“Can I get you anything else?” Talia was still treating Cam like royalty even though several days had passed since the incident in the parking lot. Maurice had said that Cam could have whatever she wanted to drink, free of charge, and Talia was making sure that that order was carried out. And even though Cam only requested generic scotch, Ralphie always poured the very best from the top shelf. Cam had to be really careful that she didn’t over indulge and end up staggering home or rambling on unchecked.
Cam was back to her old self. She was dressed down, in jeans and a T-shirt, and had no makeup on. She looked quite different from the night before.
She’d been watching people come into the restaurant for many days now and tried to place them within the community, much as Charlie and Maggie had taught her to do. She frowned. Would she ever get this part of her job or would someone have to hit her in the face with something before she saw it? Was she that far out of shape? Or was there nothing here to see?
“You seem lost in thought.” A voice intruded into her awareness.
Cam looked up into Ralphie’s smile. “Just thinking about a lot of things,” Cam answered. “Nothing too important.”
“You sure surprised me last night. I wouldn’t have recognized you if you hadn’t spoken to me. That surprised me even more. I always look at foxy ladies!” He shook his head as he washed out a glass under the counter. Cam smiled at him. She figured that Ralphie would be that type of guy.
“How’s the job search going?” he asked as he took her ashtray and emptied it into the trashcan under the bar.
Cam looked down into her drink and shook her head. “Not too much out there. I may end up flipping burgers at a fast-food joint. Thank you, drive through.’”
Ralphie laughed. “I don’t think it’ll come to anything that bad! I’ve been asking around to see if there’s anything open around here. Something will come up. We take care of our own, you know.”
“Well, thank you, Ralphie,” Cam said with surprise. “I’m not sure I qualify for one of your “own” but I appreciate the thought.”
“You’re one of us. I tell people that. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. It’s who you are that’s more important.”
“Do you really know who I am?” she asked warily.
“I thought so until I saw you last night,” was his answer. “You were hot! You clean up real good!”
“Thank you.” Cam nodded.
“Even Maurice was impressed. I think someone else was, too.”
“Someone else?”
“You didn’t hear that from me!” Ralphie smiled. “You know, bartenders get to be really good at sizing up customers. But you sure threw me last night! I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding a job. You’re smart. You’re pretty. I think you’d do your job almost too well.”
Cam looked at him, wondering where he was going with this.
“Me and you are alike, I think. We want more and are willing to work for it,” Ralphie boasted. When he saw the question in her eyes, he continued. “Besides, you saved Talia. That earned you a lot of points.” He grinned at her. Then he lowered his voice in a conspiratorial fashion. “This bartending is not my only job. During the mornings I drive a delivery truck.”
“I didn’t know that.” Cam was surprised.
She watched Ralphie as he poured the old drink into the sink and refilled the customer’s glass. He always looked so cheery, as if he really enjoyed his job.
Ralphie quickly wiped down the length of the bar. When he came to her, he swiped her glass from in front of her and threw the contents into the sink. Without saying a word, he refilled it with ice and more scotch.
“Are you trying to get me drunk?” she asked as he set it down in front of her on a new cardboard coaster.
“Nah.” He grinned. “You just look like you need to relax. Don’t worry, you’ll get a job real soon.”
Cam figured it was a good chance to play her first card. “Well, all I know is that I need something a little stronger than alcohol to get me through this but I need to make some money to pay for it first.” She held her glass up at eye level, in a toast to him.
“That can be done, too,” Ralphie said in a low voice. “Without a lot of money up front. What do you want?”
Cam looked at him with a questioning look. “What can you get?”
“Whatever you want.” Ralphie’s eyes told Cam that he was the person to talk to. “Hold on a minute,” he said as he went to wait on a customer at the front of the bar.
Cam looked down at her hands. Well, this could be something or it could be nothing. She imagined that one could get some kind of drugs just about anywhere in the city, but she hadn’t realized that this was one of those places. Maybe this wasn’t what she was looking for, but it may be the place to start. At the very least, she’d become known as someone who was open to doing drugs. Maybe that would get her foot in a door somewhere.
