This writing is for entertainment only. No profit involved. See previous disclaimer.

June 6th, 2000 Saturday 11AM

A tall,handsome man walked into the detective's office in Precinct 2-1. He asked a question of a man at a nearby desk and was directed to an office in the back. He tapped at the door and was invited in. "Captain Shou? I'm Dave Sanos, the reporter. You were told to expect me by the Community Affairs office?"

The big, bearded man behind the desk rose and extended a hand. "Yes, Mr. Sanos, I was expecting you. I am Carl Shou. Sorry about your weekend, but we are working very hard on this case. Please take a seat. Detective Lt. Gaudro should be here at any moment."

Sanos pulled out a notepad. "Could you spell that for me, please? G-A-U-D-R-O. Teodosia C. – a lieutenant, how many years on the force? Eighteen? Why has she been put in charge of this investigation?"

A dry, deep woman's voice answered from the doorway. "Because the poor fool is the highest ranking out cop in the Five Burroughs. She's here to show the NYPD has fags too, even if they wish they wouldn't talk about it."

Sanos' caramel brown eyes caught Capt. Shou's rolling blue ones. "Mr. Sanos, this cheerful soul is Lt. Gaudro. Teo, this is Dave Sanos, a reporter for The Weekly Saga and Oct.11 magazine."

Sanos stood and realized the woman was nearly as tall as he, and he stood six feet. She must only be an inch or so short of that. She wore dark slacks, a blazer of dark red, and a crisp white shirt, with flat black shoes. Her dark hair was pulled back by a tie, still reaching to between her shoulders with one lock falling down to her collar's bottom in the front. She wore black pearl ear studs and a black pearl and garnet ring on the middle finger of her right hand. Her eyes were? Hazel? Green? It seemed to depend on her expression. Her large hand was firm, the shake she gave his a strong one. She was feminine, but in a very stern, competent way.

"Let's get this over with gentlemen. I have real work to do." She perched on the edge of Shou's desk. "Here's the background. Over the past two years, a series of attacks have been made mostly ongay men here in Manhattan. Over the past six months the frequency of the attacks is increasing, as well as the severity."

What sort of attacks, Lieutenant?"Asked Sanos.

"They have been knocked out and beaten, plus sodomized with whatever found objects were handy. The point seems to traumatize and humiliate, at least it was. The last three victims are in comas from the damage. No witnesses, no descriptions, no physical evidence of the attacker. Just damaged lives and bodies. Finally some one saw a pattern- your editor, I believe, Mr. Sanos –and sent up a yell. So here I am, blowing six months work on a major fraud case to put a gay face on the investigation. I've been here two weeks of total bliss, believe me."

"Lieutenant, you're getting closer and closer to that write up for insubordination. Please excuse her, Mr. Sanos, this is a frustrating case."

"Of course, I understand. Could we speak some more, Ms. Gaudro?" Sanos looked up into the tight-lipped face and tried his most winning smile. It didn't work.

"Not now, sorry. I have reports and interviews to follow up. You can find me tomorrow morning before my shift at "Electric" the bistro between Canal and Bleecker. I'll be there at 8AM. Ta, gentlemen." The woman stood up and strode out the door without a backward look.

The Captain ran his fingers through his black, short hair. "That's our Ms. Gaudro –charming and eloquent. I can't completely blame her. She's worked Bunko for the last ten years and has made some huge busts. Her forte seems to be scamming the scammers."

"She seems familiar somehow, but I can't place it, Captain."

"She's been mentioned in the press before. I don't know how many languages she speaks, but Gaudro is excellent at putting international stings together. She made it up the ladder on her own –no favors for sex, preference, or race."

"Race?"

"She's Japanese-American. You can't tell I know, but her family's been here for a hundred years. That's all for now, Sanos. See what you can pry out of Gaudro and I'll see you at our next Department briefing – Monday 11AM."

As Sanos left the building, Lt. Gaudro's face stayed in his mind. He had seen her before; in a photo of some sort. The green eyes... Terry's! He went to visit some art dealer friends near the square. Terry Powers and his partner Bill were dealers in art, work by gay artists especially.

Both of the "sixty-something" men were happy to see their handsome young visitor. Over coffee, Sanos described the tall woman he had met that day. "And I just keep thinking I've seen her portrait. Photo- not any other medium. Any ideas?"

Terry asked. "The name again?"

Sanos checked his notes. "Gaudro, Teodosia C. Age 40, maybe a little older? Dark hair and odd eyes, sometimes hazel, sometimes green. And I was told she is Japanese-American."

Bill smacked the table. "She's still alive! Come on, you have seen her, but as she was in 1980." He led the way to his and Terry's apartment over the gallery. They had some amazing works, one of which was in the guest room. "There she is. Bob M. did the photography session in '80 when she was still working as a dominatrix. The Japanese bit clinched it. Even though she's changed her name she's kept the same initials. Meet Tammy Claire Goro, Dave."

The half-size portrait showed a big, voluptuous woman nearly in profile, in dim light. She was in full leathers, all a natural brown. A well-used bullwhip coiled over the back of the chair. Her hair was shorter, the face younger and harder. The eyes clinched it. She had been photographed holding a wooden match in her left hand to a thin black cigar in her lips. The flame's light reflected in eyes as green and fierce as a jungle cats.

"A paid sex worker became a cop?"

"She wasn't a whore, she was an artist!" Bill said with a smile. "And she never asked for a penny – though generous "gifts" were appreciated. So, no record. She specialized in entertaining foreign guests. She spoke at least four languages besides English and one was Japanese! Bob took this photo for a devoted admirer to put in a place of honor. This copy was made for a show, but she visited Bob and convinced him it would be a bad idea to display it – and she could be very convincing! I begged this off him; nothing like this should be destroyed. And she took and disappeared the negative.

"Yes," added Terry. "She was quite the "bomb" for a couple of years. Incredibly quiet and discrete, smart as hell too. Paid for her own education, worked legit jobs as well. She stopped in, what, '81, Bill? She hadn't taken on a man for at least a year before that. Not just because she preferred women, she said it was too easy to get careless with men and cause "unnecessary damage." I wondered what had happened to her."

The men all looked at the brooding face in the portrait. Sanos could imagine a woman that tough and dominant causing damage all right. Did she still?