by R Weir
“They are guys I hang out with from time to time. Show me a good time.”
“Bad guys who carry guns and bounced me out on my ear when I asked about you.”
“They don’t like cops.”
“They didn’t know I was a private cop.”
“They can tell. They deal with them all the time.”
“Men who deal with cops all the time generally deal with them for a reason.”
“They hassle them because they are viewed as pimps. But they aren’t. They are providing a basic service for their paying customers.”
“And are you one of their customers?” asked Bill.
“They comped me because I’m a football star. I didn’t have to pay.”
“What about money? Did they loan you any?” I asked.
Ray was getting uneasy, his hands clenched.
“I needed a little to pay for some things. You know how it is for college athletes, they don’t give us any money to live off of.”
“And did they ask you to pay it back?” said Bill. “Did they threaten you if you didn’t?”
He didn’t answer, his face displaying anger or embarrassment.
“And what about Ariela, or any of the other girls? Were they free or was the money to cover sleeping with them?” I asked.
“If we slept together, it’s because I’m a stud football star. Ray don’t pay for sex. I can get it whenever I want it.”
“And did they record it and try to use it against you?”
Ray gave me a cold stare and didn’t reply to the question.
“Did they, son?” asked Bill.
This time, Ray turned his frosty expression onto his father. He got up from the sofa and left the room, running up the stairs to his bedroom, a door slamming behind him.
“I think we got our answer,” I said to Bill. It was what I’d feared.
Chapter 12
We gave it time but Ray never returned, so I headed home, leaving Bill to deal with it. He and Rachael would continue to try and get through to him. It was a thick wall to break down. I told him to contact me when he was ready so we could figure out our next move. I didn’t sleep well and called Melissa, even though it was late. I required an ear to chew on.
“I was asleep,” she said when answering the phone. “Are you OK?”
“I had a tough couple of days and needed to hear your voice. I miss seeing you.”
It was a hard confession to make, as I rarely in my life missed anyone.
“I miss you, too. Once this legal proceeding is over we can be together; it’s kept me busy in court. Hopefully it will wrap up Friday afternoon and you can take me to dinner and vent on me sexually.”
I wanted to see her, to touch and smell her. Lying lost in her arms would be a five-star relief.
“I can come over and vent now.”
“Well, buddy, the most you’re going to get from me is phone sex; I’m whipped and need my sleep for tomorrow. What type of dirty words do you need?”
Her saying it made me feel better. I would have loved to heat up the airwaves, but wanted to save my best for Friday night.
“No, I can wait. Hearing your voice helped. Can I tell you what’s been going on these last couple of days?”
Though you could hear the exhaustion in her voice, she said yes. I gave her all the details on both cases but left out the part about me getting my ass kicked. I told her they tossed me out but nothing about the beating I took. No reason to trouble her with worrisome information.
“So you think Ray is mixed up with them?” she asked.
“I think so, but he won’t come clean. He is a football star and it’s hard to admit someone takes advantage of you. He wants to trust they are his friends for the proper reason.”
“But they aren’t and he can’t see it.”
“No, he can’t.”
“So what can you do if he doesn’t want help?”
“Not much, but his dad and mom won’t give up on him. I’ll assist however I can. But I don’t believe Mack and Grady will let him off the hook easily. It’s their job to bring in revenue. There is more to this than we know right now.”
“Even though he is the son of a cop?”
“I’m not certain they realize, and even so it won’t matter. Cops don’t scare these guys.”
“Well, sweetie, it doesn’t sound good, but I know you will make it right,” she said. “I have nothing but faith in your ability.”
I was glad she had faith in me, because sometimes I doubted it myself. I would muddle through and persevere to find a solution.
“What about your current trial?” I asked. “What can you tell me about it?”
“Today the prosecution tried to sneak in a surprise witness. Well, the judge reamed him for it…” She continued on for about another fifteen minutes giving me details of her last couple of days, including a plea bargain deal they were considering for their client. It all sounded so dramatic, but I knew legal wrangling rarely was. At times it was long and tedious, as both sides attempted to get the upper hand on the other.
“Well, my dear, I think I’ve kept you up long enough,” I said. “I will let you dream of judges’ gavels banging on the bench.”
“I’d rather dream of something more pleasurable.”
“And what would be more pleasurable?” I asked, a bit out of breath anticipating where this was leading.
“You may not want any dirty talk but I’m going to give you a few choice words to help you doze off,” she stated. “Graphic details to tide you over until we can be together again.”
She proceeded to describe an arousing oral sexual act, which sent the blood racing from one head to another, before hanging up. The teasing image rolled through my body, though strangely enough it did help me sleep after a bracing cold shower eased the stiffness.
Chapter 13
After my good night’s sleep, with visions of Melissa’s narrative graphically playing in my head, I awoke to the alarm at 6 a.m., eager to begin my day. I hadn’t worked out in several days, so I was off to the gym with my usual running, lifting and punching routine. Always good for working out anger, sexual and body stiffness from the beating I took. A good hour later with the heart racing at a comfortable pace, sore muscles feeling better, I went home and showered, ready for one more day of gathering evidence for Kate. As I reached the car my phone rang. It was April with news on the last plate I’d given her.