Cam watched as Ralphie lifted a bag of groceries from a customer and placed it behind the bar. What a nice thing for Ralphie to do, to look after someone’s packages while they ate. But the woman walked to the window and stood there watching the street. Odd behavior, Cam thought, but her thoughts were interrupted by Ralphie’s return.
“So, what ’cha want?” Ralphie whispered in a conspiratorial tone. “Coke? Speed? Whatever you want.”
Cam straightened. This could get interesting. “I don’t do speed,” she said in a low voice. “I’m hyper enough already. Coke.” Cameron said, softly. “But I can’t pay for it right now.” She looked around to make sure no one was within hearing distance.
“You got it, then. You can pay me when you get a job. No problem. You’re in here enough and I know where you live. I think I can vouch for you.” Ralphie’s smile told Cam that he really trusted her.
“Thank you, Ralphie. I’m good for it.” Cam smiled back.
Cam sat back again. Score number one. What was the next step? Find out who was supplying? Would that lead to a break in the case?
“Then we’ll have to fix you something.” He went to the end of the bar, where it met the shelves of liquor, and knelt down as if picking up something off the floor. Cam heard a soft scraping of wood, as though someone was sliding a door back. He stood up a few moments later and returned to his spot in front of Cam. He slid a small foil packet across the bar and laid it next to her drink.
Cam looked down at the packet in surprise, then placed her hand over it before anyone could see.
“I think there’s a small mirror on top of the supply cabinet in the ladies’ room.” Ralphie gave her a wink. “You owe me a hundred.”
Cam nodded, then Ralphie went to serve another customer.
Cam sat up as she sensed someone at her shoulder. Maurice was standing beside her, accompanied by a man she’d seen in the bar many times, in the pictures that Dickie had shown her and also at the banquet last night: the mayor’s speech writer.
“Cameron,” Maurice said. “This is Nicholas. I know you’re looking for a job and Nicky is looking to hire someone. I think this job might be just what you’re looking for.”
Cameron held out her hand to Nick, who sat down next to her. As she did, the foil packet remained on the bar.
Maurice chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. “I will leave you two alone.” Cam watched him as he walked away.
“I see that Ralphie is treating you right.” Nick smiled as he glanced at the packet.
“Yes, he’s very customer-service oriented,” Cam replied. She quickly palmed the packet, then slipped it into her pocket.
“Everyone’s been telling me about what happened here the other night. Then, Maurice points you out to me at the banquet last night. I have to tell you that I was very surprised and very pleased. You seem to know how to handle yourself in a lot of environs,” Nick began. He was just as smooth a talker as his speeches. “You seem to be just what I’m looking for.”
Cam looked at him. Not all that tall but a little pudgy for a man that young. Up close, he didn’t look that much older than she was. The photo had been very realistic. She smiled at him. “And what might that be?” she asked.
“I understand you used to be a cop,” he said, evading her question.
“Where’d you hear that?” Cam asked. She was sure she hadn’t mentioned that to Ralphie.
“I always do a background check on people I want to hire,” Nick answered, sitting back and looking very self-satisfied.
“That’s a pretty quick check if you just saw me last night.” Cam was leery.
“I have to admit,” Nick conceded, “I started investigating you when you had that fight out in the parking lot. It’s not many women who can handle themselves like that.” His eyes scanned the restaurant, not looking to see how Cam was taking it.
“Then you know I did time upstate. What else do you want to know?”
“I also hear that a lot of women got caught selling drugs out of Hagerville.”
Cam looked at him, her eyes half-lidded. “If you did that thorough a check on me, you know that I wasn’t one of them. I didn’t get caught or I’d still be there. Is this your normal job interview? Or am I a special case? What kind of position are you hiring for?”
“Sort of a security position,” Nick told her.
“Security? For what?”
Nick studied her for a moment, then, “I’m looking for a bodyguard.”
“A bodyguard?” Cam laughed. “There were quite a few there last night. You should have hired one of them. I’m sure there are some guys around here that could protect you from your constituents,” Cam said firmly.
“And very observant. I like that. I’ve already got another bodyguard, but I’d be looked at pretty strangely if I brought him to a cocktail party to mingle with the other wives!” Nick laughed.
“A bodyguard for a party? What are they serving? Molotov cocktails?” Cam started to get wary. Rule number two: Be alert.
