On the Grift

by Steve Shadow

  “Whoa, boys, you Jewed me down real good but until the money’s in my fist I am not signing anything.”

  The little Hebe opened up his briefcase and withdrew two bundles of cash and put them on the bed by my side. Shit, maybe I went too low. I probably could have pushed them for more, but there was no looking back now.

  The air was getting a little thick in the room and I could tell they were beginning to get wise to the con but the deal was done, so the hell with them. I stuck the cash under the covers and signed the papers. Through another phony smile, Zellman again said he was sorry and hoped I would be well. As they turned to leave, he stopped and said, “By the way, I spoke to Dr. Yanovsky and explained why you were unable to keep your appointment but he said he never heard of you.”

  “Of course not; it was a courtesy call to introduce our company. I was referred to him by a client in St. Louis. I’ll call him and explain things as soon as I’m better. Thank you for your concern.”

  They looked at each other but finally left and I sighed with relief. For once things went smoothly and I was back in the black. I slipped the cash into a side table drawer and hit the buzzer for the nurse. She came in and informed me that the doctors wanted to keep me under observation until they were sure I was in the clear.

  “Thank you. Say how about that sponge bath you promised me. I’m feeling a little gamey especially down below.” I said this with a big grin and a wink.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  She cleaned me up in a brusque professional manner but when I hinted at a little more than a sponging, she waved her finger at me and frowned. “You better be a good little boy or I’ll schedule you for an ice water enema.” She slapped my hands and walked out laughing.

  I figured it was time to vamoose. I waited until the place quieted down, got dressed in my rumpled suit, stuffed the cash in my pocket and snuck out of the room. I made my way down a couple of deserted hallways and walked out the front door. It was 3 am but there is always a cab outside a hospital. It was cold and drizzling as I got in and gave the driver directions to where I had left my car. I rolled down the window. The city smelled fresh from the rain and the quiet streets were a relief from the incessant noise in the ward where I had been. Chicago at night had a strange beauty that was apparent even to a grifter like me. The hissing of the tires on the wet asphalt nearly put me to sleep but the bulge of cash in my pocket kept me awake.

  I had some money now and I could just take off. But, hell, I had a potential sweet deal cooking with Mobes and maybe a big payoff down the road. I knew that what was really holding me was the thought of Louisa. I had never met a woman like her. I could not get her out of my mind. The few hours I lay in that hospital bed she was all I could think of. I jerked off twice just imagining her tits and cunt and what they would taste like. I had it bad for that broad and I had to see her again.

  CHAPTER NINE

  I got to Mobes’ place, climbed the stairs and knocked on the door.

  “Who is it? Is that you, Kevin?”

  “Yes, it’s me, Ethel. Open up, will you.”

  The door swung open and she stood there in that fucking pink thing looking like a Disney cartoon. “Oh, Kevin, I kept dinner warm as long as I could but you never came or called and I got so worried and angry and….” Shit, then she started to bawl and I had to hold her for awhile to calm her down. I took my coat off and sat down.

  “Where were you? What’s that on your wrist?” I looked down and saw I still had the hospital ID bracelet on.

  “Well, doll, that’s why I couldn’t make it back for dinner. I had a fall and they took me to a hospital because I was unconscious. I’m OK now, so don’t worry. But I’m starving. You still got some food?”

  “Kevin, it’s nearly 4 am. I have to be at work at 9.”

  “Sure, sure, but I’m hungry. I came right here as soon as I could, gimme a break, huh? Get me a beer. I’m hurting all over and need some food. Be a sport, Ethel.”

  She sighed and waddled over to the fridge while I kicked off my shoes and leaned back on the couch. I closed my eyes and immediately visions of that piece across the hall popped into my head. I could just see her, naked on the bed with her legs spread and that rosy red muff shining in the moonlight. I was getting hard when Mobe’s handed me a beer.

  “Are you sure alcohol is good for you after an accident? Maybe you need rest. I’m heating up the stew now. Can I do anything else for you, Kevin? Are you sure you’re all right?”

