003: To Listen

|Gary, Indiana 2013|

|Elena's POV|

It would be stating the obvious to say that being apart of the police force in a city that has no limits is a lot of hard work.

Working nine to five was simply unheard of in the town where the sound of gunshots have become so common that people panic if they didn't hear any. Were hardcore drugs are dished out like candy to whoever is willing to buy no matter the age and were breaking and entering is as easy as a game of hide and go seek.

Every day there's something and with little to no new recruits, the people that are left to pick up the pieces are often buried alive with cases and given a very short time span to come back with a result before being passed onto the next one.

Nobody cares, not anymore.

But you don't complain you just continue because in the end, the after-effects on the community around you and the everlasting thought of knowing that you've taken someone dangerous off the streets even if it's only for a day or two.

That's what makes the job worth all the lost sleep.

What doesn't make the job worth it?

Playing dress up as a hooker to catch a pimp...

Allow me to explain.

__

I stood on the corner of the forty-fifth street freezing cold and looking absolutely ridiculous in the revelling outfit my (temporary) roommate had picked out for me. So far? There are absolutely no leads, it's been three hours...my feet are hurting from the nine inches added to them and my head pounding from a migraine.

I just want to go home.

The curled ends of my hair had begun to ich my skin causing me to resist the urge to tie it back. My make up's thick and heavy nothing like I usually do and I swear some eyeshadows buried in the back of my grey coloured contacts.

As for my outfit, that wasn't any better. I stood in short blue dress that barely covered anything with nothing but a forearm full of temporary tattoos to cover my bare skin.

I looked nothing like myself. Lucky me.

"You got anything?" The voice behind my earpiece asked, gravelly and tired from long nightshifts "Nine onwards he's usually seen hanging around the club opposite you."

My eyes cast in that direction "I haven't seen him or his car" I sighed allowing my eyes to scan the wet street "I'll give it another hour and if I still have nothing I'll call it a night, I'll take it from here, you can head home Marcus, get some rest."

"I plan too." He replied as he stood from his seat. I knew that from the annoying squeaking sound it makes "The graveyard team are on standby, they know to listen out for your callsign."

"Tell them.." I stopped myself still in some way hoping I'd get some kind of lead "Tell them to stand down, I'm going radio silent for the rest of the hour then heading home, I really doubt we'll get anything but, another hour won't hurt."

"Might hurt your feet."

I chuckled looking down at my poor freezer burnt sausages "I'm sure I'll be feeling the effects in the morning." I smiled softly before running a hand through my hair. As helpful as earpieces are, they do nothing to assist migraines.

"I can think of something else you could be feeling in the mor-" Just as Officer Parks began to speak again I removed the bud from my ear, immediately causing it to shut off and disconnect.

"And that's enough of you for one night."

Since he's my case partner I really should be used to his witty remarks and flattering jokes but I'm really not, in fact, they annoy me more than anything else in the world! If his wife knew half the jokes he made to myself and fellow female officers, she'd watch him like a hawk.

..More than she already does.

The man I've spent the last few hours of my life searching for is Julian Grey a known kingpin and drug lord, he's the typical big-time dealer who thinks he's untouchable. Even in this tiny town, we have men like him.

Men who are far too crammed up their own asses for there own good. Men who think they're better for everybody even the police. Men who pick up women from the street offering them a better life but run it into the ground. Men who sell hardcore drugs to underage teens.

If I can catch him in the act, arrest him. The war on drugs is almost immediately going to be wiped out. Clearly it just wasn't going to be as easy as I thought, I needed a better plan.

Or I needed to just give up, let someones else take over.

Let someone else catch the son of a bi-

"You on the clock?"

Raising my eyebrow I looked up from the sidewalk below me and towards the male voice that had just spoken to me. Since being in my own little world I hadn't heard or noticed the black Range Rover pull up in front of me.

The man's face was half-covered by the blacked-out window but the half I could see, his eyes. We're hidden behind sunglasses, his hair tucked behind a beanie apart from one pure black stand.

