A/N Dark and mature themes to come the next couple chapters. Gus goes undercover for the first time, so not much Gus/Flack action. Feel free to skip this (long) chapter.
Chapter 48: Hit Me
Gus thought she had avoided any additional fallout from Christina's visit to the precinct until next week when the Precinct Captain called her into his office. "Crap, Cap wants to see me!" she hissed when she hung up her phone.
"This better not be about freaking Murphy again!" Flack hissed back. He hoped this wasn't something he was going to have to cover their asses for.
"It wasn't my fault, Flack!" she pleaded, heading like a beaten dog toward the Captain's office.
"Good luck," Flack yelled to her retreating figure, "don't sink us!" he muttered to himself.
"Detective Broussard, how are you this fine day?" the captain said as soon as she arrived at his office.
"Cold," she replied automatically, the cold had come back with a vengeance.
"Ah yes, I would imagine it is warmer down on the bayou," he drawled in a horribly fake Cajun accent.
"A good bit, sir," Gus grimaced, sitting down hesitantly. He didn't seem pissed, but he could be hard to read.
"I do hope you recall, detective, that when you asked to be transferred from staff psych that you were informed you may not always be working homicide?" Gus nodded, dreading where this may be headed and hoping it wasn't permanent. "Special Victim's is working a case in a women's shelter." Gus just stared at him, she wasn't about to ask any questions. "There is suspicion that women are being raped in this domestic violence shelter, which is pretty sick if you ask me. We need someone inside the shelter."
Gus was connecting dots, it didn't sound long term. She nodded, "go on," she said.
"The regular DV person in special vics is out on maternity leave. We need someone that can accurately portray a victim, this shelter is not public, so they can turn people away. They have already been questioned and are on edge, so we need someone who knows dv victims." Ah-ha, Gus thought. "According to your personnel file, you have worked with this population."
"Guilty," she croaked.
"We need you to get into the shelter and find out what's going on behind closed doors, but you need to do it quietly and fast. DA is having kittens on this one."
"I can do that, how long do I have?"
"A week tops, I prefer quicker, you are pulled from homicide effective immediately until you get us the information we need for this case. We want you on the doorstep of the shelter tonight."
A hour later she was standing in the crappy precinct training room with Danny and Flack. She locked the door behind them and closed the blinds. "Whoa there, Broussard, what are you doin' I think you might have gotten the wrong idea. Maybe Flack here is willing, but I'm not into no freaky stuff. At least not with you-" Danny babbled. Flack just stood, he didn't know why she had been called by the Captain yet.
"Messer, get over yourself. I need one of you to hit and one of you to hold."
"What are you talking about, sunshine?" Flack asked his eyes steel, she was up to something.
"I have to get into dicey private DV shelter tonight. Special vics has already been sniffing up their skirt, so I don't think make-up is gonna cut it."
"I don't get it, do you get it?" Danny asked looking back and forth between the two of them.
"Yes, I think I do, and I don't like it. You got pulled from homicide didn't you?" Flack asked, worrisome.
"One case only performance, so I have been told. They're in a jam, DA's having kittens I'm told. Rape at a woman's shelter. Who knows what else, prime media and there's an election coming up," she remarked.
She was already in this case, Flack could tell. She threw herself into every case, he felt like he could have been looking at Aiden. It chilled him.
Danny caught it also, "we aren't talking you out of this are we Broussard?"
"Brass signed off already," Gus said stripping down to the tank top she had on underneath her shirt, "now who's holding and who's hitting or do I need to go piss somebody off in a biker bar?"
"She's serious?" Danny asked, disbelieving.
"She's serious,", Flack responded, his eyes having gone to ice.
"She's your partner," Danny said coming behind Gus and looping his arms through hers behind her back.
Flack raised his fist back, but before bringing it down he had a flash of Gus telling her story of Gage and his Tulane ring, he froze, "I can't, I can't do it, Gus. Not to you."
She just nodded. "Figures," she muttered, "fine I'll go piss someone off then," she started to make for the door.
"Wait Broussard!" Gus turned figuring Danny was going to try to stop her, "Messer I'm-" she was cut off by the impact to her left cheek near her eye. Her head snapped and Danny shook his hand out.
"Messer!" Flack roared ready to lay into him.
Gus held her hand up to his chest, "he did it so I wouldn't get more hurt, Flack!"
Danny nodded, "pretty much. That was a good one too, already swelling, I tried to aim to not break anything, you okay?"
"I'm good," Gus said, though she had to admit Danny threw a good punch.
"Well, then, I need a cigarette," Danny said unlocking the door.
"I don't like this," Flack said pain in his voice, as they followed Danny out, all of them needing more than a cigarette.
"You don't have to," she replied detachedly, in a zone where no one could reach her. Danny recognized something in that voice, it chilled him. Flack looked over as Gus chewed down her fingernails, if Danny hadn't been standing between them, he probably would have told her he loved her.
Chapter 49: Safe House
By ten o'clock that night, Gus was standing on a doorstep on the Upper West Side. Her hair was loose and a little messy, free of make-up, the wound and bruise inflicted by Danny was showing beautifully. She had bit her nails to the quick and made them look like she had clawed her way out of something. She made sure all her old scars showed and that she looked like she had been to hell.
