Tony: Alvarez Security Series (32 page)

What the hell is she doing?
Sherrie moved closer so that she could hear, but not be readily seen. A group of tall lockers stood between her and Betina and she prayed that they stayed on the other side.

“You don’t have any family here?” Betina asked. The two others must have indicated they did not, because Betina continued. “I was like you too. Came into town not knowing anyone and was on the streets in no time. Costs a ton of money to rent an apartment. And food? Totally outrageous.”

“So how’d you make it,” another girl’s voice asked.

“Finally met a great guy who runs a grocery. He likes to hire teens because it helps them and keeps his costs down too. Plus I get some food every day and he’ll help find you roommates to share an apartment with.”

“How lucky you are,” came another female voice. “You think he’s looking for more help?”

“He’s always looking,” Betina answered. “I hear he’s opening a club and he’ll need help there as well. How old are you?”

“I’m eighteen and she’s sixteen,” was the answer.

“That’s perfect. He’ll train you as a cocktail waitress and you can make a ton of money in tips.”

“What about me?” the younger voice asked.

Sherrie heard a hesitation in Betina’s response. Leaning closer to the end of the row of lockers, she strained to hear.

“He’ll…take care of you too. He’s got…um…different jobs he can give for… um…different stuff.”

“Well, we just got off the bus with nowhere to go. How do we get in touch with him?”

“I’ve got a card with the grocery’s address on it. You can stop by there anytime and if he’s not there, just ask for the assistant manager, Juan.”

“What about now? Can you show us?”

Sherrie heard the soft sigh coming from Betina.
What is she doing? It’s like she’s recruiting them for jobs. There’s no way Hernando can take all of these kids to work. And club? What club?
Her mind racing with thoughts, she almost missed the fact that they had walked over to one of the buses. Peeking around the lockers, she saw Betina buy the tickets before handing them to the other two girls. Getting a good look at them now, she could see that the older one had auburn hair pulled into a ponytail with a top-heavy figure showcased in a tight t-shirt. The younger girl had stringy blonde hair and was very slim.

What kind of club is she talking about?
Having worked as a cocktail waitress before, Sherrie knew that if it was a slimy place like she had been in, the expectation was that the waitresses would perform any service just like the strippers on stage. Sherrie had resisted, but she was in her early twenties at the time and capable of making her own decisions. These girls? They looked tired, hungry and willing to take what was given.

She quickly got back into her car, now that she knew they were heading to the grocery. Getting there before the city transit, she parked close enough to see what was going on without being intrusive.

She saw when the three girls alighted from the bus and walked to the store. Juan was outside placing new sales signs on the windows when they approached.
Damn, I wish I could hear what they are saying.
She rolled her window down and strained to hear anything from the conversation.

*

Tony’s phone rang
and as he glanced at the identification, he saw it came from his surveillance room. “Yeah?”

“Got a visual of Sherrie sitting in her car outside the grocery. That girl she works with is standing outside also with two other girls and a man, not Hernando. She’s not in trouble, but just thought I’d let you know. She’s obviously trying to see what’s going on.” Chuck, the newest hire for Alvarez Security, laughed. “Yeah, she has her window down and is half hanging out of the car trying to listen. I’m not sure her surveillance skills are quite up to your standards, boss.”

“Fuck,” Tony said, rubbing his hand over his face. “Keep watching and let me know when she leaves.”

“Got it,” came the affirmative.

Tony sat back in his chair, thoughts of Sherrie filling his mind. Lily walked in to hand him some information on a case and noticed his pensiveness.

“You okay, Tony?” she asked.

Starting to just agree, he hesitated.

“It is work or Sherrie?” she prodded, then smiled. “I know business is good, it must be Sherrie.”

Chuckling, he nodded. “It seems…harder. Or different. I…” He knew he was not making sense, but had difficulty putting into words the emotions swirling around.

Lily sat in the chair across from him and asked, “Tony, were you around much with your first wife?”

“Truthfully? No. I was usually away on duty.”

“So, even though you loved your wife and she must have not minded being alone while you served overseas, you were removed from a lot of the day to day annoyances. You know, like who squeezes the toothpaste from the bottom, kind of stuff.”

He sat, thoughtful.
Did Marla resent me being gone? She always seemed so in control of everything and when I was home, we just enjoyed each other.
His mind rolled to Sherrie and the corners of his mouth began to turn up.