Focus.

"Well aren't you just beautiful."

By his speech it was very clear he was close to being intoxicated but not close enough for a breathalyser to detect alcohol in his system or slow his reflexes, getting him out of a DUI charge.

He's done this before.

This could be the break you need.

Grey wouldn't approach the women himself, he'd get someone to do it for him.

Now, do I. A) Take it that he's one of Grey men and continue the act until I can get close enough to question and arrest.

B) Simply pass him off as another man wanting company tonight and kindly inform him I'm law enforcement.

Then there's C) Do plan A and if I'm wrong, do plan B.

"Sure am."

I choose option C.

"Sure seem confident in yourself." He laughed a little.

"You've gotta have a few women left in the world who know their self-worth" I replied with a shrug of my shoulders "A few good men too if there's any left."

"I couldn't agree more Miss..what exactly should I call you? What're a typical hookers names. Ruby? Trixie? Candy?"

"Charlotte." I gave the first name that rolled off my tongue "And yes before you ask, that's my real name."

"How did you know I was going to ask?" He raised his thick black brow.

"I know men like you." Men who think there above many morals in life and can't be lied too.

"And I know women like you." His cheek raised slightly indicating a hidden smile.

If you knew that you'd know I was acting "Then you know I'm not cheap."

"I'm happy to pay whatever price is needed." Either he was extremely desperate, eager to flash his cash or very stupid. I pick all three.

I thought back to the case files of the women who reported Grey all of them stated that he always offered them double there asking price. Let us see.

"$4000 an hour," I stated seriously.

"Why so high?" He asked reaching to the seat beside him, picking up a few things. A wallet and a white envelope.

So far he hadn't done anything the men in the case profile had, he hadn't doubled the price, he hadn't offered me a place to stay. He'd also looked at me rather than the road. But this doesn't mean he isn't with them.

I need to pay attention.

"Because my time is so precious Mr.."

The man laughed softly shaking his head as he fiddled with the items in his lap "Oh no sweetie, you don't get my name."

I scoffed folding my arms "So I give you trust by telling you my name and you can't give me that back? Yet you expect me to get in a car with you?"

"You'd get in a car for a $100 blow job."

"I'm not like the rest" I fired back.

He chuckled nodding his head, letting his eyes rome the lit-up street "I can tell."

I pushed out my lips moving to lean on one leg, my eyes memorizing the licence plate "We gotta deal or what?"

"We've got a deal" He nodded a little.

He's not one of greys men. I'm 90% certain"So, what can I do for you? Once I know what exactly you want I'll consider getting in the car." Or show you my badge.

"And I'll consider giving you your money." A smirk plastered on both of our faces. He knew the ropes. But so did I. I'd arrest enough sex workers in my life to know.

"I guess this is the part where I get in the backseat" I commented with a fake smile of my own as I continued to play my part, now slowly approached the car. Dropping my earpiece into the small handbag by my side.

"You'd be guessing correctly." As he spoke he held up the money and placed it inside the envelope before leaning back to place it on the seat behind him "Feel free to count it once you're in."

I raised my eyebrow "How'd you know I won't just open the door and pocket the money?"

He shrugged his shoulders as he turned to look at me "I don't."

I took one last look at the club before sighing and opening the door. This guy wasn't a threat and he wasn't one of Grey's men but he was almost intoxicated while driving, the least I can do is get him home or somewhere safe. Once where there I'll flash my badge, give the money back and leave.

Sounds like a plan.

"There's a motel around the corner I use, we'll go there. So what exactly do you want me to do?" I asked throwing my bag onto the seat and picking up the money before taking a seat

"You Charlotte." He popped the letter T as he spoke now looking through the wind mirror "Can do probably the easiest thing you've done all night." He stated his shoulders shrugging slightly as he spoke his eyes running over my face, not my body.

Odd. Respectful.

"What would that be?"

"To listen."