Tears of an African violet

by Jessica Gereaux

  “Is a pig pussy pork? I can get you anywhere you want to go. By the way, how is the family?”

  “They’re great. Thanks for taking care of them for me. I knew I could count on you. I need to leave tonight. I need to be in BC before the sun comes up.”

  “Consider it done. Meet me at the strip by 10, and we will touch the friendly skies,” the smoker’s cough laughed again.

  He sounded like somebody’s old uncle with a cigar hanging from his lips, sipping on a Pepsi. I sent him $50,000 for the trip.

  “Let’s do that, shall we. You’re the man, E,” I blew a kiss through the phone.

  “Thank you, Dollface, your chariot will await,” He hung up.

  The drop location was a few miles from the Johnson Street bridge. The condo was across the bridge. It wouldn’t be hard to “bump” into her. There was a hostel not too far away and some shops. I’d be able to blend in and observe. According to Miss Whitley’s itinerary, the party would be Thursday. She would spend Wednesday night at the Empress of Oak Bay. Before then, she was scheduled to be at the condos across the bridge. It made sense she would lay lower than usual. One thing for sure, she couldn’t hide from me. Her greedy sexual appetite would allow me to walk right into her world with an invitation from Miss Whitley herself. I called Black before it got too late.

  “Are you busy yet?”

  “No, not yet. Waiting for Simeon to pull up. Are you done?”

  “What do you mean, am I done?” I munched on my salad.

  “You know, done picking and packing for this new job? You know how you do,” a smirk was in his voice.

  “Ha, ha, you got jokes now. You do know me well. I’ll give you that much. Yes, I’m done. I’m going to BC tonight. I’ll be back Thursday morning.”

  “I knew you couldn’t resist taking that job. I want you to be safe and make sure, like always, you come home.”

  “This ain’t no different than any other job,” I smiled through the phone.

  “I love that smile. The one when you know I’m right and you let me be right. Make this quick and get back home. You understand me?” He sounded like my husband.

  “Aye, aye, captain. I promise. Make sure you check on the family. They need to hear from one of us. Black, in case I haven’t told you, thanks for being a great daddy.”

  “Thank you, that really means a lot to me. Simeon is pulling up, and I gotta go. I’ll let you know anything we find out. I love you.” He hung up before I could respond.

  I knew the way to catch her eye, and when I made my move, she would be the fly in my web. Whoever she had pissed off at the assembly went through a great deal of trouble to make sure she became untraceable. Usually, we kill the double-crossers, even an occasional hitman. You know the ones who took the money and still talked. The loose ends of the loose ends were what I liked to call them. Someone wanted her gone and went to the dark side to make sure of it. No matter the reason, I’d get the job done.

  The hours rolled by as I studied and made plans and sub-plans. I twisted up a couple of joints and went outside. I sat on the giant boulder and smoked. Kari was being held for five million or some jewels. I had no idea who would’ve had gems in my world. I didn’t know why she was driving that car or where the fuck she could’ve been going? How the hell did the van disappear from the cameras? Where could it have gone? More questions than answers at that point. I was hopeful Jacob would be able to pull up something off the tapes.

  Finished both joints and headed over to Ernie’s place. Being on time was late, and that is the rule in life. Picked up my bag, checked the system, pulled out of the garage, and armed the house. Ernie lived on the city’s outskirts, and it would take about 40 minutes to get there. I let the windows down as I turned up the radio. Strawberry Letter 23 by The Brothers Johnson was playing. I loved this song. My dad listened to it a lot when I was little. Ernie owned a peninsula that is surrounded by Lake Macha. The true story is: this land has been in his family for more generations than he could recall. There is a private airstrip in the middle and a dock for a floater plane. I pulled into his barn to hide my car.

  “Hey, E-man, how are you holding together?” I hugged him.

  He smelled like gunpowder, Cuban cigars, Old Spice, and the sweet scent of Pepsi. He was the best, loudest uncle you could ask for. He had gotten us out of places sometimes by the skin of our teeth.

  “Dollface, how you doin’? Girl, you lookin’ good. How you holding up?” He hugged me back and spun me around.

  “I feel sorry for whoever when I find her.” I walked towards the dock where the plane was.

