Deal Breaker

Hector stepped closer. Myron did not move.

I could demonstrate my skills in the martial arts,' Myron began. He quickly withdrew his gun and aimed it at Hector's chest. 'But I just showered.'

Hector's eyes widened in surprise.

'Let this be a lesson to you, Blade Boy,' Myron continued. 'Half the people in this building probably carry guns. You go around waving that toy, and someone without my tender heart will ace you.'

126

The redhead did not seem taken aback by the gun. 'Get out of here,' she said to Myron. 'Now.'

'Are you the owner?' Myron tried again.

'You got a warrant?'

'I'm not a cop.'

'Then get your ass out of here.' She undulated a lot when she talked. Her hips and legs in constant motion. She signaled to Hector, who closed up the switchblade. 'You can go, Hector.'

'Not so fast, Hector,' Myron said. 'Get in the darkroom. I don't want you getting any ideas about coming back with a gun.'

Hector looked toward the redhead. She nodded, and he went.

'Close the door,' Myron said.

He closed it. Myron walked over and pulled the dead bolt.

The redhead put her hands on her hips. 'Happy now?'

'Nearly ecstatic.'

'Now get out.'

'Listen,' Myron said with his melt-'em, warm smile, 'I don't want any trouble. I'm just here to buy some photographs. My name is Bernie Worley.

I work for a new porno magazine.'

She made a face. 'Do I really look that stupid? Bernie Worley, here to buy some photographs. Give me a fuckin' break.'

There was a sudden noise. People. Lots of them. A commotion, even by this place's standard. In the corridor. Right where he had left Esperanza.

Alone.

Myron turned and ran, feeling his heart leap to his throat. If something had happened to her-He threw open the door. Dozens of people surrounded Esperanza, most kneeling. She stood in the middle, smiling and - he couldn't believe it signing autographs.

'It's Pocahontas!' someone shouted.

'Make mine out "With love to Manuel."'

'You're still my favorite!'

'I remember when you beat Queen Carimba. What a fight!'

'That Highway Hannah. Such a dirty fighter. When she threw salt in your eyes, I could have killed her.'

Esperanza caught Myron's eye, shrugged, went back to signing old matchbooks and scraps of paper. The redhead followed him out the door.

When she saw Esperanza, her entire being lit up. 'Poco?'

Esperanza looked back up. 'Lucy?'

They hugged. They stepped back into the studio, Myron following. |Where you been, girl?' Lucy asked.

'Here, there.'

The two women kissed. On the lips. A little too long. Esperanza turned around. 'Myron?'

127

'Huh?'

'Your eyes are bulging.'

'They are?'

'I don't tell you everything.'

'Apparently not,' he said. 'But at least I know why my startling good looks didn't faze your friend.'

Both women found that laughable. 'Lucy, this is Myron Bolitar.'

Lucy looked him up and down. 'He your boyfriend?'

'No. Just a good friend. And my boss.'

'He looks like a guy I know, worked a kinky show at a club down the street. He had this act where he peed on different women.'

'It wasn't me,' Myron assured her. 'I have enough trouble peeing in a public urinal.'

Lucy turned her attention to Esperanza. 'You look good, Poco.'

'Thanks.'

'Out of the wrestling game, huh?'

'Completely.'

'But you're still working out?'

'As often as I can.'

'Nautilus?'

'Um-hmm.'

'It shows,' Lucy said with a wicked smile. 'You really look hot.'

Myron cleared his throat. 'Hey, how about those Knicks?'

The women ignored him. 'You still taking pictures of the wrestlers?'

Esperanza asked.

'Not much anymore. I'm mostly into this shit.'

Esperanza looked back at Myron. 'Lucy - that isn't her real name, we just call her that because of her hair - she used to do the promo photos of all the wrestlers.'

'So I gathered,' Myron said. 'Do you think she can help us out?'

'What do you want to know?' Lucy asked.

Myron handed her the copy of Nips. He pointed to Kathy's picture. I want to know about this,' he said.

Lucy studied the photograph for a second. 'He a cop?' she asked Esperanza.

'A sports agent.'

'Oh.' She did not ask for further elaboration. 'Because this could get us in trouble.'

'How so?' Myron asked.

'The photograph. The girl is topless.'

'So?'

'So it's illegal. Topless girls aren't allowed in 900 ads. We're going to get screwed if the government sees this.'

'We?' Myron repeated. Again the clever interrogation techniques.

128

'I'm one of the owners of these dial-a-porn companies. A lot of the lines work out of this building.'

'I'm not sure I understand,' Myron said. 'What do you mean, topless girls are illegal? Almost every girl in that magazine is naked.'

'Not in the ads for 900 lines,' Lucy corrected. 'Couple years back a law was passed. Nine hundred lines had to go clean. Look here.' She turned a page and pointed at another ad. 'The girl might look suggestive, but she can't be naked. And look at the name of the lines. Stuff like "Secret Confessions" or "Talk to Girls." Now look at the ones for the 800 lines.

Hard core. "Cum Between My Tits," stuff like that.'