by R Weir
“It’s the two at the big table on the right,” she said above a whisper so I could hear over the music.”
Running my mouth now across her ear, I answered, “Thanks. It’s what I suspected.”
“We need to keep this up a while longer. Grab my ass.”
Doing as I was told, she gave me a full-mouthed kiss with lots of tongue. Again it was not unpleasant, but I was trying to control myself. She began licking my face and putting her hand on my crotch. Now it was getting more difficult to not get aroused.
“You actually are pretty cute,” she murmured. “If you’re ever lonely, you know where I live. Stop by for a good time. I even have a female friend who will join in. We like touching each other while you watch and then…” She whispered some graphic details in my ear, leaving little to the imagination.
She crawled off of me and I placed some more cash into her G-string. The next song started playing and she moved onto another patron. I got myself back under control, enjoying the show until it ended and stepped over to the bar. There was no one at it other than the bartender. I asked for a refill and handed him my tab.
“Quite a place here,” I stated. “The ladies are very friendly, more so than most places.”
“Part of the service,” he answered while placing the fresh beer in front of me. “People pay big bucks to come in here and get their rocks off. If the girls aren’t in your face and crawling all over you they don’t work here long, if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I can tell. The one on my lap nearly had me busting through my zipper. A few more minutes…”
“Ariela is a hot one. She keeps them coming back for more, if you get my drift. Don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
“Possible new member; I’m here on a trial basis. What does it cost per month?”
He gave me an answer and I whistled.
“Damn, that is a lot of dough, though worth it for the perks.”
“You are only seeing the appetizer. The four-course meal and dessert is in the back. Anything a man would wish for and desire.”
I took a long draw on my beer. It tasted watered-down, which was fine with me. No need to get drunk, but I wanted to look like any another customer in the bar. Intoxication would be my disguise.
“Hey, a friend of mine told me to stop by and see him here,” I asked. “Comes here often and said I’d have a good time. But I don’t see him here.”
“What’s his name?”
“Ray Malone.”
His friendly face turned south when I said the name. “I never heard of him.” I could tell he was lying.
“Really, are you sure? Said he was a regular and is good friends with two other guys who come here a lot. I figured you’d know them.”
“Sorry, buddy, I haven’t worked here too long. Excuse me, I need to get some more peanuts from the back.”
Sitting in front of me, the peanut bowl was full. Stepping away, I knew he was going to warn someone. I turned to face the stage and the place got loud again, being time for the next show. I was watching the table and saw Grady grab his cell phone to check something, a text message probably pointing me out. He glanced over my way and slapped Mack on the back to draw his attention away from the dancers. Both of them were eyeballing me now, and I raised my beer glass to drink the rest. Slowly they got out of their chairs and walked towards me, neither one looking pleased. They approached and I stood straight up, smiling a happy drunk expression. I wanted them to think I was just another wasted patron—an Academy Award presentation.
“We understand you’re inquiring about someone,” said Grady, loud enough so I could hear him over the music.
“Yeah,” I stated trying to slur my words. “A buddy of mine, Ray Malone. Do you guys know him?”
“Why you asking about him?” said Mack.
“Like I said he is a friend. Told me to stop by sometime and he’d show me a good time. Says the ladies here give the best head.”
“I don’t think you’re a member,” said Grady. “How’d you get in here?”
“Money talks. Ray said for forty bucks I could get a preview of the place. If I like it, I could buy a membership and join.”
“We don’t have any membership openings right now,” stated Mack. “It would be best if you leave before we throw you out.”
“Oh, come on, guys, I ain’t hurting nobody. I’m trying to have some fun. Get a little action. You have some hot girls here and I’m raring to stick it to them.”
“I think you’ve had enough to drink,” said Grady. “Let us call you a cab so you can go home and sleep it off.”
“But what about Ray? I wanted to say hi and thank him.”
“He don’t come around anymore and isn’t welcome here either,” said Mack “And neither are his friends. Now move.”
