Chapter 9
The next time Jim got to California Deedee met him at his hotel. The same teasing, half-serious, half-laughing start of romance, ending up in the same blistering act of love. Jim had managed to persuade himself into believing that his imagination accounted for most of the difference between his sexual relationship with Deedee and the same relationship with other women. Within a few short, passion-filled moments, his defenses were down again.
Look, Deedee," he said, afterward, "we've got to get you a place of your own. We both know we can't marry. My wife would never consent to a divorce. But she'd love to have grounds for a legal separation-a very expensive separation, I might add." He lit a cigarette. Taking a long drag he turned to face Deedee. "What we have together, honey, is wonderful. We both need it. I don't know about you, but I can't give it up."
Deedee couldn't face the honest emotion pictured upon his face. Lowering her eyes, she nodded in meek assent. "I know, Jim. I understand."
"If word got back to her that I had a friend here on the Coast-and word can leak out from the most discreetly managed of hotels-there'd be hell to pay. And we can't get together at your place. At least I couldn't. Not with Maria and your little girl. I think, Deedee-" he reached out a hand and lifted her chin so that she had to look at him-"you'd better take another apartment. Tell Maria you have to be closer to the university. If you can't think of anything else to tell her, tell her I'm lending you the money to help you through school. You won't have to live there all of the time. But stay there some of the times I'm away so Maria won't suspect anything when I'm in town. Naturally, I'll pay for it."
Deedee twisted her chin out of his hand and nodded her head again. The glimmer of an idea was being born in her mind, taking a definite shape-the shape of assurance tha she'd manage to complete her schooling and take care o her child, both without too much hard work.
At first, Deedee found it difficult to get "clients." She didn't want to expose herself to gossip on the campus, so she automatically eliminated the possibility of selling her "wares" to any of the students. She began to frequent a cocktail lounge near her new love nest, making friend with the owner and bartender, and using some of her almost forgotten B-girl techniques to meet some of the customers. Within a short time she had been able to bulk up a fairly lucrative group of "Johns"-all wealthy, and all intrigued by this campus call girl.
Deedee never discussed her school with her customers but actress that she was, she was still unable to disguise her youth, nor remove all of the collegiate phrases from her conversation. It wasn't long before she realized her school background was of titillating value to her new profession. Men who would ordinarily refrain from contact with paid mistresses got a real kick out of helping a girl work her way through school in such a novel fashion. She began to play up the theme; almost immediately her tips increased and she began to get calls from an ever-widening circle of men.
It was inevitable that she made the acquaintance of other girls in the same profession, and from time to time would go out on a double call with some of them. To disguise her activities from her original benefactor, Deedee subscribed to an answering service. It was this number she gave her customers, never the number of her apartment phone-the number known only to Jim and Maria. Despite the fact that her apartment was modern, comfortable, and complete with two private entrances, she never brought a customer home. This place was reserved for Jim Bradley. Deedee had enough native intelligence to keep it that way. She didn't have to worry about gossip from the other tenants or the landlord reaching Jim's ears; stories that might have aroused his suspicion. It behooved him to remain as aloof as possible from everyone that knew Deedee. Despite their precautions, and the safety of their arrangements, Jim still worried about his wife. That she was curious about his increased number of trips to the Coast was natural. He intended to keep the reason behind those trips to himself.
One problem Deedee did have was that of clothes. She had to maintain a certain kind of wardrobe for her work, and it was not the wardrobe of a student. She couldn't store those clothes with Maria without arousing her suspicions, and she couldn't keep them at the place she shared with Jim without arousing his. One of her newfound girl friends solved her dilemma by letting her store her finery in her apartment in exchange for the occasional loan of a dress or fur. The elaborate lingerie she now wore was explained away to Jim as a luxury designed for his pleasure.
"You've done so much for me, Jimmie dear-spent so much money on me." She nestled close to the big man, caressing his cheek, then his ear, with a soft, well-manicured finger. "The least I .can do is spend some of the money on things that will-well, you know-sort of knock you out...."
"Baby, baby, baby," Jim almost moaned the words, "you don't need satin and lace to knock this old man out. You don't need a thing. You've got it all!"
"Still," she murmured softly, between kisses, "I feel better when I look sexy for you." Her tiny tongue explored his lips, and the discussion was never finished. When he left that time, Jim gave Deedee an extra fifty bucks to buy more satin and lace.
Deedee didn't need it. She used the money to pay for her monthly medical checkup instead. As careful as she was about her selection of clients, she was taking no chances on either venereal disease or pregnancy. Her doctor was quite aware of her profession. He charged for his services accordingly. To Deedee, he was worth the money.
One expense item that bothered her friends in the business was that of police protection. Deedee ignored it. After all, she had the address with Maria and her child. Everyone in that building knew her as a hard worker, good mother, and ambitious student. She never turned any tricks in the apartment she shared with Jim, so there was no one there who knew her business. Her calls were all carefully screened. She wouldn't go on a call to a stranger, so she felt quite safe in her carefully protected world.
Deedee had been wrong before.
There was another extra expense shared by most of her friends, but unknown to Deedee. She had no "sweet daddy"-no pimp. Whereas most of the other girls in her field gave a large percentage of their income to such men, Deedee's income went to a growing bank account, to Blue Harbour University, to campus bookstores, and to a trust fund for her daughter. Jim was around enough to keep her company, but not so much as to interfere with her activities. As far as Deedee was concerned, she had it made.
"Deedee?" the soft drawl of the voice at the other end of the phone connection was immediately recognizable as Sandy, Deedee's friend and keeper of her clothes.
"Yes, Sandy? Jim's been in town this week. That's why I haven't been around."
"I figured as much. When's he leaving, honey?"
"Tomorrow. Morning, I think. But sometimes he gets carried away and doesn't make the early flight!"
"Knowin' you, I can't imagine why." Sandy chuckled softly into the phone. "How'd you like to go out on a trick with me tomorrow night. There's a lot of bread in it, Dee."
"What's it involve, Sandy? You know, there're some things I don't dig-not for any amount of bread."
"Oh, nothin' like that, sweetie. It's one of my regulars. He heard one of his buddies talkin' about some party he'd made. A couple of gals in the trade got together, and everybody had a ball just watchin'. He wants to try it for kicks."
Deedee's brow furrowed as she tried to think of the best way to turn down the offer. She knew it wasn't an unusual one, but so far she'd managed to steer clear of such jobs. Still, she didn't want to get Sandy against her. That clothes gig was very important.
"It'd just be him and us, Deedee. I know you don't go in for twosies, but my usual buddy is out sick this week. He's an awful good John, Dee. I'd hate to let him down, ya' know?"
"Well-" Deedee spoke hesitantly, "I've never-"
"Nothin' to it, doll. I'll fill you in while you're dressin'. And he's gonna' give us each a bill. Plus which, if he has fun, he always makes with a good tote."
"Okay, Sandy." Deedee spoke with sudden decision. Jim's unusually long visit had cut her income for the week sharply. This date would at least assure her of some loot, before the week was gone completely. "What time shall I come over?"
"He wants to see us about nine-thirty. So why don't you make it around eight. That'll give us time to go over everything." The soft drawling voice trickled into a sensuous little laugh. "Maybe we can even get in a little practice. Okay?"
"I'll see you about eight tomorrow night, Sandy." Deedee almost snapped the reply. She was already sorry she'd said yes.