The Smell Of Corruption

I took the purse I'd snatched off of Lola Dunaway to police headquarters....Sissy was smiling when she saw me....

"Kevin you must read minds...I was getting ready to call you.." she  said  and smiled..She took a look at the purse I was carrying and asked...

"For me?  You really shouldn't have..." she said...

"I caught up with the elusive Lola Dunaway or whoever she is and she got away from me....

but she left this behind..." I said.

Sissy looked in the purse...Inside there were several drivers licenses in her purse....Brenda Hawley, Cheryl Thompson, Beverly Morgan, Christine Williams and of course Lola Dunaway..As well as several credit cards in other people's names...including men....

Sissy looked at me and smiled again...

"You almost destroyed my surprise.....Her real name is Carolyn Cartwright....Born and raised in West Orange, New Jersey.....Educated in the public school system there, graduated from high school, did two years of community college without graduating...Two arrests for prostitution....no jail time...no convictions...Worked in New York City as a bar maid...Two more arrests for prostitution...did seven months in Women's detention Center....Moved to Philadelphia....Took a few jobs as an Administrative Assistant..../Office manager...one arrest for Prostitution here last summer...No jail time...Began working for , wait for it...The late Frank Dunaway..." she said..

"Wow, so she possibly set Frank Dunaway up to be murdered.....??" I asked...

"That's what we thought...I put Duke Baylor on it...

We found five separate residences for her...She wasn't in one of them....First off...There is no Lola Dunaway....That's a bogus name....These credit cards...and drivers licenses??? All either stolen or of the recently deceased..." said Sissy , who looked at the names as though she recognized them...

"So she's a grifter??" I said.

 "Among other things...The Bunco Squad is looking for her right now...for Credit Card theft and fraud and we want her for identity theft.....We don't have enough to charge her with murder or conspiracy to committ murder right now...We were hoping you did!" said Sissy..

"No...I got nothing..." I said.

"You have ten thousand tax free dollars..." said Sissy..

''Sure do...That's a win for me..." I said..."Thanks Siss...Hope you guys catch her..."I said as I hugged her and prepared to leave..

"Hey, she's not even important...You captured or killed our murderer...Another case is down as far as I'm concerned...Maybe we'll never know what he was going to tell us." said Sissy.

"Yeah maybe."I said.

II-

If you're wondering....I do go to work at my straight job occassionally...That would be Morris Communications...Where I am the CEO of a company that has both print and digital newspapers, magazines, blogs, podcasts, music streaming service, a satellite Television station, and satellite radio station and a recording studio.

We started out with 90 employees a few years ago....That has quadrupled.....As much as I liked the little building that Chris and Chess had given me...I knew that pretty soon..I was going to have to move my operation to a larger place...but that was far into the future for now...

Today was cause for celebration....My Ace and my best friend in this business...Sean Jackson, Chief of Staff , Photographer, and now film-maker had gotten a BET nomination for best documentary for his film "Puddin and Panties" an investigative look at former Philadelphia Philantrophist, William Crawley Jr..  who it was revealed was a serial rapist.....Sean's film was going to be featured in the International Black Film Festival this summer...Sepia, Bonita, Robert Foxworth and I were planning to attend with his wife Sheila...

Sheila, his wife, and our Deputy CEO, Sean and I were in the conference room, along with Harry Charles , Attorneys Conrad and Jill Nelson and several staffers as we popped champaigne and drank bubbly...

"Congratulations Sean buddy...You're a film maker now...Written, Directed and Produced by you....I didn't know you had it in you.." I laughed....

"Hell I didn't either...." laughed Sean as we embraced....

We were having a great afternoon....

III-

 I stayed the rest of the day...pretty sure that this case as it was ,was over, except that it wasn't....

I stepped outside of my office only to see ........My ex-client...

"I know it's late...but I had to see you again.." she said...Using the line I used on her...

"Well ,Lola Dunaway or is it Carolyn Cartwright?" I said.

She smirked...

''So you know my name huh?" she said.

''I know all about you...North Jersey roots, New York City...Here.. You've been a very busy girl.... Hooking, grifting...working secretarial jobs here and there...a stint in jail or two, But of course ..."You could have told me all of that in our little conversation in Chinatown the other day." I said..

"Okay...Okay....I'm sorry if I deceived you....but If you knew all of that, you wouldn't have taken my case.." she said.

 I laughed...

"Probably not...You set me up to kill that guy...Who you set up to kill your boss.. I could have been killed." I said.

"I didn't set him up to kill my boss...I was trying to protect my boss....I didn't know he was already dead....True,I did hire you to follow him and I did tip him off that you were on him...I was betting on you to take him out...He was fat, out of shape and careless...Always eating the pear while trying to do business...I knew you'd take him down and you did!" she said.

