So that was the special outfit? A pink see-through top and nothing else? Good thing I fit in so nicely. Liemanto wanted a private session and I was curious about his other work. 50 caps to dance almost naked and do a trick or two, I've had worse jobs. Ten times more if I accepted his other job... It could be anything, that's what made me suspicious.

 

 

          The bathroom led to a private room with a mini-bar, an L-shaped sofa and a pole dance bar in the middle. Liemanto was waiting for me to start my show. Like every one of them, I started by shacking my butt.

"You look great like this, Calista. Damn I missed that ass. So round and firm... You just want to play with it."

"I know, it's quite an exercise to keep it that way!"

"I have no doubt about that. Well, let's talk about the job. A ghoul's gang from Goodneighbor clashed with the cartel. I lost some cargo that was stored in their warehouse. The problem is, you can't get in unless you have the password. That's where you come in."

 

 

          After warming up, I moved to the pole, I didn't have much space to do moves. Liemanto kept briefing me.

"We identified one of the gang members. He requested a hooker's services in two days. We got this information from the pimp who is worried about his employee. That's why you will replace her. You have more experience and you know how to defend yourself. She doesn't know anything, you'll have to knock her out and take something from her: a collar with the word SLUT on it. This was the code decided with this gang, they are hidden and very suspicious."

 

 

          "The meeting takes place at the Boyston Club, around 6 pm. The ideal would be that you neutralize the prostitute in the nearby park. Mykola will take care of bringing her back safe and sound. As for you, you will have to find a way to make him say the password. Be careful, this guy is a threat. When you think you've found it, get the hell out. We'll handle him."

The job sounded like a scam to me. Taking someone's place for a job brought me to this point. Except this time, I was going to have backup. 

 

 

            I ended our private show with a short back flip.

"There you go, you know all about the job. Mrs. Schwartz will get you clothes that match the hooker's. Something with a slutty secretary. Do you have any questions?"

Everything had been explained to me, even if some of the stuff looked fishy, that shouldn't stop me.

 

 

            I took a seat next to Liemanto, stretching my leg after my little workout.

"Let me get this straight, in two days around 6 pm, I knock out a prostitute, take her collar and meet her client the ghoul at the Boyston Club. I get him to talk so he can tell me some kind of password and I'm out of there. My reward is 500 caps, right? I take the job, Liemanto. And I'll also take the 50 caps for the private dance."

He nodded in agreement. I didn't know what I was getting into, but if it increased my relationship with the cartel boss, I was going to do it.  

 

 

          Two days later, around 5:30 pm. 

I hid myself while waiting for the hooker to show up. There was barely anyone around until I saw a pretty woman strolling down the park's path. The opening gambit was about to be set in motion.

 

 

          She had just reached the street where I was waiting for her, hidden in a set of stairs. I had an outfit that matched hers, except for the skull mask. She didn't need to know who I was and I didn't want to get in trouble. The heels I was wearing were going to make some noise, so I opted to take them off in order to silently jump on the girl. 

 

 

            I approached in my bare feet and gripped onto her. One hand tugging at her collar, the other preventing her from screaming. Plus I forced her to look at the sky. My legs locked tightly around hers made it impossible for the prostitute to move. It was only a matter of time before she passed out.

 

 

          She collapsed on the sidewalk, unconscious. I picked up her collar that I had just choked her with. I took no pleasure in it, somehow I did her a favor. I was the one who was going to be at risk from a Goodneighbor gangster.

 

 

            I moved the prostitute to the stairs I was hiding. Damn, she was heavy! I didn't need to tie her up, Mykola would soon be there to handle her anyway. Good thing I took off my heels, I wouldn't have been able to get this kind of balance with them on.

 

 

            I put my pumps back on, threw the mask into the park's small pond and walked to the Boyston Club, which was on the other side. On the way, I also put on the collar I recently acquired and a pair of glasses. I now looked like a sexy secretary! With a very... slutty side. Not my fault, look at my neck!

