The Schwarzschild Radius (18 page)

The Red Hook townhouse had a lovely view of Manhattan.

Sonia pressed the buzzer.

“Jack, it’s Sonia.”

He buzzed them in.

He was about five-foot eight with a pony tail and the physique of a bodybuilder whose goal was cut, not bulk. Rachel always made note of what job a man had if he wore a pony tail and had so far logged a car mechanic, bicycle messenger, a record store employee, and hair dresser.

“Jack, this is my friend, Lisa.”

“How you doin’, Lisa?” He took Rachel’s hand. She returned a smile and was grateful when Sonia removed her shoes, so she could do the same and break the eye contact.

He led them to the living room which was lined with walls of CDs and housed a powerful Bang & Olufson stereo system with speakers mounted on stands that towered over the girls. The place was beautifully decorated with glass coffee tables, white torch lamps, and matching sconces. A Persian carpet covered the bamboo floor. There was no dust to be seen, and even the coffee table books were arranged in perfect order on the corner of the table.

“Let’s get some more light in here.” He turned the dimmer switch, then smoothed out the carpet where the girls’ steps had altered the grain. “Let’s get business over with,” he said, handing each girl two hundred dollars. “So what are you guys drinkin’? Heineken for you. How ‘bout you, Lisa?”

“Um, just a Coke for me. I’m underage.”

That brought a smile to Jack’s face. “Soda it is.”

He tapped the remote and summoned Brazilian jazz.

“Yous eat? I got menus. Szechuan, Cantonese, Rick’s Italian Place. Pick what you want and I’ll fax it in.”

The girls pored over the menus like research assistants. Rachel could feel the man’s eyes on her, inspecting her, pawing at her with his imagination. Then the music changed to New Age, something with Gregorian chants and heavy breathing.

They ordered fried rice, ribs, and General Tsao’s chicken.

“I’m going to use the ladies’ room,” said Sonia.

“You have a beautiful place,” said Rachel.

“Thanks. I wanted to give it an international flavor. Each room has artifacts from different places. Over there I got fans and Buddhas from the Far East. I’m starting an Africa room,” he said in a Brooklyn accent that he didn’t try to hide. He reminded Rachel of a low-budget production of Romeo and Juliet she’d once seen in the Village. The actors wore street clothes and spoke the beautiful lines in unfiltered New York accents.

“Ever traveled?” he said, sitting next to her.

“Just to a few states, that’s all.”

“You on your own now?”

“Pretty much.” She sipped on the can, conscious of his eyes falling all over her body. The body he would soon be seeing.

“Life on the road can get rough. It pays to make a few good friends. You got a good start with Sonia.”

“She’s really cool. Have you met many of her friends?”

“None as nice as you, I gotta say.” His hand touched her knee, lightly. “Can I get you another soda?”

“I’m okay. It’s bad for your teeth.” She felt like rubbing the spot he had just touched.

“You got a nice smile. I’m sure I’m not the first guy to tell you that.”

“I guess you sort of are.” No man had ever been this close to her.

“No way.” He put his hand under her chin. “How old are you?”

“Fourteen.” She went for another sip, so he’d withdraw the hand.

“You have a boyfriend?”

“Not yet.”

“You’re a really cute girl, Lisa. You could go far just on your looks alone.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think that’s pretty clear. What do you want out of life?”

“To be at peace.”

“That’s one I didn’t expect. Money, security, a home―they can give you peace of mind. It’s all attainable.”

“How?”

“Take an inventory of all your assets. Ask yourself what you have to offer. You have two huge assets―looks and youth. The world is very looks and youth oriented. I think you’re also smart enough to know what I’m saying to you, so I’ll stop there. Do you know what I’m saying?”

“I think so.”

“Do you or don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Give it some thought.” He rose to change the music even though the remote was next to him. Andean flutes filled the air. Rachel could sense what he was going to do next. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her.

“You nervous, Lisa?”

“A little.”

“Why?”

“I’ve never been in a guy’s house before.”

“Sonia’ll tell you I’m a good friend to people who are good to me. So relax. You like this music?”

“Sure, I like New Age.”

“What do you listen to?” he asked.

“Believe it or not, I like classical.”

“Who in particular?”

“Yo Yo Ma on cello playing Bach.” His hand rubbed her shoulder and she knew where it was going next.

“I have to pick up a copy, so I can impress my friends the way you’re impressing me.”

“Am I?”

“You know you are.” His hand slid down around her waist. Next stop―her left breast.

“Um, I guess I could use another soda,” she said.

“Hey, relax. I’m cool.” He got her another can. “How do you like these speakers? Get up, I want to show you something.” Rachel did so, relieved at the distance.

“Press against the speaker, embrace it. Now feel this.” He turned the dial and the sound pounded against Rachel’s heart. It beat against her thighs. Her hands finally rose up to her ears.

“Four-hundred watts. It could double as a defibrillator. Feel it going through your body? Some girls tell me they can orgasm like that.”

