“A woman?”
“Yes, a woman. What’s the matter, Rachael; I know you aren’t going to tell me that you’re discriminating against women being pimps?”
“Not at all. A crook is a crook is a crook, all day long. I’m just a little surprised.”
“So far, Sam hasn’t been able to get close to them.”
“Say it ain’t so.” Sam used to be my partner. I can’t stand him. “What’s the matter, Super Sam can’t crack a girly pimp?”
“He’s working the drug angle and doesn’t want to tip his hand. A couple of other male officers have tried to get close to her, but she won’t bite.”
“Sounds like she’s got good instincts; she can smell a cop.”
“I agree. That’s why we’re trying a different approach with you. Anyway, there was a murder there, totally unrelated to the drugs or the prostitution ring, but since then they’ve stopped coming. I want you start hanging out there-see if you can find out where they disappeared to. If they show back up, you get close to them and let’s see if we can shut them down.”
“So, you want me to be a prostitute?”
“No. But if it comes to that, we’ll work something out so you won’t have to take it there.”
That’s how it began. During the time that they were absent from the club, I went to work. The address and phone number she gave when they brought her in for questioning were dead. She had moved out of that apartment and changed her cell number. Knowing Jada like I know her now, she probably sniffed Sam out as a cop. Bringing her in for questioning on that murder was what made her go underground, not the murder. So I was at the fuckin’ club every night, because I had a feeling they’d be back. Every night I’d talk to men. It wasn’t easy, but I finally found one of her clients and bought him a drink. I told him that I was a lesbian, which kept him from being all over me, but also served another purpose as well. Once I got him drunk and talkin’, I told him that I’d seen one of her girls and, “She was a goddess. I would pay anything to get with her, but they stopped coming here.”
“I know which one you’re talking about,” my drinking buddy said and began describing Diane. “Here,” he said and reached in his pocket for a pen. “Here’s her number.”
Jackpot.
By the time they came back to the club, I knew everything about Jada West. Father dead, mother doin’ fed time. I knew about her and Diane at Ecstasy. I knew all about Simone and Bella. The lieutenant was happy to hear that I had made contact with them rather easily on their first night back in the club.
Since then, I’ve had nothing to report and he’s growing impatient. At our last meeting he reminded me that I was better than this. “I understand from talking to her that Jada West is smart. But shit! It shouldn’t take this long for you to crack her. Either way, Rachael, I need to see some results soon or I’ll have to pull you off this thing.”
I parked my car behind the building and went inside. I saw my old partner Sam coming toward me. “How’s it going, Rachael?” Sam is the most disgusting man I’ve ever met. Always talkin’ ’bout his big dick is and what he could do to me with it. You can’t turn your back on him or his hands will be all over you. Fuckin’ pig.
“Great, Sam. How about you?” I replied like I was happy to see him.
“Same old same, day in and day out. We should get together-you know, to catch up.”
“I’d like that,” I lied. “I’ll stop by when I’m done,” I lied again. I’m not giving you any pussy and nothing you have to say is of any interest to me, I thought as I made my way to an appointment that I was already very late for.
“Good morning, Rachael,” Gineconna’s admin said to me.
“Is he in?”
“Yes, but he’s on a call and wants you to wait for him.
I nodded my head and took a seat. Suddenly, Gineconna’s door swung open. “Come on in and have a seat, Rachael,” I heard him yell.
I went in his office and made my report, which was basically the same as the one I’d made last week. “Nothing new to report.”
“So you mean to tell me nothing has happened yet?”
“No, sir-I mean we go out clubbing a lot. Sometimes we go to these parties, mostly for up and coming rappers. We’ve been to a few celebrity birthday parties and that kind of stuff. And we shop, a lot,” I said, only half lying.
“No mention of where the money comes from?”
“Not a word. When I asked, all I got was giggles, and was told to ask Jada. These things take time. You know that.”
“And you’ve never witnessed any exchange of money for sex or sexual favors?”
“None that I’ve witnessed personally, no. As far as I know and can prove, they’re just four girlfriends that hang out together. Jada never speaks to me about what they do. And ‘the ladies,’ as she calls them, basically only speak when Jada says they can,” I said.
“Okay, so when you’re at these parties what’s goes on? What does she say she does for a living?”
“She says she sells insurance.”
“And?” Gineconna asked.
“She has a license, a Web site, and she speaks knowledgeably when she has to. When we’re at these events she collects business cards, just like everybody else. My guy says that he met her at a record company party and he gave her his card. A couple of weeks later, she calls and sets up a date for lunch. She broke it to him over salad.”
Gineconna let out a frustrated sigh and I took the opening. “What it comes down to is how bad do you want them?”
“Will your guy testify?”
“Not likely.”
“What about the girls? Can you turn one of them?”
“I’ll stay on it and see what I can do, but I’ll be honest-those ladies are loyal to Jada. She walks on water in their eyes. Turning one of them will take time and I’ll run the risk of blowing my cover.”
“Right now we don’t have enough evidence to make a case that will stick,” Gineconna said. “You think you can turn up another client of hers?”
“Sure, but it will take time. How bad you want her?”
“Bad. But I can’t continue to justify the use of resources and the overtime on the four little girls sellin’ pussy with no results insight. I need you back in the rotation, catching cases.”
I tried my best to look disappointed. “Damn. I just need a little more time.” But that was exactly what I wanted. “I tell you what, lieu, you do what you gotta do; I’ll continue to work it on my own time. I’ll stay close to Ms. Jada West; try to flip either one of her clients or one of the girls.”
Gineconna smiled. “That’s what I wanted to hear, Rachael. I knew I could count on you. As flamboyant as West is, and the way these girls seem to love the spotlight, I’m sure they’ll make a mistake.”
I left Gineconna’s office feeling great. I got exactly what I wanted. I was officially off the case, but still had an official reason to remain in contact with them. After a while, Jada would be off of Gineconna’s radar. I’d already told them I was going to have to get a job, so I’ve got a reason to be unavailable at times. But I could go on being Chante.
I loved being Chante and I was starting to wonder if Chante was who I really was. I didn’t believe it. But I do. I love being Chante.
The last time we were together, Jada asked if I could take a weekend trip with them. “All expenses paid of course,” Jada explained. “It’s just going to be us and the ladies hanging out in the Bahamas.”
I told her I’d think about it, but I knew deep down inside I wanted to go. And since how I did my job was pretty much my business, I figured I’d be able to go with no worries.
But Gineconna was right about one thing: I know Jada could live without it, but the ladies do love the spotlight. Sooner or later, hangin’ out at that club will be their downfall. My job now was to keep Jada out of the clubs, or this could all come crashing down on me. I’ve had nightmares about blowing my cover and fearing Jada’s disappointment once she realized the truth. My challenge was to find a way to prevent that from happening, at all cost.