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ain’t gonna last long.”
    A whore’s lie. And we both knew it.
    â€œMaybe I can help. Get you into rehab. Turn things around.”
    She snorted. “Know how many times I been down that road?”
    â€œOnce more won’t hurt.”
    â€œWon’t help either,” she said. “Just the way it is. Now that that’s out of the way, why’re you here?”
    â€œGot a problem you may help with.”
    I told her about the fire.
    â€œSo, Dave’s got his dick in a crack.”
    â€œIn a manner of speaking.”
    â€œI always liked him. But how can I help?”
    â€œIt’s possible the men who were murdered were johns, and the killer was doing some payback.”
    â€œWhy not? Lots of guys I’d like to ice.”
    â€œI’m kind of floundering here, Dawn. Don’t have much to go on. If it was a pros, it would be hard for her to keep something like this a secret.”
    â€œHookers do like to talk. Especially when they get over on a weirdo John.”
    â€œSo, have you heard anything?”
    The door flew open, and Rickie sauntered in.
    He had a hunting knife in his hand.
    â€œFuck’s goin’ on?” he said.
    Gloria’s eyes opened and fixed on Rickie.
    Dawn ran up to him. “Put it away. Steeg’s a friend.”
    â€œI’m the only friend you got,” he said, shoving her aside.
    I seriously considered tossing Rickie out the window.
    He strolled up to me. “Here’s the deal. Don’t matter ifyou came for snatch, or just to chitchat. Gonna cost the same.”
    I decided that the window required too much effort. I kicked him in the nuts.
    Then I picked up the knife and waited until he was done puking.
    â€œThat was for tuning Dawn up,” I said. “Lay a hand on her again and I’ll fucking erase you.”
    â€œRickie didn’t do this to me, Steeg,” she said. “He loves me.”
    I let the
love
bullshit pass without comment.
    â€œThen who did?”
    She and Rickie exchanged glances. I had the feeling that he didn’t want Dawn to go down that road. But she shrugged him off.
    â€œSame people who did Rickie,” Dawn said.
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œSomebody looking to take over prostitution in the city. Forcing girls to work for them. And hassling pimps who push back.”
    â€œHell of a business model.”
    â€œCame after me a few nights ago. I was working the Lincoln Tunnel and this guy lays it out for me. Sell my ass for him, or get hurt. I tell him to fuck off, and he pops me. Rickie sees what’s happening and goes for the guy.”
    I looked over at Rickie. He still hadn’t got his sea legs yet.
    â€œBecause he loves you,” I said.
    She let that slide.
    â€œDo you want to hear what happened or not?”
    Not really. I had zero interest in getting involved in a war between lowlifes. But Dawn was determined to tell her story, so I let her.
    â€œSure,” I said.
    â€œIt’s been going on for some time, and all the girls are scared shitless. Afraid to work. Same thing happened to Gloria.”
    â€œDid you go to the cops?”
    â€œLike they would give a shit?”
    Against my better judgment, I gave her my card.
    â€œIf he bothers you again, let me know. Old times’ sake.”
    She jammed the card into her coat pocket.
    â€œAbout Dave’s problem,” Dawn said. “There’s an outfit you might want to check out.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œNo one,” Rickie said, glaring at her.
    Dawn ignored him.
    â€œIs there a problem?” I said.
    â€œHe worries about me. That’s all. Anyway, I went to them a while ago. It didn’t work out.”
    â€œWhy’s that?”
    She shrugged. “It just wasn’t right for me.”
    Apparently, that’s about all I was going to get.
    â€œOK.”
    â€œIt’s a foundation, or some shit like that. Called Another Chance. Works with girls