"May I assist you?" A distinguished looking man said after opening the leaded glass door.
Gus peered up from under her sheet of blond hair in such a way to reveal her bruise. She frowned, "a friend gave me your information. I need, I need some help," she looked around as if checking to see if she had been followed.
"And who is your friend?"
"Janie," Gus quipped, it was a woman who had been at the shelter but now lived the life of an Upper East snob who still had a little problem with shop lifting and prescription drugs that she didn't want her husband to know about. Special vics had leveraged her to get someone inside.
"Ah, Janie. Haven't seen her in some time," the man said stepping back and motioning her inside. "And your name, Miss..."
"Helen Flynn," Gus said without missing a beat.
"You don't look like the type of girl to get in fights Miss Flynn," he said, pointing at her bruise.
Gus almost laughed at that. "Boyfriend," she muttered looking at the floor, while really trying to check out the place.
"You aren't from New York?"
"Baton Rogue, came here to be an actress, so cliché I know," she said self-deprecatingly but with a winsome slightly flirtatious look.
He bought it. "I hear that quite often. This boyfriend, has he hit you before?"
She nodded, not answering. The man's eyes flicked over her body, it was a beautiful one, though currently battered. "How old are you Miss Flynn, 21, 22?"
"24 actually, I've always looked young". Hell he had shaved seven years off, she could shave four.
"Any children?"
"No, no one, really..." she said trying to look like she was entranced with the carpet.
A sly quick smile from the man with no name. "Well, Miss Flynn I believe we might be able to help you here. Am I to assume you need a place to stay?"
"Yes, sir," she said.
"In that case allow me to introduce myself, I am Dr. George Hansen, the proprietor of this shelter if you will."
Gus wondered doctor of what, she was beginning to get a bad feeling about this one.
"My assistant, Catherine, will be happy to show you to the showers and to your quarters." Gus thought if he hands me a bar of soap before he sends me to shower, I'm running. "Kitty, we have a new guest."
A severe looking woman floated more than walked down the stairs. Her black hair was cut with razor precision, her angular face attempting to hold a smile, "Good evening, was it Helen?" Gus nodded. "Pleasure to meet you, I'm sorry to hear you have had some unfortunate luck recently."
"That's one way of putting it," Gus mumbled.
"If you will follow me, I will show you to your room."
Gus followed the woman up the wide mahogany stair case. They stopped on the fourth floor landing, "this is a very special place, Helen, a safe place. Few find their way here, and those that do are among the blessed ones."
Gus inwardly rolled her eyes, thinking it sounded a little like a cult.
"This will be your room, you will share it with one other person whenever the shelter is full," Gus peered in at what resembled a nun's quarters. "Please place your bag on the bed and follow me."
Gus complied, knowing they would look through her things and hoped that the magic the the techs had performed on her bag held up past scrutiny. "Here's one of our bathrooms, so you may freshen up. I have found most women like to take showers once they arrive. You may use a pair of our pajamas if you like, just leave your clothes folded on the chair for us to get cleaned." Every word the woman said had underlying meaning and a hidden message that she shouldn't ask any questions.
Gus remained compliant, but looked around the bathroom for hidden cameras. Though these days they were small enough to not find. Gus figured there had to be one though, the shower was a wide open tiled space with no door or curtain, almost like what you would find in a locker room. She turned on the spray and let the water start to run. She gave one more look around the room and started to undress. She folded the clothes and put them neatly on the chair. She stepped under the spray and tried to not panic. What was she doing here? This could go bad so quickly. She refused to wash her hair or body despite all the essentials in the shower. God only knew what was in them. She had just turned her back when she heard the door click open. Well that's almost too predictable.
She didn't turn around but said, "yes?"
"Sorry to bother you, Helen, I was just dropping off a towel and the pajamas," Catherine said closing the door behind her.
"Any serious marks?" George asked Catherine on the landing.
"No, she's of good stock, athletic but curved, maybe could lose a couple of pounds. A little old, but she will do for someone, I am sure," Catherine nodded.
Gus finished rinsing and then carefully inspected the pajamas she was supposed to put on. They appeared to be ordinary men's pajamas, soft cotton, ugly pattern.
Gus went back to her room, looking over things, checking for cameras but trying to not look like she was looking. Her bag had been looked through, that she knew first thing. However, it did not seem like they had really hunted or found anything. She scratched at the watch on her wrist, she didn't wear watches and hated wearing one now, but it had a tacker in it and a panic button. She seriously considered pushing it now because she was feeling way over her head.
What the hell was this place? It was creepy to say the least and something was obviously going on, but she didn't know if she really wanted to find out. She sat down on the bed and stuck her hand into her bag, she pulled out a cell phone. Sliding the back battery off, she pulled out the bug she needed to plant in the main room downstairs. She had another one hidden in a bra for her room so she could communicate with the van down the street. She palmed the transmitter and hid her hands in her sleeves as Catherine came back in the room.
"Feeling better now, Helen?"
"Much, thank you. It has been a long day."
