It’s just…there was this weird guy staring at me tonight.”
Manuel looked at me up and down. “I’m sure a lot of guys were staring at you tonight.”
I had forgotten what I was wearing. Last time I saw him I puked and now I was dressed like a ‘ho.
“No it wasn’t like that,” I explained. “He was really creepy and as soon as he saw you he left out the emergency exit.”
This got his attention.
“What’d he look like?”
I described him.
“Do you know him?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
I didn’t bother to ask him any more questions. I knew Manuel was a mute went it came to information.
“Hector shouldn’t have called you,” I said. “I can take care of myself.”
He shrugged and took a drink from his beer.
“He’s worse than my mother,” I said.
“Hector’s worse than everyone’s mother.”
Somehow I couldn’t picture Manuel having a mother. I imagined him sprouting up from a pod fully grown holding a beer.
“Has Hector always been like that?”
Manuel didn’t answer. Instead he gave me a half-smile and took another drink.
How could that question be too private?
There was a commotion coming from the other end of the bar. We both looked over and saw Jeff and Jason. Obviously their bleaching discussion had turned into a full blown argument. They were getting louder and people around them were starting to stare.
“Friends of yours?”
I nodded. “They’re my neighbors.”
I heard someone yell, “Will you two shut the hell up.”
“Excuse me for a minute,” I said to Manuel.
Jeff and Jason looked at arguing as foreplay. Unfortunately I was sure the people around them didn’t.
“Why don’t you mind your own business,” Jason said standing up and getting into the guy’s face.
“I’m trying, but you two queers are fucking annoying,” he said. “Who gives a shit whether strips or trays bleach the best?” He was about the same size as Jason and was dressed in jeans and work boots.
Oh, no. This was going to get ugly.
“Who are you calling a queer?” Jason yelled.
By the time I got to them a chair was already flying through the air. Everything went nuts and all I saw were arms swinging and bodies slamming against walls. There was a stampede of people rushing towards me to get out of the bar. I was paralyzed not knowing which way to go when I felt someone grab me from behind like a football and carry me out of the restaurant.
“Are you okay?” Manuel asked while putting me down.
“Yeah,” I said. “But what about my friends?”
Jeff and Jason talked a good game, but the only thing tough about them were their mouths.
From Manuel’s expression he wanted to be anywhere but dealing with this. “Wait here,” he said and went back into the restaurant. After a couple minutes I saw him dragging Jason outside by his shirt, while Jeff trailed behind holding his cheek.
“Is my face cut?” Jeff asked running up to me.
I examined it. “No. Just bruised.”
“Thank God,” he said. “I can’t believe we got out of there in one piece.”
“You had some help didn’t you?”
Jeff cut his eyes to me then to Manuel. He pointed at him and mouthed, ‘You know him?”
I nodded.
“Those animals ripped my new Versace shirt,” Jason said trying to piece it back together. Then he looked up and noticed Manuel for the first time.
“Well…hello there.”
He was so obvious.
Manuel didn’t say anything.
After I introduced them Jason and Jeff stumbled over their words while eyeballing Manuel. I was impressed. He didn’t seem fazed by their fawning. He definitely was a guy who wasn’t threatened by their attention.
“I can’t believe you two got in a bar fight over teeth bleaching.” I complained.
This wasn’t the first time they had made a scene over something so inane. Their last big public fight was over whether White Zinfandel should actually be called a wine.
“It was more about him,” Jeff said pointing to Jason, “not wanting to believe the facts.”
Here it comes.
Jason took the bait and they launched into another argument.
I looked at Manuel and shrugged.
“Do you need a ride home?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
I certainly didn’t want to be stuck in a car with them while they were behaving this way.
“Guys. Manuel is giving me a ride home,” I said trying to shout over their voices.
They instantly stopped, walked over and kissed me on the cheek. “Okay, honey we’ll see you at home,” Jeff said.
“I’ll call you tomorrow to go over our sting. Okay sweetie?” Jason added then went back to arguing.
“Are they okay to drive?” Manuel asked.
He probably thought they were drunk, but sadly that was just them. I could tell he didn’t want to come out and ask if they needed a ride too. I didn’t blame him they weren’t exactly showing their best sides.
“They’re fine.”
I followed him to the parking lot. Instead of the white cop car he had a new black Mustang GT turbo.
“What happened to your other car?” I asked when I got in the passenger seat.
He gave me a sideways glance.
“Oh come on,” I said.
What could be confidential about that?
When he started the car it sounded so powerful I was sure Hector would have engine envy.
He looked like he was thinking about smiling. “The other car is for work.”
“And what kind of work is that?”
What the hell I might as well go for it all.
Silence.
I exhaled loudly. “If you don’t tell me then I’ll imagine the worst.”
“Imagine away.”
As we sped around the curves of Laurel Canyon I gripped the door handle.
“Do you always go so fast?”
He glanced over at me. “Not always.”
I felt the red creep from my neck to my cheeks. It didn’t sound like he was talking about driving.
“What did your friend mean about a sting?” He asked.
Jason watched too many movies.
“Didn’t Hector tell you anything?”
“No.”
Of course not.
I launched into the whole story. When I got to the porn part I hesitated.
