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The Observer
By
R. G. Larsen
Ian Gustafsson believed that the girl sitting two tables away from him moved with the grace of a mayfly. Everything about her, from the way she moved to her table to the way she reached for her cup, was elegant. He might have added sensual or exciting but was struggling to keep his observations objective. This was the third well-qualified candidate he had found this week, and he knew his business.
Normally, he’d make a call on his cell phone then watch as the young woman exited the coffee shop. Two of his pick-up men would confront her briefly, displaying bogus police credentials; while one asked for identification, the other would raise his arm and signal a driver double parked a half block away. The first would read her name aloud while the second, picking up on the name, would read her Miranda rights off a preprinted card inserting her name several times during the recitation. She would naturally protest. The first man would announce that she was being arrested for obstruction of justice in the case of The State of California vs. Edwards. She would say she didn’t know anyone named Edwards as the second man handcuffed her, saying that she could tell them all about that downtown. A full-size sedan would pull up and she would be ushered into the back seat between the two men. Ian thought it odd that the patrons of the coffee shop or café, never seemed to pay scant attention to this process.
His payment for delivering each specimen was always prompt, postmarked usually no later than the day after the abduction. He turned his attention back to the girl as he withdrew his cell phone from his pocket. He was having a hard time categorizing this girl. It bothered his focus so much that he continued to watch. When she arose and glided out of the coffee shop, he was still holding his phone, unopened, in his hand. He smiled to himself, shrugged, and turned to look for other candidates. There were none.
“Hi, you come here a lot, don’t you?” The voice, so close, surprised him. He turned to look up at a young woman of medium height and athletic build standing next to him wearing a green apron embroidered with the logo of the coffee shop.
“My you are the observant one, aren’t you,” he replied with a feigned smile. “So how often do I come here?”
Her eyes moved up and to the right for a mere second then looked directly at him. “Three times this week, twice the week before that, and also the previous Sunday.” He was taken back and stared at her. “I like to watch people,” she explained, “Sorry if I’m out of line. It’s just that making and pouring coffee and cleaning tables gets pretty dull so I try and remember the regulars and talk to them a bit.”
“So you think I qualify?” he asked.
“Well, you are always polite and pleasant so I kind of hoped you might be.”
He looked again at this inquisitive girl. He made her out to be late twenties or early thirties and fair to look at. In fact, she had strong features, striking if she were a bit taller and made up differently, heels might help. His interest began to overcome his embarrassment at having been caught unawares. “You like to talk to the customers?” he asked. She smiled demurely.
“I like to watch,” she answered. She was quick with her responses, and she obviously had excellent observational skills. He was looking for a redhead but perhaps a brunette would do just as well? He wondered how to engage her in conversation further when she spoke again, “You seem to spend more time thinking than writing in that little scheduler you always carry. What line of work are you in?”
“You are a nosy little thing aren’t you?” he stated in mock anger, a smile on his face.
“Just professional curiosity,” she replied. “I’m working on a sociology degree. That means I have to do a lot of people watching. I didn’t mean to pry.”
This time he laughed aloud at her audacity. “Yes, you did, but I don’t mind, really. And what did you observe this morning?” He moved a chair out from the small, round table and motioned her to sit down with him. She looked about nervously for the manager and not seeing her sat in the chair opposite him.
“Well,” she began hesitantly, “I was watching you watching the red-haired girl in green being coy.”
“Were you now? Was she flirting with me?”
“Yes and no. She was letting everyone get a good look at her and…”
“And why was I watching her?” asked Ian.
“And why were you?” she asked. “It’s your turn to tell.” Again she had caught him off guard. He needed to regain his advantage without putting this girl off. He could be cruel and cutting with his remarks when he wished. No, he’d flatter her for a while and lead her along. He enjoyed the game. There might even be some sexual favors for him. She was fairly attractive. He was warming to his task.
“Perhaps I’d hoped she pay me some attention.”
“Would that interest you?” she smiled as she spoke.
“Well, I haven’t been able to meet many women. My job takes too much of my time and doesn’t leave me a social life. I’m new here, from Boston, and I can’t say that I know my way around the city yet,” he made a show of looking at her name and then added, “Gina.”
“And what do you do?” she waited for him to respond.
“Ian Olavson,” he offered his hand, “I’m a talent scout. No, I’m more of a headhunter for advertising agencies. Right now I’m looking for a fresh face and that girl was distinctly different. From all your people watching, can you tell me what that was?”
“Sure, besides being a flirt, she is a lesbian.” Gina replied.
“My God, how did you come up with that?”
“I cheated. I’ve seen her with her partner,” Gina explained, “several times.”
“All right, but why the flirtation with me on the way out?”
“She knows that she’s a knockout. She delights in teasing men then shuts them down when they come on to her. It’s a little game she plays. Rather cruel, I think. I’ve watched her do this several times, even do it with girls on occasion. She’s a real piece of work.”
“You have talked with her?”
“Sure. She comes in here quite often,” answered Gina. Ian took out his little scheduler and pretended to check his commitments.
“I have a client that desperately needs someone just like her for an ad campaign - no speaking parts. I think this girl has the look he wants. If I can get them together, I can make a bundle, and I’d be glad to pay you a handsome finder’s fee for helping me do that. If you can arrange a meeting between us, I’ll pay you two hundred and fifty dollars. If she signs a contract with my agency, I’ll add two hundred and fifty more. Are you interested?”
“I have tuition coming due. I’ll have her gift wrapped and delivered to your table for that much,” laughed Gina, “How do I get in touch with you?”
“I can be here any morning,” he answered.
“Don’t want to give a girl your number?” she chided, then added, “That will be fine. Let’s say Friday morning about 7:30 a.m.” With that, she made an exaggerated curtsy and rushed off to bus some tables.
