Kirk stood up when he saw the attractive new detective. Bautista shook her head and got up slowly.
“This is Detective Rachael Dawkins. She’s been working undercover infiltrating drug gangs for years,” Sanchez said and both Kirk and Bautista seemed to be impressed.
“I thought it was time for a change,” the detective said to her new colleagues. Rachael had heard of both of them, Kirk especially; he was a legend in the department. She had also heard about them from Jada West.
Back in the days when Jada was running what Black called a little pussy business, she used to run her ladies, all three of them, out of a club called Sensations. Once Jada appeared on Lieutenant Gineconna’s radar, he assigned his best undercover operative, Detective Rachael Dawkins to infiltrate Jada’s organization.
Using her middle name, Chanté, the experienced undercover operative had no trouble at all getting close to the new girly pimp.
But once she became Chanté, the detective found out that she liked being Chanté. She got caught up in Jada’s lifestyle and she loved being a part of it. Riding in Jada’s limousine, eating in the best restaurants, going to exclusive parties, and shopping with generous Jada was unreal. She was no longer Detective Rachael Dawkins; she was Chanté. And to Chanté, she and Jada were friends, and they have remained friends ever since.
Kirk extended his hand. “Welcome, detective,” he said and shook her hand. “Anything you need, just let me know,” he said, and Bautista didn’t like the smile on his face nor the tone of his voice.
Chanté smiled at Kirk. “I may just take you up on that, detective.”
“Follow me, Dawkins,” Sanchez said. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Chanté said and followed Sanchez to his office.
Once the door closed, Bautista punched Kirk in the shoulder. “What was that for?”
“Anything you need just let me know,” she said mimicking his smooth tone. She took a step closer. “Don’t even think about it,” Bautista said and walked away. “And I am smarter than her!”
Chapter Seven
It was after four in the afternoon when Jada was awakened from her nap by a call from the front desk, asking permission to give Simone her room number. She told the desk clerk to not only give her the room number, but to give Simone a card key to let herself in.
Simone was with Jada at the start and was her top earner. But when Jada first left for Nassau, Simone decided to stay in the city. It was a bad choice, and one she regretted. When Simone got out of jail, she called Jada. She thought Jada would just call her back, but to Simone’s surprise, Jada came to New York to talk to her.
“A member of my family said that she needed to see me, so here I am.”
After their reunion, Simone returned to Nassau with Jada, and it wasn’t long before she reclaimed her place as top earner. When Jada returned to New York, she brought Simone with her. Before Jada returned to Nassau and took over Black’s operation in the islands, Jada had opened several houses and left Simone to run them.
With Simone on the way up, Jada got out of bed, put on the La Perla tie-front robe that matched the gown and prepared to receive her guest. She went in the study and looked out the window at the New York skyline.
When Simone let herself in, she called out to Jada.
“I’m in the study,” Jada said.
When the hotel was her home, she used the study in the suite to have meetings and conduct her business. Jada stood up when Simone strutted into the study.
“Hi, Jada,” Simone said and hugged her.
“It is so good to see you.”
“You too, Jada,” Simone said.
“Let me look at you.” Jada took a step back.
Simone was wearing a Naeem Khan short sleeve striped dress and Givenchy studded leather point toe pumps, and a Givenchy Antigona Python envelope clutch.
“You look great,” Jada said. “I know I must look a wreck.”
“You know that I’ve seen you look worse.”
“I know you have.” Jada hugged Simone again. “Come on, have a seat.”
“How are you, Jada?” Simone asked when she sat down.