Monthly Archives: March 2018

Trip on This: Chapter Seven (Part Four)

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Chapter Seven (Part Four)

“How much for your bitch?”  Frat boy number one suddenly appears, leering down at Trip, but talking to Mowgli.  “I ain’t never had yellow pussy before.”  His buddies are sniggering as they watch the show.  Trip narrows her eyes, but allows Mowgli to respond.

“You can’t afford her,” he says without missing a beat.  “She’s got more class in her little toe than you do in your whole body.”

“Shit, no pussy is that classy,” frat boy says contemptuously, digging his wallet out of his pocket.  He pulls out a wad of bills and fans them.  Glancing at Trip, he leans forward so his face is in her space.  “I hear that chinks have slanted pussies, just like their eyes.  Is that true?”  He doesn’t even see her fist before it connects with his eye.  “You fucking bitch!”  He roars, staggering back a few feet.  He quickly recovers and lunges at her again.  His coordination is off, and she moves to the side causing him to topple face first into the table.  Mowgli is up in a second and grabs him by his hair and jerks his head back.

“Like I said, you can’t afford her,” he growls into frat boy’s ear before banging his head sharply on the table.  The boy lets out a groan, and Mowgli allows him to slither onto the floor.  Trip takes out a compact from her purse and powders her nose.  The buddies at the next table are suddenly engrossed in the girl on stage.  Mowgli catches Melody’s eyes, and she hurries over.

“What can I…”  Her voice trails off as she catches sight of the frat boy knocked out under the table.

“Get security to take out the trash,” Mowgli says coldly.  “If he wakes up before security gets here, I’m not responsible for what I’ll do to him.”  Melody rushes off, returning in minutes with a bouncer.  He’s so huge, he makes Mowgli look, well, normal.

“What’s the problem here,” the bouncer rumbles, crossing his tattooed arms in front of his chest.  “This boy been bothering you?”

“He propositioned my woman,” Mowgli explains.  “I took exception.”

“I would, too,” the bouncer nods his bovine head—his bald, bovine head.  “He’s out of here.”  Scooping up the frat boy as if he is a sack of potatoes, the bouncer throws frat boy over his shoulder and marches towards the door.  The other frat boys don’t even blink as their brethren is carted away.  So much for bros before hos.

“I’m so sorry that awful man bothered you,” Melody says, biting her lips.  “The management told me to comp you for the rest of the night.”

“That’s mighty nice of you, Melody,” Trip drawls, her lips curving into a smile.  “Make yourself one while you’re at it.  I swain, you’re as white as a sheet.  Are you OK, darling?”

“I hate that stuff,” Melody says venomously, but she’s careful to keep her voice low.  “All that macho crap.”  She shudders.  “I make sure Randy, that’s the bouncer, walks me to my car when I leave.”  She blushes as she realizes that she’s unloading onto customers.  “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t be babbling like this.  I don’t know what’s the matter with me.  Ever since Angel…”

“How has Blanche seemed the last few days?”  Trip asks, sensing that there’s something on Melody’s mind.

“Real nervous.  Especially when that man bothered her after her set.”  Melody hesitates, then spills the rest of the story.  “He’s one of her regulars, and sometimes he comes with other guys.  Well, a couple days ago, he was talking to her, and he made her cry!  Right in front of the customers.  Mr. Peters didn’t like that at all.  I’m pretty sure it’s the same guy she was talking to on the phone tonight.”  She shuts up abruptly.  “Uh, I’ll bring you some champagne.”  She hurries away as if she’s afraid she’ll say other things that Blanche would not want known.

“Seems like both these girls know more than they’ve told us,” Mowgli says under his breath to Trip who is looking disgruntled.

“A hundred bucks sure don’t buy much these days,” Trip grumbles.  “That Melody is better at keeping secrets than I gave her credit for.”

“The hundred did its job,” Mowgli counters.  “She wouldn’t be talking to us now without it.  Blanche on the other hand, it’ll take more than a hundred to pry those lips loose.”

“I wonder.”  Trip looks at Mowgli speculatively.

“Oh, no, Del—Sherrilee.  Definitely not.  Don’t even think it.”  Mowgli knows Trip well, and he is repulsed at the idea of sleeping with Blanche.  “Not even for you would I cross the fence.”  He’s shaking his head adamantly in the way that means definitively no.

