Tai Anne Roper looked at her watch. "Hot damn! Lookit the time! Gotta go. Bye!"
"Hey!" McClintock grabbed hold of Tai's arm as she started to scoot out of the booth. "You've gotta be kidding me!!!"
"Ummmm, no Sir." Tai answered. "See, I'm supposed to meet someone at eleven who knows a lot about where your daughter is." She held up her watch. "And it's twenty til right now, so I really gotta haul buns if I wanna be there on time."
"But, Tai!" McClintock again was at her side. "What about... us?"
"With all due love and respect... Matt," Tai smiled. "Doncha think we should resolve a few things before we start picking out the wallpaper for the nursery?"
He nodded. "Jessica."
"Among other things." Tai said. She groaned and kissed him hard on the lips. Then she grabbed the last big chunk of lobster on her plate and scarfed it down as she walked fast out of the Starlight Room.
On the way down in the elevator, she took her black velvet wrap and released a couple of hidden buttons so it became a long cape that she draped over her herself and flipped over one shoulder. Perfect for a cold San Francisco night.
In the lobby she was intercepted by the concierge.
"Ah, Miss Roper! I do hope everything was to your and Mr. McClintock's total satisfaction ..."
"Oh my yes," Tai replied. "Except when Mr. McClintock choked on the lobster and I had to Heimlich him... he said something about calling his lawyer."
The concierge went deathly pale and began to spasm.
"PSYCHE!!!" Tai laughed. "Oh, I'll be needing a cab."
"We have a limo standing by..."
"I believe I said... cab?"
"A cab for Miss Roper!!!"
She made it out to the hack stand and ignored the door being opened by the doorman to the first taxi cab in line. Instead she went three vehicles down and got into the back of a Ford Crown Vic Yellow Cab. The cabbie put down the sports section of that afternoon's SF Examiner and cranked the engine.
"Where to?" He was an older guy, mid-fifties or so. Which meant he was still younger than Matt McClintock.
"Starfleet headquarters."
"Where's that?"
"Nevermind. Fisherman's Wharf. And step on it."
"Consider it stepped on." He sawed the wheel hard left and burned rubber as he took off onto Powell, running a stale yellow traffic light at Sutter.
Tai looked out the back window and saw a red Ford sedan barely miss getting T-boned as it ran the now red traffic light in order to keep up with them.
Tai turned to the cabbie. "We're being followed."
"So?"
Tai fished around in her purse and held up two crumpled hundred dollar bills.
"You want me to lose 'em?" the cabbie asked
"No, I want you to put a little space between them and us, then turn into the first side alley we come to and stop long enough to let me out. Then you go on, taking these jokers for a nice long ride. Think you can manage that?"
He grinned. "I gotta sister in Oakland I ain't seen in awhile."
"Works for me."
The cabbie accelerated, just avoiding a California Street cable car. The red Ford had to stop.
"You in any trouble, babe?" the cabbie asked.
"No more than usual."
He chuckled. "Get ready to boogie..."
He made a screeching hard right into a pitch black alley, followed by a screeching halt. Tai left the two C-notes on the front seat and got out, she didn't even have time to slam the door closed before he took off again.
Tai slipped behind a reeking dumpster. Ten seconds later the red Ford made a squealing turn and rocketed down the same alleyway to follow the Yellow Cab south on Stockton.
Tai made it back onto Powell and waited a few minutes in the shadows until a Powell & Hyde cable car came clanging along. She hopped aboard, paid her two bucks and sat down to enjoy the ride.
Nine minutes later, she hopped off at Hyde and Union. She was back on Russian Hill, only a block away from Taffy Chu's place.
***
Tai was walking east on Union, along a mixed block of residentials and small businesses, not all of which were still open. It was a dark, semi-deserted street, just her and a hot pink '64 Chevy Impala low-rider decked out with gangsta whitewalls and 22 inch, killah-D gold rims that was cruising after her.
There were three young black men in the open rag-top, pacing her in the car and giving her hoots and cat calls over the blaring car stereo that was cranking out Missy Elliot's 'Get Ur Freak On'. Just some punks looking for trouble.
"Hey, baby! Y'know where Lombard is? Dis ain't 'zackly our 'hood. We outta Potero Hill, baby. But we gots a hot party waitin' fo' us, wanna come along?"
"Yeah, chinadoll, git that bodacious booty ovah heah!"
Tai kept walking. The Impala surged forward and turned into a driveway in front of her, cutting her off.
The man in the back seat lumbered out. He had to be 350 pounds and was dressed in loose FUBU denims and an array of gold around his neck, wrists and pudgy lil fingers.
"'K, bitch," He rumbled. "We tried t' be gentlemenz, now git in th' fuckin' car."
He made a grab for her. Tai ducked and punched away his massive paws hard enough for him to notice the pain.