Mack put his hand on my shoulder and I slumped down pretending I couldn’t stand. He shoved me to the floor, his strength pushing me about ten feet away. In the process I reached into my coat and pulled out my gun, pointing it straight at the two of them. In their defense, neither of them blinked or showed any fear, but still respected it.
“Now, I came here to find Ray,” I said loudly while getting to my feet. “You were friends with him from what I learned, so I figure you know where he may be.”
“We told you,” answered Grady. “He don’t come around here anymore and isn’t welcome.”
“You guys have a falling-out?” I asked.
No response from either. Their faces remained stoic and weren’t giving much away.
“He’s missing and I figure you two may be involved. I want some answers.”
“You’re digging yourself a hole, friend,” said Mack. “Might be your grave, so if I were you I’d back out and walk away. This isn’t something you want to mess with.”
“And what if I put a bullet in one of you? Will this loosen your tongues?”
Both glanced at each other and started to laugh. Apparently I didn’t scare them any, my bluff not called.
“You want to fire, go right ahead,” answered Grady. “But if you do, it will only guarantee your own death.”
It looked like we had a standoff and I didn’t care to shoot the place up. I figured leaving my card this time and asking them to call if they saw Ray wouldn’t work with this bunch. So I needed to ease my way out.
“OK, I’ll walk out of here. But to make sure you don’t plug me in the back, ask your man at the door to come in here so I can back my way out.”
Mack called out to the man at the door and he ambled in slowly while I kept my gun pointed. If they all rushed me at once I could shoot one or two, but not all three. It was getting time to leave. I stepped carefully to the door keeping an eye in front and another behind. Reaching it, I stepped through when I saw a person and turned. It was the bartender and he tried to grab me, so I punched him with my free hand in the nose as hard as I could. It didn’t stop him and he tackled me to the ground, my gun skidding away. I rolled to push him off of me and got to my feet, when another set of arms bear-hugged me, nearly crushing the wind out of me. I stepped down hard on his left foot with my heel and pulled loose, only to be slugged in the face by the bartender, which sent me reeling to the ground. The other person was the doorman; he picked me up and I tried to punch him in the stomach, but couldn’t get enough on it. He used a right-left body combo, knocking the wind out of me this time, dropping me to my knees. Another shot to the side of my jaw laid me out on the cold cement. I was seeing stars but also hearing sirens, or was it angels calling me home to Heaven? I was done and there was nothing to keep them from finishing me off.
“What’s going on?” spoke an amplified voice.
“Nothing, sir,” said someone else. “We were persuading this gentleman to leave. He isn’t welcome and was causing a disturbance.”
“OK, back inside, we’ll take it from here,” said the first voice.
A door slammed, followed by footsteps. Someone knelt down beside me and slapped my face to
clear my head.
“You OK, buddy,” he asked.
My eyes opened and I saw him there in his pretty dark-blue uniform.
I cleared my throat to speak, but I’m not sure if he heard me before I put my head back down to sleep. “Who says there is never a cop around when you need one?”
Chapter 9
I woke up on a gurney in an ambulance taking me to the hospital. My head was aching, as was a good portion of my body. I tried to sit up and found my muscles were pretty stiff. I looked and saw a paramedic sitting there, watching me. He seemed to be enjoying my attempt to move.
“Nothing broken,” he stated. “But definitely bruised. You took a good beating. I don’t think you should try to get up until the doctors look at you. Besides, you’re strapped down.”
“I don’t like doctors,” I replied while noticing for the first time the strap across my waist. “Not thrilled with hospitals, either. Where are you taking me?”
“North Colorado Medical Center. We should be there shortly.”
“I don’t suppose you can let me off here and I can walk home?”
He chuckled.
“No, sorry. From what the officer said home is Denver, which would be a long stroll.”