“I wonder if Greeley would do it,” Trip muses.

“Sherrilee!  No!  Vandalia would kill him.  Then you.”

“It’s for a good cause,” Trip says stubbornly.  “We need to know what Blanche knows.  She’s tied in with Andretti, which makes it likely that she knows more about Angel’s death than she’s telling.  Too bad Blanche doesn’t do females, or I’d do her myself.”

“Well, shit, Del,” Mowgli says, immediately correcting himself when Trip glares at him.  “Sherrilee.  There are ways to get information out of people without using sex.  I think she’s ready to talk to someone—she almost spilled her guts to me.”

“You’ll call her tomorrow,” Trip decides.  “Set up a meeting, and we’ll talk to her.”

“No offense, Sher, but I think I’ll get more out of her than you.”

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Trip on This: Chapter Seven (Part Three)

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Chapter Seven (Part Three)

I’m bored.  Even though I like women, there is nothing sexy about Ebony’s movement.  I can tell by the glazed look in her eyes that she’s on something and feeling very little pain.  She’s moving her ass mechanically, the same way she’s probably moved it a hundred times before.  Whereas Blanche had seemed real and alive, Ebony is merely robotic.  There’s no denying her good looks, but there’s very little heart to go with the looks.  Not that I blame her for zoning out.  Ninety percent of the girls on the street were on something at any given time to get through the night.  Those who got a cut of their profits usually snorted that money right up their little noses.  I smoked cigarettes, but nothing more potent.  Well, OK, heroin every now and again, but not very often.  What money I made, I saved.  Even when I was working seven nights a week, I knew that I wasn’t going to be in that life forever, no fucking way.  Even if I had to kill someone to get out, I would.  I was going to get out, and I was going to stay out.  Well, I did.  And I have.  And I will.

Vandalia and Greeley are groping each other under the table.  Either they think I can’t see them, or they don’t care that I can.  Greeley is close to coming, and it’s amusing to watch him try to keep it under control.  Hell, I’m tempted to give his cock a squeeze myself just to cause a little mischief.  I want to see the boy squirt all over himself just because.  Somehow, I don’t think Vandalia would appreciate it if I lend her a hand, though.  She might even kick me out of her apartment, and then I’d be shit out of luck.  I can’t go back to my apartment, and I don’t want to stay with Mowgli who is too easily identifiable as my friend.  I wonder when—if—there is going to be a connection made between an ‘unidentified Asian woman’ and the dead girl.  Angel.  And what’s up with the lying?  Why is Melody saying that Angel is on vacation, that she’ll be back?  Even if they don’t want it known that Angel is dead, why doesn’t Melody say she’s been fired or let go or that she left out of her own volition?  Speak of the devil, she’s returning with our drinks.

“Here you go,” she chirps, setting each drink carefully down on the table.

“Melody, you’re an attractive girl,” I say enticingly, crossing and recrossing my legs.

“Thank you,” Melody says automatically, flashing her dimples at me.

“Why don’t you sit a minute?”  I pat Mowgli’s empty seat, discreetly placing a twenty dollar bill on the table.

“Oh, I really shouldn’t,” Melody says, her eyes glued to the money.

“I’d really like you to,” I say, adding another twenty to the one already on the table.

“Just for a minute,” Melody agreed, sitting down.  The twenties disappear before her ass is even on the chair.

“How did you start working here?”  I ask curiously, inching closer to Melody.  I can see she’s uncomfortable with the attention, but I pay her no mind.  My goal is to make her think that I’m hitting on her so she won’t suspect deeper motives.  Vandalia and Greeley are openly making out which seems to add to Melody’s discomfort.

“Um, a friend of mine works here, too.  She told me about it.  Said I could make good money.  I want to go to State and study psychology.”  Melody has her arms crossed over her chest, but she drops them when she sees me staring.  She must have been told not to cover up her breasts which is a good policy if she wants to make money.

“How do you like it?”  I ask, letting my hand casually drop on her leg.  I idly trace a line up and down her thigh while appearing not to be looking at her.  She squirms minutely but remains still otherwise.  Someone has trained her well, though they should have told her not to give it away for so cheap.

“It’s OK.  It’s a lot harder work than I thought it would be.  But at least I’m not walking the streets.”  Melody pastes a smile on her lips as my hand inches further up her leg.  She has her legs slightly parted which is probably another dictum.