Nick laughed. “Well, it’s a business deal. And very political. I’m sure some of the others will have bodyguards hanging around, but I like to appear better than that. I’ll pay you quite well, and who knows? Maybe this could become a more permanent arrangement.”
“What am I supposed to agree to?” Cam sat back, studying Nick’s face.
“Nothing more than body-guarding! I swear that. But I have a lot of business deals where it’d be nice…well, please don’t take this the wrong way…but it’d be nice to have someone pretty…like you…on my arm.” Nick watched to see how she’d take that.
Cam nodded. “As long as we’re only talking body-guarding and nothing more.”
Nick chuckled. “No, nothing more. I can get that without having to pay for it.”
“I see.” Cam nodded with amusement. This could get interesting. Cam liked his smile. “So, what’s the deal? What do you need a bodyguard for?”
“I just need someone to watch my back. And I’d rather not be obvious about it. All you need to do is be my “date” and just keep an eye on what’s going on.”
“Just watch what’s going on?” Cam asked.
“Yes. Just watch, and be charming to my friends.”
“Oh, be charming! Well, I can easily be a very good bodyguard.” Cam laughed. “Charming might cost you a little more.”
Nick smiled. “I’m more than willing to pay for what I want.”
“That almost sounds like you’re hiring an escort service.”
“Yes, it does, doesn’t it?” Nick chuckled. “But I expect a different service. I’m not sure this place is the best place to talk about it. Do you want to come over to my place so we can discuss this?”
“No. I want to know more about this before I go anywhere with a perfect stranger.” Cam bristled as Charlie’s Rule Number One started to kick in.
“Let’s go up to Maurice’s office then. I don’t think we’ll need to be secretive up there.”
Nick rose from his barstool and headed toward the back door marked “Private.” Cam took a final drink of scotch and followed him warily.
“Uncle Maurice, we need your office to talk about a deal.” Nick opened the office door at the top of the stairs without knocking and peered inside.
Maurice looked up from his paperwork. “Ah! I knew you two would get along.” He book-marked his journal ledger and stood. “Do not let him try to get away with underpaying you.” He smiled at Cameron. “He can afford what you’re worth.” And with that, he left his own office.
Cam turned to Nick, feigning surprise. “‘Uncle Maurice’? He’s your uncle?”
Nick turned and nodded, looked at her seriously. “We’re all family around here…one way or another.” The lighthearted flirting seemed to have stopped. “So, are you interested in the job?” He slipped into Maurice’s chair behind the desk.
“As I said, I’ll need to know more. Is this part of the mayor’s campaign pledges?” Cam sat, her mood changing to match his.
Nick smiled and leaned forward, his elbows firmly on the desk. “Look, I need someone with me whom I can trust and not look the part. I don’t want to offend any of my hosts by showing up with a lot of brawn. And, well, since they know I like a good looking woman, you’d fit in fine.”
“How do you know you can trust me?” Cam asked warily.
“You have coke in your pocket.” Nick smirked. “Anyone as close to going back to prison as you are has got to be trustworthy to the right people.”
“Was that extortion?” Cam asked, frowning at him. The tone of this conversation was not settling well with her. She started to rise. But then, this just might be the right tone to this relationship.
“No.” Nick grinned, motioning her back into the chair. “Don’t take it wrong. But we do understand each other, don’t we? You’ll have a hard time finding a job. What I’m offering you is a chance to make money doing what you’ve been trained to do.”
“I still don’t get why you even need a bodyguard,” Cam questioned again.
“I, uh, just do. I have a bodyguard, but there are times that he just doesn’t fit into the picture. I usually have a lot of money on me and there may be one or two constituents who don’t like the way I handle my business.” His eyes burned into Cam.
Cam weighed his statement. “So,” she stated, “let me get this clear. You go to social and political functions and you need someone to watch and make sure you don’t get thrown out of office, so to speak…someone you’d look good with.”
Nick nodded.
“I take it that this is another of your fund-raising duties. May I ask,” Cam went on, “why the large amounts of cash? Don’t your constituents use checks?”
Nick looked her squarely in the eyes. “As in any business, there are a lot of transactions under the table.” Then he said firmly, “If there comes a time that you need to know more, you’ll be told. Some of these will be political parties, others will be business, others purely social.”