“Do you give all your guests that little demo?” she asked, ignoring the last remark.

“I don’t get many guests here. I’m selective about my company. I can tell you that I already like your company.” He sat down on the couch, but now with some distance between them.

“Same here. Thanks for the soda.”

“How long have you been on your own?”

“About three months.”

“If you don’t mind me askin’, how’ve you been getting by?”

“The kindness of strangers.”

“Well, I hope you and me don’t stay strangers after tonight. I’d like to be your friend. I liked you as soon as I saw you, and I want you to know that you’re welcome to come here any time you want, no strings. I don’t make that offer to everyone.”

“I really appreciate it, Jack. That’s very sweet of you.” No way she’d spend time alone with this creep.

The meal went easily. The host was a good talker and created the illusion of an uncle lunching with his favorite nieces.

“That was a great meal. Well, I’m ready for a little entertainment, ladies.”

“As you wish,” said Sonia. “I’m going to jump in the shower.”

Rachel, fearing being left alone again said, “I―I guess I’ll go too.”

“You can use the other shower in the guest room. Straight down and to the left.”

As Rachel let the water run over her, she began to hyperventilate. There would be no Plexiglas screen between her and the client this time. No three-hundred pound bouncer. She would be naked in his house locked behind a steel door. And what did she believe she could accomplish by this? How far would she go to get a scrap of information?
For a smart girl, look what you’ve gotten yourself into.

hen Rachel walked out of the shower, Sonia was already dressed in a black garter belt, black stockings, a bustier, and stiletto heels. Rachel put on her black lace thong, thigh-high stockings, and bra.

“When does the clock start ticking?” asked Rachel.

“When we walked in the door,” said the other girl. “We have to look like we really like his company, okay? He tips good. Ready?”

“I… I don’t think…”

“You’re not bitching up on me now, are you? You’ve done this at the Palace. Look, I’m doing the heavy lifting tonight, so chill.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you don’t have to sleep with him. I’ve got that taken care of.”

“You said just dancing.”

“You just dance. I’m gonna fuck. Now let’s go.”

When they got back to the living room, Franco was smoking a joint. He extended the clip and Sonia took a hit. Rachel declined.

“It’ll relax you,” said Franco. She shook her head and appended a smile to the gesture.

He pressed the remote and some Lee Ritenour played. Sonia began to writhe and Rachel followed. She wasn’t much of a dancer. It wasn’t required in the booth.

“Sonia, your friend can’t dance worth a shit,” said Franco, now loosening up. “We’re a little behind schedule, so let’s say we start taking some clothes off.”

Sonia took off her bustier and tossed it on the floor. Rachel was breathing so hard she knew her breasts were going to be heaving up and down when she took off the bra. She turned her back to Franco and swayed her butt back and forth while watching him in a wall mirror. Sonia took off her shoes and the stockings went next. Rachel resisted the temptation of looking at the grandfather clock and took off the bra. She had to balance herself against the coffee table to take off the stockings.

She kept her back to Franco a tad too long.

“That wall’s not a paying customer, Lisa. Over here.”

“Sorry.”

Sonia pulled down her panties and now it was Rachel’s turn.

She slipped it off and faced Franco.

“Lisa, you might want to trim the kitten for next time. I like a nice triangle on top with the rest shaved.”

Rachel looked at Sonia whose pubes were cut in precisely that manner.

Franco requested floor work, requiring them to get on their backs and perform acts with their legs and hands.

The ordeal ended forty minutes later when the man looked at Sonia and jerked his head toward the bedroom.

“We’re going to hang in the next room,” said Sonia.

“Make yourself at home, Lisa,” said the host. “You know how to work the disk player, right?”

“Can I just get my clothes out of the bedroom?” said Rachel, passing him in the narrow hallway naked, his arm brushing up against her breast. Then she had to pass him again.

“Join us,” he said.

“No, really. Thanks.” She clutched her clothes to her body. Sonia tugged at his arm and closed the door behind them.

Rachel sat, fully clothed on the couch, staring at the wall. She couldn’t believe what she had just done. Where she was. Had Olivia done the same thing and ended up walking into the wrong apartment? Did Franco know her sister? Rachel had paid dearly for entry into this place and she was going to make it worth the price of admission.

In the bathroom, she was able to lock the door while inspecting the medicine cabinet. Some cold caplets, eye drops, Band-Aid kit, deodorant. No prescription medicine. Rachel wasn’t sure what exactly she was looking for.

There were two book cases with about a hundred volumes. Rachel always thought she could tell a great deal about a person by the books, or absence of same, in their home. Let’s see. Science fiction, science fiction, a book on the Tri-lateral Commission, The Further Prophesies of Nostradamus, a few MAD Magazines.

The entertainment center contained rows of video tapes, DVDs, and a fifty-six-inch plasma TV. Terminator―One and Two, Rambo, The Magnificent Seven as well as an extensive collection of hard-core porn. Issues of The Minuteman going back years.