CHAPTER 4
Starsky woke up the next morning and looked around, a bit disoriented, until he remembered that he was in the efficiency apartment the department had rented not far from the escort service. The agency had this address and phone number on file for their newest employee.
Starsky forced himself out of bed and went into the tiny bathroom to attend to his morning routine. The room was so small that there was barely enough room to turn around. After a quick shower and shave, Starsky wrapped a towel around his trim waist and went back into the other room. Walking over the battered chest of drawers sitting against one wall, he opened a drawer and grabbed a pair of jeans and a tee shirt to dress for the day.
Since it was still too early to check in at the escort service Starsky decided to go to a small diner on the corner for a late breakfast. The diner was just the kind of place that Starsky liked to frequent. Small and homey, the waitress was friendly and flirtatious, and the food was cheap with generous servings. Starsky ordered the hungry man special: 2 eggs, toast, 3 pancakes, hash browns, and 3 strips of bacon. Starsky enjoyed a leisurely meal and flirted playfully with the waitress.
Hutch was constantly teasing Starsky about his eating habits, not only his passion for junk food, but also for the amount he could eat at one setting. Where Hutch had to watch what he ate and exercise regularly to keep off unwanted pounds, Starsky's naturally hyperactive behavior burned off unwanted calories and kept him trim and fit
He left the diner shortly after noon and strolled down the street to the escort service. Even though he was two hours early for his two o'clock meeting, Starsky figured that would give him a chance to meet some of the other escorts and see if he could pry any useful information out of the receptionist.
The waiting room was empty except for the receptionist when Starsky arrived. She smiled brightly at the agency's newest escort and said,
"You're early. Sheila isn't expecting you until two."
"I know. I just thought this might be a good time to get to know you a little bit better." Starsky said with a charming smile. "I'm David Michaels."
"Becky Howell." The receptionist said with a pleased smile at Starsky's remark. She batted her eyes at him flirtatiously as she imagined a romantic evening with the dark haired man in front of her.
"So, Becky," Starsky said as he sat down on the edge of her desk. "Are you seeing anybody?"
"Yes…I mean no…not seriously." Becky told him in a flustered voice, a self conscious blush coloring her cheeks.
"How would you like to go to a movie and grab a pizza with me sometime?"
"I'd love to," Becky gushed in a thrilled voice.
"So, how long have you worked here?"
"Almost a year. It's a great job. The pay's good and you meet some of the most interesting people."
"I bet. How many escorts work here anyway?" Starsky probed
"12 counting you. Six men and six women. Matt and Cindy should be coming in anytime now so you'll be able to meet them."
"How about Shelia? What kind of boss is she?"
"She's okay as long as you follow her rules and don't piss her off."
"Are there just three of you that work here besides the escorts?"
"Shelia's brother is her partner but he hardly ever comes into the office."
"How come?" Starsky asked reaching out to playful twist a strand of Becky's hair around one finger to distract her from his leading questioning.
"He just put up most of the money to help start the business. He leaves the day to day operations to Shelia."
Starsky nodded making a mental note to add the brother to the growling list of people to run a background check on. Their conversation was interrupted when the door opened and a man entered the room accompanied by a young woman.
The man was tall and well built with a full mustache and dark hair that hung to his shoulders. He was dressed in faded jeans, boots, and a green tee shirt. The woman was a very petite oriental with long black hair and deep brown almond shaped eyes. Her unblemished complexion looked like fine porcelain. She was dressed in black slacks, heels, and a red tank top that showed off her figure to its best advantage.
The couple stopped and looked at Starsky questioningly. Becky spoke up, taking charge of the introductions.
"Matt King, Cindy Lee, this is David Michaels."
Starsky straightened up and reached out to shake the other man's hand with a smile. "Pleased to meet ya."
"You too," Matt said with a welcoming smile as he exchanged a firm handshake with Starsky.
The ringing of the phone demanded Becky's attention so the two men walked over to one of the plush sofas and sat down. Cindy took a seat on the other sofa, demurely crossing her legs at the ankle and folding her hands in her lap.
"So, you're the new guy," Matt said "I'm sure you're gonna like it here."
"I'm sure I will. How long have you worked here?"
"Not long. About six weeks."
"Is there a lot of turn over?"
'No, not usually." Matt said evasively. When it became apparent that Matt wasn't going to volunteer any further information, Starsky deftly changed the subject.
"So, can you make a lot of money doing this?"
"You bet. The big bucks come from the tips. Hell, you can make five or six hundred dollars a week in tips if the clients like you."
"I can live with that," Starsky said with a crooked smile.
Cindy glanced at her watch and then stood up. Walking across the room, she entered Shelia's office closing the door securely behind her.
"She doesn't say much, does she?" Starsky observed.
"No, but you'd be surprised how many guys want to take her out. They get off on all that submissive crap."
Cindy was only in the inner office for a few minutes, when she came out Matt went in.
Becky was busy talking on the phone so Starsky picked up a magazine lying on the coffee table and began flipping through it.
When Matt came out of the office he was accompanied by Shelia. She looked at Starsky with a warm smile and said,
"You're early. I like that. I don't have anything for you tonight but stay close to the phone in case something comes up." She turned her attention to Becky and said, "I'll be out of the office for the rest of the afternoon. You can take care of the others when they come in."
"Yes, Ms. Brent," Becky said with a nod before turning her attention back to the phone.
"Hey, you wanna grab a cup of coffee?" Matt suggested "I have a date tonight but I don't have to be there until eight."
"Sure, why not?" Starsky said agreeably. The two men walked out of the office together and left the building. They walked to the same diner where Starsky had eaten breakfast. After settling in a back booth, they both ordered coffee. They spent the next hour in casual conversation discussing sports, their favorite teams, the escort business and women in general. When they parted ways, Starsky headed back to his rented room where he called Hutch.
"How'd it go?" Hutch asked when he answered the phone.
"Okay. I don't have to go out tonight but I have to be on call just in case. I've got some more names for you to check out."
"Okay, shoot."
"Becky Howell, the receptionist. And two of the escorts, Matt King and Cindy Lee.
Also, Shelia Brent has a brother who put up most of the money to start the business. Don't have a name for him but we better check him out too."
"Got it," Hutch said "How about I grab a pizza after work and stop by to keep you company?"
"Don't forget the beer," Starsky answered with a smirk as he hung up the phone.