“Do the girls get along?”  I ask in my honeyed drawl, massaging her thigh firmly.  When she looks at me, I lick my lips—she quickly turns her head away.

“We’re one happy family,” Melody says brightly, pretending not to notice that my fingers are now at the edge of her shorts.

“Does Angel have any special friends?”  I ask, stroking Melody’s thigh in light, feathery strokes.  “I seem to remember being told that she and Blanche were really close.”  I can tell that Melody wants to close her legs, but she’s too well-trained to do so.

“Um, yes, they were pretty friendly,” Melody says, clutching the edge of her chair.  “They acted like sisters the way they were always giggling and gabbing.”

“Like sisters?  Not like lovers?  I’m just wondering if Blanche swings both ways.”  My hand is caressing her warm flesh at a greater frequency.  I teasingly stray further up her leg before returning to her thigh.  I don’t want to get her in trouble with the management which probably has a no-touch policy.  Of the merchandise, that is. Continue Reading

Trip on This: Chapter Seven (Part Two)

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Chapter Seven (Part Two)

I’m not at all sure about this Greeley boy.  He’s nice enough, but he’s got a touch of the Midwest about him.  Stolid, trustworthy, not the quickest guy out of the blocks.  He’s also much too innocent for the kind of games I am being forced to play.  I don’t know where Vandalia found him, but he’s nothing at all what I imagined would attract a woman like Vandalia.  I have enough to think about without worrying about this guy having my back or calling me out by my real name.  I don’t like having to improvise, especially when there are players I don’t know.  Mowgli and I have been friends long enough that we groove well together, but this is a situation which might not be easily contained.  There are too many ways the whole thing could backfire and blow up in our faces, but I’m determined to learn more about Angelica and this mysterious other girl.  If that means doing a bit of improv, then that’s what I’m going to have to do.

I use dinner to clear out my head and to practice my new persona.  I don’t want to walk into The Roman Empire cold.  Sure enough, Mowgli and Vandalia have little problem carrying on the charade, but Greeley slips once or twice, calling me Trip instead of Sherrilee.  I solve that problem by simply not answering him—it’s effective; it helps that Trip doesn’t sound like a name.  For this persona, I adapt an attitude of sensuality.  Sherrilee is a woman made for men and one who makes no bones about it.  Sex clings to her, and she’s not above using it to get whatever she wants.  She’s the antithesis of the me I am now, but an incarnation of the me I was a lifetime ago.  It’s disconcerting how easily I can slip into her skin until I disappear completely.  It’s as if the Trip I have worked so hard to become has never been, and will never be.  Mowgli squeezes my hand sympathetically, to keep me grounded.  For the evening, he is Cesar, my San Francisco lover who pines for me when I’m not here.  He adores me, desiring only to lavish me with love and gifts.  I, of course, prefer the latter to the former, and am toying with his fragile heart.  He is not the only man in my life, but I’m the only woman in his.  At least the last part is true.  Vandalia and Greeley get to be themselves because I don’t want to complicate matters too much.  There is no time to come up with much backstory, so I’m forced to stick as closely to the truth as possible.

I toy with my dinner, not really hungry.  We’re at a tacqueria in the Mission where we stick out like a sore thumb.  Guys are casting covetous glances at both Vandalia and me, while the boys are also getting their fair share of love-sick gazes as well.  We take our time eating because it wouldn’t do to arrive at the club before ten at the very earliest.  I force myself to eat a beef burrito with every evidence of enjoyment.  I don’t eat much before doing a job, but this time it’s important not to draw attention to myself which not eating would do.  I manage to pack away half the burrito before calling it quits.  Mowgli finishes a whole chicken burrito while Greeley and Vandalia each eat about two-thirds of their own, vegetarian and chicken respectively.  We take our leftovers to Vandalia’s car—she’s driving—and drive around the Mission a bit, rehearsing our roles.  When I’m confident Greeley isn’t going to fuck things up, I allow Vandalia to drive us to The Roman Empire.  We pay our twenty dollar cover and zip right in.  It’s half-full, but will most likely fill up later, even if it is a Wednesday.

