Baby Brother's Blues (14 page)

24

L
ee couldn’t have been in a better mood. Her meeting with Precious had gone exactly as she’d hoped it would. The possibility of an innovative partnership with the new mayoral front-runner pleased the police-department brass and further burnished Lee’s growing reputation as someone who could get things done. Add to that the bonus of having a chance to rub Bob Watson’s nose in his recent political disaster and, to Lee’s way of thinking, you had the makings of a perfect evening. She was looking forward to some spirited verbal jousting and then some equally spirited sex. The fact that she was planning to cut Bob loose soon didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy what she knew would be one of their last few times together.

Driving slowly up the long, winding driveway to Bob’s house, she wondered what Marian Watson would say if she knew that while she was away for a week at the most recent in a long line of spas she visited in search of the skin she’d had at twenty-one, her house was going to be the scene of her husband’s infidelity one more time. Lee didn’t care. She felt no loyalty to Marian and enjoyed the times she and Bob had the house to themselves. Her only concession was to refuse sex in the master bedroom. That was going too far.

She pulled around to the back of the house, cut the lights, and got out, smoothing her skirt over her hips. Lee had made Bob wait a year before she had sex with him. He’d raised the possibility almost immediately and she turned him down flat, saying she had no interest in being just another of the girls Bob Watson
used to fuck.

“It’s a very exclusive club,” he had teased, gliding past his disappointment. “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”

He wasn’t sure exactly what made her change her mind. She wasn’t sure either. Maybe it was just a moment when her curiosity got the better of her. They had dinner at her place one night to handle some business transactions, and after they had coffee, she put down her cup and asked him if he was still interested in having sex with her. He said
absolutely
and put down his cup, too. To their mutual surprise and satisfaction, they were good together. Bob was in his midfifties and she had expected one of those endless Viagra erections, but Bob was the real thing.

After that, they had sex regularly without the need to pretend they were in love or wanted to be. In fact, their relationship remained primarily that of co-conspirators and business partners. The sex was simply an unexpected bonus, but tonight Bob wasn’t holding up his end of the bargain. His invitation had been explicitly sexual, but when she arrived, sex was the last thing on his mind. He was watching the eleven o’clock news and fussing. Standing in the beautiful living room of his perfectly designed, tastefully appointed house, sipping hundred-year-old brandy from an oversize crystal snifter, he was not happy.

“I despise that woman,” Bob said, frowning as Precious Hargrove conducted another interview about her political future on his wall-size, flat-screen, high-definition television.

The interview was just a short feature on the local news and Lee was surprised at the vehemence of Bob’s response. In past conversations in which Precious’s name came up, he had been at most mildly irritated. This aggressive dislike was new. Maybe because a Hargrove candidacy suddenly had a lot more currency since Bob’s choice, the former front-runner, had just been forced to withdraw on charges of massive corruption. In supporting the guy against Lee’s advice, Bob had put his eggs in the wrong basket, and he knew it. Lee knew it, too.

“Despise her?” Lee sat down on the couch and hoped this mood was temporary. “Why?”

“She’s bad for business,” he snapped, like the answer was almost too obvious to suffer the question.

“Then why do you always give money to her campaigns and causes?”

“Because that’s how Atlanta works,” he snapped. “Haven’t I taught you anything at all? We’re both power players. I don’t have to like her and she doesn’t have to like me. All I have to do is give her money and all she has to do is return my call personally.”

“What call?”

“
Whatever call I make!
All the money I’ve coughed up for her lousy state-senate campaigns and statewide voter education drives buys me a personal callback from the lady herself. It may not be worth much now, but who knows?” He groaned suddenly. “Jesus! Listen to me! I’ve already elected her just like they have! What are you drinking?”

“Perrier.” Lee watched Bob pour the warm sparkling water into a glass without asking if she wanted ice or a wedge of lime. He handed her the glass and sat back down beside her as she took a sip of the tepid liquid. “The chamber of commerce doesn’t seem to think she’s bad for business.”

“Are you talking about that quote in the paper this morning about how pleased they were that she was considering getting in the race?” Bob snorted with disgust. “That bunch of hicks and boosters! They wouldn’t know a good deal if it bit them in the ass!”

He took a big swallow of his cognac and sighed. “I’ve had eight long years of this damn do-gooder drought. Mayor Franklin’s so clean she practically squeaks when she walks. Now here comes Senator Hargrove, another Girl Scout. You can’t even do business in this town anymore since the
bitches
took over.”