“What?” He asked.
“It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“I’ve heard it all,” he said.
“Really?”
“Really.”
; That was comforting …and a little intimidating.
When I told him about the shaving and licking feet web sites he started smiling.
“Hey, you said you heard it all,” I protested.
“I thought I had.”
Wow. I even shocked the scary hot looking maybe cop FBI, CIA guy.
“We’re supposed to meet him tomorrow to get the money.”
He turned onto my street and parked his car in front of my building.
“Is Hector going with you?”
I made a face. “No way.”
I appreciated him wanting to help and he was good at surveillance, but I knew Hector wouldn’t be able to muzzle his mouth.
“Does he know that?”
“He will,” I said. “And besides it’s past his curfew. Yolanda doesn’t like him out that late.”
Manuel looked amused. “That’s harsh.”
He had a slight accent that made everything sound so much better.
“It’s true.”
“I know, but it’s still harsh,” he said. “I’ll walk you up.”
I was going to tell him it wasn’t necessary, but after that weird guy at the bar I was glad he was here.
When we got to my door I got my key out and opened it. I let out a gasp when I saw my place had been trashed. Sofas were turned over and pillows were scattered around. All the drawers had been dumped out onto the floor.
“What the hell?” I said.
Manuel stepped in front of me, reached behind his back and got out a gun that was tucked under his shirt.
“Wait here,” he said before going inside to take a look around.
I stood in the door way with my mouth hanging open surveying the damage.
“They’re gone,” Manuel said slipping his gun into the back of his jeans.
I walked in and felt my lips trembling. It was such a mess.
“I’ll call it in,” he said getting out his phone.
He walked to the hallway while I wandered around not knowing where to start.
“Did Emil and Fidel do this?” I asked Manuel when he came back in.
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t have anything of theirs,” I said. “I swear.”
“I know,” he said.
“They’re not going to stop are they?”
“No. Not until they get what they’re looking for.”
My heart beat faster and the room spun. I stepped over a couple of cushions and got to the sofa to sit on the arm. Manuel came and sat down next to me.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
After I stress eat a bag of cookies.
“If you’re supposed to be taking care of things then why didn’t you know about this?” I asked, gesturing at the mess.
“The objective is to make sure you’re safe. Not your apartment.”
We heard the sirens coming and we both glanced towards the door knowing we would soon be invaded by a bunch of uniforms.
“I’m getting tired of this,” I said.
Manuel heard the cops coming down the hall. “I know.”
He got up off the sofa and started to walk out.
“Where are you going?”
That’s it? That’s all he was going to say?
“I’ll be in touch.”
Then just like that he was gone.
“You can come home with me,” Bryan said.
He had been told about the break in and got here two minutes after the police. I was sure my name and address had an added tag line to call him.
“It’s alright. I can stay here,” I said then sighed when I thought about how much mess I was going to have to clean up before I could crash. The odds were stacked in my favor they weren’t going to come back tonight.
“I’ll stay with you then,” he said.
We locked eyes both knowing what would happen if he stayed.
“Not for that. Well… I guess I could, but only if you forced me to,” he said smiling.
“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m okay,” I insisted. “Shouldn’t you be out with your snotty lawyer friend anyway?”
I couldn’t help myself. Since I saw them together it had been festering inside of me. I understood Bryan would be dating. But her?
Mentioning her seemed to help him remember something. He looked at his watch. “I can change my plans.”
Crap. He was dating her.
There was a commotion coming from the hallway. Bryan and I both turned to look at what was going on. I grinned at Bryan when Jeff and Jason came rushing in. To say they were excited was an understatement. Of course during their ranting and raving about how awful it was about the break in, they still managed to ogle Bryan while telling him how great it was to see him.
“You poor thing,” Jeff said rubbing my back. “You can sleep in our guest room until we get this cleaned up.”
“And to cheer you up I’ll even make you my cinnamon rolls for breakfast,” Jason chimed in.
I looked over to Bryan. “Apparently I can’t compete,” he said.
He definitely could, but not tonight.
“I’m sure you could take care of her better than we could,” Jason drawled out looking him up and down.
I tried to hide my smile while grabbing Bryan’s elbow and walking him to the door. Jason never let up. “See,” I said. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I always worry about you.” He brushed my cheek with his hand. “If you’d let me I could make you forget about the break in,” he said while letting his eyes drift over me. “Especially in that outfit.”
I put my hand over my mouth remembering the ‘ho look I still had going on.
“Um…I was kind of doing an improvisational workshop with Jason and Jeff and this was my costume.”
He grinned. “I thought you gave up on acting?”
“I didn’t give it up.” My agent just hasn’t called with any auditions lately. “I’m just on a short hiatus while I get used to this job.”
“And how do you kind of do a workshop with just the three of you? And since when is Jeff an actor?”
Damn.
“Jason came up with the idea of us going into a bar and pretending we’re other people. For fun,” I said too quickly.
Bryan wasn’t buying it.
“You’re hiding something.”
I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
His face turned serious. “Shit…what are you up to Stevie?”
Before I could answer him he held up his hand.
“Forget it. I don’t want to know,” he said. “My fast growing ulcer won’t be able to take it.”
Then he kissed my forehead and left.