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Trip on This: Chapter Seven (Part One)

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Chapter Seven (Part One)

“We’re doing what?”  Mowgli stares at Trip, wondering if his ears are deceiving him.  This is not how he envisioned spending his night—talking to Trip about strip clubs in Vandalia’s living room.

“Going to The Roman Empire,” Trip says.  “Me, you, Vandalia and her consort.  I have to find out more about Angel and the other woman.”  Trip has told Mowgli everything she did that afternoon, but he still isn’t computing.  It’s difficult for him to switch from computer geek to party animal without some downtime in between.  Besides, he has yet to adapt to Trip’s come-hither look as he’s grown fond of her tomboyish, no-nonsense persona.  Seeing her tarted up reminds him of when he first met her, and he, like she, doesn’t care to remember those days.

Trip had raced home from Tosca’s impatient to look up information about Andretti, but to her dismay, there was nothing relevant on Ricardo Andretti.  There was one in Modesto, but he was ninety-five years old.  There was one in New Jersey, but that didn’t help her.  Then she thought of trying just Andretti, but that was hopeless.  She was incensed that her hot new information did little to propel her forward.  She wondered if Seamus had misheard, but there weren’t many names that sounded similar to Ricardo.  She would have to do further sleuthing on this point before she could do an efficient search.  After that, she had gone out and shopped until her credit card screamed from exhaustion, but it had been worth it.  She had spent almost five-hundred dollars on clothes, and there wasn’t a speck of black to be seen.  By the time she returned to Vandalia’s, Mowgli was already comfortably ensconced on the living room couch.

“The Roman Empire,” Mowgli repeats, as if he’s never heard the name before.  “You, Delilah Esther Wire want to go to a strip club.”  His voice couldn’t be more dubious if Trip had said she wanted to run with the bulls in Spain.

“I don’t want to go,” Trip replies tersely.  “Try to keep up here.  That’s where the dead girl worked.  There’s another girl who’s involved in the case who might work there as well.  Vandalia thought it’d be a good idea if I didn’t go alone.”

“Well, she’s right about that.”  Mowgli is frowning as he looks up at Trip from his place on the couch.  She’s still standing, unable to unwind.  “I don’t like what this case is doing to you.”

“Neither do I,” Trip shoots back.  “That’s why I have to find the motherfuckers.”

“Del, you sure you want to do this?  Maybe it’ll die out by itself.”

“Yes, I’m sure!”  Trip stares down at Mowgli, daring him to defy her.  “I got off the fucking streets and got a fucking life.  I damn well want to make sure I can keep living it.”  This has moved beyond a matter of pride for Trip—it’s becoming personal.  If she can’t find the motherfuckers and bring them to some kind of justice, she’ll be running around for the rest of her life looking over her shoulder and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Then I’m in,” Mowgli says simply.  Trip thumps him on the head in appreciation before sliding onto the couch next to him.  They are watching the Food Network when Vandalia comes home.

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Trip on This: Chapter Six (Part Two)

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Chapter Six (Part Two)

I stride to my car and drive to O’Reilly’s building, killing the engine once I have the building in sight.  I haven’t really planned what I’m going to do, but it doesn’t worry me.  My slate is cleared until I figure out what the hell is going on here, and I think O’Reilly will be my way in.  Like most pompous, arrogant pricks, he’ll most likely fold once a little pressure is put upon him.  I shift in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position.  I fish out a red scarf from my glove compartment and tie it around my hair, then slip on my Ray Bans.  I know that a stakeout isn’t anything like they show it on television or in the movies; it’s mostly tedious work.  Hours of waiting with little return, unless the action is prodded in an artificial way.  Since I am not known for my patience, I decide to do a little manufacturing.  First, out of idle curiosity, I call the number DiCalvo had given me.  I’m sure it’s a false number, so I’m not surprised to hear, ‘The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected’.  Next, I call O’Reilly’s office number after using my scrambler so he can’t identify my phone.  It occurs to me that I should purchase burners if I’m going to keep making anonymous phone calls.

“Caleb O’Reilly, how may I help you?”  His voice is smooth and just a step away from oily.  I can visualize the smug smile on his face which makes me itch to kick in his teeth.  I raise my voice and make it as breathy as possible.

“Mr. O’Reilly?  I’m an acquaintance of Mr. DiCalvo’s, if you know who I mean.”  I pause, gratified to hear a hissing on the other end of the line.

