Steve looked at Jesse, who shifted uncomfortably as they stand inthe main lobby of Chez Felicity. It was one of the older buildings inthis section of South Central L.A. and Steve knew that niether he norJesse had any business being there. But, he thought, orders were orders. He took a deep breathe, and hoped the humiliations would be over withsoon. His breath caught in his throat as a beautiful young lady emergedfrom the back office, and he noticed that her appearance behind thecounter had caused Jesse's posture to stiffin.
"Good afternoon, Ladies," the girl said pleasently. "How may I help you today?"
Steve had to concentrate, so that some fleeting thoughts would pass and he would not blow their cover. "We, ah...we saw an add in thepaper that there is a room available." He cleared his throat. "We hoped you might show it to us."
"Certainly!" she said, quite agreeably. "Right this way." Asshe took them on a quick tour, and up to the available room, she mad small talk. "I'm Matilda. I've been staying here fro about three years. It's a really nice
place, and all of our boarders are very friendly."
Jesse nodded and Steve just smiled. Her voice was so beautiful. It was so captivating. The inflections and meter were perfect--almost poetic. Suddenly he felt a sharp jab in his ribs, which brought his thoughts back to
reality. Jesse was glaring at him.
"Her name is Stephanie," Jesse said, focusing his attention once again on Matilda.
Steve grinned and nodded. Focus, he thought. I have to focus.
As they stepped off the elevator Matilda was telling them about weekly bingo games and bridge matches. "Of course there are also activities for our more athletic ladies that room here." She stopped at room #727. "Here we are,"
she said, unlocking the door. "Room 727. It's one of the nicest. There's one bedroom with a kingsized bed, and one bathroom with a whirlpool bath. The kitchenette is small, but accomodating."
Jesse and Steve feigned intrest in the apartment as the looked around. "We'll take it," Steve said, eager to please Matilda and utterly oblivious to
the fact that any resonably normal person would have asked
the price of the rent and conferred with his (her) prospective roommate before making such a commitment.
"Great!" Matilda exclaimed. "Rent is Sixty dollars a month,with a one hundred dollar down payment, preferably in cash."
"Okay," Jesse said. "Thank you for all your help." He looked around the tastefully decorated apartment. It came with some furniture,though very little.
"Well, after you bring your things up and get settled in, be sure to stop by the main desk in the lobby. That's where you can get abuilding and room key."
"Thanks," Steve managed to say, as Matilda turned and left.
Alone in their room, Steve and Jesse sat watching TV and eating hamburgers and drinking Nestea. A commercial interrupted their program,and Jesse pressed the mute button.
"I still can't believe it," Jesse spoke up.
"Would I lie to you, Jess?
"No, but...I'm living in a women's boarding house, parading around in women's clothing, all because some crazy lady that runs Chez Felicity thinks that someone's trying to kill her!"
"Like I said, Jesse, she's been getting strange phone calls, and the like, but other than that she has no prrof. She's convinced her life is in danger, and she has some connections on the force."
"What kind of connections?"
Steve coughed. "You, uh...don't wanna know. At any rate, our job is to be as patient as we can, and to stake the place out. We just have to keep our eyes open for a few days."
"And if we don't see anything?"
"If nothing happens, then we go home. But if we do see something..."
"...then we're transvestites until the killer makes his move and we can catch him," Jesse finished dismally. "More or less," Steve agreed.
