Chapter 69
Desoto Lines Up Talent for Val
Private Investigator Thomas Alva Desoto hung up the phone and smiled broadly. Fucking perfect! He thought. Valerie Marcolina would probably suck his dick when he told her what was on the plate for one of her meetings.
He had learned of a certain professor at UNCG who had a specialty that involved his seducing coeds — not all that unusual on a college campus, but this guy had taken seduction to another level — he had the young women performing before small audiences and filmed the proceedings for sales to certain collectors but not for general distribution.
Desoto followed the professor into the TGIF's restaurant, and sat two stools away from him at the bar. Desoto waited until the professor placed his order then waited a little longer in the event someone was going to join the man he had under surveillance.
When no one did, Desoto shifted his lean frame to the seat beside the professor. "Hello, Mr. Blake," he said, startling the professor.
"Have we met?" Blake asked pointedly.
"No."
"Oh, but you know my name?"
"You are a professor at the college are you not?"
"I am."
"Professor Blake, my name is Thomas Desoto. I'm a private investigator."
Desoto noted Blake stiffen at the last, and decided to press the attack. "You have a ... shall we say... thing with certain female students that I'd like to discuss with you."
He had Blake's full attention.
"I'm not here to arrest you, nor do I wish to harm you in any way. In fact, I have an offer."
"An offer?"
"Yes, professor, I have a client who would be interested in having you put on one of your performances for her and some friends."
"Do you, now?"
"Yes, and it pays well."
"Let me see if I understand you. You say I have a... thing with certain students."
"Female students."
Blake went on as if Desoto hadn't uttered a word. "And you want me to put on some kind of performance for some female client of yours?"
"That is correct, sir."
"For a substantial sum of money. Is that correct?"
Desoto realized the Professor wasn't buying and tried to turn him back on course. "Professor, I'm not threatening you. I'm merely offering you a proposition."
"A proposition? I think I had better call the police. Or are you the police, Desoto?"
"I assure you I'm not the police. I am as I said a private investigator." He slid his business card across the bar to the professor.
"Who's the woman?"
"I can't tell you that without consulting her."
"Consult away," the professor said. "Until then, leave me alone."
*****
Ten minutes later, Desoto was telling Val about the meeting and how he had learned of the professor's sexual proclivities with the students.
"I'll meet with him. Can you get back with him tonight?"
If he's still at the bar. I'll check and get right back to you."
"Do that, and thanks. This sounds intriguing.
It took an hour, but the three of them wound up sitting in Val's Mercedes in a darkened corner of TGIF's parking lot.
Val took control from the start. "My name is Valerie Marcolina. Do you recognize the name?"
Dorian Blake was no fool and said, "I recognize it. Am I to take it that you are Mrs. Joseph Marcolina?"
"I am. I have formed a little club, Mr. Blake, or do you prefer being called Professor Blake?"
"Please, call me Dorian," he said smoothly. He was attracted to the lithe brunette sitting next to him. Desoto sat in the back, smoking a cigarette.
"Dorian, then," Val said, "my club is just getting off the ground. It will involve sex, Dorian. A great deal of sex for me and the members, all of whom are female. I am willing to pay handsomely for certain services that may entertain the members of the club. Is that sufficient information for you?"
"I am very fond of money, Mrs. Marcolina. Let's talk about risk."
"Risk?"
"Yes, my proclivities involve a certain degree of risk. My career as it is would be over with should these acts become known. You ask that I perform before your members, fine and good. But what if one or more should for whatever reason, become disenchanted with you and or the club and go to the authorities. District Attorneys use such cases to rise politically. No amount of clout can curtail them when they smell blood, Mrs. Marcolina."
"What if the District Attorney's wife were a member, Dorian?"
"Then I would be suitably impressed, Mrs. Marcolina. Is that the case?"
"It is on my agenda. I'll be approaching her tomorrow."
"Assuming you inveigle her to join, what kind of money are we talking about?"
"Exactly what kind of show are you providing?"
"Touché, Mrs. Marcolina. As a matter of fact, I have something in the works for this weekend."
"Can you make it Friday night?"
"Why not?"
"So what are you offering? I'd like to know in order to establish a dollar value to it."
Dorian smiled and said, "Earlier this evening a young woman came calling. She told me, and I quote: 'I can't stop thinking about what you did to me. I really, really enjoyed it.'
"The truth was she wanted to watch the tape we'd made last weekend. Of course, I knew why she had come. I had already established a set of rules for her to comply with, and so while she — her name is Zara — leaned over the coffee table, I put the DVD of the event on.