  My cock was jumping around in my pants, and as I could not have Louisa, well, hell; any port in a storm. “Sure, doll, seeing you in that peachy number is making me hot to trot. I could use a little release while the food is warming up. Why don’t you fish my cock out and suck me off while I relax with this beer. I’ll bet you’re the best what with all the practice you had.” I pushed her to her knees. As long as I had my dick stuffed in her mouth I didn’t have to listen to her whiny voice. She undid my pants and I raised my ass while she pulled my pants and shorts down. She lifted my cock to her mouth and started nibbling on my balls. She took them in her mouth while slowly stroking me. All the while I was seeing Louisa in my head and imagining it was her mouth on my cock.

  Mobes wrapped her fingers around the base of my prick while she licked me up one side and down the other. “Take it all in your mouth,” I gasped. She engulfed my hard on and began to suck in earnest. I got so hot I started coming right away. She tried to pull her head away but I held her there.

  “Swallow it. Eat my jiz, baby, eat it.” She gagged a little but got most of it down her throat. Some was still bubbling out of her mouth when I let go of her head and was dripping down her chin and onto my leg. “Lick it all up, doll. Show me you love me and lick me clean.”

  Yeah, I thought, like the ugly little dog that you are. She sat back on her heels and wiped her mouth.

  “Was I good, Kevin? Did you like it?”

  I had almost forgotten she was there. My lust for Louisa was so intense that it blotted out everything else. I shook myself back to the here and now.

  “Sure I did. You suck like a pro. You could make a good living doing that.” Whoops; not a smart thing to say. “But I’m your guy now and you better not be giving it away to any one but me. You got that?” She smiled. “Now how about that food, it should be warm by now. After I eat maybe I could love you up for dessert.” Her jiz smeared mouth spread into a wide grin. I’m glad someone was happy.

  She got up and went to the kitchen, humming like a bluebird that just got the worm, which, I guess, she just did.

  CHAPTER TEN

  I spent the next few weeks resting up and lounging around the apartment. Mobes was a pretty good cook and I was eating better than I had in years. She was so happy to have me around she didn’t rag on me about not having a job. I moved the few bits of clothing I had into her place and settled in. I had plenty of booze and a radio for company when she was at work.. Some days I rode the L train downtown and half-heartedly scoped out scam sites. I liked looking at all the well dressed working girls in their high heels and cute outfits. I wandered through the Marshall Field’s store because they had the best looking sales clerks and day dreamed about having them all. When this got old I’d grab a sandwich and head over to the Chicago theatre to catch a matinee. I loved the smell of popcorn and always devoured a large box of it.

  At Mobes’ place I kept an ear out to try and catch Louisa coming and going but with no luck. Maybe she was out of town.

  It was cold, so except for trips to the Loop for a little diversion I didn’t go out much. I had little desire to seriously try and scout the streets for another scam. I still had a big chunk of the 2 grand and was thinking on how I could lay my hands on what Mobes was saving. I finally found her bank book and saw she had over 20 thousand in the bank. Hot damn, I thought, here’s the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The trick would be getting it out of her.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The holidays were coming up and she was after me to go
with her to visit her sick mother downstate. The thought of that little safari was enough to make me want to slit my wrists. She kept after me about the trip but I gave her a bullshit story about calling my relatives back East and having to go there for Christmas. I told her to go see her mother and I would watch the place until I had to leave for the East Coast. She pissed and moaned a little but as usual I charmed her out of it. Believe me; it took a lot of will power to keep from hammering her head in once she started with that whiny little voice of hers.

  She finally got her company to let her take her vacation over the holidays. I drove her to Union Station and had to stand there with people watching while she kissed me goodbye about 20 times. As I walked backed to my car I felt a ton of relief and a jolt of hope that Louisa would be around. I had been on the lookout for her but she seemed to have vanished. I had asked Mobes about her but she said that she had no idea where her or Max were. She said they often went away but they never talked about where they had been.

