Mangled Meat by Edward Lee Page A

could think of a reply, Leon continued, “But you could use a little sun, Mr. Flood, if you don’t mind my saying so. Give me three guesses. Seattle, Portland, or...”
    “Got it on first one,” Flood admitted, but thinking simultaneously: What a pillar of character I am. I’m having a congenial conversation with a brutal PIMP. Good job, Flood. You’re a real gem. At the edges of his vision he noted Jinny’s forced smile, her continued repression of the pain at her abdomen. I should have called the cops on this criminal.... “And, no, we don’t get much sun there. In fact I was on my way out for a walk on the beach right now.”
    “Great day for it. Lots of great bars and restaurants on this beach.” Like a magic trick, a business card appeared in Leon’s fingers. “And just in case you’re interested—since this is your first time—feel free to call my service number, if you’d like a top-notch tour guide to show you around.”
    Flood looked at the card. SUN & SAND TOUR GUIDES - LEON KINGSTON, DIRECTOR, and a number. Tour guides, huh? Flood thought. Smooth, very smooth.
    Flood couldn’t believe the illogic of his next words. “Is, uh, is Jinny one of your guides?”
    “Indeed, she is, Mr. Flood, but unfortunately Jinny’s feeling under the weather today—”
    Yeah, I’ll bet she is... “Oh, I’m sorry,” Flood expressed to her. His eyes couldn’t quite meet hers. “Catch a cold or something?” he asked for no other reason than to sound nonchalant.
    Finally her hands came to her abdomen. “No, just one of those twenty-four-hour stomach bugs—”
    “—but I’d be delighted to introduce you to one of our other guides, and I guarantee you, Mr. Flood, they’re all just as provocative as Jinny,” and with that, Leon shot Flood a quick wink.
    So this is how is works here, Flood thought. Since Felicity, he’d hired more than one “escort” girl, and in the end, it was all a waste of time and money.
    The elevator opened, then they were going down.
    “Maybe I’ll give you a call tomorrow after the convention.” Flood slipped the card into his wallet. “But for now, I think I’ll just have a leisurely stroll on the beach. Thanks for the card, though.”
    “My pleasure, Mr. Flood,” Leon finished up. “Enjoy the beach.”
    “I will. Nice meeting you both.”
    Jinny made another nod and pained smile, while Leon’s own smile followed him out of the elevator into the atrium.
    Jesus, Flood thought. Some bag of worms. He made for the courtyard which would lead to the hotel’s own beach bar, but stalled when he reached for his cell phone. Damn it. He’d left it in his room, and he really needed to check his voice mail for the Seattle office. A queue of loud women in bikinis piled into the elevator cove, chattering, so Flood said To hell with going back up, and turned into a nicely paneled anteroom containing several payphones with private booths. He zipped in his credit card, was about to dial, when voices interrupted.
    “Shit, Leon, I really hurt.”
    “Well, I hope you learned your lesson.”
    “I did but I still hurt. Oscar didn’t have to hit me that hard.”
    “Osc wanted to hit you a lot harder, and would have if I’d told him too. Instead of giving me lip, try being grateful.”
    It’s them, Flood realized. They must be in one of the other booths and left the door ajar. Flood’s was ajar too.
    “When’s Oscar taking me home?”
    “When you finish blowing me. So shut up and do it.”
    Flood held the dead phone to his ear, feigning use, but sat tensed, listening.
    Moments of silence ticked by, then Leon grunted and said, “Yeah, yeah—shit. Slow now, suck it all out...” More silence. “No, no. Swallow... Good girl.”
    Love in the afternoon, Flood thought.
    “Osc took a couple girls to the Tradewinds Resort for that pilot conference. He’ll be here in a couple hours, then he’ll take you home.”
    “Leon, I need an oxy. Bad.”
    “One, and that’s it.”
    “ Leon! I