Thirteen
Tuesday, September 2nd
Poisonous sat in the burger joint, waiting on Phoebe to arrive with two new recruits.
She decided to order some of the food on the menu. The food was actually not too bad, if they cooked it correctly, which for her meant, very rare; almost bleeding. A few raised eyebrows followed her orders, especially since she wanted extra onions, garlic and loads of jalapeños put on her hamburger. She also demanded some very spicy hot sauce for her fries. Her order raised the server’s eyebrows, but she said, “That’s the way I like my food: did you have a problem with that?”
That, followed by a cold, threatening stare led the server to respond, “No, ma’am. Your order will be ready shortly.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze remained fixed on the server even as he walked away. He seemed fearful enough, so she didn’t use her persuasive mind control to get her way.
Her order arrived a few moments thereafter, and she wolfed down the burger and fries like a ravenous predator. As she finished and wiped her mouth, Phoebe and two young women approached, and sat down.
Sniffing, Phoebe said, “You must like your food spicy: I can smell the hot pepper sauce.”
Although she didn’t appreciate another questioning her eating habits, she chose the more productive road, and moved the subject to the business at hand.
“Yes, well, as they say in French, ‘à chacun, son goût.’ Feel free to order something for yourselves if you’re hungry; I don’t mind.”
“Thanks, but first I’d like to introduce you to two more interested parties: Chloe and Sherry.”
“Hello, ladies; nice to meet you. I trust you will enjoy working for me. As Phoebe has probably told you, my business is very fulfilling, both monetarily, and relationally. I hope you find it as interesting as I do.”
“We’re excited to start,” said Chloe. “This sounds so much better than what we’ve done all this time.”
“Yes,” chimed in Sherry, “I can’t wait to start. It sounds like I’ll get paid for flirting: how fun is that?”
“Well, do a good job, and you will find in pleasurable and lucrative, ladies.”
* * *
Saturday, September 6th
Poisonous sat across from Roger, enjoying an evening out at a very fancy, and equally as expensive, restaurant. Nestled in an upscale shopping center in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, the glass façade shone, and the valet service did the same—for about twenty five dollars. She had even told Roger she would pay, because she was in such a good mood. The service and the food were impeccable, and the server doted on them every chance he got, each time they looked in his direction.
“Roger, this is just wonderful. I’m very happy with the way things are going in my business ventures. All of them are humming along.” The expensive wine, costing about two-hundred fifty dollars a bottle, glided down her throat, leaving a comfortable, warm sensation as it travelled along. “Why, I’m even teaching young ladies to learn to work for the ‘hunt,’ as it were, but unlike me, they get paid for it.”
‘Oh really?” Roger said. “If you’re teaching them to be huntresses, the thrill of the hunt should be enough, wouldn’t you think?”
“With me, yes: that would be true; but with the girls, who were once street walkers, it’s a business—and a step up from their previous employment. Of course, since I run it, it’s a high class business. Each girl has the potential to earn almost twenty-five hundred a night.”
“Wow,” Roger exclaimed. “Now that’s what I call high class.”
“Yes, of course, sweetie. My business is nothing but the best, and I earn twenty percent of the profits.”
“I’m impressed,” he said.
Dinner finished, she and Roger had ‘dessert’ at his townhouse.
After a couple of hours had passed, she got up from the bed, and slipped her outfit back on.
“Well, sweetie, it’s time for this girl to head on home. All that good food and wine makes me a little sleepy.”
“Well, I hate to see you go, but as you frequently say, ‘delayed gratification.’”
“Exactly. Must keep you wanting, you know?”
“Oh, I’m well aware.”
“Until next time, sweetie.”
Not wishing to have to walk in her human body at this time of night, nor flying as Poisonous, under the influence of fine wine and good food. In her sated, but drowsy state, she hailed a TNC cab, and headed back to the District. Ten minutes later, her cell phone sounded an alert alarm. The message flashed on the top of her screen. It was from Sherry. All it said was
Help!
Strong trouble underlay the message. Something had gone awry in Sherry’s ‘date’ so she needed to act fast. They reached an intersection, and she told the driver to stop.
“But we haven’t reached your destination.”
“Look. I’ve got to attend to an emergency.” She dug into her purse, pulled out fifty dollars, and said, “Here: this should make it worth your while. Now I must get out.”
At the corner, she pulled out her phone again, and sent Sherry a message:
Help!
I’ll be there in a few seconds. Try not to panic.
Perri.
Adrenaline pumping, Poisonous’ senses were now on high alert. The drowsiness left her as Poisonous changed to her natural self and followed Sherry’s scent, which, by now, she was familiar with. The District lay below her, and the scent became stronger as she approached a very high-scale hotel owned by a wealthy business tycoon on Pennsylvania Avenue. She didn’t bother going in the front door, as she needed to make haste. Sherry could be in serious trouble. Sherry’s scent led her to the one of the Presidential Suites, so she flew into an empty bathroom, and changed back to Perri.
She walked into the living room, where she saw what appeared to be a wealthy man accompanied by two of