"I can imagine," the woman paused and stared at her, "the doctor informs me Janie gave you our information." Gus just nodded. "Did she tell you anything about our shelter?"
"No, just that if I ever needed to get somewhere safe to come here."
"Have you been in a shelter before?"
"No ma'am, I haven't had to, it's just now I am a long way from home and don't know anybody and-" Gus tried to act hysterical, which wasn't too big of a stretch since she was creeped out by this place. Why was it so quiet, was anyone else here? Just remember there is a gun sewn in the lining of your bag, Gus chanted in her head.
"There, there. Don't worry, you have come to the best place possible for you. You see, we don't consider ourselves a shelter per se, more a safe house, a transitioning place. We don't take just anyone off the street, we are privately funded and we will do whatever it takes to help out young women that we think most need it."
Help them how? Gus thought, trying to look like she had been crying.
"Would you like something to eat?" Gus nodded again. "If you will follow me back downstairs, and I can see what we can find."
On the way down the stairs Catherine continued, "this haven has been a dream of the doctor's for quite some time. Think of it as your home from now on. But as such you will be expected to contribute to the household. Every woman does her own cleaning and washing. Food is also considered communal, so if you bring something into the house, you will be expected to share it. Do you have any money?"
"A little," Gus shrugged.
"Well we do collect some minimal rent to help offset utilities. As for employment, we have arrangements with some local businesses. After you have had a moment to recover and decide if you like it here, we will discuss what might be a good fit for you. Many of the women that come here go on to be very successful."
Gus just followed behind her, the bug clasped in her palm, she had to plant it somewhere...
Gus lagged behind just enough that on the last step she did a faux trip and stuck the bug under a hall table. Gus checked her watch, midnight, she had only been here two hours and already she wanted to hightail it back, she would go dumpster diving until the end of time with the CSIs to get out of here.
Following Catherine back towards the kitchen she heard the laughter of women. Entering the large room she spied three gorgeous women around a farm style table, dressed to kill and drinking wine like this was a social club.
"You all are back so soon?" Catherine asked quizzically, her eyes narrowing.
"I guess there just wasn't much staying power tonight," said a very attractive dark skinned woman before nodding her head at Gus, "I see we have a newbie."
"Yes, Leah, this is Helen Flynn, she came here from Baton Rogue."
"Were you following a boy or a dream," Leah asked huskily.
"Both I guess," said Gus shrugging, "neither turned out well."
Leah laughed, "I like you. This is Aimee," she pointed to her left to a girl who reminded Gus of Penelope Cruz, "and Brandy," a California looking girl on her right.
"Hi," they said meekly.
Leah was obviously the alpha female in this pack. "Kitty," Leah said to Catherine, "that was one of the worst dates, I have ever been on, I don't think I am going to let you fix me up any more."
A dark look crossed Catherine's face. "I will make a note of that," she clipped. "Now Helen, please make yourself at home, I don't know what is in the fridge."
"Actually I think I am only very thirsty."
"We have bottled water, that much I know."
"Thank you." Gus walked over and pulled open the door on the commercial fridge, it looked like a produce market had filled it. Everything seemed to be all natural, all organic and all containing negative calories. She pulled out a water bottle, ensuing the seal was still intact and gave it a light squeeze to check for leaks.
"Come sit, Helen, tell us about your bad boy and bad dreams," Leah said waving her over.
Gus walked back to the table and sat down across from the three girls. "Not much to tell, just every bad cliché I suppose. I am a walking country song."
Leah laughed again, "you're funny, cute too."
Was she hitting on her..."Thanks," was all Gus said, studying the water bottle carefully before opening it.
"So how did you find the House of Hansen?" Leah said languishing.
"A girl I knew, said she had been here, met her jogging in the park, she noticed a bruise."
"What's her name?" Leah asked through narrow eyes.
"Janie."
"Oh I know Janie, she's fabulous. Hooked herself a tycoon and lives in a classic seven on the upper east. Why I can't meet a man like that I don't know!"
"Maybe because Kitty is setting us up with lowlifes," Aimee muttered. "Don't let her hear you say that!" Brandy said.
Gus absorbed this, thinking of the opulent living room, noting that she had been taken straight up to the attic with two floors between, the impossible odds of so many very attractive women all at one shelter being set up on dates, Janie's marriage to a tycoon...Gus had worked in several shelters and they were all crap, even the nice ones, this place looked more like a...holy shit! Gus sat up a little straighter, she was in a brothel. Women weren't getting raped here as much as they were being prostituted.
"So how long have y'all been here?" Gus asked.
"Ha, y'all! Well I have been here nearly a year, which is a damn long time, but Aimee and Brandy, how long have you been here?"
"A month," said Brandy. "Two months," said Aimee.
"Have Catherine and the Doctor been able to get you set up with jobs, because I really could use some money..." Gus asked trying to sound upset.
"Don't worry about that, they will find you a job in no time, as soon as your face heals. He do anything else to you?" Leah questioned her eyes surveying Gus' body. She wasn't sure if this was as a friend or competition.
"Just bruises," Gus lifted her sleeve.
"Eat some pineapple, you'll heal quicker." "So what's the assholes' name?" Aimee asked.
