“Yeah, he said it’s new. One of the sporty ones.”
“Black’s your favorite color, huh?”
“Had to make sure he knows that.” She grins.
“Well, it sounded like it went well, except for that ‘five-oh’ part. Talk to me.”
She taps out another cigarette and I light it for her.
After a deep draw on the cig, she says, “He asked that typical shit, ‘How do I know you ain’t five-oh?’ but I’m sure he doesn’t think I am. Like you said, his dick does the thinking for him.”
“Does it sound like he was tight with Justine?”
“Oh yeah, he been getting himself some of that.”
“He told you that?”
“He didn’t have to tell me that directly. I know a man, and the way he talked about her, I know he getting it.”
“What else?”
“He acted all skeptical at first, like he didn’t know who I was talking about, but then he opened up.”
“What was all that talk about another fifty?”
“He wants to tap a bit of that sweet young Tamie ass is what.”
“Straight out said that or insinuated it?”
“Insinuated, I guess. It’s not like he said he wanted me to give him head, but that’s sure as hell what he meant. I can tell you that for certain.”
“So he never asked for sexual favors directly, but you know that’s what he wanted?”
“Hell yeah, sweetie. That’s what he meant when he said I could trade a little somethin’ for the extra fifty.”
“You know how to read these mopes. Does it sound like he’ll show?”
“Fuck yes he’ll show. Like you said, he got a dick that does the thinkin’ for him, but the head be too swollen to think straight.”
Fifty-six
These things rarely go the way they’re supposed to. I’m hoping for the best, though. I get to Georgetown just before three, an hour and a half before Playboy’s supposed to show.
Wisconsin Avenue ends at Water Street. Any further and you’ll find yourself in the Potomac River. I make a right turn onto Water Street from Wisconsin. It’s a small road under the Whitehurst Freeway, and follows the Potomac River on one side and the southern edge of Georgetown on the other. It ends after a few blocks, under the Key Bridge and at the beginning of a busy hiking and biking trail. I don’t drive that far. After a couple of blocks I make a U-turn and drive a few blocks past Wisconsin in the other direction. I don’t see any cars that match the description of Playboy’s Lexus, or anything else that might be suspicious.
Parking is tough anywhere in Georgetown. I loop around a couple of times until I see someone pulling out of a spot on the south side of Water, about half a block from the intersection at Wisconsin. It gives me a good vantage because more than likely he’ll come in off Wisconsin, like I did.
I back into the space and park between a nice BMW and a U-Haul van. I’m not concerned about getting made for a cop by the corner drug boys in this location, ’cause you won’t find any corner drug boys around here.
When I was a cop fresh out of the academy I had to walk a beat, but not in a place as “up-and-coming” as this neighborhood is now. In fact, nothing was up-and-coming when I came on. It was still like it was when I was a kid. Every neighborhood, including Georgetown, was what it was. But things changed. Everything did. Communities like Georgetown eventually lost landmarks like the Biograph, and then the Key Theatre. But all that resulted afterward was that those businesses were replaced by other businesses.
This city is all about tearing down to build up. That should be DC’s new catchphrase. There’s nothing wrong with progress. Just know what you’re going to do with all the collateral damage resulting from that progress.
I crack the window and light up a smoke while I still can. It’s doubtful he’ll show up early like I did. In all my experience working idiots like him, they never have; they’ll either show up late or not at all. But then again, none of the drug boys back then were showing up for who they thought would be a cute underage girl on crack. Nothin’ to do now but stand by and play the waiting game.
I got everything I need in my backpack just in case it turns out the way it’s supposed to, and I get stuck on surveillance through the rest of the day into the night. I can go through the whole night if I have to. Shit, I’ve done it before. I got a strong back and my legs don’t cramp that often.