Page 38 of Cooper’s Passion

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Anita had seen enough homeless people, drug addicts, and prostitutes in her time as a sheriff’s deputy to know that the Tenderloin in San Francisco was a breeding ground for all kinds of crimes. She got out of the car, her handbag slung across her body, her gun inside it. Despite carrying a gun, she felt safer when Cooper came around the car and walked next to her. It was odd, really, because as a law enforcement officer she was used to being in shady areas at night, but this wasn’t her city, and she wasn’t wearing a uniform. Her uniform always felt like a shield, an additional defense, because even criminals thought twice about attacking a cop. A woman in plain clothes was an easier target.

Therefore, she was surprised when Cooper approached a beautiful young woman in plain clothes waiting at a corner. The woman didn’t show any signs of feeling uncomfortable or worried despite her surroundings.

“Vanessa, thanks for meeting us.”

The woman was in her twenties, and her wavy long brown hair caressed her elegant face like silk. She was slim too, which was emphasized by the skinny jeans she wore. Her turtleneck sweater hugged her curves, confirming that she wasn’t armed, unless she was hiding a weapon in the handbag that was slung diagonally across her torso.

“Hey, Cooper,” she replied with a smile and stretched out her hand to Anita. “I’m Vanessa.”

Anita shook her hand. “Anita. Nice to meet you.”

“So, you’re looking for a serial killer, huh?” Vanessa asked.

“Yeah.” Cooper glanced at Anita. “I filled in Vanessa earlier while you were getting ready.” Then he looked back at Vanessa. “You’re all right with us tagging along on your route tonight?”

“The more the merrier.” Vanessa motioned in a direction, and they began walking next to each other.

“Cooper said you do outreach,” Anita started, trying to get a better idea of what Vanessa did. “What does that actually mean? Are you like a social worker?”

Vanessa cast her a sideways look. “Kinda. I’m employed by Scanguards, and we have a contract with the city to take care of the prostitutes, and anybody living on the streets. I check in with the homeless and the sex workers to see if they need help.”

“You mean if they become victims of crimes?”

“Yes, on occasion, but most of the time I make sure they get to see a doctor if they’re sick, and they take their meds. I get them to a free clinic, and contact the shelters if they need to sleep indoors. Though there’s a lot of people who prefer sleeping outside.” Vanessa shrugged. “You can’t force them, so I try to get them to accept help when they need it.”

“And the prostitutes?”

“I make sure that they’re not mistreated by a pimp or a john. I’ve been doing this for a while now, and they know me and trust me. I hear a lot of what’s going on out here on the streets.”

Impressed, Anita continued asking, “What do you do when you find out that a pimp or a customer is mistreating them?”

Vanessa exchanged a look with Cooper and grinned. “That’s the part of my job I like most.”

Before Anita could wonder what she meant by that, Vanessa continued, “I have a word with those guys and tell them what’ll happen if they do it again.”

“And they listen to you?” Anita shook her head.

“I’m very persuasive. And they know I don’t bluff.”

Anita couldn’t quite believe that. What could a woman like Vanessa threaten a violent man with to make him comply? “Do you threaten them with jail time?”

“Something like that.” Then she suddenly pointed to a corner. “There we are. Let’s start with them. Cooper, do you have a picture of the dead woman?”

Cooper pulled out his cellphone. “Sending it to your cell now.”

There was a soft ping, and Vanessa pulled her own cellphone from her bag. “Got it.”

Two women stood at the corner, both dressed provocatively, wearing short skirts despite the cool temperature, and make-up that barely glossed over the fact that neither would win a beauty contest. They were very much like the women she’d seen ply the same trade in Elko County. Certain things were universal no matter the location, and the sex trade was one of them.

Anita watched with interest how Vanessa talked to the women, who were friendly to her, and addressed her by name. Vanessa seemed to have genuine compassion for these women, asking them about their well-being, and if anybody was giving them any trouble.

“I brought my friends tonight,” Vanessa finally said and pointed to her and Cooper. “Anita and Cooper. They’re investigating the murder of a woman, and we’d like you to look at her picture to see if you might have seen her around.”

“Sure,” one woman answered.

Cooper stepped closer and held up his cellphone with Janet’s picture. “Did you see her in the last six weeks? Maybe in the company of a man?”