"Colin." Shit where did that come from, that wasn't the name she rehearsed with special vics. She also know realized that major case and organized crime should be in on this, and it should be a task force, maybe even the feds...crap.
"He must have been one jerk, because you look like you are a million miles away, Helen," Brandy added.
"A real winner," Gus replied, "um, how long to women usually get to stay here?" she asked.
"It's up to the dear doctor, but generally as long as they need to, until something better comes along. The first thing you need to learn is follow the rules. They tell you to jump, you ask how high. If so, you are gravy. If not, you are out on the street and they send you a bill. And they will collect on it, if you know what I mean."
Gus just nodded, she could feel her eye start twitching. "How many people are staying here now?"
"Just us and two other girls, they must be out now, hopefully having better dates than ours," Leah laughed, deep in her throat.
Why did Gus get the feeling that she only meant a singular date and they had all been on it together? Gus yawned wide.
"Oh you must be tired!" Catherine said on cue, coming back in from wherever she had disappeared. "Ladies, you remember your first night here, let's let Helen get some rest."
"Bless your heart," Gus twanged, "goodnight y'all."
Chapter 50: Double 0 Nothing
"Effing special vics," Gus said forcing herself to not run up the stairs. The cell phone that had been on her bed was now mysteriously missing. Damn that was fast.
Catherine spoke from behind her, "I sorry, the doctor does not allow cell phones in this house, he firmly believes they cause cancer. In fact he put blockers in for that reason."
Dammit, that meant her transmitters weren't working either, most likely. Maybe, crap she didn't know about frequencies and all that, if only Lindsay or a tech was here!
"It will be placed in a safe and given to you when you leave. You may use the house phone if you need to call someone. I believe you will find that the doctor is very particular," Catherine said. Gus nodded for what seemed like the millionth time. "Well goodnight then, we will talk more in the morning," Catherine said shutting the door behind her.
"Crap on crap!" Gus muttered, carefully she reached in to the bottom of the bag and dug a hole in the corner to pull up the lining. Carefully she eased out the second cell phone hidden inside. She then reached into her sneaker and pulled out the insert, taped on the back were three sim cards. Feeling very like Bond, or more accurately feeling like the worlds most cowardly Bond, she slid a sim card into the phone. Luckily the phone was tiny and could be easily hidden. She walked over to the window turned on the phone, yep pretty much no signal. She moved around a little, nothing. She attempted to open the window. Painted shut, she pulled a pin out of her hair and scraped away the paint. Easing open the window, she was ecstatic to see the signal light come on. Half a bar, not enough to talk, but as she had learned during Katrina, enough to text.
Brothel need task force bad feeling -GB
She hit send and heaved a sigh of relief. She hid the phone back in the lining and was happy to feel the weight of the gun. The bullets were under a compact in her makeup bag. Gus could still feel her eye twitching, cloak and dagger did not become her.
She didn't sleep. Not at all. She heard footsteps on the stairs about 3am and heard a woman's voice swear as her leg collided with something in the hallway. The next morning, Gus needed coffee but was petrified to consume anything in the house. She padded down to the kitchen and was happy to see Catherine at the table drinking a mug full. Well if she's drinking it, Gus thought pouring a mug.
"Good morning, Helen did you sleep well?"
"Well enough, I still am having trouble believing..." Gus let her voice trail off.
"You may not believe this about me, Helen, but once upon a time, I was in a situation remarkably similar to yours. There wasn't a place like this for me though. Be grateful, you are a lucky girl."
Yes, Gus thought women should be grateful for getting out of an abusive relationship and being turned into call girls, makes perfect sense to me and boy do I feel lucky. Gus just smiled a small smile, trying to look grateful instead of throttling the woman. She had to get something on tape in case the bugs didn't transmit.
"If you are feeling up to it, the doctor would like to have a chat with you, once you get dressed. Do you need any clothes?"
"I brought a change or two."
"Very well, he will see you in his study, it is off the living room."
"I'll go get dressed then."
"Helen, I feel a certain kinship to you." Like hell, Gus thought. "I feel I should tell you...if you let the doctor help you his is a very patient and generous man."
Gus did not ask what he was like is she didn't.
She climbed back up to her room, thankful for the elevator in her apartment building...well I won't have to jog as much she thought. She rummaged through her tote. Jeans, tank top, padded bra with recorder. Now I just need to get him to talk to my cleavage, shouldn't be too difficult. She bounded down the stairs in the hope that if things went well she could get out of there soon. She crossed herself, "please God!" Entering the study, Gus did a quick survey of the room that looked more like it belonged in an English manor.
"Admiring my study, I see," George said from his massive desk, shutting down his computer.
"It is pretty nice," Gus continued to pretend to admire it.
"I should hope so, it took three decorators and a lot of shopping excursions abroad!"
Gus nodded, sitting in front of him and leaning forward, "I just wanted to thank you, sir, for your kindness and hospitality," and for praying on vulnerable women you sicko.
"Please, Helen call me George."
"Well then, thank you- George."
"I am happy to extend my hospitality to a pretty young woman such as yourself," Gus tittered and hated herself for it.