Cam stared back at him thoughtfully. “Am I to assume that it means you’ll be doing something more than avoiding taxes?”
Nick didn’t move. “Would that bother you?” was his reply.
Cam wet her lips. “As you alluded to a few minutes ago, I really don’t want to go back to prison, especially for something I didn’t know I was doing.”
Nick grinned, looking away. “I don’t think plying prospective clients with gifts is illegal yet.” He shrugged with a smirk. “Does that answer your question?”
“I guess it will have to,” she finally conceded. “But, I do have to ask, why me?”
“Why you? Why not? I’ve heard good things about how you handled that situation in the parking lot for Talia; Ralphie and Maurice both like you; and your background checks out.”
Cam nodded. “Is there anything I need to know? Or something about me you don’t already know?” she asked.
Nick didn’t answer but wrote a figure on a notepad and turned it so she could read it.
“Will this be enough for just one evening?”
Cam looked at the very generous figure and let out a breath. “You make me feel like a very high-class hooker.” She laughed.
Nick paused. Then, “As I said, I’m more than willing to pay for what I want…and I want the very best. You’ll have to look the part, too, and I’m willing to pay for any clothes you need or…hair things or whatever you girls need for these occasions. Do we have a deal?”
Cam thought through Nick’s offer. Even if this particular job turned up nothing of interest to the Department, it just might be the opening she needed within this part of town. At the very least, she’d get known and maybe even make a few dollars in the effort.
“Let me see,” she started. “I’d go with you to a party, keep my eyes and ears open, guard you and your money, and you pay me for my time and expenses. Nothing more. Am I clear on it?”
Nick nodded.
“Then I’d say we can try it,” was her response. “What kind of party is this, political, business or social?”
“Mostly social, but there’ll be a bit of business, too.”
Cam ran it through her mind, then nodded. “When’s the party?”
“Friday night. I’ll pick you up at 7:30, but we’ll be talking again before then.”
Cam let out a low whistle. “You sure wait till the last minute to get a date.” She smiled. “What if I had plans for that night?”
“Then you’d have to break them, I suppose.” Nick took his wallet from his inside jacket pocket and counted out four crisp one hundred dollar bills and laid them on the desk.
“For clothes or hair, whatever you need. If you need more, let me know. It doesn’t have to be very fancy, just something nice. Nothing like you had on last night. Something shorter. Do you want one of the girls to help you pick something out?”
“I’d rather pick out my own clothes. But there is something else I’ll need if you want me to be an effective bodyguard,” Cam agreed.
Nick looked at her, questioning.
“I’ll need a gun. And a shoulder or belt holster. I’ll pick out a dress with a jacket so it won’t show. But I can’t go and buy a gun myself; not with my record.” she explained.
“That’ll be no problem. What do you want?”
“A .40 millimeter Smith and Wesson Sigma is what I’m used to.”
“I’ll see that you get one. Is there anything else?”
Cam picked up the cash and shook her head. “Anything else you need to know? Or did my background check tell you everything?”
“There was only one thing that came up unanswered. What’s your relationship with Margaret Thomason?”
Cam started. He’d even checked that far? Thank the powers that be that they’d covered that angle.
“Nothing,” Cam answered. “Absolutely nothing anymore.”
“That’s what I heard. I understand she threw you out.”
“Let’s just say our minds were on different wave lengths,” Cam said, watching to see where Nick might take this.
“I understand it was a rather violent parting.”
“Where’d you hear that?” Cam asked.
“Let’s just say I have ears in low places.” Nick seemed pleased with himself. “Will you be slinking back to her?”
So, their little drama in front of the guy from the mailroom really did work.
Cam shook her head. “Not in this lifetime.”
Nick laughed. “Someone will be very happy to hear that.” He smiled. To Cam’s inquiring look, he merely made the motion of locking his lips with a key.
“Let’s go back downstairs. I’ll buy you dinner,” he said, as he closed his wallet and placed it back in his jacket.