“How did you, who are you, I mean, why are you calling me?”  He’s disconcerted, but he hasn’t hung up yet.

“Mr. DiCalvo would like to meet you at his office this very minute.  He has an urgent matter to discuss.  About Angel.  Don’t try to call him as his phone may be bugged.”  I hang up the phone.  This is the tricky part, whether O’Reilly will fall for it or not.  I don’t doubt he’ll call DiCalvo—in fact, I’m counting on it.  I turn on my car and wait to see what happens.  Not five minutes later, O’Reilly is hustling from the building towards a silver Lexus.  How disappointingly clichéd.  He zooms off without looking around, so it’s a piece of cake to follow him.  Pretty soon, we are in downtown near the Embarcadero BART station.  To my surprise, he parks near Stacey’s bookstore and walks to the McDonald’s there.  I trail him casually, my cell phone glued to my ear so it appears that I’m just one of the throngs going to or from work.  I am still wearing the scarf and sunglasses, so I’m confident that I’m unrecognizable.

DiCalvo is already there, which means he’s closer to downtown than is O’Reilly up in North Beach, which isn’t saying much.  DiCalvo looks just as I remember him, but worse for the wear.  His leg is jittering under the table, and his eyes flit from spot to spot.  I quickly order a Diet Coke and a Quarter Pounder so I won’t look suspicious, then I slide into a chair a few tables away from DiCalvo.  O’Reilly has gotten stuck in a slower line so he’s not at the table yet.  I study DiCalvo without his noticing me, and it’s all I can do not to punch him out.  No matter how much I want to do him grievous bodily harm, what I want more is answers.  I won’t get those by muscling the punk, especially as O’Reilly is making his way towards the table as well.  The two of them are like Mutt and Jeff with one being a nervous wreck and a slob to boot while the other one is swathed in sartorial splendor and has a regal bearing.

“What the fuck are we doing here?”  DiCalvo blurts out.  “Who’s the bitch who called you?”

“Don’t know.  Not the oriental chick.  Not her voice.”  O’Reilly looks down at his Big Mac in disdain.  “Really, I don’t know why we have to meet here.”

“I like the food,” DiCalvo mumbles, biting into a hamburger.  “It’s good for what ails you.”

“Whatever,” O’Reilly says dismissively.  “Whoever it was mentioned Angel.  Perhaps it was the real problem woman.”

“She knows better,” DiCalvo says.  “She fucking knows better now.  The only calling she should be doing is for a fucking pizza delivery.  Bitch.  Why couldn’t she have been like the other bitches?”

“Because he slipped this time,” O’Reilly says coolly.  “He’s not infallible, you know.  Especially when he starts thinking with his dick.”

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Trip on This: Chapter Six (Part One)

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Chapter Six (Part One)

“Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory!”  Trip jerks up in her bed, unsure that she heard what she thinks she heard.  There is total silence, then she hears it again.  “Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory.”  Someone is fucking singing somewhere in her apartment.  Still half-asleep, Trip slides her blade out from under her pillow and is out of bed when she realizes that she’s not at home, that she’s at Vandalia’s, and that the voice she’s hearing is the hostess with the mostest as she’s taking a shower.  Trip glances at the clock, sees that it’s nearly ten o’clock and decides to stay out of bed, anyway.  She throws on a t-shirt and a pair of sweats and pads out into the kitchen.  She pours herself a glass of orange juice and is sipping it when Vandalia bounces into the kitchen five minutes later.

“Good morning, roomie!”  Vandalia chirps, her voice disgustingly perky.  She is wearing sweats as well, but a red velour set that is definitely not made for sweating.  She has that ‘I just got fucked’ glow that is so enjoyable to experience but so irritating to observe.

“Morning, Vandalia,” Trip says evenly, pouring herself another glass of juice.  She gestures to the juice and adds, “I’ll make a Safeway run soon to replenish the stock.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Vandalia says cheerfully.  “I’ll take it out in trade.  The next time I need something stolen, you’ll do a freebie for me.  Deal?”

“Deal.”  Trip nods solemnly, though she’s sure Vandalia is joking.

“What’d you find out last night?”  Vandalia pops a couple pieces of bread in the toaster to make toast.  “Want some scrambled eggs?  I’m making myself some.”

