It's amazing how some opportunities present themselves when you are least expecting them.
Sitting at the traffic lights I felt the impact as the car hit my own from behind, it can't have been travelling fast because I barely rolled forward. The sound of the crash always appears worse than reality but as I slipped off my seat belt and opened the driver's door to the Taxi I was still expecting the worst. This car was my fucking livelihood I could barely afford for it to be damaged let alone in worst case scenario it be off the road for any length of time.
Just about ready to launch into a foul mouthed tirade I looked up and noticed the other driver by the orange glow of the street lamps. Late teens, early twenties, her jet black hair was cut to just above the shoulders. She was of slim build but with ample sized breasts, her long legs had her at a height of around 5 and a half foot.
In honesty It was what she wore that I noticed more as I scanned my eyes over the very minimal impact of the accident to the front of her dark coloured C-Class Mercedes; It was just a hunch but I was guessing she wasn't technically the owner of the vehicle. Her long legs were accentuated by hgh heeled black knee length leather boots, fish net tights and a short pleated red, black and white tartan mini skirt. Her toned midriff and cleavage exposed by a tight fitting black top that was covered by a short style black denim jacket, she also appeared to be wearing some kind of fish net gloves over her hands.
Her face was heavily made up with bright red lipstick and dark eye makeup, whilst visually impressive she seemed ill at ease at not accustomed to this fashion, there was something was too unworn and new about her look. Something that made her uncomfortable in her appearance.
As I knelt and surveyed the crack to the rear bumper of my car and the broken light on the driver side rear she spoke and her voice seemed to also immediately betray her appearance, her accent slightly too upper-class for her vampish appearance.
"Oh my God," She said, hand to her mouth in shock. "I didn't see you...I mean I couldn't stop... I... I... and I just ...oh my God what can... what can I do?"
"Calm down" I replied as I opened the car boot and took out a torch. "Let's assess the damage before we decide what to do."
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Jenny."
"Where you from Jenny?"
"I... I live on Grove Court Lane."
I knew the area, affluent city workers houses, large 5 to 6 bedrooms with a double garage and most likely a pool, a leafy avenue lined with half a million pound properties at a minimum, looking at the damage I guessed it wouldn't be too much money to put right. Insurance would cover this, I was pissed off but confident she could afford the repairs and would be suitably insured.
"My Mum's Car, what have I done...what have I done... Oh holy shit I'm going to be ducking late as well."
I stepped toward her putting a hand on her shoulder, she was shaking, "Listen the damage doesn't appear too bad. Couple of hundred pounds on the insurance and a paint job for your car, they make them sturdy these days and you didn't hit me too hard"
"Insurance," Jenny bleated. "It's not my car ... it's my Mum's... it's my Mums car. I haven't even got a license." Tears welled in her eyes.
Shit, no insurance no license this was gonna get difficult, the look on my face must have said it all. Jenny looked up at me from the heavily made up eyes as she put on what I presume was her best innocent little girl act.
"I can get you money... Please anything, name a price... we can go to a cash point."
I was right but it was then that I caught her breath in my nostrils, the unmistakeable smell of vodka on her breath. I stared deep into her eyes before pushed my face forward close to hers, she stepped away, back towards her car.
"Have you been drinking?"
"NO!" She retorted immediately edging closer to her open car door, it wasn't late around 9:30 but there was little other traffic around. I pulled her aside; she stumbled in her heeled boots. Leaning in through the driver's door of her mother's Mercedes I spot on the passenger seat a half empty bottle of Smirnoff Vodka.
Grabbing it I hold it to her face, she looks worried from below her straight dark fringe, "Then what's this?" I demanded.
"I...I don't know...it... it must have fallen out of the shopping earlier."
"And got your Lip Stick around the neck of the bottle?"
I again thrust the bottle at her "You're in the shit my dear... drunk driving... no licence... no insurance... give me one good reason not to call the police right here, right now."
I could think of a good reason but needed her to play into my hands. Now extremely emotional and increasingly frantic I watch her a tear runs down her left cheek.
"Please, please don't...please don't call the Police.. it's... it's like I said I can get you money...let me call my Dad, reaching into her jacket pocket she fished out a mobile. "I can get you money... anything."