"That's strike one," Tai said as she walked onto the street and around the Impala.
"Fuck this shit," the big man followed her and grabbed a handful of the black velvet cape about her shoulders. Tai shrugged out of it and slipped into her Aikido defensive stance.
"Strike two," she said.
He grinned. She saw he had gold front teeth as well. "'N what th' fuck is strike three, bitch?"
Tai's right leg shot forward as she kicked him in the balls really hard. His eyes bulged and he jack-knifed forward just in time to catch a knee to the face that knocked him back into the rear fender of the Impala hard enough to dent it as he slid to the pavement, dribbling his gold teeth down his chin.
"Strike three, you're out, asshole." Tai said. She looked at the other two punks still in the ride. "Either of you wanna taste?"
They shook their heads.
"Good. Better get Notorious Big Butt here to an ER, I think I busted his nose."
She snatched up her wrap from the ground and kept walking, not relaxing until she turned onto Leavenworth and was headed up the steps of the Victorian house that was also Taffy Chu's Fashion X-tremez.
***
The lights were out and the closed sign was up. Tai banged on the door, trying to figure out just what she would do if Taffy had taken a powder.
The door opened and a slender hand grabbed Tai by the arm and yanked her in.
"Where have you been, you said you'd be here by eleven!" Taffy said as she locked the door and turned on a lamp.
"I said 'elevenish'," Tai replied. She noticed Taffy was still in a red silk bathrobe. "And how come you're not dressed?"
"Feh! It always takes me four hours to decide what to wear when I go clubbing." Taffy turned and looked at her. "But I have..." she stopped, staring at Tai in her Little Black Dress.
"What? What is it?" Tai asked.
"You," Taffy whispered. She approached her. "Aw, fuck. I gotta kiss you. Please."
Tai sucked in her breath. Her thoughts and desires for Matt McClintock were still swirling in her head, and right now all she wanted to do was ravage this delectable lil goth grrlie.
Growling, Tai grabbed her and kissed her hard. Taffy held her tight, loving the warmth and feel of her fine, firm body.
Shuddering, Tai pulled back, reclaiming her tongue.
"Promise me, kitten," Taffy whispered. "Promise me you'll spend tonight with me. No matter what happens."
"I... promise."
"Good girl." Taffy looked up at her with a wicked grin. "Now lets get you dressed!"
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Tai asked as Taffy pulled her into another room that was wall to wall fetish fashion.
"Hey, its a hot dress, but if you show up at The Brickyard like that, everybody will think you're just another boring straight." Taffy nodded to her left. "That's what I picked out for you. Like it?"
Wow. The Dress consisted of a heavy latex corset that was pearlized to a deep, glossy black that reflected blue highlights. Then came the long skirt that was split up both sides all the way to the hips and was also made of the same black and blue glossy rubber. The Dress was also heavy with various buckles and straps and steel D-rings.
"I like." Tai said. "But isn't it a little... small for me?"
"Its a size six, but thats all I have," Taffy said. "'Sides, rubber stretches!"
"Okaaaaaay," Tai pulled off her wrap. "Where's a changing room?"
"Don't start getting shy on me now, kitten," Taffy admonished. She unzipped the back of Tai's dress, running her hands over Tai's back. "I wanted to dress you up right the moment I laid eyes on you. You have the body for rubber and vinyl. You shouldn't wear anything else."
Losing her dress and heels, Tai kept her panties and pantyhose on as she stepped into the corset that Taffy slowly worked up her body. Taffy had to do some real hefting to get the corset over Tai's big buns before it settled in over her hips.
Tai moaned as Taffy licked and suckled at her bare breasts, then pulled the corset up and over them so they were full and firm against latex so tight her nipples showed.
Taffy cinched her up and buckled on the matching collar, adjusting the straps at the bodice and in the back. Hanging from the front of the dress was a rubbery black thong that Taffy slipped between Tai's legs and up between her bottomcheeks. She pulled it tight and buckled it at the small of her back.
Tai groaned. "Like that, kitten?" Taffy husked into her ear.
"Yessssss..."
Taffy palmed Tai's rubbered cunt. "You look so fine like this... my cuntstrapped bitch. Look at yourself, kitten."
Panting, Tai looked into an antique, full length mirror in front of her. She saw a young woman in shiny blue-black rubber and dark hose, with a tightly compressed waistline that had plumped up her already impressive cleavage and bottom.
"It's all about control, kitten," Taffy said as she slipped the long skirt over Tai's hips. "Your body controlled, with you in control."
The skirt was buckled in back. It was ankle-length, but had long side slits showing off Tai's legs all the way to the hips. Next came black patent ankle boots with five inch heels and wide anklestraps. Then long black latex gloves that slipped on past her elbows. Gleaves of black patent and heavy with decorative studs and D-rings were buckled onto her wrists.
