Ch. VI: A Night in the Slammer
The whole day did not go the way I had hoped it would. There I was down at the Police Station trying to explain to two block headed cops my connection to of the most recent victims of murder, who just happened to be connected to a case I was working on. I had lost track of time by now and I was feeling rather seedy at this point. I needed food, a shower, and a drink if I could get one. I also needed a good answer, one that these dunderheads would buy until I could get in touch with my client, who conveniently dropped off the face of the earth. This case could bring in big bucks if I solved it, I had no doubt that I could solve it. I was close to an answer. That's why I was here in interrogation.
It started about a week ago, I had it figured to be an open and shut case, from the moment my new clients walked into my office, but the case took on the air of an old Bogart Movie gone bad. People started to drop like flies. I was surprised it took the cops this long to get to me.
My new clients were shown in by my secretary Ms. Flemming. The man who entered first filled the doorway. This guy was big. "Mr. Beckett I presume." The giant stuck out his paw we shook hands. "My name is Boggs, sir, Philo Boggs " He introduced his partner as "my associate Mr. Wong" His smaller partner bowed. I thought it funny, the guy didn't look oriental or like Peter Lori. Mr. Bogs sat on the only seat that would hold him my couch. "We would like to hire you sir." Said Mr. Boggs. "We will pay you well for your time. Isn't that right Mr.Wong?"
Before I could tell Mr. Boggs what my rates were he said. "We are willing to pay you $50,000 for this little job." I laughed and said "Who do I have to kill for that kind of money?" Mr. Boggs replied that no one was to be killed. There was to be an additional $20,000 upon completion of the transaction. "We are in the market for a very special "package" Mr. Beckett, and we are willing to pay a substantial sum for it's delivery." Well, if they wanted to pay that kind of money I wouldn't turn it down. "Doesn't your friend speak?" I asked. Mr. Boggs replied "Only when he has something to say."
Now, it was down to business. Boggs told me that there was a "package" that would be needed and exchanged for the one that he was to receive. Before I could say that there might be some initial expense, Boggs put $4,000 down on my desk. I almost had a heart attack. I wrote out a receipt and gave it to Mr. Boggs, who in turn gave it to Mr. Wong. "You will receive instructions by the end of the day Mr. Beckett, just follow it to the letter if you would." I watched as Boggs rose from my couch and he and Wong left with out saying anything more.
As soon as the dynamic duo left my office, I went to find Ms. Flemming. A note on her desk told me that she had gone to lunch. I left her a note about the money and left myself to get some lunch.
When I returned from lunch Ms. Flemming handed me an envelope and in it was a check for $ 50,000 and instructions that I had to follow. I told my secretary to get the check into the bank quickly. I told Ms. Flemming that I was off on business, and should be back by 5 PM.
I left my office and went straight to the address given in the instructions. I knocked on the door as instructed and when the door opened, there stood one of the biggest women I had ever seen.
She had to be close to 7' tall. "You must be Mr. Beckett" Was her greeting. I told her that I was.
"Call me Red." I could see why. Flame Red Hair. "Ok, Red, What do I do next?" I said.
She told me to follow her and I did as I was told. I figured she could break me in two. Red led me to a sitting room and told me to wait. While I waited , I could see flashes of naked flesh in the hallway. I realized then where I was. I was in "Red's Famous Whore House & Emporium." I wondered what her charges were. Before I thought more on it, Red returned and she was not alone. Red had returned with a woman who had to be older than dirt. Red made no introduction,
she simply told me to follow the old woman. I thought this is a lot of effort for a "package".