Lee kicked off her heels and tucked her feet beneath her. His frustration amused her. “Maybe you just don’t know how to talk to women.”

“I do all right with you,” he said, glancing over at her long, shapely legs and seeming to see her for the first time that night.

“Yeah,” Lee said, “but I have a vested interest.”

He touched her knee lightly. “What kind of vested interest?”

“I need you to help me get what I want.”

He fell back, feigning shock and disappointment. “You mean you’re using me?”

“Don’t think of it like that.” She grinned at him. “What are a few faked orgasms in the wider scheme of things?”

Bob winced. “Now you’re just being cruel.”

“Sorry.”

Taking another swallow of his drink, he tried to let it go, but he was still annoyed at the sudden change in his political fortunes. “It’s just that I’ve been here when the mayor didn’t do business, like now, and I’ve been here when the mayor knew what time it was, and trust me, there’s a difference.”

“You’re doing all right.”

He frowned at her. “I have no interest in doing
all right.
”

“Stop worrying.” She wondered what he would say if he knew she had already met with Precious and offered support.

“I always worry. That’s why I’m rich.”

“Well, what do you propose?”

“I need to find another viable candidate who can beat Precious Hargrove.”

Lee raised her eyebrows. “Who did you have in mind?”

“There are other candidates in the race besides that fool who’s on his way to the pen. Maybe one of them will step up.”

“They’re a sorry bunch of party hacks and clueless community activists and you know it,” Lee said. “They couldn’t beat Precious Hargrove if the election was five years away. If that’s your plan, you need a better one.”

He stood up and paced around the room. “Okay, you’re right. None of them could beat her now, but what if her image got tarnished somehow?”

“Like how?”

“I don’t know. What if she had a lover?”

“She’s not married.”

“How about a lesbian lover?” Bob looked hopeful.

“That’s not really an issue anymore, remember?”

She wondered if he had forgotten that an openly gay woman had already been elected president of the Atlanta City Council.

“All right, then,” he said, still pacing. “What about her relationship with Hamilton?”

“Blue Hamilton? How do you see that as a liability? He’s as close as this town’s got to Robin Hood. People love him.”

“People loved Al Capone, too.”

“But he couldn’t sing and make your toes curl up.”

“Spare me your sexual fantasies.” Bob sneered.

“I’ll remember you said that, but if Blue Hamilton is her only liability, you’re
fucked.
”

“No,
we’re
fucked.”

“Speak for yourself,” Lee said pleasantly. “You’re the one who needs a new candidate.”

“Last time I checked, you did, too.”

“I’ve got one.”

“Who?”

“Precious Hargrove, of course. I had an appointment with her today to talk about the peace precinct.”

Bob was taken aback. First, because he had been scornful of the whole idea, taking the insane position that any woman who allowed herself to be abused deserved whatever she got. Second, because he didn’t like surprises. “When were you going to tell me?”

“I’m telling you now.”

“I see. Did you use the opportunity to kiss a little ass?”

Lee ignored that. “All I know is, she’s going to be the mayor as sure as we’re sitting here. If I play it right, I’ll be a serious contender for the chief’s spot.”

“There’s lots of guys ahead of you in line, remember?”

“Never underestimate the power of the sisterhood,” she said, draining her glass.

He stared at her, then smiled slowly. “I admire your foresight, Captain Kilgore.”

Men were forever underestimating her. Bob was no different. “Thank you.”

“She’s still bad for business,” he said, touching her knee again, mollified now by the fact that Lee was already on the case. Maybe this cloud could still have a silver lining.

“Depends on what business you’re in.”

He ran his finger under the edge of her hem. “And what business are you in?”

“My own business.” She didn’t lean toward him, but she didn’t move away.

“Still don’t trust me, huh?”

“Never did, never will.”

“I thought women couldn’t love a man they didn’t trust.”

“Who said anything about love? Weren’t we talking about business?”

“Just checking.” He grinned, reaching over slowly to run his fingers lightly over the slippery silk of her blouse. “Where’s your cop uniform?”

“In the trunk of my car.”

“Go get it.”

“Fuck you.”

“Exactly.”

25

G
eneral had been in Montre’s for the last four nights. He didn’t even pretend to be doing business anymore. He was coming to see Brandi and they both knew it. With Blue down at Tybee again, General could set his own schedule, and for now, that schedule revolved around Brandi. Sometimes she’d dance for him. Sometimes he’d pay her just to have a drink. Sometimes he’d make arrangements to see her later. He always had money and he always gave her more than she expected. She rewarded him by being available whenever and wherever and by enthusiastically sharing her full repertoire of sexual tricks and treats with him.