  He followed me in silence, and that was fine with me. I put my bag and case in the back, pulled out my tablet, and opened up the map.

  “I need to get right about here. I can walk the rest of the way. You know this area?” It would take about fifteen minutes to walk from the drop-off point to the hostel.

  “Near Jackson Street Bridge? I know it. Last time it was Alberta, wasn’t it?” He studied the map.

  “Alberta was beautiful. Hey umm, Ernie, about my attitude... I’m sorry. Shit has been crazy this past few days...”

  “You don’t have to explain. I still have nightmares from the war. It never goes away. I know you’ll make it right.” He patted me on the back as he finished his safety and security checks.

  “Buckle up, Dollface, we got the sky to kiss tonight.” he closed the door and started the plane.

  I buckled up and put on my headset. I closed my eyes, and I could only see Miss Whitley’s crystal blue eyes in my mind. Ernie let me know we had about six hours before we touched down. I leaned back and let the sound of the engine lull me into a meditative state. In my head, I went over the plan to get close to her. Even the sub-plans in case anything went left. In this line of work, nothing was ever as easy as it seemed. There was no such thing as a routine job. Each was different and had different possibilities. I tried to prepare for as many of them and others you have to think on your feet.

  “Dollface, we are about ten minutes from the drop zone. The bridge lit up.” He pointed straight ahead.

  “I see it. I’m ready,” I opened my eyes.

  “There are some docks before the bridge; they are closed this time of night. Nobody should be out there except maybe security detail or something like that.”

  He lowered the plane, and we quietly splashed into the water. It was almost pitch black, but some lights from the shore lit the way. He pulled up to an abandoned slip that was close enough for me to jump on the dock.

  “Meet me here on Thursday at 3 AM, sharp. E-man, you are the best. See you in a few days.” I kissed his cheek.

  I grabbed my bag and case and hopped onto the dock. The plane pulled off behind me. It was chilly, so I pulled my beanie down over my ears and made my way towards the fence that surrounded the pier. A hole in the gate was big enough to squeeze through, and I walked towards the road. Clove Rd led across the street to the condos where Miss. Whitley stayed. Across the bridge was the hostel where I’d stay. On my way to the hostel, I surveyed the outside of the condos. There was no guard at the front and no security gate. The bodyguard’s condo was on the first floor, and she used the front entrance. I walked to the hostel, checked in, and went to my room. With the chair under the doorknob, I took a shower and put my stuff away. Braided my hair, set my alarm for tomorrow morning, and finally drifted off to sleep. My .45 was under my pillow, of course.

  When the sun came up, I felt rested and focused. My burner phone was on DND, but no one had called. I showered and dressed. Simone loved this diner on the harbor walkway; she ate there quite a bit. My goal was to see if I could spot her and soft-tail her most of the day. I wanted to see what type of security she had when she wasn’t in the limelight. Ordered a light breakfast and orange juice and waited for her. It was about 10 AM when Simone came into the cafe for breakfast. She had one bodyguard and an assistant with her. They were busy hovering around her while she was on her tablet. The guard was alert but sti
ll a little too relaxed. He seemed more the type to bounce at a club, not a person who was on a hit list. They sat down and ordered breakfast. The way they laughed and talked so freely, she had no clue she was on the list. They sat there for a few hours. I noticed Simone eyed every young woman she found attractive. She stared hard at the waitress every time she came to the table.

  My plan would be perfect. Simone wouldn’t be able to resist me. I followed her for the next couple of days, and she kept a low profile. Every morning she ate breakfast at the cafe at about ten; then would shop at different places for a few hours. One day she went to the bug zoo and museum. She wasn’t the airhead, most people thought. The day to put my plan in motion had arrived—the night before, I dyed my hair pink with streaks of green and yellow with some temporary dye. Two french braids tied together with a garrote-like twine. The sparkle eyeshadow with dark violet lipstick completed my makeup. I gave myself some freckles and a few beauty marks on my shoulders with waterproof makeup. The green contacts added the exotic flare. Threw on some black tights, leather shorts, a black ripped-up sweatshirt, and a short parka. Secured my .45 in my boot, the other on my back, and the pills in my bracelets. Poured some poison in the secret compartment on one of my rings; the jewel popped up like a mini flask. Strapped my knives in my parka sleeves, grabbed my bag, and left the hostel through the back exit. It was about dusk, and she would be coming out of the bakery near the bug zoo. She loved something sweet. Simone was standing there on her phone, eating her sweet treat. Her bodyguard was distracted. When she started walking, I went into action and started crying and running. And managed to ‘accidentally’ bump into her.

