“At Club Six?”
“The same. Carmine talks about you all the time. I want to meet you and find out why.”
Gwen laughs. “You’re ambitious.”
“You have no idea.”
“I’ll make this easy. You know the Starbucks on Emerson and Valley View?”
“No, but I’ll find it.”
“Find it quick. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“How will I know you?”
Gwen laughs. “You’ll know me!” She pauses, then says. “And I’ll know you, too.”
Gwen was right. When she enters the coffee shop twenty minutes later, a pretty young woman stands.
Gwen walks to her table and says, “Willow?”
“Hi, Gwen.”
She sits down, motions Gwen to do the same.
“You have something for me?” Gwen says.
Willow removes an envelope from her handbag, pushes it across the table.
“Please,” she says. “Have a seat.”
Gwen sits, picks up the envelope, lifts the flap, smiles.
“You’re certainly one of a kind!” she says.
“Thank you.”
Gwen looks at her watch. “Your ten minutes starts…right now. What do you want to know?”
“Let’s start with Roy.”
“What about him?”
“Is he capable of bringing down Carmine?”
“With the right backing.”
“Then why hasn’t he?”
Gwen starts to answer, then pauses. She looks around the room, carefully studying the customers. Finally she says, “Are you wearing a wire?”
“No, of course not!”
Gwen studies her a minute, then says, “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Rest room.”
“Why?”
“If you’re planning to ask me mob shit, you’ll have to prove you’re not wearing a wire.”
“Wait. You don’t mean-”
Gwen laughs. “That’s
26.
“WELL, THIS IS embarrassing,” Willow says, as she lowers her panties to mid-thigh and turns in a circle.
“Oh please,” Gwen says. “You’re a stripper. Now bend over and spread your cheeks.”
“Really, Gwen? Because I think not.”
Gwen laughs. “I just wanted to see how far you’d go.”
They’re standing in the middle of the restroom at Starbucks. Willow, buck naked, save for the panties at her thighs.
“Can I get dressed now? Because I won’t know what to say if some random customer walks in here with a little girl.”
“Relax. It’s nine-thirty at night.” Gwen turns on both faucets and lets them run. She motions Willow to come closer. Then whispers, “If you want to ask me about the mob, do it now.”
“Why hasn’t Roy tried to take over the business from Carmine?”
“Have you ever heard of a guy named Donovan Creed?”
“No.”
“He’s a hit man for the mob. From what I hear, Roy was about to make a move on Carmine. The night before, Creed showed up in the club and saw Roy disrespecting Carmine. He gave him a lecture about it, and crushed Roy’s hand to show he’s serious. That one action saved Carmine’s life.”
“Who was helping Roy take Carmine’s down?”
“I don’t know. Why do you care?”
“I want to bet on the right horse.”
“And here I thought you wanted to talk me into coming back to the Top Six!”
“I do. But not as a stripper.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I want you to take over Roy’s job.”
“
“You’re a legend in the business, and Carmine loves you. I think he’d pay you a hundred grand to run the girls. Who could possibly handle the girls better than a former stripper?”
“True. But Carmine doesn’t have the guts, or the power to fire Roy.”
“I’ll take care of Roy.”
“How?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“You?”
“Uh huh.”
“Personally?”
“I’d prefer to pay someone else to do it, but I’ll do it if I have to.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure yet. But I’ll find a way to make it happen.”
Gwen shakes her head in disbelief. Willow’s obviously crazy. But there’s something about her that fosters confidence.
After a moment of silence, Gwen says “I might know someone.”
“Your girlfriend?”
Gwen says, “Carmine told you about Callie?”
“You’d be amazed how much information I can extract from a single blow job.”
“Eew! Sorry, but…
Willow laughs. “I know, I know.”
“Jesus, Willow. He’s what, seventy-five?”
“Try seventy-eight.”
“Eew.”
“It’s not that bad. You’ve just got to get your head in the game. No pun intended.”
“I couldn’t make myself do it. I’d gag and retch. You know those disgusting things they make you eat on Survivor?”
“Yeah?”
“It would be like that.”
Willow laughs. “Well, I’m certainly no expert on dicks. But in my limited experience they all taste pretty much the same. Blindfolded, I wouldn’t be able to distinguish between Brad Pitt and the Three Stooges.”
“No offense, but you sound pretty experienced to me.”
“I’ve blown a total of four guys if you include Carmine and my step-father.”
“Omigod! Your step-father?”
