Read Online 03_Cornered Coyote by Dianne Harman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Dianne Harman
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told the bar owners she couldn’t turn tricks anymore, that she was going to get a master’s degree in psychology, and make something of her life.
“Park where you usually do. We’ll go in your apartment together. Anybody sees ya’, they’ll jes’ think yer’ bringin’ a friend home for the night. Probably ain’t the first time for a good lookin’ broad like you.”
It was a typical 1960’s San Fernando Valley two-story apartment building built around a center swimming pool. Carports were located in the rear. A few minutes later he followed her up the side stairs and down the concrete walkway to her apartment. She unlocked the door and they went into the small apartment, closing the door behind them.
“Got a beer, Doll?” Slade asked, looking around at the seedy brown tweed and vinyl apartment furniture and the small television set. He imagined the only thing that distinguished her apartment from every other apartment in the complex was the pile of books on the laminated wooden coffee table. “I’m a little thirsty and need to wet my whistle while I’m talkin’ to ya’.”
She walked over to the refrigerator, pulled out a beer, and handed it to him. “Do you mind telling me what this is all about?”
Slade placed his pistol on the table next to his chair. “Sit down, Doll. This might take awhile,” he said, as he took a deep breath. “I gots a proposition for ya’. Does 100 G’s interest you? Sure might help keep them debt collectors you got at bay. Plus, might be able to finish up yer’ master’s degree without havin’ to work your ass off to pay the bills. Jes’ sayin.”
She poured herself a glass of water and sat down, wondering how much he knew about her. “Whenever someone is willing to pay $100,000 for anything, it makes me nervous. This sounds like it’s more than just meeting some john for the night.”
“Yeah, Doll, it’s kinda like the rest of yer’ life. Okay, here’s the deal. All ya’ gotta do for $100,000 is have a little plastic surgery on yer’ face and go see a guy. That’s it. Here’s a picture of what you’ll look like after the surgery. It’s bein’ paid for. Surgeon’s the best in the business. You’ll be taken care of afterwards in a special recovery house by a registered nurse, for as long as ya’ need to stay. In a coupla weeks, the swellin’ and bruisin’ will be gone and you’ll look like this here picture. Yer’ gonna meet a guy who has a thing for a woman who looks like this. ‘Pendin’ on how that goes, might be the end of what you’ll have to do, but it might jes’ happen that you and him hit it off. He’s big bucks. Either way, you’d be set for life. So, Doll, whaddya think?”
“For starters, I think you’re crazy. Why would I want to look like someone else? In case you hadn’t noticed, no one’s ever handed me the ugly stick or made fun of me. Men usually whistle if their tongue isn’t hanging out.”
“Yeah, see what you mean. If I get up and walk outta here, ya’ can kiss 100 G’s bye-bye, and the way you’re livin’ hand to mouth, you’ll probably have to head back to South Dakota, cuz you won’t have the money to finish gettin’ that degree ya’ want so bad. I’m offerin’ a way for ya’ to get that degree and still look as good as ya’ do now, jes’ different.”
Barbara stood up and walked over to the window. “Will I have to change my name? I can’t keep my name if my looks are different, can I?”
Slade knew she was considering the offer. “Yeah, you’ll have a new name, at least for a while. I’ll move ya’ into new digs, but ain’t no reason you can’t transfer schools and continue with that degree under yer’ old name. No one’ll know ya’. I unnerstan’ you got an A average. Any school would be happy to have ya’.”
“So, you’re asking me give up my life as I know it, never to go back to South Dakota, and start fresh.”
“That’s about it, Doll. Sorry, but I unnerstan’ you
“Park where you usually do. We’ll go in your apartment together. Anybody sees ya’, they’ll jes’ think yer’ bringin’ a friend home for the night. Probably ain’t the first time for a good lookin’ broad like you.”
It was a typical 1960’s San Fernando Valley two-story apartment building built around a center swimming pool. Carports were located in the rear. A few minutes later he followed her up the side stairs and down the concrete walkway to her apartment. She unlocked the door and they went into the small apartment, closing the door behind them.
“Got a beer, Doll?” Slade asked, looking around at the seedy brown tweed and vinyl apartment furniture and the small television set. He imagined the only thing that distinguished her apartment from every other apartment in the complex was the pile of books on the laminated wooden coffee table. “I’m a little thirsty and need to wet my whistle while I’m talkin’ to ya’.”
She walked over to the refrigerator, pulled out a beer, and handed it to him. “Do you mind telling me what this is all about?”
Slade placed his pistol on the table next to his chair. “Sit down, Doll. This might take awhile,” he said, as he took a deep breath. “I gots a proposition for ya’. Does 100 G’s interest you? Sure might help keep them debt collectors you got at bay. Plus, might be able to finish up yer’ master’s degree without havin’ to work your ass off to pay the bills. Jes’ sayin.”
She poured herself a glass of water and sat down, wondering how much he knew about her. “Whenever someone is willing to pay $100,000 for anything, it makes me nervous. This sounds like it’s more than just meeting some john for the night.”
“Yeah, Doll, it’s kinda like the rest of yer’ life. Okay, here’s the deal. All ya’ gotta do for $100,000 is have a little plastic surgery on yer’ face and go see a guy. That’s it. Here’s a picture of what you’ll look like after the surgery. It’s bein’ paid for. Surgeon’s the best in the business. You’ll be taken care of afterwards in a special recovery house by a registered nurse, for as long as ya’ need to stay. In a coupla weeks, the swellin’ and bruisin’ will be gone and you’ll look like this here picture. Yer’ gonna meet a guy who has a thing for a woman who looks like this. ‘Pendin’ on how that goes, might be the end of what you’ll have to do, but it might jes’ happen that you and him hit it off. He’s big bucks. Either way, you’d be set for life. So, Doll, whaddya think?”
“For starters, I think you’re crazy. Why would I want to look like someone else? In case you hadn’t noticed, no one’s ever handed me the ugly stick or made fun of me. Men usually whistle if their tongue isn’t hanging out.”
“Yeah, see what you mean. If I get up and walk outta here, ya’ can kiss 100 G’s bye-bye, and the way you’re livin’ hand to mouth, you’ll probably have to head back to South Dakota, cuz you won’t have the money to finish gettin’ that degree ya’ want so bad. I’m offerin’ a way for ya’ to get that degree and still look as good as ya’ do now, jes’ different.”
Barbara stood up and walked over to the window. “Will I have to change my name? I can’t keep my name if my looks are different, can I?”
Slade knew she was considering the offer. “Yeah, you’ll have a new name, at least for a while. I’ll move ya’ into new digs, but ain’t no reason you can’t transfer schools and continue with that degree under yer’ old name. No one’ll know ya’. I unnerstan’ you got an A average. Any school would be happy to have ya’.”
“So, you’re asking me give up my life as I know it, never to go back to South Dakota, and start fresh.”
“That’s about it, Doll. Sorry, but I unnerstan’ you
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