“Living with someone, day in and day out, isn’t easy. It’s not all naked fun,” Lily giggled. Then her face sobered as she thought of the issues she and Matt had had to work on. “I guess what I’m saying is that the relationship you have with Sherrie is nothing like what you had with your wife years before.”

Tony nodded as he turned his gaze to the wise woman sitting in front of him. “You’re right,” he agreed, knowing that Marla had been easy-tempered and complacent, exactly what he needed then. But Sherrie? She was fire and ice…and he love it.

Lily stood, nodding to the papers on his desk. “That’s some of the work I’ve been helping Matt and Shane with. I’ve done some digging on the missing girls that Gabe and Jobe are working on as well. There may be a link, Tony. Give me another day and I think we may need to meet.”

Trusting Lily’s instinct, he nodded as she left.

*

Finally, the man
outside the grocery walked inside with the two girls from the bus station. They were all smiling, but Sherrie could not get the feeling that something untoward was happening and it directly involved Betina. The young girl started walking down the street, so Sherrie jumped out of her car and called to her.

A startled looked appeared on Betina’s face instead of the usual smile that Sherrie received.

“Um…hey,” Betina said, adopting an air of nonchalance.

Not wasting time, Sherrie approached her. “You want to tell me what that was all about?”

“What?” Betina asked. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Those girls. The bus station. Hernando being such an altruistic guy. The club. Talk to me, Betina. What is going on?”

Eyes wide with fright, Betina glanced around quickly to see if anyone was around. Grabbing Sherrie’s arm she pulled her over toward the parking lot. “You shouldn’t be following me,” she hissed.

“What’s going on?” Sherrie repeated. “You can’t tell me that something’s not happening and I’ve got a bad feeling.” She saw tears in Betina’s eyes and a look of agony.

“I’m just trying to help,” she answered. “That’s all.” Glancing around nervously, she said, “We really can’t talk here. I’m fine. I promise.”

Betina turned to walk back down the street, then stopped when she heard Sherrie call, “I care about you. Please let me help.” Twisting around, she said once again, “My life is in my art.”

“Betina, I don’t know what you mean by that,” Sherrie admitted, her frustration at an all-time high.

Glancing around once more, she leaned in slightly toward Sherrie and said, “The eyes are the mirror of my soul.” Her quote was accompanied with her eyes filled with pleading.

With that, Betina hurried around the corner, leaving Sherrie standing on the street, as perplexed as ever. Getting into her car, she drove home, determined to re-examine the art pad and not stop until she discovered what Betina was talking about.

*

She missed the
man in the car, listening to their conversation. Hernando had driven up and saw Betina and the nosy bitch having what looked like an argument. Betina was his best recruiter, easily manipulated by threats against her mother.
Maybe it’s time to move her to the club. A few nights being used by the men looking for young pussy would go a long way to keeping her under control.
The idea had merit, but then he watched the bitch drive away.
But if Betina disappears, Ms. Mullins would be looking for her, and that could get messy. Unless,
he thought with a smile,
Ms. Mullins is taken care of. After all, there are more clubs than just his that can always use pussy. She would bring a good price.
Smiling, he left his car and walked into the store to meet the two new recruits.

*

That evening Tony
found Sherrie sitting at the kitchen table, an art pad in front of her as she poured over each picture. She looked up guiltily as he walked in.

“Oh, no. I lost track of time and didn’t even think about dinner.”

Walking over, he pulled out his phone and quickly ordered pizza to be delivered before leaning down to kiss her. Taking her face in his hands, he deepened the kiss, determined to take away the look of fatigue on her face.

“You never have to worry about fixing dinner for me, babe. I’m just as capable of getting us something. Anyway, you look like you are hard at work.” He leaned back in for another taste. His dick reared to life as his hand slid down to cup her breast. Rubbing his thumb over her nipple, he captured her moan in his mouth.

“Food’s not gonna be here for at least twenty minutes,” he pointed out.

Her answer to his unasked question was to suck his tongue into her mouth while palming the straining erection pressing against his jean zipper.

Lifting her in his arms, he felt her legs wrap around his waist. Backing her a few feet, he carried her to the stairs before laying her down. Pulling her yoga pants over her hips, dragging her panties along with them, he tossed them to the bottom of the stairs. She leaned up and fumbled with his zipper, trying to get it over his swollen cock.

“Thank God you don’t go commando or I’d be afraid of zipping your dick,” she said between breathless kisses.