* * * *
Femmes Aux Femmes was one of the finest lesbian bars in Montreal. Michael leaned her elbows on the old oaken bar as she sipped her Canadian whiskey. It had been a long, long day and seemed to be getting longer every minute. Cam had been on assignment for the past three weeks. She’s never loved anyone like she loved Cam and never missed anyone this much. Yes, she knew why Cam had to be so secretive. The extracurricular sexual activities didn’t bother her but the time spent away, with no way to contact her, did. She’d tried but there was never an answer to her calls.
What is this? Michael thought as she swept her shoulder length blond hair back behind her ears. I can’t be lonely. I’ve had company every night for the past week and now I have to go home and pack for this business trip. She would be presenting a martial arts workshop to the families of the RCMP in British Columbia. The only reason she’d agreed to it was that it would keep her mind off Cam. Now here she sat, in a bar that had been one of her old stomping grounds.
“Hey, Mistress. You look deep in thought.”
Michael turned to face the woman beside her, a woman with whom she’d had a one-night stand earlier this month or sometime in the recent past.
“Hi, hon,” she greeted Clare, another one of the young blondes that fought to get her attention. Michael always called them hon to keep from using the wrong name. It was a habit she’d gotten into many years before.
“You haven’t been in here very much lately. Have something new on your plate?”
Michael studied Clare’s face. Just another pretty young woman, like the many she’d conquered before she met Cameron.
“Maybe,” was her only comment.
“This the same one you spent that month in the States with?” Clare pushed to get more information.
Michael looked into her eyes. “What do you want?”
“You,” Clare stated bluntly. “Just thought you looked like you needed some company.” Clare hoisted herself up onto the stool next to Michael. “It’s just not right for someone like you to be alone on a Friday night.”
“Who said I was alone?” Michael asked. There were times that it just didn’t pay to come in here.
“Unless she’s transparent, I haven’t seen you with anyone tonight.” Clare wasn’t about to give up now. Mistress Michael was someone that every single woman in this bar, and many who weren’t single, wanted to get next to. Michael’s reputation as a player made her one of the most sought after dates in Montreal. Her reputation within the leather community, as a sadistic Mistress who loved bondage, was well known throughout the province.
Michael chuckled to herself as she shook her head. When had she slept with this young woman? Was it this past spring? Or before that? They all seemed to melt together after a while.
“And who are you with?” Michael asked, trying to get a handle on just who Clare was.
“No one. That’s why I came over.” Clare batted her eyes slightly, in order to let Michael know exactly why she was here.
“Can I get you something, Clare?” The bartender asked, coming to their place at the bar.
At Clare’s head shake, she nodded and smiled at Michael. It was a ruse that they’d used many times when Michael looked like she didn’t recognize who she was talking to. It saved a lot of questions and the bartender knew Michael tipped well for the information. Michael downed the rest of her drink.
Clare continued, completely oblivious to the ruse, “You look like you need something tonight. A back rub? A good lay? Don’t tell me you hadn’t thought of that,” Clare added. “You’re not going celibate on us, are you?”
Michael gave a short laugh. “Far from it,” she replied. “I’ve just been busy.”
“Too busy for sex?” Clare asked. Sometimes getting next to Michael took a lot of patience but the result was always worth it. “That doesn’t sound like the Mistress Michael everyone knows and loves.”
Everyone knows? Certainly. She’d had some interaction, usually sexual, with just about every woman in the community. But Michael kept her private life just that: private. She looked Clare over. Her lithe little body looked like she’d be a good diversion.
“Let’s get out of here,” Michael stated. She laid some money on the bar to pay for her drink and a good tip, then, stood up. Clare was always in awe of how tall and imposing Michael was. Without waiting to see what Clare would do, she walked out of the bar.
* * * *
Nick led Cam back down the stairs to the restaurant. Maurice and the woman who’d led Cam into the restroom last week were sitting at the bar talking. Maurice looked up as they walked up.
“Well, how did your conversation go?” he asked.
“I think we have a new partnership,” Nick announced.
“Partnership?” The woman turned toward them. “What kind of partnership?”
Nick chuckled and turned to introduce them.
“Cameron, I think you’ve met Sonya Hernandez.”
It suddenly dawned on her where she’d seen this woman before. It was in those pictures that Dickey had shown her.
“Yes,” Sonya said right away. “We spent some quality time together in the ladies’ room last week.” She reached out to shake Cam’s hand. Her grasp was firm. She held onto Cam’s hand just a few seconds longer than necessary.
