Dying For LA by Ian Jones (top fiction books of all time .txt) 📕

The CIA were notified of course, which came back to me, and straight away it looked like a big deal. Meantime, they find out some English guy called John Smith is caught up in it, took out the bad fellas with their own gun and who the FBI of all people think is the golden boy, and it keeps on getting bigger. So, I’m here, for the duration.’

John nodded.

‘Right. So how we doing so far chief?’

‘Well, being honest, and I never like saying this, we ain’t got much of nothing.’

They entered Hollywood and Keane drove down the boulevard, then turned off into a street which was a sea of neon, pulling up right outside a dark painted place with a big awning and Miss Sin glowing in big letters.

‘I thought you said you didn’t know this place,’ John said as they got out the car.

‘Yeah well, look, I like Kyle, and I trust him. But we got an operation going down here, people trafficking, these girls are turning up all the time. This is one of the places on the list. So, I didn’t want to mention any names, just keep it casual OK? Last thing anyone needs is the CIA wielding the big stick if you know what I mean.’

‘Yeah, I get it.’

***

Rico and Sal were drinking beer in the kitchen talking quietly.

‘I ain’t sure about this guy,’ Sal said. ‘We’re supposed to be invisible, right? He ain’t fucking hard to miss!’

Rico nodded.

‘Yeah, and he got an attitude too. I bet Yann is going crazy on his ass in there.’

They listened, but apart from the low murmur of voices there was nothing. No sound of any excitement, then they heard Voorhees’ mobile phone ringing.

Minutes later the door opened and Weiss sauntered out with Voorhees behind him looking pleased.

‘Right. Get your asses in gear. Things are changing, we got work to do.’

He passed Sal a sheet of paper with some scribbled writing on it.

‘Hollywood. Get up there and get it done. Full description, and where he’ll be. Don’t fuck this up, bring the briefcase straight back to me and then you can go celebrate. Relax. Take Karl for a beer or some shit.’

Sal took the paper and looked at Rico then Weiss.

‘Really? OK thanks Yann, sure.’

***

John and Keane walked in, and were met by two curvaceous girls in tight red shorts and little else. They led them into a huge dark dimly lit room with red velvet curtains everywhere and small raised platforms dotted around. There was a stage with a runway on the left and a curved bar on the right. Tables scattered randomly everywhere and booths along a centre island and one wall. There was a skinny naked girl swinging around a pole on the stage while a dismal eighties song played loudly. The place was about a quarter full, more girls in red shorts and tiny bra tops running drinks everywhere on trays, while others wearing even less cavorted in front of men at a few of the tables. They ordered a couple of beers and sat down in a booth to one side.

John looked behind them at the bar, which ran along half the back wall in a semi-circle that jutted into the room. There were a couple of bartenders behind it, mixing drinks while some waitresses hovered. It wasn’t particularly busy back there, he could see less than a handful of drinkers sat alongside, most in the room were at the tables or in the booths, and he knew that there were more behind the many curtains paying for a private dance.

John leaned into Keane.

‘Can I have the picture?’ he asked.

Keane nodded and passed it to him and John stood up and wandered back over to the bar. There were several security guys in place, and he had to deal with this carefully. He sat down on a stool, and casually waited for one of the bartenders to get close to him.

‘Hey, can I ask you a question? I got to find this guy, he comes in here a lot, his name is Rico. I’m wondering if he’s been in.’

The barman glanced at the picture.

‘Not sure. Hey, Jonty!’ he called out to other man working behind the bar, who walked across.

‘Know this guy? He does look kinda familiar.’

Jonty picked the picture up.

‘Yeah, he comes in here. Not been around in a while, mind.’

‘Did you talk to him?’ John asked.

Both men shook their heads.

‘No. You need to go ask Sugar, she spent time with him. He was sure sweet on her.’

‘OK, which one is Sugar?’

Jonty scanned the room.

‘Must be doing a dance out back I guess. She’s got long pink hair, can’t miss her.’

He went back to working and John returned to sitting with Keane, and relayed the conversation. They sat there, sipping their beers, watching the room. A girl appeared, and began to gyrate in front of them. Keane slipped her twenty dollars and asked for privacy, she didn’t look put out, just shimmied away to the next table.

‘Let’s make this quick, it’s gonna cost a fortune to sit here,’ John said, looking around for a girl with long pink hair.

They saw her five minutes later, emerging from a curtain with a wad of banknotes in her briefs. She was short with impossibly round breasts, tottering along in the highest heels John had ever seen. They got up and wandered across, intercepting her as she stalked her next victim.

She was good. A professional. She glanced at Keane, then fixed on John, he was younger.

‘Hey, hey baby, you looking for me? I can get a friend for your dad if you like,’ she smiled, all white teeth and breasts standing to attention.

‘Er, yes I am looking for you, and my dad’s fine right now thanks. Can we sit down?’

She pouted theatrically and looked slowly all around, then shrugged and followed them back to the booth. She perched on the very end, legs crossed, continuing with the wide smile, sticking with her persona. John could see she