“Her name is Dona Wiggins,” said April. “No arrest history other than some juvenile arrests that are sealed and I can’t access. She does have lots of speeding and hazardous driving tickets. License is suspended, so she shouldn’t even be behind the wheel.”
“Yes, I witnessed her automobile skills,” I said. “Worse than a man and with reckless abandon.”
“Probably sexually frustrated.”
“I don’t think so. The person I’m tailing gave her a long, passionate kiss when she picked him up and they walked into her condo with his hand on her butt. Never saw them leave after several hours. So I assume they were getting it on.”
“Slut!”
I had to laugh. “What else did you get?”
“Lives down in Highlands Ranch in Douglas County.” She gave me the street and number.
“Not the address I followed her to. I doubt her lover is fronting the place; doesn’t have the money.”
“Married and enjoying a little on the side,” said April.
“It does appear so. And he comes back to his home late each night.”
“Glad someone is getting some action!” stated April. “Wife hired you to tail him?”
“Yep. His old lady is tired of him and wants him out.”
“Good to know I’m not the only one who gets involved with losers. So do I get my beers tonight?”
“And sparkling conversation. What time shall I meet you at Boone’s?”
“Around 4 p.m.”
“How will I recognize you?”
“I’ll be the single girl in the booth packing a sid
earm!”
“I can’t wait.”
I had pretty much all I needed for Kate’s lawyers, but wanted a little more before sending it off. My agenda today was to pick someone Jack collected from and see what information I could get out of them. It would be icing on the cake. The question was how I was going to approach them. I had two options—either as a customer or a detective. My plan was to play it by ear, but I dressed the part of someone a little bit down on his luck, with raggedy clothing, to appear more like someone who’s street-weary. I didn’t have to dig very deep in my closet for the role.
After Jack left home he made two stops, the last of which I decided would be my target. He stopped at the corner of Broadway and Alameda in the parking lot of an Auto Parts Store to meet with two men he’d hooked up with before. I took several pictures of him pushing them both pretty hard to get what he wanted, and I could tell they weren’t thrilled to see him. They might not have much of an issue rolling over on him if I played this right. After he left, they walked heading north on Broadway at a slow pace, so I got out of my car and started following them and caught up quickly.
“Hey, guys,” I called out.
They each turned and I got a good look at them. The first was Caucasian about 5’9” and famine-skinny, with dirty jeans hanging so low the waist was closer to the ground than to his mid-section. Ratty canvas high-top sneakers laced up his ankles, while he wore a blue fabric coat with a hood covering his rumpled hair and long enough to cover his ass since his jeans didn’t. The other appeared to be Asian, a hair taller and plumper, beige dungarees hanging low, but not as low as his friend’s, black boots and tattered black leather jacket, his uncovered shaved head shining in the cold November sun. As I approached they both smelled like they hadn’t showered in days, acting cautious to what I wanted. The white guy kept his hands in his pocket and I was on the lookout for a weapon. I was armed today with my .38, hoping to keep it holstered. I decided to play the detective part and see if I could coerce or buy knowledge from them.
“What?” said the Asian man, his hands now also in his coat pocket.
“I need some information,” I stated. “I’m wondering if you’re in a sharing mood.” I pulled out my license and showed it to them.
“You a cop?” said the Caucasian.
“Private.”
“We done nothing wrong.”
“I’m not here to roust you. Only want some answers to simple questions.”
“What’s in it for us?” said the Asian man. I could see his hand twitching in his coat pocket. The small bulge had to be a knife, not large enough for a gun.
“You walk away without me calling the cops down here and even get paid for your trouble. Money appears to be something you can use.”
They both glared back and forth then back at me again, and each from their pocket flashed a knife blade at me as a warning. I wasn’t too worried; they had cowered when Jack pushed them. I showed my revolver to make sure they understood I was armed, the weapons disappearing into pockets, knowing they were out-classed.
“Again, I don’t want trouble,” I said to balance the gun flashing. “Answer a few questions and I can give you each twenty bucks. If one doesn’t want to talk they can walk away and the money goes to the other. If neither is interested I’ll ease on down the road not to bother you again.”
“Ask the question and we’ll see if it’s worth it,” the Asian said.
“I want to know what Jack collects from you when he stops by,” I asked. “Seen him a couple of times pushing you around.”
“So you know Jack?” the Asian said, rubbing his nose.
“Yes. We are acquainted.”
“Why?” they both said simultaneously.
“Let’s say I have a client gathering intel and we’ll leave it there.”
“Jack is connected,” stated the Caucasian. “Going against him can be harmful to our health.”
“It’s nothing about his connection, strictly on a personal matter. It won’t even get him arrested.”
“Getting him busted might get him off of our back,” said the Asian man. “Wouldn’t be all bad for us. Of course, someone else would take his place. Would only delay it a day or so.”
“How about forty each,” stated the Caucasian.
“If the information is good, sure,” I answered.