Once at the hospital doctors and nurses did a lot of poking and prodding, asking all the time if this hurt or that hurt. My distaste for the whole process was obvious. I argued to be released so I could go home and sleep. Finally, after much badgering, I succeeded, but I first had to give a statement to the cop who saved my ass. Apparently they needed to make sure I wasn’t going to return to shoot the place up. The thought had crossed my mind.
The officer, by his badge, had a last name of Olsen and was a little less than six foot with a military crew cut, and biceps and triceps straining at his shirtsleeves. When he walked in his face was serious, his eyes looking me up and down trying to figure me out. He had a clipboard with several documents to fill out. Paperwork was a policeman’s least favorite activity.
“From your ID we see you’re a detective from Denver,” he stated. “Why were you in town causing trouble?”
“Looking for a missing person,” I replied. “Ray Malone, who goes to UNC. His father is a Denver cop who hired me to find him.”
“Why look for him at The Hustle?”
“Several people with information led me there. I follow the clues until it leads you to another clue.”
“And why the confrontation?”
“They didn’t like me asking questions. I figured they might be involved in his disappearance, or at least know where he was.”
“They claim you pulled a weapon. One of the bouncers inside brought it to me.”
“It was to even the odds. It was four against one, and a gun helps in a case like this.”
“I guess it didn’t help keep you from getting your ass kicked.”
“It would have been much worse without the gun and you arriving when you did.”
“We got a call claiming there was trouble and I was nearby. A female inside the building, from what we can tell, calling from a cell phone. She saved you.”
“I think I know who it was but would rather not give her away being a source. It would put her in jeopardy.”
“Not a problem. We don’t need her for this. They aren’t pressing charges so you are free to go.”
I slowly got to my feet to make sure I could stand. They had given me some pain medicine that hadn’t kicked in yet. Acting brave and tough was something a PI needed to exhibit. In reality, I wanted to lie down and take a nap, but not here. What does a hotel in Greeley cost?
‘What about my car?” I asked. “It was sitting in their parking lot.”
“Yeah, we found it and had it towed to the station. It’s all yours, once you pay the towing fee.”
“Swell.”
“It’s better than letting them have it. Since they didn’t get to finish beating you, they might have taken it out on your car. Hate to see a classic beaten to a pulp.”
He was probably right. “Thanks. Can I get a ride over to retrieve it? And can I get my gun back?”
“If you think you can walk, you can follow me and we’ll get them to release you. I’m sure they’ll be happy to be rid of you. You weren’t the best patient from what they told me.”
“I hate doctors and hospitals. I only care for nurses when my girlfriend dresses up like one.”
He let out a short laugh. “Amazing the fantasies we men enjoy. I’ll have to suggest it to the wife.”
Once I was cleared he drove me over to the station. Again I filled out some paperwork and paid a hefty fee for the tow. I asked Olsen about someplace to get a bite to eat to boost my metabolism while allowing the meds to kick in and he offered to join me. I decided the company would be good so I accepted, and we went to a small nearby fifties-style diner.
When we strolled in the waitress behind the counter called out “Hey, Trey.” He waved back and we took an open booth near the front door. She walked over and put down menus. “What will it be, boys?” she asked.
“I’ll take a Cherry Coke, Maggie,” responded Trey.
“How are your shakes,” I asked.
“Fresh-spun and killer,” replied Maggie.
“I’ll take a chocolate one, as large as you make them.”
“If you like breakfast for dinner, this is the place,” said Trey after she walked away. “Excellent pancakes.”
Breakfast food sounded pretty good. I wasn’t real hungry but needed some calories to stay awake on the drive home. I didn’t want to spend the night at a cheap hotel and longed for my own bed. Maggie returned with our drinks, and we both ordered some pancakes and bacon. Trey also added some scrambled eggs.
“Some free information off the record if you care to listen,” stated Trey.
“Sure, I always welcome information from the police, especially one who pulled my butt out of the fire.”
