“It’s okay.”
“I hear Ricky can be a tough guy to work for.” CJ held her breath. She’d skipped several questions and gone straight to the ones that might rouse suspicion.
“I don’t work for him no more. Tyrone wanted me working for him.”
CJ’s heart thumped. “You must be a hard worker.” It was the best she could come up with.
“Have to. I don’t do my part, he’ll kick my ass.”
CJ paused before pulling the films. “Did he do this to you?”
“Hell no. Uh-uh. No way. He ain’t gonna damage the merchandise.” She made a face and put a hand to her side. “Shit happens, you know?”
Yeah, CJ knew all right. “I guess you heard about the woman who was murdered last weekend.” An ache speared CJ. It still didn’t seem real. “You can sit up now.” She clipped the films onto the viewing box. She had to do this as nonchalantly as possible.
“Yeah.” Celeste rolled to her side and pushed up. She’d been through this before. “I partied with her a couple of times before she gave up the life. She was cool. She let me stay at her place once when Tyrone was punishing me.”
Anticipation pounding in her veins, CJ barely restrained the need to dive into a long list of questions. The woman had just said that Tyrone didn’t damage the merchandise. Instead, she said, “Good news. No fractures.” She helped the woman off the table.
“That’s good.” She turned to CJ at the door. “Do I still get the Vicodin?”
“Does Juanita usually give you medication for your pain?” Bruising this bad warranted something for pain, but CJ didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. She saw none of the notes Juanita had mentioned in Celeste’s chart. Also, she’d like to do an ultrasound as well.
“Yeah. She knows being a foot soldier is hard sometimes.”
“I’m not sure I understand the whole foot soldier concept.”
Celeste shrugged. “He’s the King, we’re his army in the streets.”
Talk about an ego. “You were saying that he punished you.”
“Like he did Shelley, you know. And anybody else who don’t do as they told.”
CJ tensed. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”
“The first time you mess up, he tells you what for. Makes you feel bad for screwing up.”
Back in the exam room, Celeste shouldered out of the gown and reached for her cami. “The next time you get shunned. Can’t work. Youget pretty hungry. That happened to me not too long after I got here. Shelley helped me out. Gave me a place to stay. Something to eat.”
CJ’s heart squeezed. Shelley had liked helping others. “That treatment sounds a little harsh.” This girl, like the others she’d seen today, didn’t look as if she could afford to miss even one meal. Most were living on drugs. This was abuse clear and simple.
Truly sick bastard.
“If you stupid enough to piss him off the third time, then you in big trouble. That could get you dead.”
More of that tension stiffened CJ’s muscles. “Dead? Tyrone kills people who make mistakes?”
CJ snapped her mouth shut. She hadn’t meant to ask that question. She’d gone too far.
The deer-caught-in-the-headlights look in Celeste’s eyes signaled that she recognized she had said too much.
That frightened gaze suddenly narrowed. “Your name is Patterson too. You’re her sister.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why you asking all these questions.” She shook her head. “Goddammit.” She glared at CJ. “Bitch, you’ll get me killed if you go mouthing off to Tyrone.”
“No.” CJ gave her head an adamant shake. “I told you, I won’t tell anyone.”
