Runaway: Part Four

So what happened next?

What do you think happened next? I got what I paid for.

Was it worth it?

Was it worth $50? Shit! It was worth twice that much.

No, I mean, how was it? Was it everything you thought it would be?

What do you want details? Listen, I ain't the type to "kiss and tell" but
I'll tell you this, it isn't the fantasy it's cracked up to be, but it sure
it a Hell of a lot of fun and if I was presented with the same offer again,
I'd sure as Hell do it again.

Ok, well, anyway, what happened after you, uh, did your thing?

Well, I actually fell asleep with the two girls. I mean, after we were done
we all just kind of dropped off and were out the second we hit the pillow.
Never thought it would be that tiring.

Anyway, when I woke up, they weren't there and I started to panic. I mean,
I had heard about these types of things where rich travelers spend a night
with prostitutes and wake up with all their money gone. But when I finally
found my wallet in my pants, I saw that all of my money was still there including
the fifty I was supposed to pay them.

I began picking up all of my clothes and checking to make sure everything
was where it should be and sure enough, nothing was missing, even my watch
was on the floor by the nightstand.

But actually, that watch was kind of a realization in itself because I had
no clue what time it was and when I saw it was 12:30 in the afternoon, I
nearly freaked. I mean, we had had the curtains drawn tight and the alarm
clock was useless so the realization there was sunlight out there shocked
the Hell out of me.

Anyway, I didn't get to think about that long because someone started pounding
on the door as loud as they could. It was actually kind of funny though,
I was standing up trying to put my pants on when the banging started and
well, it startled the shit out of me and I ended up busting my ass on that
hard carpet.

Who was it at the door?

I'm getting there. Getting impatient on me? Anyway, I opened the door and
there was Little John staring back at me.

"Hey…" he said but he stopped himself as he got a good luck at me. "Hoooooly
shit man!" I must have looked like Hell because he then started laughing
his ass off in that Jolly Green Giant style he has and said, "It looks like
someone had a real good time!"

I couldn't help but chuckle a little myself before inviting him in. I took
a seat on the edge of the bed and he pulled up one of the chairs. Still not
fully awake I kind of slurred, "What brings you here?"

"Well, I'm here to talk about money," he said.

That woke me up real quick because everything clicked, I mean the meeting
at the restaurant, the bar, the hookers, everything. I'd set myself up for
a good old-fashioned shake-down. But I was too tired to fight him, I just
plopped back on the bed and groaned, "How much do you want? Take it, I don't
care anymore."

He took a long pause and said with a loud booming voice that I'm sure the
people in the next room could hear, "Dumbass, I'm not here to take your money,
I'm hear to help you earn it." I sat up like a shot in disbelief. "You did
pay the girls right?" he asked as an afterthought.

I scratched my head and looked around the room, "No, I uh, fell asleep and
they were gone when I woke up, all my money's still here."

He just looked at me in disbelief. "Well, shit, they must have liked you!
You are the man of the hour, that's all I have to say," he said smiling.
"But listen, just to be safe, why don't you hand me fifty and I'll give it
to them when I see them, alright?"

Did you pay?

Yeah, I did. I actually gave him sixty because all I had on me were twenties
and, well, it was still one hell of a deal. But anyway, he told me he'd buy
lunch and not to worry because I'd be making the money back quickly.

"Listen," he said, "I've been working the phones with my buddies in Charlotte.
One of them's got some work you can do. It's easy work, make deliveries and
crap like that, but I'll warn ya, it ain't exactly legal. You won't be gun
runnin' or anything, but you'll still be breaking the law. But take it from
me, the money's good on the wrong side of the law."

"I guess you would know, you are their pimp right?"

"Sort of, I mean, I ain't their owner or anything but I get paid if that's
what you're asking."

I leaned in a little, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, anything you want."

"How did a guy like you get into this business? I just have to know."

"Well, take a look at me," he said holding his arms out, "What do you think
a guy like me would do for a living?"

I looked him up and down real close, "I'd say a bouncer."

He slammed his hand down on the table, "Hot damn boy, you got a good eye.
You're going places with that intuition." I just kind of stared at him, "For
years I was a bouncer, I bounced at a 'gentleman's club' called 'Wyld Ladyes'.
It was a shithole, but I made a good living."

I didn't realize there were strip clubs in South Carolina.

Neither did I, that's why I said, "There are strip clubs here?"

"Let me tell you something about Greeneville. You're a stone's throw away
from Atlanta, even closer to Charlotte and not that far from Columbia, Charleston
and all of these other business cities. Now, a lot of these businessmen get
a hankering for a little action and don't want to crap in their own backyard,
so they make the drive to Greenville. We got more strip clubs, massage parlors
and escort services than cities twice our size and since no one in their
right mind comes here, there's no risk of being caught."

"I didn't know that," I said stunned.

"Trust me, you're not the first businessman to come to Greeneville for some
tail, but you're probably the first who isn't going home."

"Thanks, I feel special again," I said laughing, "but still, how'd you get
in it all?"

"Well, like I said, I bounced at that club and one day one of the regular
customers got a little too rough with one of the girls and, well, I took
him out back and taught him a lesson. The little shit bitched to the manager
about what I did and I was fired on the spot but the girls, who saw the whole
thing, wanted me to keep protecting them."

"And since some of them were turning tricks on the side," I interrupted,
"they took you own as their pimp."

"Yep, that's about it. But like I said, I don't own them or anything, I just
protect them. They do what they want and they can leave anytime."

"But they don't do they?" I asked.

"Nope, no one's left yet."

"Well, I wouldn't mess with you, that's for sure."

"Aw, you ain't gotta worry about that, I don't beat up my heroes."

Well, at about this point there was a real long pause as I tried to think
of what to say next. This is also when it occurred to me that I needed to
finish getting dressed and getting my stuff together so I could leave.

But just as I was putting on my shoes, Little John spoke up again, "Any thought
on my offer?" he said.

"The one in Charlotte?"

"That's the one."

"Can't you tell me anything else about it?"

"Not really, don't know much. This guy's the silent type you know? But knowing
him, it probably involves either drugs or homemade whiskey. Either way, nothing
too serious."

"How much does it pay?" I asked.

He kind of rolled his head back like he was thinking real hard, "I don't
know. Usually it's a percentage thing, like 10% of the sale, but don't worry,
you'll be making enough. I mean, listen, the worst thing that can happen
is you say yes, go up there, talk with him and decide you don't want it.
You got nothin' to lose? You're already in deep shit as far as I can tell."

Something about that really clicked with me, I just stood up and shook his
hand, "You have a deal then."

He just started smiling real big and said, "Listen, go on up 85 until you
hit Charlotte, there, find a bar called the Red Wolf. I have no idea where
it is so just ask someone. When you get there, ask to speak to Stan, just
tell them I sent you and everything should be A-Ok."

So you decided to be come a runner?

Yep. I just chuckled at him and said, "I can't believe I'm dropping your
name twice."

He got up, slapped me on the back and said, "Well, it's a good name to drop
my boy, it's a damn good name to drop." and before I knew it I was on the
road again, on my way to Charlotte.