Some Degree of Murder

Thursday, April 15th Victorino’s Grocery, Noon

VIRGIL

Traffic whizzed by on Sprague as I talked with Mr. Saccamano.

“Where the hell are you, Virg?”

“At a payphone in front of some meat market.”

“That’s alright. I’m calling from that little Korean laundry around the corner from the shop. Fucking phone dodge. If it weren’t for the Feds, we could talk on the damn telephone like white men.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Saccamano laughed. “Yeah, it would. It would be real goddamn nice. But enough of dream land. You makin’ any progress up there?”

“I’ve got a line on some potential players. If it doesn’t pan out by the weekend, I’ll bag it and head home.”

“Do that. I can use your help.”

“Alright, Mr. Saccamano. I’ll give you a call in a day or two.”

I dropped the receiver on to the hook and turned around. A tall blonde stood in front of me. She wore a tight red mini-skirt and black spandex top. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and her lips were painted a brilliant red which clashed with her deep green eyes. “Wanna date?” she asked with a hint of a smile.

“No, thanks.”

She shrugged and turned back to the street, watching the passing cars. Her ass was a little big for the skirt, but her legs were smooth.

“Hey,” I said.

She turned around and crossed her arms, forcing her breasts up and her nipples out against the spandex.

“How much?”

“You a cop?”

“Not even close.”

“Grab a titty then.”

Even though it was broad daylight, I reached out and tweaked the nipple on her right breast.

“That was free,” she said with a smile. “It’s forty for head, sixty straight in.”

“Sounds fair.” I glanced around, hoping to find a pimp or BSC member watching over her.

“What are you looking for?”

“A pimp.”

“You’ve done this before, sugar?”

I nodded.

“Where to?”

“I’ve got a room at the La Playa,” she said to me. “Room number seven. That’s where we’re going.”

I followed her as she wiggled down the street, her high heels clicking loudly. My eyes watched passing cars, hoping that a bored cop wouldn’t drive by.

We walked past the Brotherhood of the Southern Cross clubhouse and under their cameras. I smiled when I realized what she was doing. She just showed them who her trick was and they never had to step outside. Very slick.

She opened the door and let me step inside first. The room was plain with no personal items anywhere. “Do you live here?” I asked.

“Nah,” she said and pulled the door closed behind her. “I think of this as my office.”

She stood with her feet shoulder width apart and her hands on her hips. “What’s it gonna be, cowboy?”

“I got a couple of questions.”

“Sure, sure,” she said, “but let me save you some breath. Yes, you have to wear a condom. And, no, I won’t let you do me in the ass or smack me around. We agree to any freaky business up front and if you try something that we didn’t agree to, I walk outside and someone comes in to have a talk with you. Got it?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I’m serious,” she said.

“Those weren’t my questions.”

I pulled out my money clip and tossed two hundred on the small desk in the room.

“What do you want for that?” she asked, suspicion firm in her eyes.

“Questions mostly.”

“What kind of questions?”

“What’s your name?”

“Grace.”

I showed her Fawn’s picture. “Grace, have you ever seen her down here?”

She never looked at the picture. “I thought you said you weren’t a cop.”

“I’m not. I’m her father.”

Grace’s eyes flicked down to the picture. “Yeah, I saw her around here for a few days at the most. Nothing more than that, I think.”

“Was she working?”

Grace stared at me.

“It’s okay. I need to know.”

Grace nodded.

“Did she have a pimp?”

“Not really a pimp.”

“Was she paying protection to someone?”

Grace didn’t answer, her eyes challenged mine.

I considered waiting her out but knew my questions would get back to them if I pressed too hard.

“Was anyone giving her a rough time?”

“Not that I know of.”

“You hear most things that happen on these streets?”

She nodded. “That’s how we survive.”

“Who should I talk to about her protection?”

“Anyone but me, honey.”

“Okay.”

“You got any more questions?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Want something for the rest of those bills, cowboy?”

“Not right now.”

“Whenever you want, baby.”

I nodded at her.

“But you know it’ll cost, right?”

“It always costs, Grace.”

She opened the door. “That it does, baby, that it does.”