“Let’s see the green,” said the Caucasian.
I pulled out the four twenties. “They’re all yours.”
They each grabbed the cash quickly and pocketed it. I was prepared for them to run, but they stayed put. I doubted I’d shoot them over eighty dollars, but then again…
“Roland Langer,” said the Asian. “Jack works for him. He is a loan shark and all-around mean guy. Jack is his collector, well, one of his collectors. We are into Langer for money we can’t get out of.”
“Let me guess, interest rates above the legal limit.”
“Stupid of us, but banks don’t loan to guys like us,” said the Caucasian. “Jack is angry, aggressive and doesn’t like it when we can’t pay. We have to scrounge every day to come up with something, or else. Unless we win the lottery we’ll never get out from under him.”
“Is Langer into anything else?” I asked.
“We hear he does take bets on games and runs some illegal gambling parlors,” said the Caucasian. “Cheap and expensive pussy if you want it. Drugs here and there. Nothing we are a part of.”
“Does he have two other men working for him? Big guys, linebacker size.”
“Couldn’t tell you,” said the Asian. “Jack is all we’ve dealt with, which is bad enough. He did mention he could bring some tough dudes down on us if he wanted to. Always made it sound like he was doing us a favor.”
“Do you think the money ever gets back to Langer?” I asked.
Again the back and forth, followed by a dumb stare of who-the-hell-knows.
“The balance never seems to change much,” said the Asian while rubbing his bald head. “He could be skimming but not much we can do about it. Our knives are no match for his six-shooter. We can scare old ladies and fags on the street but not him. And we got no money to purchase a gun.”
“Be cool if you can get him out of our hair,” said the Caucasian. “Might be worth the eighty you gave us.”
I wanted to tell them to use the cash to buy some soap and deodorant, but resisted.
“We’ll see,” I said. “You may get your wish in time. Thanks for the information. Of course I never talked with you.”
“Jack is a mean SOB. I’d be careful of him”
“I appreciate the advice,” I replied. “I won’t take him lightly.”
Once back in my car I had the connections I needed, confirmed by the two men on the street. Jack was a collector for a loan shark and all-around bad man. Kate had a right to know, to get him out of the house and out of her life. She deserved better. I gathered all the data together and carefully organized it and sent it off to her lawyers electronically to process when I returned home. The upload meter took its time, the Internet running slowly, though it never seemed fast enough no matter what I was doing. I verified they had received the information, then called up to see if Kate was at work so I could give her the news personally. She was down knocking on the door about thirty minutes later. When I let her in she sat down and I gave her all the details I’d discovered. It was a relief, but also a burden.
“Bastard!” she said angrily. “I want him out of my home.”
“It will take a couple of days to get the paperwork filed for the divorce and restraining order,” I said. “By early next week we can bounce him out on his ear.”
“I don’t think I can handle him in my home anymore. Can’t you throw him out?”
“Not legally. Let’s wait for your lawyers to come through. Once they have the paperwork we’ll serve him and toss him out. Get a locksmith scheduled to change all the locks on your home and business. I mean, it’s not like he doesn’t have a place to stay, from what I can se
e.”
My words were said insensitively and Kate began to cry. Even though she was mad, she was hurt. Anytime someone you loved and shared children with betrays you, it stings. I came and put my arm around her and she cried into my shoulder for several minutes. I actually hate women crying and cringe when I see it, but I persevered.
“I’m sorry to have lost it,” she said, composing herself. “I don’t know how I’m going to make it through these next few days with him in the house each night. I’m scared for my kids. Is he dangerous?”
“Possibly. He is dealing with dangerous people. But I’ve seen no reason for his world to collide with yours.” It wasn’t necessarily true, but I didn’t want to add to her pain.
“I don’t want to chance it. If something happened, I’d never forgive myself.”
“Take them on a trip somewhere. Colorado has many marvelous things to do. Go to Colorado Springs and stay in a hotel until Monday. I’m sure the kids would be happy to get away on a mini-vacation. Could even pull them out of school for a few days and leave tonight. Every kid loves getting extra time off. Think of it as a snow day.”
“I hate to abandon the business.”
“Close up for a family emergency, or let one of the other ladies handle things. I know they like their boss and would do anything for you. I can check in on them and even stop by the house and make sure it’s OK. Do it for your sanity as well as your kids. I’m certain they are stressed about this too.”
She would think on it and used the bathroom to clean up her face before going back to work, telling me she would let me know what she decided. I never liked giving people bad news, but it was part of the job and I was handing it out to clients times two. I wanted to call Melissa but I knew she was in court. It was too late for lunch, so I would save my stomach for Boone’s and my meeting with April. I had an hour to kill, so I checked what was on the TV and found nothing of interest. Even the sports channels were disappointing so I called to check up on Bill and see if there was any progress with Ray.
“He has pretty much shut us out,” he stated. “I think if he had somewhere else to go, he would. He did tell us he plans to go back to school after Thanksgiving break. For now he seems to be spending lots of time sleeping, gaming or on the Web. We are lucky to even get a ‘hi’ out of him.”