  She dropped her phone, and her treat. The bodyguard snapped to attention and ran over to help both of us. Her first, of course. I cleared my throat and prepared to deliver my award-winning British accent.

  “I’m... I’m so sorry I didn’t see you,” I said through my tears.

  “It is ok. I should’ve been watching where I was walking. Are you ok?”

  I caught her eye and flashed a soft and wounded gaze her way. Her eyes melted. She body-checked me, and she liked what she saw.

  “No, no, no, I’m such a clutz. And here I am, messing up your day. I’m so sorry,” I sobbed.

  “You are not messing up my day one bit. I probably didn’t need to be eating that anyway. Don’t want to get fat,” her tone and eyes softened.

  “Oh no, you’re beautiful. I’m the one who is a mess,” I fiddled with my clothes and hair.

  “You are gorgeous. What’s your name?”

  “Zoey. My friends call me Z.” I flashed my doe eyes.

  “Zoey, that’s a beautiful name. I’m Simone, and my friends call me well, Simone,” she laughed at her own joke.

  “Nice to meet you, Simone. I don’t want to hold up your day,” I chuckled shyly and sniffed.

  “Where are you going? I can drop you off,” she offered.

  “Nowhere in particular. I broke up with me girlfriend a week ago. Been kinda wandering around for a few days. I ran out of money a couple of days ago.” I sniffed again and wiped my face.

  “You poor girl. You can’t be out here on the streets like this. How old are you? I’m sure your parents are worried sick about you?”

  She probed to see how easily I would be missed. I played right into her sweet sick little mind.

  “Nah, nobody’s worried about me. Me mum and dad kicked me out when they found out I like girls. I turned 19 a couple of months back.”

  The gears turned in her eyes. I was the type she would love to have on her roster. She probably already thought of who’d want me and how much she’d charge.

  “Andre, call for a car. It looks like it’s about to rain. I don’t want my new friend, Z, to melt,” she ordered her bodyguard.

  In ten minutes, a black Lincoln with tinted windows pulled up to the curb. Andre opened the door, and Simone and I got in the back. Andre got in the front seat, and we headed towards the condos. Simone undressed me with her eyes, and they danced with desire. She couldn’t hide the excitement on her face. She kept crossing and uncrossing her legs. The smell of sexual desire filled the air. I kept giving her the shy seductive eyes like the unsure young woman she liked. She was a lioness ready to pounce.

  Before we got out of the car, I slid my sunglasses on. She slipped her hand in mine and guided me to the condo. As soon as we walked in, I took note of the layout. There were exits on each end of the hall. The pool was behind the front desk, with no guard. However, you could tell it was someone’s desk. We followed Andre, and he turned to the left hallway, and the condo was the next to last one near the exit door. He let us in, and I followed her.

  “Andre, can you order us food?” she asked him; it was more like an order, “What do you want to eat, Z?” she asked.

  “Ummm, what does Andre like to eat?” I eyed him gently.

  He was caught off guard. A deer caught in headlights was the best way to describe his face. I assumed he was used to being invisible. We waited on his answer.

  “I, umm, like seafood,” he managed.

  We both giggled at him.

  “I want seafood then—shrimp, lobster, King crab legs... the whole thing. Andre, go make Z happy and order the food and have it rushed,” Simone ordered.

  She grabbed my hand and led me into a beautiful room with a queen-sized bed. It was a guest bedroom.

  “This is your room. You can put your bag in here. There’s a bathroom and a closet back there. You can shower if you want. Try on some of the clothes. I’m sure there is something back there that will fit. I’ll let you get settled.” She flashed those icy blue eyes at me.