Tonight, she saw him come in just as she was finishing up her pole routine. The stage was covered with dollar bills and two guys down front were on their feet throwing fives as she grabbed the pole, turned herself upside down, and shook herself silly in her trademark big finish. Her legs were open as wide as she could spread them. Her breasts were jiggling wildly and her butt was bouncing so fast it looked like it had a life of its own.

“Goddamn, girl, you shake that thing!” somebody shouted as she slid slowly to the floor, scooped up her money, and strutted off the stage to enthusiastic applause from the house.

She could have sold ten lap dances right then, but she acted like she didn’t even see the men waving fives and even a few tens in her direction. She was headed for General’s table. She got close enough for him to smell the sweat running off of her body and then stopped as if she’d just spotted him for the first time.

“Hey, baby! When you get here?”

“Just walked in,” he said.

He caught a whiff of the musty-sweet odor of her sex wafting toward him. Stronger than the smell of cheap liquor and menthol cigarettes, it was primal and earthy and oblivious to the strange environment Brandi had found to exploit its magic.

“Want me to dance for you, baby?”

General looked at her and felt a slight stirring in his crotch. He would have loved a lap dance, but this girl was so fine she could make you come in your drawers like a fifteen-year-old kid in a whorehouse and he had a reputation to think about.

“No, I don’t need a dance,” he said. “Why don’t you sit down and have that fool you work for bring me a bottle of real champagne?”

She looked around for Johnny, raised her hand, and pointed at General. He would know what that meant.

“Let me run to the little girls’ room, baby. If I don’t pee, you gonna get a show you ain’t payin’ for!”

He laughed and watched her walking quickly to the restroom. He wasn’t naïve enough to think she loved him any more than a prostitute always loves a steady trick, but sometimes when she gasped and rocked her hips against him
just so,
he thought she might have loved him if their circumstances had been different. But they weren’t, he always reminded himself. The best they could expect was an honest exchange where he got off thinking about Juanita, Brandi got paid, and everybody went home happy.

Knowing it would sound crazy if he tried to explain it to anyone, he didn’t bother, but he felt closest to the essence of Juanita when he was having sex with Brandi. Maybe it was because when they were having sex, she didn’t talk so much, except to ask him what he wanted or tell him how good it felt when they did all the things they did. And they did everything. Some stuff he asked for and some stuff he’d only dreamed about or seen in porno movies. If Juanita truly had ordered Brandi up from the great beyond, she must have specified the top of their sexual line, General thought, smiling to himself.

Johnny suddenly appeared beside him with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. “Hey, my brother. How’s it goin’?”

“It’s goin’,” General said, leaving no opening for further conversation. Johnny opened the champagne, but didn’t pour it, and eased nervously away.

General didn’t like Johnny. The sooner Brandi got out of this place and into something better, the happier he’d be, General thought as she came out of the ladies’ room and sauntered back to his table. The eyes of the hardworking men in Montre’s watched her with a deep realization that she was out of their league.

“That’s better,” she said, sitting down across from him. “I thought I was gonna bust!”

“How you doin’?” He poured them each a glass of champagne.

“It’s all good.” Brandi sipped the champagne like she was on a date instead of at work. “Except that fool Johnny want to start advertisin’ me.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, flyers and stuff with my picture on it to bring more customers in.”

General frowned. “What did you say?”

“What you think I said, baby? I said, ‘Hey, fool, I’m flyin’ under radar here, remember?’ ” She took another tiny sip of champagne. She’d have to dance again in a few minutes and she didn’t want to get bloated.

“You want me to talk to him?”

General’s voice was quiet, neutral, but Brandi knew exactly what the question meant and she appreciated it. It never hurt for a girl to have a sponsor to look out for her interests.

“No, baby.” She smiled at him. “Johnny’s just trippin’. I can handle my business. You know that.”

“Don’t let it be a problem, you hear?”

“I won’t.” Brandi put down her glass. “You sure you don’t want me to dance for you? I’m feelin’ good, baby.”

He smiled slowly at her. “I want you to do a lot more than that. How soon can you get off?”

“You tell me.”

He glanced at his watch. “An hour? My place?”

He stood up and pressed a folded hundred-dollar bill into her hand.

“I haven’t done anything yet!” She grinned.

“Don’t you worry,” he said, heading for the door. “I fully expect to get my money’s worth before this night is over.”