“No thanks,” Trip declines.  She doesn’t like to eat first thing in the morning, though she knows breakfast is supposedly the most important meal.

“You have to eat something!”  Vandalia burbles, cracking open a half-dozen eggs.  “Your body is like a car—it’s needs to be fueled before you can drive it.  Besides, I make the most gorgeous scrambled eggs you’ve ever tasted!  You’ll swear off sex once you get your teeth into these.”  She pauses, looking expectantly at Trip.

“No, thanks,” Trip reiterates, pouring herself another glass of juice.  “I’ll grab something later.”

“You’re not dieting, are you?”  Vandalia asks in mock-horror, clasping her own ample bosom.  “I am sick and tired of girls trying to whittle away into nothing.  Size zero!  Literally disappearing.  I mean, look at me!  I’m big, and I’m gorgeous!”  She thrust out her bosom proudly before returning to her eggs.

“I’m not dieting,” Trip shrugs, returning the orange juice to the refrigerator.  “I just don’t eat in the morning.”

“I bet you work out, though,” Vandalia says, sneaking a quick look at Trip.  “Look at those pipes on you!  Girl can take care of herself, I bet!”  That doesn’t seem to be a question, so Trip doesn’t answer.  “Well, I know I can’t get going in the morning if I don’t eat a hearty breakfast.  Screw cholesterol, that’s what I say.”  Trip says it, too, in moderation.  She’s not the type to nibble on a lettuce leaf or to have a salad with dressing on the side for lunch.  She’s a healthy woman with a healthy appetite—just not first thing in the morning.

“I gotta roll.  See ya.”  Trip is almost out of the kitchen when Vandalia’s voice stops her.

“I got the Chron if you want to read it.  It’s on the coffee table in the living room.”  Trip makes a detour to check out the paper before taking a shower.  She wants to see if there’s anything else on Sylvian’s murder, though she suspects that it’s: a) not big enough news to warrant further coverage and b) being covered-up, anyway.  She is right; there is nothing further about Sylvian’s murder.  To her surprise, however, there is another murder relevant to her sorry-ass life.  Evelyn Sato, found dead in her apartment, the police tipped by an ‘anonymous’ phone call.  Continue Reading

Trip on This: Chapter Five (Part Three)

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Chapter Five (Part Three)

After working out, Trip is no more settled than she had been beforehand, so she decides to pay her old friends a visit.  She showers and changes into black jeans and a black long-sleeved t-shirt before covering that with her black trench coat.  It’s her work outfit, and that’s what she’s doing tonight—working.  She stops at her bank and withdraws five hundred dollars, tucking it into her pocket.  If she needs more, the girls know she’s good for it.  She has to be if she wants them to continue talking to her.  She has her Bowie knife with her, which she carefully straps to her calf and pulls her jeans’ leg down over it.  It’s a beaut with a six-inch blade—a girl’s best friend.  Trip knows better than to go to the ‘Loin without protection, though truth to be told, she rarely goes anywhere without her knife.

“Looks who’s here, girls,” a skinny white skank named Snow sneers as she scratches her arm listlessly.  “It’s Suzie Wong herself.”  Trip hates being reminded of her working days, but lets it slide this once.

“Shut the fuck up, Snow,” Mona Lisa, the one who used to talk about the Louvre, snarls.  “You just mad because Trip made something of herself.”  She’s white trash, too, but better-looking than Sugar with her white-blond hair done in a retro-eighties style and lime-green micro-mini-skirt.  Her makeup is a riot of colors that no sane person would dare attempt.  Pink and green eye shadow, silver lipstick, black nail polish.  Trip wonders how much Mona Lisa Lisa is raking in these days.  She’s had better days, and she looks ridden hard and put away harder.  Despite it all, though, she still sticks up for Trip.  It’s one of her better qualities—her fierce loyalty.

“You better step,” Snow says, flipping her hand at Mona Lisa.  The other hookers are pretending not to notice the altercation as they scan the streets for possible johns.  “I’m tired of you flapping your big-ass mouth at me like you was somebody.”  Snow’s eyes are ugly as she juts out her hip.

“Listen up, bitch,” Mona Lisa hisses, stepping closer.

