Slipping Into Darkness by Maxine Thompson

ago. Yeah, that’s right. He hasn’t been by here in about three days.”
    â€œIs that normal?”
    â€œGenerally, he comes through on the weekend, checking on things. Picking up money. Overseeing payroll. I have some business to talk to him about.”
    â€œHave you heard from him?” I paused. I really didn’t expect him to tell the truth.
    â€œNo. Why?”
    I thought about it. If G-Man was involved, if he’d sold Mayhem out, there was no sense in asking for his support. I would deal with him later. I didn’t answer. I flashed the picture on my cell phone. “Have you seen someone with a tattoo like this?”
    â€œThere’re a lot like that. They’re part of a gang sign. Sort of like the medical sign. A snake wrapped around a pole.”
    â€œDo you know any of the patrons who might have one?”
    â€œBonzo has one like that.”
    â€œWho is Bonzo?
    â€œHe hangs around here and one of your brother’s massage parlors, Soft Touch. He comes through here a lot.”
    â€œIs he here tonight?”
    â€œI saw him earlier, but it’s crowded now, so I don’t see him.”
    â€œWhat does he look like?”
    â€œMexican.” He stretched his hand out flat, perpendicular to his chest. “He’s about yay high. Wears a ponytail. Kind of medium height.”
    â€œHow about the lead dancer? Can I talk to her?”
    â€œOh, our bottom bitch?”
    I looked at him, throwing him some shade, and smirked. He got my drift that I didn’t care for him disrespecting women. I guess he saw my distaste for the word and he corrected himself. “Yes, that’s Chutney. That’s her performing now, but you can talk to her when she gets through.”
    The current dance was performed by a svelte woman on stage dressed in a gold and white sheer Cleopatra outfit. She wore a shoulder-length wig with bangs, accompanied by dark eye kohl. She did a slow strip tease down to a pearl belted chain and G-string. She gracefully danced her way around the stage, did a deep split and waltzed back up, until she pirouetted over to the pole. She spun around the pole, never missing a beat, and turned upside down.
    T.I.’s “I’m Flexing” was playing in the background. There was something different about this stripper. She moved sensuously and suggestively like a professional modern dancer. Probably just another girl who came to Hollywood with stardom in her eyes and wound up on the pole.
    â€œCan I talk to Chutney?”
    He nodded. When Chutney pranced over with grace in her tall stilettos, he introduced us.
    â€œYou’re very talented,” I commented as she eased down into the chair next to me.
    Chutney was fanning her face to cool off. “I’ve danced in a few videos.” She flashed a fake modest, yet demure, smile. Her high cheekbones shone with pride.
    G-Man introduced me, and stepped away. “This Big Homie’s sister.”
    Chutney’s eyes lit up, just a tad bit too much. “Oh, my goodness! You’re his baby sister, Z.” She reached out and gave me a hug. “He always brags on you. Say you’s a bad bitch. I read the paper where you took down two dirty narcs by yourself. ”
    I ignored her remark. I didn’t like how women had embraced the word bitch, and I didn’t like how, when you stood up for yourself as a woman, you were called this name. “When did you see him last?”
    â€œIt’s been a minute. I think he came through here last weekend.”
    â€œI need to ask you something personal.”
    Tears flooded her eyes. Right away, I could tell there was more to this relationship than business. She was definitely Mayhem’s woman. I could see it all in her eyes and it was written all over her face.
    â€œWas your relationship more than business?”
    She hesitated before she spoke. Her lips trembled, and she bit the bottom one and nodded. “We done broke