“This place, The Hustle, is run by a slick guy: not the meanest guy in town, but certainly not a saint. If the kid you were looking for was at his place or working for him, then he is probably in trouble.”
“What can you tell me?”
“His name is Marquis Melott. He dresses well and runs this gentleman’s club with one intention, to make money. He lures in men with the promise of pretty woman and something many of them can’t get at home—wild and kinky sex.”
“So he is a pimp?”
“Never call him a pimp to his face, but in a way, yes, only classier. He sells these men a membership to the club. Brings them in, shows them a good time, and gets his girls to get them hot and bothered. Over a period of time with temptation they get a little more than a lap dance. Maybe a quickie in the bathroom or one of the rooms he has in back. If they are into it, a three-way with a couple of gals. All of this discreetly gets recorded and used to keep them members with the veiled threat it will get posted on the Web. He doesn’t rake them over the coals, just keeps a steady income coming in. If they don’t come across with the cash they are warned, simply at first, but later, the videos are leaked on the Internet or an email is sent to a family member with the link to view. Normally, the face is blocked out and the message gets him to pay.”
“Subtle,” I said. “The wife tells him of the message and the link with the dirty movie. She doesn’t know it’s him but he knows what it’s about. I’m sure if he doesn’t pay the next one his face isn’t hidden.”
“Correct. And here is the best part, he then sells him on something even kinkier, lure him in even more. Maybe some wild fantasy he can live out. Maybe he wants to do it with a guy or an orgy. He’ll fork over even more for this and, of course, it’s recorded. He is on the hook and can never be free.”
“Why haven’t you arrested him?” I asked.
“Well, he hasn’t done anything illegal, at least not that we can prove. Even if we could get him on extortion, no one will testify. There have been a couple of people murdered we think he may have been involved with, but no e
vidence. He has a proper license for the business and brings lots of money into the city coffers with the taxes he collects and pays.”
“So, a sweet deal for him and the city.”
“Yep.”
Maggie brought us our food. The shake was large, cold and thick, as advertised. The stack of pancakes was filling and tasty, though the syrup was a little runny for my taste. I downed the chow carefully, my body still sore from the beating.
“I forgot to mention I talked with Officer Malone,” said Trey in between bites. “He verified your story and told me he needed to talk with you. It was important.”
I pulled out my phone, which had survived the melee, and contacted Bill. He answered on the second ring.
“I hear you ran into some trouble,” he said, knowing it was me. “A Greeley cop called and said you were in the hospital.”
“I’m out now and I’ll live,” I replied. “He said you needed to talk with me.”
“Ray showed up at home about an hour ago,” said Bill. “He is a little out of sorts and hasn’t said much, but seems to be OK.”
“Glad to hear it. I wished he’d gotten home a little sooner!”
“Sorry. Did it at least get you any information on where he’s been?”
“Maybe. We can talk about it tomorrow after I’m done following my landlord’s husband. I’ll call when I’m finished and we’ll get together.”
“Good and thanks,” said Bill.
“Looks like his son showed up a while ago,” I said to Trey. “Not sure where he’d been but he is at least alive.”
“Good to hear. I need to get back to my shift. You need any other info, you can contact the station and they can get ahold of me. I’ll assist if I can.”
“Thanks,” I stated. “I’ll take care of the check.”
“Is this a bribe?”
“Call it the price of good intel, and I can expense it!”
Chapter 10
The next morning I woke up in my bed, body aching as if I’d been through a war. Wall-to-wall pain would be the order of the day. I did sleep once I made the long trek back home, but it took several Advil and some strong booze to knock me out. Now, sitting under the shower for as long as the hot water lasted, it felt good Ray was home but bad that I’d taken a beating in the process. Once dressed I called Constance, or Raven as she liked to be known, to let her know her best friend was OK. There was relief in her voice, but I couldn’t tell her any news other than he was home. With no desire to cook I grabbed some water, a whole bottle of pain pills and headed to the local McDonalds for an on-the-go breakfast.
