Shrouded in Secrets

Chapter 3

That morning I was awoken by the sound of pounding on my door. I got up quickly and wrapped my blanket around my shoulders, running to get it. Standing outside was Lila, looking extremely giddy.

"So, how'd your date go?" she asked and let herself in.

"Well then, good morning to you to," I half-laughed.

"Good morning, now answer."

"It was good, it was really good. We're going to do it again when I have a night off. But, I found out he's a police officer."

"Holy shit! No, you can't date a police officer! He'll arrest us all! You can't do that to us, it puts us all on the streets, and not the way that we already are."

"He promised me that he wouldn't do that, I trust him."

"He's still a policeman, it doesn't matter! They're all the same, they all lie," she said, her eyes filling with fear.

"Lila, if anything happens I'm going to leave. I want to die about as much as you do, believe me. It's just that I really like him, and he actually cares about me. He told me I was worth it."

"Worth what, your job? Or more, because guys lie, if you're a whore like you and me they'll tell you that you're worth more because they want to get information out of you, and the second that they get the info we're all out and S is in jail or we're dead in a ditch. There isn't a way to play it 'safe,' Jem, any which way we're screwed. And you're never leaving because if you do S is going to think you're telling people and that he's going to get found out along with the rest of us. That kills all of us and then S is going to get taken in. Someone dies one way or another," Lila was in hysterics now.

"I'm sure there is a way to play it so that you guys are safe, Shayde doesn't get to kill anyone or keep his business. I'm positive we can find a way, if I talk to him."

"No! Jemma, we had a talk, I don't want to leave! I can't do anything else, this is where I have been, and Shayde saved my god damn life. I don't even know what you're thinking anymore, Jem, we're god forsaken street walkers, we can't get out, we can't go anywhere. We're here or we're dead!"

"Lila, stop yelling, I told you that I'm not going to risk anyone, you can find something else to do, and while he may have saved you in one way he is killing you in so many others, I mean, what about this," I said, lifting her leg a little to reveal the fist-sized purple bruise that was on her thigh.

"Jemma, you've snapped. That's all I can say, you've snapped. I've got enough shit to worry about besides your wild fantasies. I'm going, bye," Lila said as she got up off the sofa and left my apartment. I sighed and flopped back on the couch, everything was falling to pieces now all because of Kris, it seemed, but it was all building up, too. It was so confusing. Just then the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Good morning," Kristopher said from the other line.

"Hey! Good morning to you, too," I smiled.

"So, any idea on when your next night off is?"

"I haven't even gone in yet today! I told you I'd let you know as soon as I did."

"Oh, well then. So, what's up?"

"Not much; talked to one of my friends today and she freaked out because you were a policeman and she's terrified of losing her job and/or getting killed so she ran off and I'm pretty sure she's never going to talk to me again, which is fun."