Roy Glenn - All About The Money

“And what did you say when she asked?” I had to handle Bella gently. I didn’t want her to think she’d done anything wrong.

She shrugged. “I just told her she needed to talk to you.”

“What did she say after that?”

Bella thought for a moment, smirked, then said, “You know, I don’t think she really said anything about it. But she wasn’t like salty or nothing like that. I just remember saying it to her; then I think you walked back up on us, so she dropped it.”

“I see,” I had said.

“Did I do good, Jada?” Bella asked, waiting for my approval.

“Yeah, Bella, you did just fine. You tell Chante, or anybody else with questions about our family, to come to me and I’ll handle them from there.”

Bella actually breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that she went at Bella was a bit troubling. I mean, Chante and I had spent a lot of time together and she had plenty of chances to ask whatever she wanted to ask. In fact, I’d been waiting for her to come at me with questions. I knew for sure I needed to check Chante out a little closer.

Chante

I woke up early that morning and got ready to go. When I started up my car, I sat there for what seemed like an eternity, thinking about what I was doing. “It’s just another job,” I told myself. “No different from any other. Then why am I making it so complicated?" I knew the answer and I was afraid of what I’d discovered about myself.

I know what they’re doing. They’re high-priced hookers, even though they are all so discreet about it. They were breaking the law and I had violated the rules and gotten personally involved.

The truth was I liked Jada; she was mad cool. Over the last few weeks I’d really gotten to like her and “the ladies,” as Jada called them. We were friends.

Jada rarely goes anywhere without calling me and inviting me to hang out with them. We have lunch and dinner together all the time in some of finest spots in town. We’ve gone to clubs, release parties, and we shop. Damn, Jada West is one shopping don’t-give-a-fuck-what-it-costs, I-just-know-it-fits-and-I-want-it woman.

Jada has a style about her that I liked, even envied. She always wore the finest clothes. She’s chauffeured around like a celebrity just about everywhere she goes. And I loved being a part of that lifestyle.

I put the car in drive and pulled off. While I drove, I thought about how I got into this in the first place. “Come on in and have a seat, Rachael,” Gineconna said to me as I came into his office.

First off, my name is not Chante. My name is Rachael Dawkins and I’m a cop. “Thank you, lieutenant,” I said and took a seat in front of his desk.

“How’s it feel to be back?”

“I was happy to be able to sleep in my own bed after seven months.” I had been on loan to the DEA, infiltrating a drug ring that was operating heavily on the East Coast.

“You’ll be glad to know that thanks to the work you did, three dozen arrests were made, as well as a substantial amount of drugs and money confiscated. Damn fine piece of work.”

“Thanks, lieu.”

“So, are you ready to be a cop again?” he asked, knowing that I had no say in the matter.

“No. I was hoping for a little time off. You know-an all-expense-paid trip to the Bahamas. At the DEA’s expense of course,” I replied, since I knew it wasn’t happening anyway.

“Wouldn’t we all, Rachael. Wouldn’t we all.”

“So what you got for me?”

“You ever hear of a club called Sensations?”

“Big club, upscale clientele; I’ve been there once or twice. Why?”

“Well, Sam’s been working there trying to get a handle on what we believe is one of the largest drug operations in the city. He reported that there’s also a prostitution ring that’s been operating out of there. It’s run by a woman named Jada West.”

“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.