January Gets Her Gunn

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 28 July 1982; 0240:

Six blocks from the jail, Gunn turned into an alley. In the middle of the block he drove up to the back door of what appeared to be a residence. “Tell Dispatch we’ll be Ten-Ten at the Roost.”

January obeyed, got out of the car, and followed Gunn to the door.

When he knocked, a tall, middle aged African American woman wearing a bright Hawaiian muumuu answered the door.

“Good evening, Garnet. This is Officer Farrell. Farrell, Garnet Ledeux.”

The woman looked January over thoroughly before she gave a gracious nod. “Good evening Thaddeus. My pleasure, Officer Farrell.” She offered January her hand, her grip firm and business like. “Come in, come in, please. Mama Good baked a nice German chocolate cake today. Would you care for some, with your coffee?”

Garnet led them into a parlor-like room that looked straight out of the Gay Nineties, red velvet curtains and all.

“Cake sounds fine.” Gunn glanced at January.

“Yes, thank you.” January murmured her acceptance in a vague tone as she scanned the florid room. What kind of place is this? It looks like a cat house…but he wouldn’t do a thing like that—would he?

“Sit down, please, I’ll be right back.” Garnet left the room.

“What kind of place is this, anyway?” January’s knew her puzzlement showed in her tone and expression. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“I think you’ll figure it out soon.”

I don’t like that smirk. Something is fishy. I feel like I’m being set up. Damn, what’s this guy’s problem?

A black waitress in a crisp uniform glided in with a laden tray. She placed cups and saucers in front of both Gunn and January and a third set opposite them, adding a plate with a generous slice of cake in front of each officer. She put a sugar bowl, creamer, and silverware on the table before filling all three cups from a large carafe, which she left on the table. “Enjoy.” The waitress beamed at January before she left the room.

Garnet returned to sit across the table with the two cops. “Well, Officer Farrell, you’re new to the Department, I believe.”

“Yes ma’am, this is my first shift.”

Garnet shot a sharp glance at Gunn before she turned back to January. “What is your first name, if I may ask?” Her smile glowed with warmth, somehow gentle.

“It’s January, and no, I was not born in that month. My father just happened to like the name.”

“How delightful. My people often name their children with fanciful or whimsical names. Everyone should have color in their lives, and what could be better than a colorful name? May I call you January?”

“Yes, of course.”

“You’re quite lovely, January, and your hair is a beautiful color. I’m surprised such an attractive young woman would choose police work as a career.” Garnet continued to study her, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow.

“Thank you for the compliment. As for career, I have my reasons. I was in the Marines for six years as well. Again, with what I thought were good reasons.”

“It was no compliment, my dear, but the simple truth.” Garnet turned to Gunn. “Was the cake all right? Thaddeus, I know about your reputation as a gourmet.” Garnet paused to chuckle. “You eat so fast, you couldn’t possibly taste anything.”

“Yes, Garnet, the cake was fine. Tell Mama Good she can bake cakes for me anytime.” Gunn turned his ghoulish grin toward Garnet.

“You are a humbug, Thaddeus Gunn. Don’t try your spooky business on me.” Garnet frowned briefly at him, then turned back to January.

“January, the girls want to meet you, if you’re through eating.”

“I’m through. The cake really was delicious.” Wait…girls? Geez, it really is!

“Good.” Garnet clapped her hands. Six young women trooped into the room. Five wore sheer night gowns and negligees, while one was in a scarlet strapless sequined mini-dress. All had on too much makeup, and a common hardness aged their youthful faces.

Hell, it is a w***e house! What is Gunn up to? This is crazy. Cops don’t take breaks in w***e houses!

“Girls, this is Officer Farrell.” Garnet nodded towards January. “And for you who have not previously met him, this is Officer Gunn.”

One of the girls sidled up to Gunn, scarlet lips spread in a suggestive smile. “Drop back when you aren’t on duty, Handsome, and I’ll show you a good time.”

He looked up at her. January recognized the instant the girl saw his eyes. She blanched, gasped, and stepped back. “Er, never mind.” She made a quick gesture, as if for luck or to ward off evil.

A chubby, baby-doll faced blonde edged closer to January. “You’re real good looking. What you wanna be a funky cop for?”

“I have my reasons.” January’s tone was ice cold.

“You a dyke?” That was another blonde, tall, horsy-faced, with a number of tattoos showing through her flimsy gown as did her n*****s, which were pierced with gold hoops.

God, I thought I’d gotten away from the weird ones. “No!”

“You sure? You really are delicious looking.” This from a girl with bottle orange-red hair and black roots showing.

“I said no! This isn’t my lifetime for girls.” January’s gaze darted from one to another of the prostitutes, disgust souring the cake and coffee in her stomach.

“That’s too bad, honey,” A tall, black-haired girl smiled. She was by far the best looking of the six. “You and I could burn up the sheets.” January opened her mouth to retort, but no sound emerged. “You oughta try it—you’d never go back to men. I’d love to teach you real love.”

“Yeah, make it a threesome and we’d turn the air blue.” Orange hair grinned at January. “You’d howl at the moon.”

Jan stood up and faced the girls, hands on hips. “Look, I’ll say it once more. The answer is a big N-O. For two damned years I was an adult probation officer in San Diego County, California. I had them all, whores, pimps, dope heads, child abusers. You name it, I had it. If you think you’re shocking me, you’re not. I’m just disgusted. As far as I’m concerned, you are about the sorriest examples of women I have ever seen.”

