The diner on 70th and Broadway was quiet this evening. It was only ten o’clock and its business usually picked up after one in the morning. A lone waitress, an actress wanabee with blond hair and pink streaks, her septum piercing making her resemble a young bull, read a script as she sat on a bar stool. A couple of college-aged kids made out in a booth by the back wall, their omelets cold in front of them. An elderly man sat at the bar drinking a cup of coffee and reading the day’s newspaper.
The door opened and the bell tinkled. Ari strolled in, letting in a cool stream of air that rustled the remaining newspapers across the pink Formica countertop. He was formidable in his long black leather coat and boots. He nodded at the waitress who cocked her chin towards the lone gentleman sitting in a booth against the window. Ari sauntered over and sat opposite him, laying his leather briefcase on the seat.
“Hello, Desmond.” He eyed the cop, the man who’d had the audacity to hit his sister. He wanted to reach over and beat the shit out of him, but he didn’t. This man wasn’t an idiot. He was smart and had figured too much out all on his own.
They would use him.
“I’d say hello back, but I don’t know who you are, how you found me or why you even called this meeting. If you hadn’t mentioned Kelsey Porter, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t have come.”
The chimes above the door tinkled again and two teenagers dressed in Goth sulked in. They took a table by the counter, their belt chains jangling as they sat down. The waitress put down her script, grabbed her pad and pen and ambled over to them.
“Then it’s a good thing I mentioned her, isn’t it?” Ari said. He stared at Desmond. Pretty obvious to see why Kelsey liked him. He was her type to a “T”. Smart, calculating and muscular. She had a thing for guys who were strong and could take care of themselves. Not to mention good looking and an agenda that was too good to be true. He was perfect for what was coming. Ari leaned forwards. “I want to make a deal with you.”
Desmond raised his eyebrows. “A deal about what?”
Ari took a picture from his briefcase and laid it on the table in front of Desmond, who started slightly.
It was a picture of Connor Gisborne with his arms around Benjamin Porter’s shoulders. The Bodhidharma Monastery was behind them in the background.
Desmond greedily reached for the photo, his eyes drinking it in. “Where’d you get this?”
Ari took the photo from him and put it back in his briefcase. “It was found in the personal effects of Kelsey Porter’s parents. You know, the girl you’ve been following for the past few days? The one you decided to smack in the face in the middle of the art museum?” He leaned towards him, squinting. “You’re lucky she didn’t take you out right in the middle of the tantric exhibit, because she could have easily. While you were trying to test her, she was actually testing you.”
Desmond leaned back, exhaling loudly. “So it was her all along. I knew it.”
Ari clicked his fingers at the waitress, who nodded and quickly brought him over a cup of coffee. Ari grabbed a sweetener and stirred the contents into his cup. Taking a sip, he considered Desmond and made a decision. “I say we make a deal. One that will make you forget my sister had anything to do with that job in Miami.”
“Your sister?” Desmond said, staring at him. “Ok, tell me, why would I ever let a known murderer walk scot-free?”
“Because I don’t think you had any intention of arresting her in the first place and because we’re going to help you avenge your brother’s death.”
Desmond’s eyes widened and Ari waved his hands indifferently. “Yes, we know the entire connection between your brother and the Porter’s. We know about the murder at the monastery, the slaughter at the hands of Raul Salazar and Ricardo Perez. And Xanadu.” Ari took another sip and leaned back, considering. “You need us, Desmond. We know things you don’t and with your background in Asian Studies, your experience as a cop, and your own personal involvement in this case, we can make quite a formidable team. Together we’re going to get you the answers you need as to what Connor and the Porter’s were working on in Tibet and why they were all killed for it.”
Desmond gripped his hands on the table’s edge. “You know what it was he was working on? You know what was on the disc they took from him?”
Ari smiled. “Yes, we know what he was working on. As to the contents of the disc? We’re close to finding out. There are just a few things which need to be done first and we could use your help. Starting tonight.”