“Hey, Mona Lisa, let it go.”  Trip reluctantly gets between the two women.  She knows fighting is part of the life, but she needs information and she doesn’t want to have to scrape Mona Lisa off the street to get it.  Mona Lisa can hold her own, but Snow didn’t get her name because she likes to ski, and like many cokeheads, Snow doesn’t feel the pain until after her high wears off.  Since that’s never for her, Trip prefers to keep Mona Lisa separated from Snow.

“Trip, you’re getting soft.  You know how it is on the fucking streets.”  Mona Lisa is not backing down, and neither is Snow.

“Do it later, then.  I have to talk to you.  All the girls.”  Trip stares hard at Mona Lisa, then Snow.  “I need some information, and I need it fast.  I need to know if there’s any word on the street on someone talking about me.”

“Yeah, they be saying they miss that ass,” a girl calls out.  The other girls whoop it up.

“Then they get a piece of this,” a tiny, Asian girl slaps her nonexistent butt.  “They forget all about you.”

“Have you seen this girl?”  Trip pulls out a picture of Sylvian at which few of the girls even bother looking.

“Hey, it’s Angel!”  Mona Lisa says, blanching.  She grabs the picture and shoves it in her coat pocket before anyone else can get a good look.  “Come on.”  She grabs Trip and drags her to the Phoenix Hotel.  “We have to talk in private.  Can you front for a room?”  Trip nods.  It’s the least she can do since Mona Lisa won’t be working while she’s talking to Trip.  The room is $79, and Trip hands over two fifties and her credit card number to Candace, the smiling woman behind the counter.  To her credit, Candace doesn’t even smirk as she hands back $21.

“Have a nice stay,” Candace calls out as Mona Lisa hustles Trip to their designated room.

“Tell me,” Trip says the minute they step into the room.

“I gotta drink something to talk about this shit,” Mona Lisa announces.  “Mind?”  It’s not really a question, and Trip doesn’t bother answering.  She sits on a chair and waits for Mona Lisa to situate herself.  When Mona Lisa is well-oiled, she plops on the bed, spreading her legs.  It’s an unconscious decision, but it makes her look cheap.  “Trip, they been talking about you.”  She has one of those miniature bottles of alcohol in her hand, and she gulps it down in one swallow.  “They saying you heading for a fall.  ‘Course, the girls are jealous because you’ve got it good now.”  Her eyes stare at Trip.  “That Cocoa did right by you, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did.”  Trip doesn’t feel guilty for getting out of the life nor for her new profession.  She works hard, pays her taxes like a good American—consultant work, only skims off twenty percent—and owes nobody except Cocoa anything.  And Mowgli.  She can never repay what she owes him.

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Trip on This: Chapter Five (Part Two)

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Chapter Five (Part Two)

“Where the fuck have you been?”  Mowgli scowls at me from outside Vandalia’s apartment.  “I’ve been waiting for you for a fucking half hour.  Time is money, chiquita, in case you haven’t heard.”

“Come on in,” I say, ushering Mowgli into Vandalia’s place.  “Want something to drink?”  I move to the kitchen and manage to find the tea kettle.

“Uh, hello?  Did you not practically order me over only to stand me the fuck up?”  Mowgli has his hand on his hip and his lower lip thrust out.  Oh great, he’s doing the pissy queen act which is really not pretty on so large a man.

“Get over it, Mowgli.  I had something I had to take care of.  I’ll try not to let it happen again.”  That’s the closest I get to apologizing, and Mowgli lets it drop.

“Tell me what you got, girl.”  Mowgli drops into a chair while I rummage for something to munch on.  Vandalia has a righteous stash of Doritos, Keeblers, M&Ms, and other assorted goodies guaranteed to give a dentist nightmares.  Not to mention a nutritionist.  As I tell Mowgli what I found out from Rock, I dump some snacks on the table while waiting for the water to boil.  “You trust this Rock?”  Mowgli asks me, his voice level.  “You sure he’s not hustling you?”  At my request, Mowgli has never been with me to The Savage which is a sore point between us.  He doesn’t understand my need to keep my job and the ritual I’ve created separate from him.

“Yeah, I’m sure.  He knows I’ll rip his balls off and stuff them down his throat if he’s shining me on.”  Like any guy, Mowgli instinctively crosses his legs at my words.  “Besides, he wants to fuck me again.  He knows that won’t happen if he lies to me.”