I snatched the mobile. "You're not calling anyone, you stupid fucking... do you even comprehend know how much shit you are in?"
My blood was boiling that this little rich girl honestly thought she could buy her way out of trouble.
"That car is my livelihood, my income." I over exaggerated. "Now it's trashed by some drunk little rich bitch dressed like trash on a night out... money is not the question here or the answer... Your lot, the spoilt brats you seem to think money solves everything."
"What...what...what can I do?" She mumbled her voice breaking after my verbal attack. Still stood there hands on hips in a confrontational stance that in itself riles me enormously. I'm staring at her now, and her impressive frame, I scan my eyes up from her boots. Pausing to take in her breasts heaving in her tight top as she took heavy frustrated breaths. Moments later I find myself staring into her pale wet eyes, mascara beginning to show signs of running.
"I'm in trouble what do you want me to do?" she pleads.
I knew exactly what I wanted her to do, would she do it was the question. My pulse raced I leaned in closer and this time she doesn't back away as I lower my head to her shoulder and whispered in her ear; issuing my instructions.
"You get in your car, drive around the corner where there's a Car Park. You park up. I'll follow you. Then you get in the back seat of my Cab and we'll discuss the rest on route."
I raised a finger to her mouth smudging her heavy lipstick slightly, I lifted the mobile and dialled two 9's.
"If you don't like my suggestion there's an easy answer... I think you know what's occurring here and how you'll have to repay me."
She attempted to speak but perhaps in fear, perhaps in astonishment at what she was being asked she floundered and for the first time in the last 5 minutes words escaped her.
"By the way I have your number plate and your Mobile... So if you even think about pulling any stunts I'll call in a Hit and Run... bring the Vodka if you want" I slung the bottle back in through the open drivers door on to the seat. "You may need it"
Calmly I turned, not looking back as I climbed into my car and closed the door on her. She stood there for several moments simply shaking her head as I watched her in the driver's side door mirror. Eventually she climbed into her Mother's Car started the engine and gently pulled away from the curb, the drink was hardly impairing her. I ticked over my engine and followed as she set off from the traffic lights.
The Car Park was clearly signposted to be 200yrds away. Would she pull in? Would she flee? Her left side indicator flashed on and she turned left into the empty Car Park.
As her mother's Mercedes pulled into an abandoned space I pulled up some distance behind her and put my lights on full beam to illuminate the whole area, I figured she could still make a run for it, although with the heel those knee boots probably not that fast.
I rung option 5 on my speed dial, the call was answered in 2 rings. That's top class customer service.
"High View, what you need?" Came a gruff abrupt voice over the line, shattering the illusion immediately
"I need a special," I replied "Gonna have a lovely little creature with me."
"Well, we're a little busy I can't promise the Penthouse"
"This bitch could do with slumming it anyway, make sure the welcome basket is in the room ...I'll be there in 15."
"Okey Dokey...usual commission."
"As ever," I replied, ending the conversation.
I looked up just as Jenny opened the driver's door and stepped out. As her first long leg extended into the Car Park I could see that in an enhancement to her stunning knee boots those fish nets were stockings after all. I gripped the steering wheel as she approached. Clutching the bottle of Vodka in her right hand her head was down to avoid the bright lights and eye contact, she had a natural sway that appeared emphasised in those killer boots. As she passed my door I could hear the click clack of her heels on the tarmac ground.
The back passenger door opened and she slid in to the seat over my left hand shoulder, crossing her legs to reveal another glimpse of stocking top. I set the doors and windows to auto lock trapping her effectively for the time being. A Perspex shield preventing her from getting to me as it had so many drunks on a Friday night before.
Exiting the Car Park we drove in silence for several miles, looking to all intents like a taxi with a fare. Glancing back I could see the concern on her face as we passed out of town Take Aways and Pubs before leaving the Town Centre and heading towards the suburbs, this was a rougher out of town district than the one she was accustomed to.
I clicked on the intercom and switched on the light in the cab.
"Where were you going tonight Jenny?"
She turned her head away, pulling her unnaturally straight black hair as best she could across her face and staring out the window.