Lady Justice and the Evil Twin

by Robert Thornhill

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “I have an idea, but you’ll have to run with it. I don’t have the juice to pull it off.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Neither the Italians or the African-Americans want a war with the Russians, and I’m sure the police department would feel exactly the same way. The best way to put a crimp in the Russian’s plan would be to hit them in the pocketbook.

  “I’m sure you know about Alexi Smirnoff. If he regains consciousness, he will testify against Egor Mitkin. That would virtually wipe out the Russian drug trade. I think we can do the same with Russian prostitution.

  “If their women are sex slaves, as I suspect, they would undoubtedly jump at the chance to be free of their captors. What if we pretended to be johns, picked up the girls, then offered them either sanctuary or a ticket back to their families? No Russian girls, no Russian prostitution. It would not only free them from sex slavery, it would also be a blow to the mob.

  “It would take someone in authority to work out the details with Immigration. Are you interested?”

  He thought for a moment. “Let me make some calls.”

  The next day, Harley called.

  “Walt, I’ve been in touch with Immigration, the Attorney General’s office, and the Department of Health and Human Services. They like your idea. Everyone’s on board.”

  “Fantastic!”

  “We’re putting together a team. Since this was your idea, we wondered if you would like to join us?”

  “Absolutely! How about my partner, Kevin McBride?”

  “Why not. What would be more believable than two old guys soliciting hookers?”

  I called Kevin and gave him the good news. He was thrilled.

  My next call was to Carmine. I explained what was about to go down.

  “It might be a good idea to keep your girls off the street until this is over.”

  “I like it,” Carmine said, “and I agree. We’ll keep a low profile until you say the coast is clear. Good work, gumshoe. Put the Ruskies out of business.”

  Then I called Louie and gave him the same information.

  “You better watch your back out there,” he admonished. “Them Russians are gonna be really pissed when their girls start to disappear.”

  “I won’t be alone. Officers will be monitoring the whole operation.”

  “Just sayin’!”

  Two days later, we were ready to go.

  Kevin and I and two undercover officers would each drive in assigned areas. Kevin and I were given Independence Avenue. The other two were to patrol Prospect and Troost.

  A command center was established in a vacant building on Independence Avenue. Once contact was made with the girl, we were to drive to the command center. It was being staffed by representatives of the various departments who would explain the options available to the girls. Given the fact that they were most likely from Russia, there was even an interpreter on site.

  We knew the Russian girls would be watched by handlers who would collect their earnings. Officers in unmarked cars searched the streets and picked up the Russian watchdogs.

  All four of us were wearing wires so that our conversations could be monitored.

  At eight o’clock, we hit the streets. It didn’t take long to spot the first girl. She was under the streetlight on the corner formerly occupied by Charlene.

  I slowed down, gave her a long look, then drove around the block. When I passed her the second time, she smiled and gave me a little finger wave. The third time around, I pulled to the curb and rolled down the passenger side window.

  She stepped up to the window. “You looking for a date?”

  Her English was broken, but understandable.

  “Uhhh, maybe. How much?”

  She looked me over. “For you, fifty.”

  I nodded and she hopped in. “Go to the alley behind the gas station,” she said.

  “Actually, we’re going someplace else,” I replied.

  I saw the horror in her eyes. “No! We must go there!”

  “I know you’re afraid. I’m here to help you. Were you taken from your home against your will?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because if you were, I’m taking you to some people who can free you from your captors.”

  “No, please! They will kill me!”

  “If you want our help, they will never see you again. All I ask is for you to listen to what they have to say. If you’re not interested, I will give you your fifty dollars and take you back where I found you. Fair enough?”

  She nodded, and sat quietly until we pulled into the command center. We were met by a woman who took her by the hand and led her into a make-shift conference room. I tagged along because I wanted to hear what was being offered.

  The poor girl stared in disbelief as she heard the words that would set her free. When she finally understood, she collapsed weeping into the arms of the woman who had taken her from me. It was all I could do to keep from shedding a tear or two myself.

  One down, but more to come.

  I headed back to Independence Avenue. Charlene’s old corner was vacant, but there was a girl on the next one. I did the same cat and mouse routine I’d done with the first girl. On the third pass, I pulled to the curb and rolled down the window.

  “You looking for a date?”

  Evidently this was the line of choice for Russian hookers.

  “Maybe. How much?”

  “Seventy-five.”

  The price of a good time had gone up a few bucks.

  I nodded and she climbed into the passenger seat. I was about to pull away when there was a tap on my window. I looked up, and a big Russian was pointing a pistol in my face.

  “Unlock the back door.”

  Not wanting blood on my upholstery, I did as I was told.

  The man slipped into the back seat and pressed the gun into the back of my neck.

  “Drive, then turn into the next alley. Ivan wondered why our girls were disappearing. He sent me to find out. It looks like you’re the reason.” He reached over the seat and jerked the wire off my chest. “You won’t be needing this.”

  I turned into the next alley and stopped the car.

  “Out!” he ordered. “On your knees.”