"Now I don't know how much Catherine told you about our little family here, but I wanted to get to know a little about you first."
"Not much to tell."
"I find that hard to believe."
Gus shrugged, "didn't know my dad, my mom has been married a million times, a got a bunch of step and half siblings that never cared if they got out of hick town but I always wanted more. Wanted to be on Broadway so I figured I had to actually head to Broadway."
"So you sing?" Gus nodded, hoping he wouldn't ask her to and her cover would be blown.
"Delightful," he said looking her up and down like she was prize winning cow at a state fair. She suppressed a shiver. "Helen, it has always been my dream to help exceptional young women you have fallen upon hard times get the life they deserve, and I think you just fit that category, do you?"
"I dunno," she shrugged.
"Well, I think you do and I pay the bills so that's that!" Gus smiled, really trying to not hurl. The man reminded her of some fanatical preacher. "Let me tell you a little bit about how I like to run things here." Gus just stared, trying to give him doe eyes. "I do understand your wounds need time to heal, and that they are both physical and mental, so if you need any assistance with that we can help you get it."
"I'll be fine," she said.
"Tough one, I like that." Gus giggled again, her stomach revolting. "Well, we'll give your bruises another couple of days to heal and then we will see about getting you a job placement. What sort of skills do you have?"
Gus fought to not give a sarcastic answer, "I have an associates degree."
"Wonderful, I find many of the girl that come through here do very well as legal or medical secretaries, fortunately I have many connections in the business world." Gus smiled flirtatiously, trying to stroke his ego without actually talking. "Actually, this often affords them the chance to meet many eligible bachelor's, a little extra perk if you will."
"How nice," Gus cooed.
"Now, while I do understand it may be some time before you wish to date again, I guarantee the gentlemen I know are upstanding citizens, and are probably the best way to re-enter the dating world."
"Probably so," Gus didn't know what else to say to that.
"I have had many success stories, in fact your friend Janie ended up marrying a gentleman I introduced her to, she know lives on the park, but I assume you know that?"
"Yes, sir, George, I met her jogging in the park one day, she saw a bruise on me and..." Gus halted, "I probably should have left then but-"
"You weren't ready yet, I have heard the story a thousand times, I understand. You feel no shame here in my house, you were brave to leave when you did." Gus worked up tears, lowering her chin and looking through wet lashes. "Oh you poor dear, I did not mean to upset you," the doctor said handing her a tissue.
Gus dabbed her eyes, "no, you didn't upset me, I just can't believe that there is someone so wonderful out there, I feel I'm in a fairy tale." A Grimm brother's tale mind you...she added to herself.
George chuckled, "I think I will enjoy having you here, Helen, you may go now."
I got crap, Gus thought, going out to the living room.
Catherine was there on a settee. "Helen, please take a seat, I will be out in just a moment." Gus nodded again, sitting. Catherine walked to the study and firmly shut the door. "What do you think George?"
"She will be fine, in fact, I think she will be fine very quickly. Seems resilient and optimistic and compliant." "Perfect. How soon?"
"I think perhaps she could join our little soirée tomorrow night, but just as a preview, she shouldn't be booked with anyone yet."
Catherine nodded and headed out to the living room and sat beside Gus turning to her. "Helen, George informed me he feels you are resilient, and I have to say I agree."
Gus breathed deeply, "don't cry over spilled milk I suppose," she said.
"Good philosophy. Now Helen, the doctor is having some friends over tomorrow evening for a little gathering and we would love for you to attend if you feel up to it."
"I don't know, I don't really have anything to wear to a party," Gus said dropping her head down.
Catherine smiled a cat like grin and suddenly Gus understood the Kitty nickname, "that will not be an issue, follow me."
Gus followed Catherine up the stairs to the second floor into a huge suite. She opened a door to room that was barely smaller but was actually a closet that looked like it was a small department store. "We have been lucky enough to have many designers donate to our cause. Everything is arranged by size, take what you wish, though we do ask you put it back after it has been cleaned for the next girl."
Gus felt queasy, who knows what had been done in this clothing.
"As for preparing yourself for the soirée, you may use this bathroom," Catherine led her to a massive bathroom with a huge soaker tub. It's like freaking Pretty Woman, Gus thought. "However I suggest you get in here early, as the other girls will need to get ready as well."
Gus said, "not a problem." Thinking, 'oh problem, big problem I wanna go home...'
Somehow Gus got through the rest of the day. She tried to explore but was met by Catherine or George at every turn it seemed.
George finally said, "perhaps it would be best for your recovery if you just spent the day relaxing, I have a large selection of books in my library."
Gus spent the day in the living room being watched like a hawk reading, ironically she thought, The Pygmalion. She did not see hide nor hair of any of the other women. It was eerily quiet. She was offered food but fought it off, "just can't eat quite yet, I guess I am still a bundle of nerves!"
"You will need to keep your strength up."
"Maybe tomorrow," Gus said pitifully.
She was forced to retire early at the suggestion of George. She sent a text before climbing into bed, All quiet on the western front -GB.
She barely slept again, maybe getting two hours due to exhaustion but waking up at every creak the house made.