Desmond sat back, considering.
Finally, he nodded. “Fine, I’m in. Go on.”
Chapter 10
THE SECOND DISC
The office of Raul Salazar was in a building located on a narrow street in the South Bronx. Gutted cars cluttered the pot-holed filled road, with prostitutes and homeless drug addicts shuffling by looking for tricks or their next fix.
It was two a.m. and Kelsey was in an abandoned lot across the street from the office, crouching behind a dumpster the sanitation department had long since forgotten. Used condoms and needles littered the ground and the smell of urine permeated the air, but she ignored all of it. She was focused on the two guards who stood outside the front door of Raul’s building. They patrolled the perimeter, their handguns drawn as if they were expecting trouble. She saw their breath smoke in the cold night air.
She had pretended to be a prostitute and worked the block the previous two nights, strolling by the building and the guard’s post, so they were well aware this street was her territory. She’d eye them in a way that told them it was more than just a friendly hello, but a strategically placed yell from her “pimp” caused her to scurry away in apparent fear. She would disappear into a stark white Cadillac with tinted windows and gold tire rims, Ari disguised behind the wheel.
Well, tonight she had no intention of running anywhere.
She glanced around the corner, waiting for her team member to arrive. She’d worked with contracted men before on other assignments when their particular expertise was needed. As long as they didn’t screw things up and get in her way, she was fine with it.
There was movement to her left and she turned, shocked to see Desmond strolling towards her in civilian clothing.
What the hell? “What are you doing here?” she asked, incredulous.
“Your brother thought you could use my help,” Desmond said.
I’m going to kill you, Ari. Kelsey pulled out her cell phone and punched the speed dial button savagely. “Is this your idea of a joke? Why the hell did you bring the cops into this? You know who this man is?”
She listened for a few angry moments, then huffing, shut her phone.
“Fine, you can stay, but don’t fuck anything up.”
“I’ll try not to,” Desmond said sarcastically, pulling out a Ruger P95. Certainly not the standard issue the New York City cops used. “But you should know I have as much invested in getting this last disc as you do.”
Kelsey raised her eyebrows. “Oh, really? And then what are you going to do? Arrest me for getting rid of that rotten piece of shit in Miami? Or maybe you’ll hit me again?” She tilted her head mockingly. “That went down well for you at the MET, didn’t it, genius?”
They stared at each other in stony silence. Finally Desmond spoke. “The plan, please?”
Kelsey took off her winter coat and placed it on the ground. “The plan,” Kelsey said, as she kicked off her sneakers and then brazenly pulled off her T-shirt and blue jeans to Desmond’s shocked surprise, “is for you to not get in my way.” She stood there clad only in a lacy red bra and black thong. Goosebumps popped up on her arms from the cold. She pulled out a sheer black camisole from her bag and slipped it on, the bra now peeking out sexily from underneath. Reaching into her bag again, she pulled out a tight red leather mini-skirt and eyeballed Desmond as she shimmied it on over her hips. Desmond just stood there in silent amazement.
Yeah, now you’re looking. Like what you see, buddy?
“I’m going to go over there with those two thugs. Don’t be a hero and try to save me. I’ll be just fine. Trust me when I say they aren’t going to want to see you.” Grabbing a pair of scuffed, gold high-heeled sandals, she slipped them on and then spritzed some cheap perfume down her cleavage.
“After I disable them, then and only then, do you come over. I’ll need a second pair of hands to lift up one of the guys.”
Desmond nodded in understanding. “The handprint sensor.”
She huffed. Thank God he knows something. She expertly applied cheap pink lipstick without a mirror. “Are you planning on coming inside with me?”
“Yes.”
She raised her eyebrows questioningly. “You bring a car?”
He tossed his head. “Two blocks back, parked in the alley by Raul’s office window.”