“I thought women weren’t supposed to use sex as a weapon any more in these post-modern feminist times,” Mowgli playfully scolds me.

“Nah, we’re just not supposed to admit it any more,” I reply, handing a cup of Earl Grey to Mowgli while sipping on black tea myself.  I bet the Earl Grey is just for Mowgli as it seems too tame for the likes of Vandalia.  “The PC thing is to say that we assertively bring up our complaint, then discuss it, then make a mutually-satisfying decision.”

“Uh huh.”  Mowgli shoots me a look that says he doesn’t believe me.  “And what’s playing on reality TV?”

“You don’t get none if I don’t get what I want,” I say simply.  “It’s not my fault that men are controlled by their dicks.”

“Girl, don’t I know it,” Mowgli says with a knowing grin.  “A blessing and a curse all rolled up in one.”  We share a brief snicker at the fallibility of men before I get serious.

“I want this motherfucker,” I say abruptly, slamming down my mug.  I slop tea on the table, but I’m too focused on the matter at hand to notice.  Mowgli grabs a rag from the sink and wipes up my mess.  “Nobody plays Trip Wire for a fool, but nobody.”  A little boy in first grade with chubby cheeks and an angelic smile campaigned to turn the entire class against me because I had slanty eyes—his words, not mine.  Once on the playground, he stuck his foot out as I was walking by, and I tumbled to the ground.  I can still remember him and his cronies snickering as my dress flew up over my head and showed my ruffled underwear to the world.  Two things happened that day—I beat that boy until the school monitor pulled me off him, and I informed my mother that I was never wearing a dress again.  The boy stayed away from me after that, but I was forced to concede on the dress thing when I was on the streets.

“Girlfriend, you really should leave this to the cops,” Mowgli begins, but stops when he sees the look on my face.  He knows when to press me and when to back the hell off, and I’m grateful that he usually follows his instincts.  “OK.  What’s your next plan of attack, and how can I help?”  He pours us each another cup of tea so we can do some serious thinking.

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Trip on This: Chapter Five (Part One)

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Chapter Five (Part One)

“What’s the word, Rock?”  Trip asks her favorite bartender as he plunks a Freezin’ Seamen in front of her.  It’s only five in the evening, but it’s never too early for a Freezin’ Seamen.  She drains it in one gulp.  There are two guys at the bar, and a few scattered patrons elsewhere.

“What’s up, Trip?”  Rock asks, giving her soulful looks.  He turns on the puppy-dog eyes which succeeds in irritating her.  “How come I haven’t heard from you since, you know.”

“Since we fucked?”  Trip asks bluntly, not missing the wince on his face.  “Rock, I had a great time, I really did, but it was just one night.”  Her tone is matter-of-fact.  She had made herself abundantly clear that night that she wasn’t a stand-by-your-man type of woman, but it appears that Rock hasn’t gotten the message.  Of course, they’d both been bombed out of their minds, but she had thought he understood because he had nodded after she spelled out the rules.  Right before she fucked the shit out of him.

“I thought you really liked me,” Rock says, his lower lip trembling.  He’s older than she by three or four years, but seems more vulnerable.  “I thought we really had something going.”  Good god, not another closet romantic.  Could it be for all his tats and piercings, he is a wilting flower at heart?  She knows how to pick them, yes, she does.

“Listen, Rock, I have to ask you a question.”  Trip changes the subject as she doesn’t want to waste time coddling the broken-hearted.  “Did a man come in here the last week or so asking about me?”

“What, are you some kind of celebrity and nobody told me?”  Rock laughs a bit meanly.  The two guys sitting on their bar stools snigger, not even bothering to pretend that they aren’t listening.

“You tell her, Rock,” the older one who is missing a few teeth, not to mention most of his stringy white hair, crows.  “You have to keep the ladies in check.”

“Let me rephrase that,” Trip says evenly, her dark eyes impenetrable.  Rock shrinks back a bit, even though he outweighs her by a hundred pounds or so.  “Has someone been asking for a repo man?”

“You’re not a repo man,” the younger barfly snorts, sucking down his Bud.  He has a baseball cap jammed on his head, but his watery blue eyes are keen under the brim.  “You’re a broad.”

“Rock!”  Trip snaps, tensing her muscles.  “I do not have time for this shit.”  Her eyes lock onto Rock’s until he looks away.

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