  The heat rising between her legs gave her an animal lust. This would be one helluva job. She closed the door and left me alone. I checked it out to make sure she wasn’t trying to tie me to a bed or anything. She could very well have tried to drug me. Which reminded me not to drink anything she offered. It was a nice room. If I was a poor kid, I would’ve thought I’d hit the jackpot with Simone. I set my bag up, hid it in the bathroom, and put on sweats and a t-shirt. Made sure my jewelry was in place. When I came out of the bedroom, the seafood buffet hit my nose before I made it to the dining room. Simone had changed into a silver negligee. She looked like an ice queen. Her blond hair was pulled up in a bun of messy ringlets. She glided as if she was on a parade float.

  “Come, sit down. The food got here a few minutes ago.” She pointed to a chair at the dining room table.

  Andre walked in with an arm full of brown paper bags. He put them down and unpacked the food. The feast was unbelievable. There was more than enough food there for at least ten people. She went out of her way to wow these girls. Andre prepared the table.

  “Andre, you’re eating with us, right?” I asked.

  He glanced at Simone, and she nodded her head in approval.

  “Sure. Thanks for having me. Most times, people just ….”

  She flashed her eyes at him, he quickly stopped talking.

  “Let me help. I’ll get us something to drink,” I piped up.

  “You’re a guest; you don’t have to lift a finger,” Simone said with wealth dripping off her words.

  “It’s not a problem. It’s the least I can do. The kitchen is this way, right?” I headed in the direction of the kitchen.

  In the fridge, there was some wine and a few bottles of beer. I found a wine glass and poured her some, and popped a beer for him. He was a big guy, so I had to give him enough. Three drops would do it. After he ate, he would simply go to sleep. I didn’t put anything in her wine; I had other plans for Simone. I washed the glass and got some water from the faucet. We ate, laughed, and talked, and they drank. The hours melted by, and everything was going well. Andre had two more beers. It helped my mission. Simone told me the story she wanted me to know about her life. The poor little rich girl who grew up in Russia. Her parents were always gone, and she had an older brother for a sibling. Which I knew to be a damn lie, but I liked her crea
tivity. We both were on the winning side of an Oscar tonight.

  “Man, I’m full as a tick. I can’t eat anything else.” Andre pushed away from the table.

  “You look full as a tick. I bet you won’t do that again, now, will you?” Simone laughed at him.

  “You may be right about that. Do you ladies think you will be alright the rest of the night? I need to sleep this food off.” He stood up and stretched.

  “Z and I can manage to keep ourselves entertained.” Simone winked.

  “Alright, well, I’m going to bed. Don’t forget we have to get you moved over to Oak Bay tomorrow.” He disappeared down the opposite hallway to his room.

  “You don’t live here?” I questioned.

  “I live anywhere I want, dear. Andre’s talking about my party the day after tomorrow. I’m having the most fabulous party with some wealthy people. I want you to come with me. We can get you a dress and get your hair done,” she beamed.

  “Really?! I don’t know. I don’t think I would fit in with a room full of rich people. I wouldn’t know what to talk about. I’d embarrass you.” I hung my head.

  “Nonsense. We’ll be the belles of the ball, and you’ll be amazing.” She lifted my chin and gazed into my eyes.

  The glasses of wine had her eyes glazed and made her even more seductively sweet. She caressed my face gently, and her fingers traced my shoulders and arm. Simone grabbed my hand and led me to the guest bedroom. She turned on some music and danced for me.

  “Z, how many women have you been with?” She sat next to me on the bed.

  “A couple, but my girlfriend was the longest,” I watched her body language.

  “And how do you feel about letting me be one of those women?” She gently kissed my exposed shoulder and stroked my forearm.

  “You’re beautiful. I’ve never been so close to someone as beautiful before.”

  I slowly slipped her negligee off her shoulders. It fell to the floor when she stood up. She was as naked as the day she was born. Her breasts sat up perky, and her pink nipples were erect. Anyone else might have been intoxicated by animal musk of her. I focused on the job. But damn, she was butt-ass naked. I reached out and pulled her on top of me, and kissed her neck. She was in heaven and 100% committed to seducing me. As committed as I am to getting her. I rubbed, caressed, and planted butterfly kisses over her body. I tweaked her nipples and brought her to a fevered pitch. I hadn’t even touched her pussy, but she was more than wet. The anticipation lured her, and I enjoyed toying with her. I was still fully dressed.