 

 

            I took the elevator upstairs to the Boyston Club. The doors opened to a fairly fat silhouette gazing at the sunset. The place hadn't been visited since the bombs. Overturned seats, scattered wine bottles, skeletons... The last party held here ended badly. That wasn't going to be the case tonight, I hoped.

 

 

            We met in the middle of the lounge. 

"Good evening, sir."

"Hi cutie, I like your collar. Are you ready for an incredible evening? Come on, let's have a drink!"

 

 

          The gangster and I seated ourselves around the coffee table. He poured himself a glass of wine, I gently declined.

"You see this place is a relic of the past. Celebrities used to meet here to drink and smoke in peace. The space was even used in one of my favorite John Woo movies. Damn, I loved that filmmaker..."

The ghoul kept talking about the past. I had many of the references he mentioned, maybe I could force the line a little. 

 

 

          "Wow! You are lucky to have lived all this! The social events, the debauchery, the movies, especially those from John Woo."

The gangster finished his glass of wine in one gulp, he barely listened to anything I said, except when I said John Woo. I saw him give me a brief glance. Why that?

 

 

          The ghoul knocked over his armchair in an abrupt manner. I got scared and moved away from him. He looked at me and made an obscene gesture with his hands. 

"Let's cut the chit-chat, it's time to fuck! Take off your clothes, I want to see what's underneath."

"Wait, you're a little too fast for me honey, I don't know if I'm ready."

 

 

            I stepped back until I was blocked by the wall. The gangster was getting closer to my face, he put his hand on the wall to prevent me from running away. 

"What's wrong with you? You don't drink, you don't want to fuck, are you actually a whore?"

"Listen, I'm a bit shy, this is the first time I'm doing it with a ghoul..."

"Oh okay, I see. You're one of those ghoul-hating bitches, aren't you? I think you deserv a humility lesson you slut!"

 

 

            I didn't have time to react as he put both his hands on my throat and choked me. This was so sudden and violent, I was lifted off the ground. I even lost my heels in the process. I had to react quickly or this fat, disgusting ghoul was going to rip me to shreds.

"Any last wishes, bitch?"

 

 

            I used all the energy I had in me to break the hold. In a spirit of hope, I answered him.

"Yeah, fuck you fatty!"

I hit his groin with my knee and loaded my palm to slam his ear with it. He'd messed with the wrong person and I wasn't going to be shy about beating the crap out of him.

 

 

            My blows broke his grip and he found himself on all fours, holding his lower stomach for an obvious reason. I gained momentum and was about to smash his skull with my bare foot. My last fight was several months ago, a drunken battle in Goodneighbor. I felt I did fairly well today, despite a bad start.

 

 

            After my kick to his face, I put my foot on his ravaged skin. I had beaten him and wanted to make sure I had the right password for the cartel. He was quite stunned but I only needed a yes or no anyway.

"Is your gang's password John Woo? Answer me dirtbag!"

"John... Who?"

He finally passed out. I had no reason to stay here anymore, I picked up my heels and headed for the elevator. 

 

 

            I put on my white pumps and tried to think of what the password meant. Damn the bastard, he choked me so hard I was still coughing! Anyway. What if the password was a question, like "John who?" and the answer was John Woo, the movie director from that time? It was a very silly idea but just as brillant. Goodneighbor had the ghoul John Hancock as its mayor, who was the obvious answer to that question. John who? Hancock. 

No one from the Commonwealth could know John Woo, the password seemed logical from that point of view.

 

 

          Mykola was waiting for me in the reception hallway. 

"Is it done Calista? Do you have the password?"

"Your man lies totally knocked out on the upper floor. I'm pretty sure the password is John Woo spelled with one W and two O's. He was a movie director. When I tried to find out more about him, the gangster attacked me and I had to fight back. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home."

"All right, you did a great job. The hooker you replaced is fine, thanks for not embarrassing her more than necessary. Stop by Liemanto's residence tomorrow morning to receive your payment. Have a nice evening."