Night walker part 8

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Night Walker part 8

Detective Toucahn looked one last time at his desk to see if all was in order before taking to the streets in search of a witness.  As he slid his chair away from his desk, grabbed his coat and headed for the door, he heard a fellow detective ask where he was going, hey Earnie where're you headed.  Detective Earnie Toucahn replied I'm going back to Front Street to see if that no show hooker is out walking tonight;  he then proceeded out of the squad room not waiting for a reply.  The day of her reported disappearance, Detective Toucahn had canvassed the area near Miss. Ballentine's apartment on Second Street garnering very little helpful information.   He would wait until nightfall and canvass one block over, toward the river, to Front Street.  Sunday evening he set out once more, after speaking to some of the "ladies" frequenting Front Street, he was informed by them that one of the new "girls" had not been around for a couple days.  Her name was Shaniqua.  She was new on the block, a little over a month they said.  She kept to herself.  She was an independent, meaning she had no pimp.  Once she was done working for the night she seemed to just disappear; according to his notes from the conversation with the women.  Detective Toucahn had gotten no useful information from the hookers except that he had not spoken to all of them.  Hoping to speak to Shaniqua, Detective Touchan had gone back out to Front Street on Monday night.  When he parked his car he noticed a woman standing by a light pole looking at one of the MISSING PERSON fliers that in a very short time seemed to be on every pole for blocks.  He did not recognize the woman but her profession was obvious, very obvious he thought; hooker.   Stepping out of his car he began to walk toward her.  At the same time Shaniqua looked from the pole and spotted a cop!  She was new to hooking but knew how to spot a cop in plain clothes; learned from other assignments Bertie had been on.  She thinks, damn a cop!  How's I gonna pull this off.  I's good but is I this good?  Deciding it was better not to engage the detective; Shaniqua slowly dropped her eyes down and began to turn away from his direction.  She no sooner had begun to turn when she heard, you there, Miss Shaniqua is it?  Stop. Police business.  It was not his request to stop that succeeded in stopping Shaniqua but it was the sound of him speaking her name.

Stepping backward as Detective Toucahn approached her, Shaniqua was trying to get to an area with a little less light before their inevitable meeting; face to face.  It wasn't difficult to get out of the light at night, with all the alley ways and set in doorways on Front Street.   As Shaniqua's back touched the corner on the building behind her she made a slight turn to the right and entered the alley; there she stopped.  Detective Touchan approached her, stopping at a distance of two feet.  He found this to be close enough to start with and not too close as to have his interviewee retreat within themselves.  Hello.  I am Detective Earnest Toucahn.  I'm out tonight speaking with anyone in the area who may have seen Miss Ballentine.  When I parked my car I noticed you looking at her MISSING PERSON flier on the light pole over there.  I spoke with the other "ladies" here abouts.  It doesn't appear that they saw anything that could help with my investigation of the missing Miss Ballentine.  The "ladies" did offer up your name as someone else to interview.

What you mean "ladies" Shaniqua making air quotes when she says the word ladies.  I hear dat tone in your voice.  What you think I's a workin girl?  Well OK I is, but ain't nothin' wrong with it Mister.  Everyone gots to make a living don't they?  You don't KNOW ME.  She was looking right at him when she spoke.  Shaniqua would not be belittled.  Detective Toucahn had meant to offend, to belittle with his reference to the "ladies".  He wanted to make sure she knew her place; she was the hooker and he was the law abiding office of the law.  Now however having heard her reaction and having felt her indignation he felt badly about having spoken to her this way.  She didn't just speak her prideful words but she appeared to truly believe them.  You're right he said to Shaniqua.  I apologize for my bad manners.  May we start over?  I am Detective Earnest Touchan, extending out his hand waiting for a reply.  Shaniqua shrugs, extends her had to shake his and says my name is Shaniqua.  Shaniqua what? he replied while gently squeezing her hand.  Just Shaniqua; for right now anyways and pulls away her hand from his.

Lu'
04/04/13