Taffy sat her down before a makeup vanity, and touched her up just a little. She also took some Japanese hairpins and brought her long mane of shiny black hair up and off her neck.
Taffy bent down and kissed her neck. "I'll be right back, kitten."
As she went off to get dressed, Tai got out her Nokia and dialed up Iwana.
"There you is, sistahgrrl," Iwana said by way of a greeting. "Had me worried sick!"
"You get worried sick when I go down to the Quickie-Mart for a bean burrito!" Tai replied. "What did you get on this Lady Ashtoreth?"
"Not much. Cops don't even have her in their monicker file. But she does exist. Has her own website and everything. She's a pro domme, very pricey. But she also stoops to 'email slavery'. Dominates subbies over the 'net. Thats all I got. No pictures either."
"Dammit," Tai muttered.
"Where you at now?"
"Chinatown, checking a lead."
"And where you going?"
"Different places," Tai growled.
"Don't give me no attitude, sistahgrrl!" Iwana snapped back. "Lessen you lookin' forward to a loooong session 'cross mah knee!"
Tai bit her lip. "No, Iwana. I'm sorry, Iwana."
"We'll talk this out when Ah get to The City," Iwana said. "Ah should be at that roach motel by noontime. Make sure you're waiting for me, sistahgrrl."
"Yes, Iwana. Goodnight." Tai clicked off and looked at herself on the mirror again. She looked, beautiful, dark and dangerous. And she felt like she was being pulled in six different directions at once.
"Anything wrong?" Taffy asked as she re-entered the room.
"Nothing a lobotomy wouldn't cure..." Tai turned and stared at Taffy. She rawked in a glossy red latex mini skirt and halter, with matching latex stockings and over the knee bitch boots loaded with buckles and straps.
"You like?"
"I love." Tai kissed her. "Now, let's go and find Jessica."
***
The Brickyard was on Folsom in the SoMa, which is SanFranSpeak for the area south of Market Street. An old warehouse district that had been gentrified, with a lot of the old buildings being turned into loft and studio apartments.
It was also a haven for some of the wildest nightclubs in The City. Gay, straight and lez enclaves that were small and legend. Then there were the newer clubs that were huge, techno-funk rave halls that welcomed all persuasions and lifestyles.
Such was the Brickyard. As Jeb had reported, it was an old, red brick factory building that was two stories tall and took up a whole city block. And at midnight on a Saturday night it was jamming with hundreds of people out looking for a good time.
Finding a parking spot within six blocks would be possible only thru direct intervention by Jesus H. Christ himself, and even then it would be iffy. But Taffy Chu pulled her shiny black '72 VW Beetle right up to the front doors and had one of the burlygrrl bouncers in skintight leather not only open the door for her, but also take her keys and valet park it for her.
Tai's butt squeaked as she got out of the Beetle. Taffy's black PVC upholstery and car seats had made for a unique riding experience, especially when wearing latex.
But at least she was getting used to this Dress! By taking careful, shallow breaths she could take in enuff air so she wouldn't faint. At least with the side slits on the skirt she could move fast if she had to. Altho that rubbery thong grinding into the folds of her cunt was getting distracting.
The line of people waiting to get in stretched around the block, and guarding the gates to the promised land were a platoon of male and female bouncers in black. Most looked like they had met each other in prison.
Taffy chatted up another burlygrrl in leather who looked at Tai and said something into her walkie-talkie. Taffy waved her on.
As the Beetle puttered off, Tai took Taffy's outstretched hand and let her lead her into a manic world of twirling strobe lights and pulsating Pacific-rim techno-pop that was loud enough to burst your eardrums.
Crowds and masses of people surged around them, as Tai felt like she was in an ocean of humanity being buffetted by currents and riptides.
And what humanity.
First there were the transvestites, who were all really ugly and always seemed to get the girls, which pissed off the lesbians because --after all-- they were real girls.
This was followed by cadres of very overweight men and women in rubbersuits that simply did not fit them, followed by the Gorgeous Untouchable Goddesses, the balding, submissive guys, the e-fucked teeny-boppers in PVC and Pleather who chattered constantly and the really egotistical guys with obvious lifetime gym memberships.
Not to be forgotten were the really sweet gay guys in leather harnesses, the really sweet gay girls in military tunics and the really sweet straight couples from the 'burbs, the so-called 'tunnel and bridge set'.
Tai made it past the bouncers without having to show off her fake ID and bellied up to the bar with Taffy.
"May I buy you ladies a drink?!" a subbie guy shouted over the hub-bub to them.
"Sure!" Taffy shouted back. She turned to the bartender. "Two screwdrivers!"
The drinks appeared and Tai and Taffy sipped at them, they both ignored the subbie.