That very evening Ian took in a musical at the Marines Theater. Afterward he took a cab to his post office box where he picked up two manila envelopes. Inside each was a check from North Trinity Organ Bank. The bodies went to Sedona, Arizona; the checks came from an address in the Bahamas. Organ clinics were paying a lot these days for healthy young bodies. His group liked them fresh, no cadavers. It made things easier all the way around and he was well paid. A choice specimen might be worth several hundred thousand dollars to half a million or more under the right conditions. “I’ll go to Original Joe’s,” he ordered the cabby. He was ten thousand dollars richer and he felt good. More money would have been nice, but there were others to be paid. No, he thought, I am content with the current rate structure. He chuckled when he thought about the risks that others took. How much could you get for stealing a BMW or Mercedes Benz? Certainly not the kind of money he made. The money brought him pleasure but so did the hunt. As he rode downtown, thoughts of supper were pushed aside by the diaphanous, redheaded vision he had seen this morning. If Gina came through, she would make this one terrific week for him. Another idea quickly sprung to his mind. He toyed with it and made a quick decision. Gina would go as well, first one then the other, both the same day. Gina was a year or two older but certainly strong looking and healthy. That was it then. In a rare humor he tipped the cabby in advance and changed course, “Take me to Ernie’s Steak House.” Once he made up his mind, it was as good as done.
Gina saw him enter the shop on Friday morning, right on schedule. She watched him take a newspaper from the used rack and sit at a back table. Cheap bastard, she thought, won’t even spring for a morning paper. She had doubts that he’d pay the two hundred-fifty up front and made a mental note to press him for it. She brought him a “miso” before he asked for it saying, “This one’s on the house.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Any luck with our friend?”
“Yes,” she replied, “she’s so vain. She went for it in a second, but she doesn’t know you and wanted to meet somewhere in public. She asked me if I would go with her. I can’t believe she’s that insecure. I mean with her looks and manner, you’d think she wouldn’t worry.” She faltered and looked at Ian. “I said I would, if that’s okay?”
He could scarcely believe his good luck. Picking up two at the same time would require some clever work by his phony policemen, but it could still work. “And when is she available?” he asked.
“That’s the problem. Her schedule is full up for the next two weeks, except for this noon,” she explained. That was short notice; he liked to give his men more lead-time. What was a few minutes of work for him was often many hours for them. “I don’t have to stay do I? I mean I can get time off of work, but I still have afternoon classes I can’t afford to miss.”
“Well, this won’t take long, just a little conversation and a signature on a contract. Maybe ten minutes tops?”
“She works at Pacific Medical Center. I didn’t know that. She says she can take a long lunch and meet at a little hilltop park just up the street about noon. Is that all right? If it is, I’ll call her and walk up from the hospital with her?”
He smiled inwardly. “Make the call,” he said. “She doesn’t need to know that you are getting paid for this, right?”
“Exactly,” she agreed. “and you’ll have my money then?”
He nodded, “Two hundred-fifty when we meet and the rest the next day if she signs.” He put the newspaper under his arm as he walked out, thinking he would cut some pages to dollar size for the envelope. No senses in trying to snatch back an envelope full of cash and risk making a scene. This would be quite a week.
It was sunny and clear when he took the bench at the park. He could see Gina and her friend walking up the steep hill toward him. As they approached, he stood to greet them.
“Aleeta, this is Mr. Ian Gustafsson, of whom I spoke. Mr. Gustafsson, I’d like you to make the acquaintance of Aleeta Rhodes.” Pleasantries were exchanged and Aleeta offered her hand. Her touch was smooth as her fingers seemed to linger a moment longer than they should have. She smiled and suggested they sit while he explained his offer. She sat close to him while Gina sat on her other side, now pretty much out of the conversation.
“That sounds positively exciting!” Aleeta exclaimed. “You say that the agency is on Montgomery Street and that they are in a big rush to sign someone?” He nodded and handed her the contract to sign, smiling knowingly at Gina.
“This is just to guarantee my interest as a talent scout. It says that you won’t sign with any other agent without giving thirty days advance notice.” He smiled. “Just a formality.” She quickly inked her name on the appropriate line.
“I’m going to see if I can’t cancel an appointment this afternoon and take care of this today.” She removed a cell phone from her small purse, rose, and walked a few feet away to talk. She was back immediately, still smiling. “It’s a go she said. I appreciate the opportunity you have given us?” She stood to shake his hand as he rose to do likewise.
“Us?” he asked.
Gina stood also and came face to face with him. “You see Mr. Gustafsson, Aleeta and I are really more than friends.” He looked puzzled. She reached over to put her arm around Aleeta to draw her close and let her lips run up Aleeta’s long and graceful neck. How could I have been so stupid, he thought. “Do you have my money?” she asked. He saw an ambulance draw up to the curb moments before but paid it no mind. He withdrew the paper filled envelope from his suit pocket, handed it to her, and then withdrew his own phone. As he did so, he felt two strong figures seize his arms. Gina reached over and took the phone from his hand while Aleeta leaned forward to give him a light kiss even as he struggled with the two attendants.
“Goodbye Ian. It was nice to make your acquaintance,” she said. He could see Gina laughing even as he felt the hypodermic needle enter his arm. He was escorted to the waiting ambulance only partially aware of his surroundings.
“Why is it I always have to be the bait?” Aleeta said with a mock pout.
“Because you are so beautiful and draw men like meat draws flies,” chuckled Gina and kissed her playfully. “And because you enjoy your work you little bitch and because the organ banks pay so well.” They walked hand in hand from the park on what was a beautiful and profitable day.
Copyright © 2004 R. G. Larsen
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