"First off , you need to stop lying to me...You knew he'd killed your boss...A week ago..."I said.

"I didn't...I swear...." she said...

"Take a hike!" I said.

"Okay...Okay...Yes, I knew....Look.. I'll be straight with you....Let's walk..." she said.

We walked down the street.. towards the parking lot where my car was.....I made a note to myself to purchase a parking lot for my employees ,where they could park for free....

''What's going on? and Why did you look me up?"

"Look...I worked for Mr. Dunaway for close to a year.....He is , was a good man...I actually liked him...He was the Assistant City Auditor.....He discovered something bad, I don't know what, but some really bad things involving The City Auditor...Abe Satchel.." she said.

"Honest Abe" Satchel....I hear he's considering a run for the Mayor's office in the spring." I said.

"Honest Abe my ass...He's up to his neck in corruption and Frankie ...Mr. Dunaway had the goods on him..Was going to go to the police..Satchel's lawyer and his people called Mr. Dunaway all week long...They offered up to ten million dollars for that information, but Mr. Dunaway would not take a bribe...He was an honest man...Next to you ,the only genuine man I've ever met..." said Carolyn.

"You were sweet on him weren't you?" I asked.

She blushed...

"Yes...We were lovers....He had no street sense Kevin...I knew the type of men that might be after him...I told him that information...Whatever he had ,needed to be put in a safe place.." she said.

"Like a safe deposit box in New York City!" I said.

Now her eyes lit up...

"Is that where it is?" she asked..

"That's where it was...Police and Feds have already checked it out....He moved whatever it was he took...but he didn't bring it back on the train with him...The cops don't have it either or Honest Abe Satchel would be locked up...So your boy killed him and found nothing.." I said.

She passed me another envelope...It had ten thousand dollars in 50's in it...

"You sure have a lot of money to pass around sugar britches...More money than a mere Administrative Assistant should have....Who do you really work for?" I asked..

''Like a good P.I. you ask a lot of questions...Kevin ,I need you to find that information for me... I need it." she said.

"I see..to sell it back to Satchel and collect ten million dollars...right?" I asked ,smiling....I passed her her envelope back..

"Take A Hike!" I said...

"Kevin please....It's not like that...It's for insurance...Satchel and his cronies have me marked for death...Look....I found this in Frankie's loft....It's a baggage claim ticket...Whatever he sent here from New York is coming on a later Train ,two days from now..." she said.

''So why don't you just go and collect it yourself?" I asked.

"Well thanks to you...The police know about some of the ways I have uh let's say supplemented my income and they have a warrant out for me.." she said.

''So why wouldn't I just take this information and either turn it into the police or make a deal with Satchel myself..??" I said.

She smiled and leaned in closer to me... She had a very nice body and smelled very nice and was very allurring...

"Because you're an honorable man...Mister Kevin...You're just like Frankie Dunaway.." she said..and passed me the envelope with ten thousand dollars...And I could reward you handsomely....with many other things.." she said seductively...

"I'm Married ...Happily Married...and money isn't much of a problem for me...believe it or not!" I said...

I shrugged....

"I don't have a dog in this fight....I'll find your briefcase or whatever he sent here....but where do I find you?" I said.

"You just call this number..I'll find you..." she said...

She gave me a very soft sensual kiss that lingered.....

"Mmmmmmm you have soft lips Mister Kevin.." she said and walked off into the night....

I headed uptown to Pink's bar....and sat down with the man himself....

I peeled off a few dollars and tossed them on the counter...

"That's for you." I said as our drinks arrived..

"You know, when Sissy comes by or you...I usually have a good night in here.." laughed Pink.."What's up?" he asked..

I showed him a photo of Carolyn Crawford..

He smiled..

"You met her huh?  What name was she using...Lola, Brenda, Cheryl, Beverly?? Hahahahaha...Her real name is Carolyn...She's a grifter...and a some time Hooker...She'd steal your drawers if you turned your back on her.." said Pink.

"She's hired me to find a package...."I said and showed him my envelope with ten large in it! His eyes got as large as saucers...

"Trust me Kev...She didn't hire you...Whoever she is working for hired you....She's just their front...You say she gave you ten large?" said Pink..

"This is the second job for her...this makes Twenty Large.." I said.

''She's workin for somebody and who better to hook a guy like you or any guy than a pretty broad...Trust me, she aint got that kind of bread Kev?" said Pink..

''Who is she working for?" I asked.

"I don't know...I'll keep my ear to the streets and find out for you...but a girl like that...Works for the highest bidder.." He said.

"What I thought....I don't trust her.." I said.

"But you took the money?" laughed Pink..

"Oh of course....I'm no fool.." I said and we both laughed....

IV-

Sepia was up when I got home....Fixing dinner...