  I got in the freezing car and turned on the heater. I had managed to fix it to the point where it almost worked,. I headed back North. I stopped at the local liquor store for some gin and beer and some smokes. Mobes hated smoke in her place so I had been cutting back but a fresh pack of Lucky’s sure sounded good. I parked the heap and strolled to the store. As I opened the door a bell rang overhead and, shazam, there was Louisa. She turned towards me at the sound of the bell. I grinned from ear to ear but she showed no expression and only nodded in my direction.

  I sidled up to her. “How you been, stranger? I haven’t seen you around the building.” She had a crate full of booze and mixers in front of her. “Stocking up for the holidays?”

  She turned towards me and gave a look like a jeweler appraising a phony diamond.” I been away on business but now that I’m back I like to have a little something on hand, if I’m stuck inside. You know, like if we have a snowstorm and I can’t get out.”

  She was positively running off at the mouth compared to our last encounter. Maybe she was softening up and I could move in on her. I asked how her and Max were doing. She told me he was with family in Denver for the holidays.

  “Me, I hate Christmas,” she said. “A bunch of bullshit sappy crap for little kids and suckers. But it’s good for business”

  I began to wonder just what kind of business she was in but figured I had plenty of time to find that out.

  “Yeah, I’m the same way. I just put Mobes on the train to go see her mother. Me, I got no use for all that family stuff.”

  “Mobes?” she said. “What’s that? Some pet name you got for Ethel?”

  I laughed out loud. “No, that’s what I call her but not to her face. You know, Moby Dick, the big white whale.”

  For the first time I saw her almost crack a smile. “Oh, that’s real cute. What a pig you are. I had you pegged from day one. You must be soaking that poor thing big time.”

  “Not yet, but give me a while. You and I are in the same club, from what I can see.”

  “You don’t see shit, mister.” The smile was gone and the hard case glare returned. I kept after her though. I wasn’t going to be put off any longer. I wanted her and I wanted her bad. We paid for our liquor and I told her I had my car outside and would be glad to give her a lift to the building. She told the counterman where to deliver her liquor. I put my booze in the back seat while she stared at the car like she might get a disease from entering it. “Don’t worry, it won’t bite. It’s old but it’s clean and it runs.”

  She got in the car and I started out towards home. “Say, Louisa, “I said.” Seeing as we are both on our own, how about a drink tonight, or a little dinner? What do you say?”

  She eyed me with a wary look. “I don’t know, buster. I’m not sure you got what it takes for what I need. I ain’t looking for no boyfriend but I got a big schedule this next couple of weeks and I could use some muscle who ain’t afraid of a little off the books business. I know you’re on the grift but my stuff may be out of your league. You think you can handle yourself, do as I say, and keep your trap shut?”

  “Just what is it you’re into? You seem awful mysterious about what you’re up to. Come on, spill the beans. Is it Bunko, blackmail? And what do you need muscle for?”

  “You’ll find out in good time. This is my play all the way and you just have to do what you’re told.” She gave me that look again as we pulled up to the curb in front of the apartment building. “Judging from this piece of crap you’re driving, you must be desperate. No wonder you’re working Ethel. You must really be on the skids.”

  I let the engine run for what little heat it produced and turned to face her. “OK, I hit a bad patch. I’m on my own and you need me for whatever it is you got going. That’s fine, but I’m working on a few things myself, I just need a stake and that’s what Mobes is for. You must be playing this Max guy good for a hot babe like you to hang around.”

  She stared straight ahead. “It’s fine for now. I need a safe cover and he’s a pushover. Plus he’s gone a lot and he don’t ask no questions. You get the picture?”

  “Questions about what, like you being out all night and coming home looking like the tail end of a 3 day bender? You mean those kind of questions? What’s the deal, sweet-cheeks?”