“Right,” Cam replied, “but I didn’t get your name then.” She found herself looking into deep, dark brown eyes that bore through her like lasers. How could she have missed the warm smile or the depth in those eyes? Nor had she remembered the charm and seductive demeanor that this woman possessed. Where had her head been that night?
“I know we didn’t get to talk then, but I was very impressed by what you did for Talia. If you ever need any help with anything, just let Ralphie or me know and we’ll get you whatever you need.” Sonya’s voice was a smooth as butter.
“Thank you.” Cam couldn’t take her eyes off this woman, “I’m not sure I did that much.”
“Well, we think you did quite a lot. And so does everyone who was here that night.” She winked charmingly at Cam. She turned back to Nick. “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet,” was his response. “I was waiting for you. Cameron and I got tied up discussing details. She’s going to Jerry Stein’s party with me on Friday.”
Sonya’s eyebrows rose. “Looking as beautiful as you did last night?” she asked.
Cam was beginning to get embarrassed. It seemed that there were quite a lot of people who saw her there last night.
“I would have come over and talked to you at the banquet,” Sonya continued, “but you seemed to disappear.”
Cam nodded. “My date helped the paramedics. By the time we were done, it seemed silly to go back to the hotel.” She reached for the glass that Ralphie slid across the bar for her without being asked.
“Ah, then Mr. Tarelli is as helpful to people as you are?” Maurice asked. Cam was amazed that he’d remembered Pauly’s name. She’d have to remember that.
“Well, he has to be. He’s a police officer,” Cam stated bluntly.
“You’re dating a police officer?” Sonya sat back, shocked. “I thought you were keeping away from the police.”
“Paul’s been a good friend. We attended the academy together,” Cam explained. “He didn’t have a date for the banquet so he asked me.” Let them mull that through for a while.
“Well, you made a very attractive couple. It’s a shame that the incident in the lobby had to ruin your evening,” Maurice concluded.
Sonya looked up at Nick and Maurice. “Yes, that was a terrible tragedy. I understand that young man died. I’m always sorry when something like that happens.”
Both men nodded their agreement but neither commented further.
“I have to get back to my books,” Maurice said, excusing himself. “Have fun.”
Nick looked around the restaurant as Maurice left.
“I see the boys are here already. Let’s get some food.” he said to Sonya. “Join us for dinner,” he urged Cam. “The boys don’t bite when they’re fed regularly.”
Sonya laughed. “Yes, come meet some of the family,” she added. “You need to know more people in this part of town.”
As Sonya got up to go to the table, Nick whispered something in her ear that seemed to make her very pleased. Cam wondered what that was about. She followed Nick and Sonya to a large table at the center of the restaurant. Actually, it was two regular tables moved together. Three men were already chowing down on their food.
“This is Max, Alan, and Will.” Sonya gestured around the table as she slid into the chair next to Nick. The first two just nodded. When none of the three men extended their hands, Cam just pulled her chair closer to the table.
“I hear you just moved to this neighborhood,” Max mumbled through his food. “Ralphie and Maurice have been singing your praises about what you did for Talia.”
“That night was just luck. I was in the right place at the right time,” Cam smiled, humbly as she shook her head. “Luckily, I was able to do something.”
“I would have just killed them,” mumbled the man who sat next to her. This one was Will, if Cam remembered the names correctly. He was a big man, Cam observed. Not fat, just big. He could have been a lineman in the NFL. The others, Alan and Max, were smaller men. Not as small as Ralphie but Will made them look smaller. He made everyone look smaller.
“Yes. Very bravely keeping others safe.” Sonya’s statement cut through to Cam who looked down at the table, slightly embarrassed by the attention.
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” Alan asked.
“Around.” Cam side-stepped the real answer. “My last job required I know how to defend myself.”
“Cameron’s going to be working for me, so you’ll be seeing more of her,” Nick announced.
Will and Max nodded as they chewed their food.
“Excellent,” agreed Alan. “We need new blood in this place.”
“I agree,” Sonya chimed in. “I’m very happy Nick hired her. It will be fun.”
Cam looked over at her. Sonya smiled and winked back.