  I could see the terror in the poor girl’s eyes. She knew what was coming.

  My only hope was that the command center had heard the exchange, but after him ripping off my wire, I had my doubts.

  At the ripe old age of seventy-five, I knew my days were numbered, but I’d never pictured myself drawing my last breath in a filthy alley behind a gas station on Independence Avenue.

  I heard the click as the man released the safety. I closed my eyes and awaited my fate. Then I heard the blast, and the Russian fell to the pavement beside me.

  I turned and saw the smiling face of the big brute who had first accosted me in the Blue Room Bar. “Louie’s got your back,” he said, a gold tooth reflecting the rays from the streetlight.

  He pointed to the dead Russian. “Take care of the girl. I’ll clean up this mess.”

  I ushered the terrified girl into the car and headed to the command center.

  As before, we were met by the same kindly woman who met my first girl. After a few more tears seeing another innocent victim freed from captivity, I was fitted with a new wire and headed back to the street.

  That evening, fifteen young women were rescued from the clutches of the Russian mob.

  We were just winding things up, when the first girl I’d picked up tugged on my sleeve.

  “What about Tatiana?”

  “Who’s Tatiana?”

  “They always leave one of us behind. They tell us if we give them any trouble or don’t earn enough money, they will beat the one left behind. We never know which of us it will be. Tonight, it’s Tatiana.”

  I called to Harley. “We’ve got a situation.”

  “We have to get her,” he said after hearing t
he girl’s story. “With all of the other girls gone, they’ll kill her.”

  I turned to the frightened girl. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

  “Maria.”

  “My name is Walt. Do you know where Tatiana’s being held?”

  “I don’t know addresses, but I could take you there. I saw a street sign. It said Front Street. We came over a bridge with a funny name. Cho --- Cho.”

  “Chouteau.”

  “Yes, that’s it.”

  “How many men are there?”

  “Just one. Boris. He hopes we misbehave. He loves to hit us.”

  A group of officers had gathered round.

  “How do we want to play this?” Harley asked. “Only one guy. We could storm the place.”

  I raised my hand. “I have another idea. Viktor Kozlov has been working with the mob for several weeks now. Viktor and Boris have probably met. This jerk has been impersonating me and making my life miserable. I think it’s time I turned the tables and impersonated him. If they know each other, he’ll probably invite me right in.”

  Nods all around.

  “Let’s do this,” Harley said.

  Maria and I were in one car, followed by two unmarked cruisers. If my ruse didn’t work, they were prepared to take Boris by force.

  We crossed the Chouteau Bridge and took the Front Street exit. “Which way?”

  “That way,” she said, pointing east.

  We had gone about a half mile when she pointed again. “There. That’s it.”

  It was a small warehouse building. One car was parked by the door. I pulled in beside the car. The two cruisers pulled in where they couldn’t be seen from the front door.

  “Okay, Maria. Are you ready?”

  She nodded.

  “Are you scared?”

  “Maybe a little.”

  “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be right beside you, and the other officers will be right outside the door.”

  “Then let’s go get Tatiana. She’s my friend.”

  I patted her hand, took a deep breath, and we headed for the front door. I tried the knob, but it was locked.

  I knocked, and a minute later I heard a voice. “Yeah, who is it?”

  “Boris! It’s me, Viktor.”

  The door opened a crack. “Whadda you doing here? I thought Ivan had you working the streets.”

  “I was, but one of the girls got sick.” I stepped aside so he could see Maria. “Ivan asked me to bring her back.”

  “I don’t want no damn sick kid in here.”

  “Hey, I’m just following orders. Give Ivan a call and see for yourself.”

  “Come on,” he said, opening the door.

  Sixteen iron beds were lined up along one wall of the large room. A young girl, probably no older than fifteen or sixteen, was manacled to one of the beds.

  Boris produced another set of cuffs. “Take the kid to one of the beds. I’ll hook her up.”

  I pulled my gun. “I have a better idea. How about you put them on?”

  I saw the disbelief on his face. “Viktor! What the hell?”

  “I’m not Viktor, asshole, but I sure look like him. Now put on those cuffs.”

  As soon as he was secure, I called the backup officers. “Come get this piece of trash.”

  When they had Boris in hand, I approached Tatiana. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

  When I removed the cuffs, she ran to Maria and they fell sobbing into each other’s arms.

  Just as the officers were leading Boris to the door, Maria tugged on my sleeve. “Tatiana and I would like to say goodbye to Boris.”

  I signaled the officers to hold up a minute.

  Hand in hand, they marched up to the big Russian. Maria landed the first blow, a well-placed foot between the legs. “Your turn,” she said, stepping aside.

  Tatiana landed another direct hit and Boris fell to his knees groaning in agony.

  “He’s all yours,” I said, smiling.

  Another victory for Lady Justice. It had been a good night.

  CHAPTER 17

  Ivan Sokolov was furious. “What happened out there? Where is Demetri? Where is Boris? Where are my girls?”