  She exploded. “Sweet cheeks, who the fuck are you calling sweet cheeks? Look, you want to come sniffing around for a little holiday cheer, well here’s your chance. But it’s on my terms and you will do as I say at all times. Just nod if you agree. Fine. From now on you will show me respect. You call me anything from now on it better be Miss Louisa. Get used to it. At all times, anywhere we are, you will only address me as Miss Louisa. I don’t want any slipups. You do as you’re told and I’ll make it worth your while. I can help you with that fat idiot your working. Well are you on board or not?”

  “I was a little startled by this outburst but at the same time I was totally intrigued. “Yes, Miss Louisa,” I said with a straight face.

  “I know you probably think you’re some big time operator but that shit you pull only works on suckers like Ethel. I don’t think you ever met a real woman like me. Well, we’ll see just what kind of man you are. Remember, I take no shit off anyone, especially a cheap lowlife like you.”

  She turned and stared out the window. She seemed to have reached a decision. “You got a weapon?”

  “If you mean a rod, the answer is no. I don’t go near guns. But I got a custom made beaver tail sap that always does the trick. And I can handle myself. I’ve been on the streets since I was a punk kid.”

  She sat quietly for a moment more and then turned back to me. “All right, come to my place at 9 pm, tomorrow night. Wear a suit and bring some cash. You are taking me out to dinner and it won’t be cheap. Got it? I’ll see you then.”

  She eased herself out of the car and went inside. I sat there sort of stunned. Jesus, but she was a piece of work. She was certainly a change from that simpering butterball Mobes. If I had the hots for her before, now I was on fire. I got my booze out of the back and trudged upstairs.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  I got some rest that night and spent the next day thinking of a way to lay my hands on Mobes’ stash. I came up with a number of plans but none of them seemed workable. Maybe Louisa would have some ideas although I was wary of letting her in on too much as this would lessen the take if I had to cut her in.

  I tried to take a nap in the afternoon to rest up for the coming evening, but I could not sleep. My mind raced through one sexual scenario after another. Just what was this dame up to? She was driving me crazy. I jerked off while thinking of different positions I could put her in. Finally I shot a wad of jiz all over myself. I got up out of the bed and showered. I had a snack and got my clothes ready. They were a little worn but at least they were good quality. I pulled 200 bucks from my stash. No broad is worth more than that. I knocked back a couple of gins to calm me down and when the clock chimed 9 I went across the hall and rapped on Louisa’s d
oor.

  “It’s open. Come on in,” I heard from behind her door. I turned the knob and went inside. There, facing me was but the first shock of a shock filled night. Louisa stood there in a tight fitting mans double-breasted worsted suit. Her hair was tucked up under a fedora and she had on highly polished lace-up black shoes. She gave me that evil grin of hers and said, “What do you think, buster? Like it?”

  It took me a second to reply. “What, you gone lezzie or are we going to a costume ball and you’re Marlene Dietrich?”

  “I’m just dressed for work.”

  “Work, what are you, a hostess at a queer joint or you like to go both ways?”

  Once again she let out that haughty laugh, a laugh that was full of meanness and superiority. I felt like ripping that suit off her and fucking her right there on the floor.

  “Are you packing?”

  “What, are you nuts? I thought this was a dinner date. Obviously it’s something more than that. Are you planning on armed robbery or something? Besides, I told you once, no guns. I got my sap.”

  “Oh, never mind. We’ll be fine. Now let’s get it in gear. I got us reservations at the Drake.”

  “Well, I guess you’re the boss tonight.”

  She looked at me again with that stare. Man, this was some babe.

  We went out to my car. It was cold but icy clear. We headed east to the Outer Drive and south to the hotel. I had never been there but knew it was a classy place. Joints like this were a little pricy for my taste. When I pulled up in front the car parker gave my jalopy a dirty look. He reluctantly took the keys and gave me a chit.

  We strolled through the lobby and headed downstairs. People stared at us as we made our way down the hallway. We came to a seafood restaurant. We walked inside. The maitre d’ smiled and said, “Ah, Miss Louisa. We have your table waiting; happy Christmas to you.”