Chapter 77
ALAIN CREASY AND I sat down on the low wall that surrounded the Garden Spot’s empty garden plot.
I could’ve called it a large planter. But I liked Alain’s description of it as a potager.
The atmosphere around us was almost festive.
Mostly young people with some competing music blasting from two different directions.
We tried to fit in. Before leaving my car, I’d grabbed my oversized Giants zip-up sweatshirt, which covered the Glock in my shoulder holster.
Alain was wearing another colorful shirt today, this time short-sleeved.
He hadn’t yet seemed bothered by the growing nip in the evening air.
I nodded hello to the blond girl seated next to me and we started to chat comfortably.
Her name was Valerie. She had a very pretty face, with crystal-clear green eyes.
Wearing a blue windbreaker over a party dress, she looked like a high school girl after prom, wearing her date’s jacket.
It was apparently a little too chilly to be showing off the goods tonight.
When I asked her what she was doing here, her response was “You guys cops?”
I cocked my head to the side and said, “Do we look like cops?”
She studied both of us. Alain was sitting on my other side, but she could still see him plainly. He gave her a charming smile as she eyed his floral-print shirt and said, “I probably do.”
Valerie returned his smile and leaned across me. She literally pinched Alain’s cheek and said, “You are so cute. I love that accent.”
Alain actually blushed. I got a kick out of that. Then I looked at Valerie and said, “What’s with the crowd?”
She shrugged. “You know. It’s a party. We’re all ready to party.”
I wasn’t sure how to phrase it, so I just said, “Are some of these girls escorts?”
“Some are escorts. Some have product.”
Alain asked, “Product?”
“You know, H, Molly, pot, ZsaZsa.”
“ZsaZsa?” he repeated.
I had to jump in and prove I knew something. “Synthetic marijuana.”
Valerie looked at me and said, “You’re on top of things.”
I was so happy she hadn’t added for someone your age. I said to Valerie, “You seem way too smart to be out here.”
“You mean too young.”
“That too.”
Valerie crossed her legs and said, “I’m twenty. I’ve been here over a year.”
“Where you from?”
“Bernal Heights.”
“I mean originally.”
“Bernal Heights.”
“No kidding. Where’d you go to high school?”
I’d explained to Alain that in San Francisco, the high school someone went to told people where you lived. That’s how everyone local identified one another. Valerie and I chatted for a moment about our high schools. I decided to leave out my graduation date.
As we were talking, I noticed a big guy in a brown suede cowboy hat. He moved from group to group in front of the hotel, almost like the ma?tre d’ at a restaurant. I asked Valerie about him.
She said, “That’s Tex. He sort of keeps an eye on everything around here. I mean, when the cops aren’t around, he’s all we have.”
“He’s got good beach muscles.”
Alain said, “Beach muscles?”
“Arms and chest.” I watched the man make his rounds. He looked to be doing his best to be friendly. I turned to Valerie and said, “Do you work for him?”
“Sort of. He gets me gigs and I give him a cut. The product sellers give him a cut too. He keeps everyone safe.”
“Sounds more like he’s making everyone pay protection.”
Alain added, “That is the worst kind of predator. He’s just a bully.”
Valerie bit her lip. “Yeah, I guess he can be a little rough sometimes.”
As if Tex could hear us, he looked directly at Valerie just then, and started marching our way.