  “It was some kind of organized operation,” Viktor replied, fearing Ivan’s wrath. “I did exactly what you told me to do. I put the fear of God in those black hookers. They left their corners and our girls took their place. When I spotted officers in unmarked cars picking up your handlers, I got out of there. Then, from what I could see, four cars with men posing as johns picked up the girls and took them to a storefront on Independence Avenue.

  “I saw Demetri take one of their johns into an alley, but a big black guy followed them. I heard a shot. I figured that was the end of Demetri, so I high-tailed it out of there.

  “I kept out of sight until everything quieted down, then I went to our place on Front Street. It was empty. They must have taken Boris.”

  “Damn!” Ivan said, smashing his fist into the wall. “First, our meth labs, then our marijuana, and now our hookers. Moscow will not be happy to hear about this.”

  “What can I do to help?” Viktor asked.

  “I don’t know,” Ivan said, pacing. “I need time to think. Go to your hotel. I will contact you.”

  Viktor could sense that things were beginning to fall apart. Ivan seemed to be lost as to what to do next. He thought about leaving Kansas City, but that would not set well with his contacts in New York or Moscow. The last thing he wanted was to be on their hit list. He decided to bide his time and see if Ivan could come up with a plan to salvage their organization.

  But the last thing he wanted to do was cool his heels in his cramped hotel room. Then, he thought about his first day in Kansas City, and the cute chick at the Shady Lady. That would be as good a place as any to pass the time.

  When he entered the club, he looked for the girl he met the last time. She was nowhere in sight.

  Then, he spotted another comely lass.

  What the heck, he thought, this one will do just fine.

  Christy had just arrived at the club to begin her shift. She changed into her skimpy costume and headed to the lounge. She glanced at the stage and spotted a man she had danced for a few weeks ago. He was stuffing bills into Gina’s G-string.

  Then she remembered that a man had come looking for him, and his promise of a hundred dollars if she saw him again. She hurried back to the dressing room and rummaged in her purse, looking for the card the man had given her.

  “Aha!” she said, triumphantly, reading the name on the card. “Walter Williams!”

  I was in my office paying some bills when the phone rang.

  “Mr. Williams, this is Christy.”

  It caught me by surprise. “Christy?”

  “From the Shady Lady. You came by a few weeks ago and left your card. You said if I ever saw the guy who looked like you again, to give you a call. Well, I’m calling. He’s here.”

  Then it all came back to me. I just never knew the dancer’s name. “What’s he doing?” Dumb question.

  “Duh! He’s stuffing bills in Gina’s G-string. He’ll probably be wanting a lap dance when she gets off the stage.”

  “Has he seen you?”

  “No, I just got to work.”

  “Good, stay out of sight if you can. I don’t want him to know you called. He might not be too happy about that. I’m coming right over.”

  “Don’t forget! You promised me a hundred dollars.”

  “I won’t forget.”

  I hung up from Christy and dialed Kevin. “The dancer from the Shady Lady just called. Victor’s there. Wanna come?”

  “Does Nancy Pelosi have bags under her eyes?”

  I figured that was a yes.

  I grabbed a hundred-dollar bill from my safe and headed out to meet my evil twin.

  We stepped into the club and waited a moment for our eyes to adjust.

  “There he is,” Kevin said. “The guy with the girl glued to his lap.”


  Old Viktor was nuzzling the girl’s cleavage just as he had done in the video.

  “Looks like Victor’s a boob man,” Kevin said. “Shall we interrupt him?”

  “Hell, yes,” I replied.

  We pulled our guns and each took a seat on either side of him.

  “Get lost,” Kevin said to the dancer.

  “Hey,” she replied. “The guy owes me forty bucks!”

  “You heard the lady, Victor,” I said, poking my gun in his ribs. “Forty bucks. Cough it up.”

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. There must have been at least a hundred bucks. I grabbed the wad and handed it to the girl. “Keep the change.”

  “Thanks, doll,” she said, grabbing the money and planting a smooch on my cheek.

  “Asshole!” Viktor hissed.

  I looked at his vacant lap. “Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?” I’ve always wanted to use that old line by Mae West. This seemed to be the perfect time.

  “Probably both,” Kevin said. “Stand up, creep.”

  Viktor stood and Kevin pulled a 9mm out of his waistband. “See, I told you.”

  I grabbed Kozlov by the belt and jerked him back onto the chair. “Well, at last we meet. I’ve been looking forward to this. Your shenanigans have gotten me in trouble with my wife, the cops, the Italian mafia, and a big black guy at the Blue Moon Lounge.”

  “So what do you want from me?” he sneered, “an apology?”

  “Save your breath. I know it wouldn’t be sincere.”

  “What, then?”

  I actually hadn’t thought through what I was going to do with the guy once I had my hands on him. My first thought was to take him into the alley and shoot him, but I didn’t think Kevin would let me do that.

  “The way I see it,” Kevin said, “is you have two choices. You can either give him to the cops or give him to Carmine Marchetti.”

  He was right. The Lady Justice in the white flowing robe with the blindfold said I should turn him over to the cops. The Lady Justice in the high heels and fish net stockings whispered that Carmine was the right choice.