The next morning she wandered down to the kitchen and topped off Catherine's mug before pouring her own.
"Why thank you, Helen, I did need more," Catherine said taking a swallow. "You don't look like you slept very well."
"Nightmares," Gus replied.
"Those will fade. You should take it easy today, rest up so you are up for tonight. Perhaps from fresh air in the courtyard."
It wasn't a suggestion. Gus curled up in the courtyard with a book, once again being watched.
Chapter 51: Party Raid
Later that evening, after a wasted afternoon spent wandering around the house, finding most every room locked, and finally giving up, Gus went to the second floor suite. She chose a dress that wasn't too revealing but was pleasant enough and headed to the bathroom. As she stepped out of the bath and was slipping into a robe she heard the other women enter the suite. Leah, Aimee, Brandy and two others were all gathered in the closet, throwing around clothing.
"But I wanted to wear that one, Thomas is going to be here tonight and he loves me in purple!"
"You couldn't fit one leg in that!"
Gus cleared her throat.
"Hey Helen. Wow, are you coming down tonight?" Leah asked her.
"Yes."
"Doc's moving fast with you, he must have plans..."
"Plans?" she asked, letting her robe fall a little more open to expose her bra and the recorder.
"Let's just say the dear doctor loves to play cupid and he may just have an arrow with your name on it," Leah laughed, "oh and this is the rest of the gang, Nicky and Melanie."
"Nice to meet y'all."
"Y'all, it's like Scarlett O'Hara!" Nicky said laughing.
"Maybe George has a friend who wants a southern belle," Melanie quipped,
"Maybe I should throw around some y'alls, because lord knows I can't believe I am still here after eight months!"
"Melanie's the other old timer," Leah explained.
"Where do women go after they leave here?" Gus asked trying to act innocent.
"Hopefully to a penthouse on the Upper East Side!" Nicky quipped.
"Let's just say George knows a lot of eligible men looking to, well not settle down, but for a trophy wife..."
A trophy wife who is a whore, interesting, Gus mused to herself.
"Lots of foreign men, lots of money," Aimee said rubbing her thumb and forefinger together, "now I claim the next bath."
"Fine," Brandy humphed.
"Helen, you have to let me help you cover that bruise," Leah said, turning Gus' face toward her.
Leah was working Hollywood like magic on Gus when Gus asked, "is it really wise to try to find a husband after just getting, you know," she said.
"Better than being on the street," Leah said, "besides George only deals in high quality women and friends," he shrugged smoothing base over the concealer, "there you go, now go get dressed, I have to get ready."
Gus crept back upstairs, dress slung over her shoulder. In her room, she closed the door, dug out the cellphone and repeated the text trick this time sending, Game on, wish me luck -GB
She returned the cell phone, slipped into the dress, adjusted the microphone to her cleavage and silently crept down the stairs, she heard Catherine speaking to someone on the phone and slid against a wall.
"Steven, I have someone for you to meet this nice, a lovely girl from Baton Rogue, her name is Helen." Silence, Steven must be talking. "No, no, she cannot be booked yet, she only got her last night...no, not even a preview," Catherine laughed.
Gus wondered if that counted as anything, soliciting, harassment, something. She felt her stomach turning again.
"Catherine, I need your help back here!" Gus heard George call from the kitchen. "Coming George, I was just calling Steven to tell him about our latest package."
Gus retched, waited for the door to the kitchen to swing shut and darted into the study, thanking god it wasn't locked. She turned to the computer first, doing a happy dance that the doctor had left it on and not password protected.
"Idiot," she muttered, pulling the flash drive from her bra and slipping it into the USB port, clicking on copy/paste. Next she turned to the desk itself, there was a date book, but she couldn't take that, hopefully he kept incriminating crap on his computer. She noticed the copy was complete and removed the flash drive and put it back in her bra just as the doorbell rang. She jumped from the study into the living room as Catherine was coming out.
"Helen you look lovely, come help me greet the guests," Catherine swung open the door, "Thomas, how wonderful to see you, I'd like you to meet Helen, Helen this is Thomas."
Gus took note of the no last names. For the next hour Catherine and Gus greeted the guests, ten men total all looking like they were about to buy livestock. The last to arrive was Steven. "And this is Helen," Catherine said knowingly shoving Gus forward.
"Why it is a pleasure to meet you, sir," she drawled practically adding a fiddle dee dee.
"Pleasure is all mine, but don't call me sir, surely I am not old enough to be a sir?" the man flashed her a smile so white it blinded her. Gus giggled.
"Shall we get a drink, Helen?" he said taking her elbow and leading her to a bar in the corner. "Vodka tonic fine with you?" he asked She nodded. "I understand you are new in town?"
"More or less," she said.
"Big city called?"
"I answered," she said giggling again.
They made small talk, or mostly he talked about himself and she dithered and flirted and tried to not knee him in the balls. Finally he leaned into her practically into her cleavage and said, "Helen, Catherine told me you have had a rough time of things recently, but I would love to see you again whenever your ready, maybe show you around town?"
"That would be lovely," she said.
"I will let George know to set it up then, soon I hope."