She turned to face Gunn. “As for you, this is a damned cheap shot. You know I’m coming down off an adrenalin rush and you pull a stunt like this. What kind of kinky pervert are you?”

While January was telling Gunn off, Garnet had waved the girls from the room. A faint flush darkened her café au lait cheeks when she paused, visibly calming herself. She turned back to January, “My apologies, Officer Farrell. I regret your discomfort. If you ever return, be assured you will be treated as befits a lady and a police officer. Sit down, please, and finish your coffee.”

When January sat down, she was trembling. I wasn’t prepared for this. After all that’s already happened tonight, he has to pull this stunt. The turkey is sick, vicious and sick.

Shaking her head slightly, Garnet sent a chiding look at Gunn. “Thaddeus Gunn, don’t you realize your new partner is a lady?”

Gunn was red-faced. He had lost it and he knew it. At a loss for words, he sat there staring at his coffee cup.

“Thaddeus Gunn, I have never liked this little charade you pull on rookies, but what could I say? I can’t afford the enmity of any police officer, so I allowed your nasty game. This was the last straw, though. Never again.”

Garnet Ledeux stood. “You may finish the coffee, if it pleases you. Miss Farrell, I am deeply sorry you were discomfited. You can be sure of my respect for you as a lady and a police officer. I hope someday I might make amends for tonight. Good evening, January Farrell.” She turned and stalked gracefully from the room.

“I think you sold the outhouse, Officer Gunn. It will be an extremely cold day in Hell before I trust you again.” January stood. “Go ahead, finish your coffee. I’ll wait outside.”

When Thad came out to the patrol unit, Farrell was sitting in the passenger seat, her face tight with anger. There’s no sign of tears. I’m surprised she isn’t crying. She’s beautiful and right now she’s as regal as a queen. I’ve misjudged this one. An adult probation officer? I didn’t see that on her resume. How did I miss it?

As soon as the car started, and the radio came on, Farrell checked them back on duty, without instruction. She made a notation on the log and then simply stared out the window.

What’s she thinking? I expected a tirade by now. He had to fill the icy silence. Maybe she did deserve some explanation.

“You have to realize that place is totally illegal. Every time it gets raided, before we can get the girls mugged and finger-printed, somebody has to put up bail. The girls disappear and a new batch is there the next night. So the only time it gets raided is right before elections, when the County Attorney and the Sheriff are trying to drum up votes.”

Farrell remained silent. Not going to take the bait, eh? You will eventually.

“Pull in to that convenience store.” Farrell pointed at an all-night market just past the intersection.

“Why?”

“I want to get something.” Her tone was as coldly impersonal as her set face.

In spite of it, he couldn’t resist needling her. “You’re on duty. You’re supposed to come to work prepared. That’s what you have a brief case for.”

“Damn it! I don’t need any more of your bullshit. How in Hell was I supposed to know you’re a sadistic, supercilious boor and it wouldn’t take four hours with you to make me sick? Just pull in, I won’t be five minutes.”

Gunn turned the radio patrol unit—RPU—into the lot, pulling up to the front door. He watched as Farrell got out and walked to the door. Though her uniform was obviously tailored to subdue her femininity, he noticed the movement of her buttocks and visualized how she’d look in tight jeans. At the image, he started becoming aroused. Then his attention turned back to the storefront.

“What the…”

Farrell was tussling with a male just inside the door. Thad jumped out of the unit. By the time he got there, she had the guy face down on the floor and was setting a six pack of beer on the counter.

“Boy, you guys are fast, I just hung up the phone.” The clerk shook her head. “This is the third time this turkey has grabbed a six pack and run. When I saw him come in the door, I called the station, but I didn’t expect you guys to get here so fast.”

As Thad watched, Farrell efficiently handcuffed the shoplifter.

“Okay Farrell, I’ll handle him. Go tell Peter Nine everything is Code Four.” Without a word, Farrell left the store. Thad was too busy shaking down the suspect for weapons to pay attention to her ominous silence. When she came back in, taking a notebook out of her left shirt pocket, he had the suspect on his feet. She walked straight to the counter.

“What’s your name, miss?”

Damn she’s not waiting for me to tell her what to do.

“Imogene O’Leary.” Farrell wrote it down, her face a smooth, bland mask.

“Address?”

“It’s 1436 17th Street, Apartment 9B.”

“Phone?”

“I don’t have a telephone in the apartment. My ex-roommate ran up too big a bill and the phone company cut me off.” Farrell continued to take down information.

“Imogene, you say this guy did this twice before?”

“Yes, both last Friday and Saturday.”

“Did you call the police?”

“Yes, both times. He was one of the officers who came both nights.” Imogene pointed at Gunn.

Farrell turned her head and looked at him, arching her right eyebrow.

God that’s sexy. Thad nodded, “Yes, Voukovich was the primary officer and I was backup.”

Farrell nodded and wrote it all in her notebook.

“How did you recognize him tonight?”

Now why did she ask that?

Imogene hesitated a moment. “Well he’s wearing pretty much the same clothes as the other two nights, black T-shirt and jeans, but I recognized his face.”

“You’re sure it’s the same guy?”