Good, good. She pulled a few strands of hair out from her ponytail, where they fell messily around her face, then leaned into her bag and removed a spiky metal roller. It was the kind holistic chiropractors used for topical acupuncture treatments. Squaring her shoulders and squinting, she started at her wrists and then rolled it hard up her arm. Tiny red pinpricks of blood sprang up.
“What the hell are you doing?” Desmond asked aghast, reaching out to stop her.
She smacked his hand away. “Making needle tracks.” She quickly ripped a second track on her other arm.
“You’re unbelievable,” he breathed, stepping back.
You haven’t seen anything yet, cop. Kelsey then took out a small vial and squeezed out two drops of liquid in each eye, flinching from the burn. Seconds later she looked up, her eyes beet red, her nose runny, and her costume complete.
A beautiful, used-up young hooker now stood before Desmond. Staring at her, you knew she would have been pretty if she hadn’t succumbed to drugs and the street. Now she just looked worn and tired. Kelsey knew Desmond had seen enough of them back at the precinct to know she could have fit right in with the best of them.
Kelsey placed everything back in her pack and adjusted her bra, hoisting up her breasts so her cleavage was even more revealing. From Desmond’s expression, she knew they looked fine. As good as having a mirror. “Seriously, don’t come over until I disable both of them. Come too soon and it’s my ass on the line. I won’t have my gun with me. Just remember to bring my bag. Got it?”
With that she turned away from Desmond’s stunned expression and sauntered down the street, her high heels clicking languidly on the concrete sidewalk.
Kelsey closed in on the two guards, smiling as she strolled towards them. She marveled that she wasn’t even nervous, just excited at the prospect of trying to seduce them. God, she was one of the weirdest chicks she knew. There really was something seriously wrong with her.
“Hey, boys. Looking for a good time tonight?” She slid into a strong New York accent ;and slurred her words just slightly as if she were drunk.
One of the guards called out to her. “We’re always looking for a good time, beautiful. Seen you around here a few times. Been waiting for you to come on over and say hello.”
“Is that so?” She moved over to the speaker, a massive specimen pushing two hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle. With his ugly, cragged face and bald dome, he exuded the kind of power only gotten with steroids. The pimples on his collarbone peeking out from his unzipped leather jacket confirmed it.
Kelsey placed her hand on his chest and then traced her fingers up and down his muscled arm. His friend giggled. He was a small guy with jet black greasy hair, a weasel-like face and jumpy eyes.
“Hey, Gino, I think she likes you,” he chirped, his voice high and pitchy.
“Course she likes me, asshole. You got enough money, she’ll like a donkey.” He peered down at her, and then over her shoulder. “Where’s your pimp tonight?”
Kelsey pouted. “Don’t worry about him. He won’t be bothering me. He’s working a new girl on 161st Street.”
Gino stared at her breasts and she breathed in deeply, pushing them up for his benefit. It was cold and her nipples were hard as rocks. Gino grinned lasciviously. “Is that so? Hey Chaz, she says no one’s going to bother us tonight.”
Chaz giggled excitedly, practically jumping up and down in anticipation. His gun bobbed in his hands. She could already see he was getting sexually excited.
Guys are so friggin’ easy to manipulate.
Kelsey moved closer to Gino, her breasts rubbing against his chest. “I can be very good to you.”
Gino cupped her breast and then grabbed her ass. “Chaz, hold my gun while I take care of some business,” he said, tossing Chaz his Browning. He leaned down and kissed her neck, roughly grabbing her hair with his other hand.
Kelsey spoke up, a petulant whine now in her voice now. “Baby, not out here. My pimp will go crazy if he comes back and sees us. He’s scared of Raul and doesn’t want me to bother his men. Says he’ll beat the shit out of me if he catches me. Let’s go inside where it’s warm. I’ll make it worth it, I promise.”
She ran her chipped nails down his arm and gently cupped his crotch.
Gino grasped her shoulder, a little too hard. “Fine, inside, but you gotta do both of us.”
She melted into him, kissing his neck. “That definitely won’t be a problem.”