Never I hope, Gus thought. George must have caught something in Steven's stare because he came directly to them and said, "Helen you must be exhausted, Steven come have a cigar with me, Helen why don't you head upstairs, no one will mind down here."
Gus looked around, probably because all the women were on a sugar daddy mission and all the men were staring at T and A. "Yes, George, I think that would be best," she said walking up the the top floor.
Gus waited, and was not shocked to see Catherine at her door a few minutes later.
"I brought you some tea."
"Thank you, Catherine, that is too sweet."
"Not at all, I love taking care of you girls, never had any children of my own."
Gus pretended to sip, "this is good," she said.
"Well, drink up and try to rest up, you are still recovering."
"I do suddenly feel tired," Gus replied.
"Sleep tight then," Catherine said, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.
Praying she wasn't getting locked in, Gus rummaged through her bag again hiding the flash drive and trying to find a container to pour some of the tea into for the lab to analyze, she was positive it was drugged. Pulling out her contact lens case, she poured some of the tea in and the rest out the window. Slipping the cell phone into her bra and then into pajamas so she could always claim sleep walking, she crept down to the second story, still hearing voices downstairs.
She found a spot to hide in where hopefully no one would see her and she could catch conversations coming up the stairs. She was rewarded quickly by Aimee and Melanie each on the arm of an older gentleman, he was whispering into Melanie's ear, she giggled and said, "that will cost you extra, Melvin!" Gotcha Gus thought. They went into a bedroom down the hall. Nicky followed with her own suitor, they were too busy making out to say anything.
Leah followed a few minutes later with Thomas. She also provided Gus with ammunition by saying, "Thomas just how many times are you going to preview me before you buy me permanently?" Gus once again didn't know if it was enough, but it was something. The only one that didn't come up was Brandy.
Gus waited a few minuted more and then crept upstairs to retrieve her tea cup. She came back downstairs and crept towards the kitchen, she could hear crying inside, "I just don't understand why nobody wants me, I never get booked alone!"
"Perhaps you are trying to hard dear?" said Catherine
"Or not hard enough!" said George, "I am beginning to think you aren't pulling your own weight!"
"I am, I am!"
"Silence," George roared, if I say you are not pulling your own weight then you aren't, now get out of my sight!"
Gus backpedaled to look like she had just come down the stairs and Brandy came bursting through the door. Catherine followed behind her, she gasped when she saw Helen. "I am so sorry, I accidentally spilled my tea and was coming to get another cup, is the party over?"
"For me it is!" Brandy wailed
"George is in the kitchen he will be happy to get you another," Catherine said through clenched teeth, "now Brandy stop crying," she said following Brandy up the stairs.
Gus went into the kitchen, humming as she went to make her presence known.
"Helen, could you not sleep?"
"Spilled my tea, was hoping for another,"
"Of course, let me." As he was filling the kettle, he said, "so my friend Steven took a shine to you, Helen, what did you think about him?"
"He seemed nice enough."
"He is interested in seeing you again."
"He did mention that."
"I could arrange something if you would like."
"I don't know, maybe it is too soon? What do you think?"
"I think by the weekend your bruise will have faded."
"True," she sat playing with her hair.
The doctor put the kettle on and then sat across from Gus. "Helen, normally I try to acclimate girls a little more but I think maybe you and I should have a talk."
"Yes, George, what is it?"
"Well in addition to this safe house, I also like to provide a little matchmaking service for my respected friends."
"Like e-harmony or something?"
"On a more personal and sophisticated scale."
"Of course."
"As such my associates pay a fee for me to introduce them to women I know that may be to their liking." Gus didn't speak, willing him to reveal more. "And if it works out and they wish to court the woman, they pay me a little more." Gus still sat. "Do you understand what I am saying, Helen?"
"I think so."
"Is this something you would be interested in partaking in? It has to be something you are comfortable with, if not you let me know."
"I suppose it is something I could try."
"Good answer," he said smiling, "I guess you can stay then."
The kettle whistled and Gus jumped up, "I'll get it."
"Very well then, I am going to retire to my study and make some business calls." At after midnight, Gus thought, sure.
Gus waited until she heard the door to the study close and walked over to the phone, she called the number she had been given. A women's voice answered on the third ring, Gus asked hesitantly, "Um, hi, is Molly there?"
"She's not in right now, this is her roommate, LeAnn."
"Hey LeAnn, it's Helen."
"Helen, are you still in New York?"
"Yep, living it up in the Big Apple."
"Any luck with Broadway?"
"Um, I think I have found a pretty good gig, it's a little off Broadway though, pretty tight though," Gus prayed they were getting what she said.
"Well Molly should be home in about half an hour, do you want me to have her call you back?"
Gus sighed, they had read her. "I would, but I don't have a cell right now and I am staying at friends, I'll really wanted to catch up with her, but I'll try back."
"Okay then, I'll let her know you called."
"Thanks, LeAnn."
Now all Gus had to do was wait 30 minutes and then get herself arrested, that shouldn't be too hard should it?
She walked out to the living room and saw Catherine on the sofa, "if you need a friend to call you back, I can give you the number." Ah, so they did monitor phone calls, not a shock. Gus stared at her. "I wasn't meaning to eavesdrop, I was just about to make a call myself."