"Remember!" Taffy shouted into Tai's ear. "Just cos they buy you drinks all night doesn't mean you have to talk to them!" She nodded into the crowd. "I just spotted someone who might know something about Jessica! You stay here!"
Tai nodded and got a quick kiss from Taffy, who then disappeared into the crowd.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, may this one please have the honor of buying you a drink?" Another subbie guy asked politely.
"Suuuuure!" Tai finished off the screwdriver with a smack of her lips. Another screwdriver appeared. This wasn't bad at all...
"Heeya, slick."
Tai looked up to see a tall, muscled woman wearing a black leather vest and matching chaps over skintight faded jeans. A long mane of blond hair framed an attractive face and flinty grey eyes that looked familiar.
"Have we met?" Tai asked.
"This afternoon? You doing 90 plus in the Broadway Tunnel? I was the one with the blue light and the siren that went 'woo woo woo'?"
"Ah! Officer Sweet of the SFPD!" Tai smiled. "Would you like a drink?"
"No thanks," she replied. "My hubby is upstairs with a pitcher of Coors. I just happened to spot you here and thought I'd say, 'hi!'."
Well, hi!" Tai said.
"You look enchanting," Officer Sweet gave her the once over. "Rubber suits you." She snapped a latex shoulder strap on Tai.
"Ow! Thanks."
"I seem to remember that your operator's license said you were only 19..." Sweet said.
"You gotta be shittin' me!" Tai said. "You're all leathered up in a BDSM bar getting ready to rope 'n ride your 'hubby', an' you wanna go after me for underage drinking?" Tai finished her screwdriver. "Get real!"
Sweet's strong hand snagged Tai's wrist. "Doesn't matter why I'm here, slick. I'm a cop twenty-four/seven, three sixty-five. To serve and protect. And that means I'm escorting your lil rubbery self outta here..."
"No wait!" Tai moved in closer. "Look, you saw my ID. You know I'm a licensed PI. I'm here to find a missing girl. Maybe you read about her in the paper. Jessica McClintock?"
"Yeah, I read about her."
"Please let me stay," Tai tried to plead with those grey eyes. "I won't drink, I promise!"
"Okay," Sweet nodded. "I believe you. You can stay. You need backup?"
"No Ma'am," Tai answered.
Well, I wouldn't want you to have to go thirsty." She turned to the bartender. "Hey! A ginger ale for the young lady!" She tweaked Tai's nose. "Watch it, slick."
***
Tai continued to wait. She had to admit to herself that Sweet's intrusion was prolly a blessing in disguise, seeing how she was already a little tipsy after two drinks.
A few minutes later, Tai spotted a black Amazon in leather on a direct course for her position. She was breezing through that ocean of humanity, not so gently knocking aside anyone who didn't get out of her way fast enough, leaving a wake of perturbed people behind her.
She was a hottie. Very muscular, with gleeming ebony skin and very white teeth and very red lips. Her huge breasts were bound by a black leather vest that was cinched tight leaving her six-pack abs and belly-button ring for all to see. Her matching skirt was more of a very wide belt over her hips. She finished the look with a pair of ankle-strapped nosebleed heels.
Tai felt her eyes widen as the Amazon continued to stalk her way right up to Tai. With those heels she had to be six foot six at least.
The Amazon bowed her head and curtsyed to Tai. When she looked down at her again, Tai saw the conquered look on her face. She was a subbie, a slave to someone.
The Amazon wordlessly handed Tai a folded piece of paper. Tai opened it and read...
Meet me at Club 28...
Ashtoreth
Tai looked up. "Where is this Club 28?"
The Amazon pounded her chest and turned to walk back across the dance floor.
Tai hurried and followed in her wake.
***
Just as Tai Anne Roper walked off with the Amazon, yet another couple made it through the front doors and headed for the bar, battling their way through the crowd.
He was a handsome, middle-aged and distinguished gent in a three-piece suit and a bowler hat who carried a black doctor's bag. She was a long-legged, busty young woman in a black PVC micro minidress and matching thigh-high boots.
"I say!" Dr. Fiendly said, shouting over the music. "The cheek of those fellows! Demanding a gratuity simply for entering this establishment! That would never be allowed to stand in England, I can assure you of that, my dear Wenche!"
Fannikins Wenche kept silent as she dabbed her mouth with a kleenex. Rather than having to pony up a C-note, Fiendly had let the price of admission consist of her going down on her knees in the parking lot, giving blowjobs to three of the bouncers.
"You're a cheap fuck," the Wenche growled.
"What was that, my dear?"
"I said, we're gonna need luck!" The Wenche shouted. "If we hope to find the McClintock bitch in all of this!"
"Indeed!" Fiendly guided the Wenche to the bar where he tried to get the attention of the bartender. "I say, my good man! A flaming rum punch for me, and a tequila shooter for the lady!"
"And keep'em coming!" The Wenche said.
Chapter Twelve