Squealing with excitement, Chaz scurried to the door and punched in a twelve digit code. Kelsey waited until she heard the click as it unlocked and then landed a sharp upwards elbow jab right under Gino’s chin, shoving his head backwards so hard it rocked his brain. At the same time, she grabbed his belt with her free hand and pulled his body forward, nearly fracturing his neck. He fell to the floor, momentarily stunned. She turned to Chaz, who fumbled with his gun. Kelsey smacked it out of his hand and landed a ridge hand strike to his temple. He flew backwards into the brick building. His head hit the wall with a sickening sound and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Seconds later Desmond appeared at her side. Gino tried to get up and Desmond punched him in his face twice. He collapsed back to the ground.
Desmond threw Kelsey her backpack. She reached inside, pushed aside her jacket, and pulled out her gun.
“Get the little one,” she ordered, but Desmond had already lifted Chaz up and was pushing him forward. A moment later she heard the second door unlock.
She grabbed Gino’s legs and started dragging him behind a dumpster. God, he’s freaking heavy. Desmond came out and together they hid him, running back to the door to get Chaz. Once they disposed of him, Kelsey put on her backpack and followed Desmond into the building.
It was only a step up from the decay of the outside. Bare industrial floors and dirty, yellowed walls, filthy with hundreds of greasy handprints. It was apparent an enormous amount of traffic had frequented these hallways. Cigarette butts collected in the corners and a lone metal folding chair sat just inside the hallway. The smell of marijuana, tobacco and a hint of disinfectant hung in the air. It was also very warm. Old radiators clanked, banged and hissed as water moved through them. ;
“Raul’s office is at the end of the hall, and up a flight of steps,” she whispered, catching her breath.
He nodded, breathing hard, his own gun at the ready. They moved stealthily down the deserted corridor. They ducked their heads into the various apartments, each filled with ratty couches, tables holding scales and various sorts of drug paraphernalia.
“How long have you known about Raul’s whereabouts?” Desmond asked.
Kelsey glanced at him. “About three years. Why?”
“You should have reported it to the police.”
“Yeah, right. I report it to the police, he flies or lands in jail and I can’t get to him, his discs or the map. As soon as I’m done with Raul, you can have him, but not a moment before.”
They moved cautiously down the hallway.
“I don’t understand,” Desmond whispered. “You and your brother aren’t cops. For Christ’s sake, you’re barely legal. How the hell do you get
all your information and how do you know how to do any of this? And that gun? What is that, a Korth Semi Auto? That pistol is worth over four thousand dollars.”
More than that. “I’ll bet you just hate not knowing something, don’t you?” She glanced at his face and threw him a bone. “We get our information from a Mexican girl who cleans up for Raul every week. By helping her with her family’s immigration status, she’s willing to give us what we need.”
They moved further down the hall and ducked into another apartment, broken out into very small rooms, each with a single bed. Old condoms, filled ashtrays and drug paraphernalia littered the tables and floor. They moved back out to the hallway.
He whispered to her again. “And what about your gun?”
God, he was so damn nosey. “What’s the matter? Are you jealous, thinking your Wilson might not be longer than mine? Didn’t know you were so self-conscious that way, Detective.”
When Desmond only stared at her, she huffed. “The gun is mine and registered. Feel free to check when we’re done here. Now will you shut up about it, already?”
Footsteps clicking on the staircase sounded and they froze.
With a swiftness which threw her off guard, Desmond grabbed her around the waist and thrust her into a hall closet. She dropped her backpack to the floor and Desmond pulled her close, quietly shutting the door behind her.
As she stood there, chest-to-chest with Desmond, she noticed many things. The way the closet door pressed tightly against her backside, the way Desmond’s hands held her at her waist, his gun still in his hand, and how hard and surprisingly muscular his chest was. She leaned in closer and sniffed. He smells amazing again, too. Her stomach jumped. Footsteps sounded outside the door.
The Hunt for Xanadu Page 7