"Oh, don't worry about it, just a friend from back home, she went west to LA, maybe I should have gone with her instead of the jerk."
"I think you will see this will turn out better, you have many more opportunities in New York."
"I feel more like that now. Thank you for all your help, Catherine. I think I am going to head to bed now, it is very late."
"Certainly, see you in the morning."
Gus walked up the stairs, praying that the activities were still continuing upstairs, but not wanting to pause on the second floor landing and give herself away.
29 minutes later, Gus was rewarded with the doorbell ringing. She was suddenly filled with fears of secret passageways and escape routes, but figured they had been looking at this place long enough that hopefully the had the architecture plans.
"May I help you?" George said in a booming voice that could be heard up to the attic. A warning, Gus thought.
"NYPD, we have a warrant to search the premises, we are searching for..." Gus could not hear all of what was being said over the sound of police filling the building.
She heard running on the stairs and couldn't tell if it was up or down. "Second floor!" she heard a shout and more running then "Clear!" from the third and then running, a few seconds later the door to her room burst open.
Gus had been trying to calmly sit on the bed dressed down to sneakers. "NYPD, I need your hands up, now!" Gus complied studying the officer in riot gear. "Stand up and turn around!"
Gus followed the order, hands in the air, was she supposed to tell, she didn't quite remember, she thought she had to get fully arrested first so the house would see her in cuffs. Gus felt the officer jerk her arms behind her back and felt the cold metal bite into her wrists and then stop, she was whipped around, the helmet flipped up and a patrolman she once did a eval to return to duty looked at her, "Doc what are you-"
"Undercover, Smithson, and it's Helen," she whispered.
He nodded, "I knew there was someone," he loosened the cuffs a little and said, "if you don't mind I'll still make this look good."
Gus nodded but said quietly, "you need to make sure they get my bag."
"Gotcha," and then much louder, "got one up here, claims she's not doing nothing, she was alone, but who knows."
Gus waited until they were between the third and second story before she started screaming, "I didn't do anything wrong, I just needed a place to stay, this is a shelter!" and struggling.
"Are you resisting?" the office asked menacingly.
Catherine was on the landing, also cuffed, "say nothing, George will fix this, it is simply a misunderstanding."
Misunderstanding my ass Gus thought. Dragged outside, the officer who had recognized her said, "this one's bruised, I think she needs a medic transport."
Clever, Gus thought it separated her from the rest without being obvious, "I'm fine you jerk what are you doing?" she yelled to the officer.
"Feisty aren't we?" Smithson said, smirking.
"Just move me to the bus," she grunted.
Suddenly there was an explosion from behind them, Gus flew forward, Smithson falling on top of her. The townhouse went up as if it was soaked in kerosene.
"Dammit!" Gus groaned underneath Smithson, who was swearing under his breath.
"Well that was convenient," he said, lifting Gus off the ground.
Miraculously, or not, no one seemed to be injured, Catherine was standing by a patrol car, cuffed, she shrugged her shoulders and said with a serene smile, "I must have left the gas on..."
What had been a fairly nondescript raid now turned into a scene of chaos and Gus did not want to get outted and with her luck Colin would be on the engine she heard rapidly approaching. "Officer," she barked, "I need out of here now!"
"Right," he said pulling her toward the medic.
"UC," Smithson said shoving her roughly at the medic.
"Do you have any other injuries?" the medic said with the smallest nod to Smithson. Gus shook her head, grateful Smithson had loosened the cuffs, but still wanting to chew them off. "I can't uncuff you," the medic said.
"I know," she stared at him.
He swabbed at her bruise and leaned in, "UC, huh?" Gus nodded. "You need to get to precinct?" Gus nodded again. "Smithson, I'll get her looked at, but I want her processed."
Smithson called out, "take the rest, I'll transport her." Smithson came for her, "You want to make this look good, the doctor's attorney is here?"
"Yeah, let's make it look good."
Smithson shoved Gus into the backseat of a cruiser and banged on the back. Gus looked out from the backseat at the building engulfed in flames happy to not have run into anyone else. She was driven back to the precinct by Smithson who kept her shielded. He rough handled her into the general population and Gus prayed her cover was not blown apart. She was thrown in with the other girls but not Catherine or George.
"Helen are you okay?" Leah asked, "you didn't say anything?"
"There was nothing to say," Gus replied.
Just then a Sergeant came to the holding cell. "Those three first, I need to get more detectives in to interrogate the other three," the Sergeant pointed at Leah, Brandy and Gus."You take her," he pointed at a detective and then to Leah. The detective furrowed his brow at Gus who gave her head the slightest shake. "You take her," another detective took Brandy. "I'll take her, you were the one who was processed right, nice shiner," he said roughly pulling her out of the cell and marching her towards an interrogation room.
He took her to one of the back rooms, hidden from the rest. Gus noticed the blinds were down and prayed someone had gotten the memo that she was the UC. The Sergeant whispered in her ear, "task force leader will debrief you soon, until then sit tight," the loudly, "go sit down while I find a detective." He shoved her into the room and slammed the door.