"Smells good babes...Where's Kimberly?" I asked..

"She's with Josie...I thought you and I could have a nice night to ourselves...Your case is over right?" she asked..

''Not exactly." I said and handed her the envelope with the money in it..

"Ooou Lover...a new case?" asked Sepia..

''Same case...The little grifter hired me again...to find the bag that Dunaway shipped here ..." I said.

"And you took the case? You trust her after you said she set you up?? She's playing a game on you honey bunny." said Sepia.

"You think I don't know that? Of course she is....This whole thing has the smell of corruption all over it...But I like to see how games are played and how games end..." I said..

"You do at that lover!" said Sepia...

We sat down and enjoyed a  quiet and delicious dinner...I put my arms around her and hugged her as she washed and dried the dishes...

I pulled her to me and kissed her passionately, after she had finished....I ran my hands up her dress and ran my fingers up and down her smooth legs and her hips...She unzippered my trousers....

"Ummmmmmm are you playing a game with me now?" asked Sepia..

"Yes...and I would like to see where this one ends...." I said...

"Ummmmm, you have a one track mind husband of mine...You are soooo nasty...." said Sepia...

I unhooked her bra....She giggled...

"Ouuuuu, you are so good at that...." she laughed...

I pulled Sepia to me...I was certain she could feel my erection in my pants...I slipped her sundress over her head and off..I turned her to me and we kissed softly at first and then gradually more passionately...I had my hands in her panties.    

 "Ouuuu freshie...you do this too easily" she remarked and laughed...

"But you love it. don't you?" I whispered in her ear...

 "Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Let's take this upstairs to the bedroom Kevin..." She said and took my hand and led me to our bedroom, Where we took no time getting undressed and meeting in the middle of the floor to embrace and kiss passionately...

It wasn't long before we were making sweet love in our bedroom....Moaning ,groaning...and rattling the walls....Oblivious to the fact that the windows were open and we could be heard on the street outside...

 I plunged deeper and deeper into Sepia's warm moist places...and she moaned..tossed pillows off of the bed.. and held me tighter, wrapping her legs around my back and following my every move...The headboard softly slammed against the wall...

We were both sweating profusely and listening to each other's breaths...

I took my time...Six hours passed by slowly as we continued making sweet love...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh baby..Ouuuuuu don't stop...give mommy some more...ouuuuu" said Sepia ....

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu girl." I moaned..

It began to rain outside...at first mildly, then heavily....and thunder roared throughout the sky....A nice cool wind blew through the window on our bodies as we continued to make love...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Kevin...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my lord! ouuuuuuuuuuu" she moaned...

"Ohhh girl, I'm goin crazy...."I said.

"Ouuuu Kevin....You are showing off in this bed... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my lord! ouuuuuuuuuuu"she moaned...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh...Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm girl!" I moaned.

I could sense that Sepia was having one of several intense orgasms...as she smiled and then cried, tears and sweat rolling down her forehead.....

 "Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Kevin... KEVIN MORRIS!!!ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my lord! ouuuuuuuuuuu" she moaned...

I came very intensely.....I felt like I was dying as I came hard....I was drenched with sweat afterwords...

 She was coming too and shaking and turning her head from side to side...

We held each other tightly afterwords...

''Wow!" said Sepia...

"Yeah, that was something..." I said...

We fell asleep in each others arms...


V-

The next morning....Sepia fixed us both Blueberry Waffles and Sausage....Fresh squeezed Orange Juice and Coffee...

I smiled at her as we ate...

"You working today babes?" I asked.

"Yes...Just a half day though...I have some paperwork to do...."said Sepia..

"I'm headed to that train station to see if that bag is coming in....I have a baggage claim check...." I said.

Sepia and I finished our meal and our coffee...

''I'll get the dishes babes...Thanks for breakfast." I said.

"Thank you for last night.." said Sepia, smiling.

She kissed me and I walked her to the door and waved as she pulled off in her car....

No sooner had she pulled off, then I went back to washing the dishes....The doorbell rang!   I knew it wasn't Sepia...She had her key....Maybe it was Walter, I thought!

I answered the door...A short portly man was standing there with a goofy smile on his face...

"Hello...May I help you?" I asked...

"You're Kevin Morris right?" said the man....

"Who wants to know?" I asked..

He pulled out a .38 smokeless and stuck it in my ribs....

"I do!  I just saw your wife leave and I know your daughter isn't here...Now step inside....Quickly....Come on....Don't make me make your wife a widow and your baby, fatherless....Step inside." he said..

I stepped inside....He searched me, took my .38 smokeless off of me and my .40 cal and put them on the table..Then directed me to sit down in the living room.....

"You've got something I want." he said.

"Yeah, I imagine I would have ." I said.

(TO BE CONTINUED)