Murder Inside the Beltway - Margaret Truman [41]
But Augie had been right. Keeping the “girls” in line was the hardest part of the job, and Billy soon found himself having to get tough with anyone who strayed from the party line. That included an occasional beating, which he enjoyed administering. One escort who’d tried to increase her forty percent take from the tricks she turned ended up with a bloody lip and broken nose, compliments of Billy’s fists. She got his message. Once healed, she never tried to rip them off again.
Gardner suggested to Billy that his tactics might have become too harsh, and that he should try to cajole the women into playing by Beltway’s rules. Billy said he would. But he quietly dismissed the older man’s protestations as a sign of weakness, and used an iron hand from time to time to keep everything running smoothly.
As months went by, the day-to-day running of the business fell more heavily on Billy’s shoulders, and he began to resent his salaried status. He broached the subject of becoming a partner with Gardner, one night over dinner at a local restaurant. To Billy’s surprise, Gardner wasn’t averse to the notion.
“I’ve been thinking that very same thing,” Gardner said. He’d been drinking more lately, and his speech and gait testified to it. Still, Billy knew he was a tough old bird, with leathery skin, a broad chest, and muscled arms. “You know, Billy, I sometimes think of you as a son.”
Billy beamed. “And I’ve been thinking about you, Luke, like the father I never had.”
“What happened to your dad?” Gardner asked.
“The law. He spent practically his whole damn life in prison. He died there.”
Billy McMahon had been lying for so long about so many things that the truth was forever blurred.
“That must have been tough on you, Billy.”
“Yeah, it was. On my mom, too. She was a saint, raising me and my sisters and brothers alone,” Billy, an only child, said.
“You’ve been doing a good job, Billy.”
“Thanks. That means a lot coming from an old pro like you.”
“You know, Billy, I’ve never lost a night’s sleep doing what I’m doing. The government’s got no business telling grown men and women what to do when it comes to sex.”
“I agree with that, Luke, one hundred percent.”
“So here’s what I’m thinking, Billy. I’d like to take more time off, get down to Florida, where I’ve got a house, spend more time with my two daughters there and the grandkids. I’m ready to make you a partner in Beltway.”
“I’d be real flattered, Luke. Real flattered, and grateful.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t want to go too fast. What I’m suggesting is that as my partner, you take a fair share of the profits. Say, twenty percent.”
Billy didn’t allow his disappointment to surface. He’d kept a close eye on the profits. Twenty percent wouldn’t give him much more than he was currently making in salary. He forced a smile and said, “That’s real generous, Luke.”
“Of course,” Luke said, “once I’m gone, the business will be yours.” He laughed. “I can’t leave it to my daughters, now, can I?”
“No, I suppose you can’t, Luke.”
Three weeks later, after the attorney for Beltway had drawn up partnership papers between Billy and Luke Gardner, Luke was run down and killed by what a witness thought was a silver-gray sedan.
The driver was never found.
Beltway Entertainment and Escorts now belonged to Billy McMahon.
FIFTEEN
“Beltway. You’d like to book a date?”
“No. I’m looking for Billy McMahon.”
Billy paused. He smelled trouble. He usually could.
“Are you Mr. McMahon?”
“Who’s calling?”
“Detective Jackson, Washington MPD.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m speaking with Mr. McMahon?”