Charlotte’s Web

The voice sounded gruff, as though years of depravity and pain had forged it into the engine of intimidation that I now heard on the other end of the phone. I didn’t recognize the voice, but my gut told me that it was not Mr. X, he sounded too professional. Mob? Possibly, what had I gotten myself into here?

“You are to proceed immediately to The Web on Pris Street.”

“You are to walk in and ask for Charlotte. Charlotte and no one else. Also, we have spotters watching you. They will follow you to The Web. You will not see them. Go anywhere except directly to The Web, or attempt to contact anyone and you will die.”

The line went down with the sound of a click. Ask for Charlotte at The Web. That was a cute touch. The literary reference was not lost on me. Neither was the imagery of a potential Black Widow. The Web was well known to me, as it was to most everyone involved in this town’s seedy underbelly. Any fantasy a man could want was for sale at The Web; domination, role-play, strangulation, you name it. Charlotte was the brothel’s Madame. Her connections with the mob ran deep. She was supposed to be as deadly as she was beautiful.

Talk about beauty and the beast, Charlotte was both.

I didn’t know if I was being followed, but I didn’t want to take any chances. It’s possible I could have escaped into the oncoming darkness. Find a place to hole up, or leave this god-forsaken town for good. But something about this case really put the hook in me.

What did the mob brothel have to do with my missing angel?

Who was the muscle on the phone? Was he the same brute that attacked me outside of the Peach Pit? Did he work for Mr. X? Was Mr. X even real?

These were the questions that plagued me as I made my way to The Web.

“Hey Mac, that’s gonna cost you $15.00.”

I snapped back into reality by the surly cab driver.

“Sure, here you go, thanks. Keep the change.” I said as I handed him the fare and stepped out of the cab into the chilly fall air. I pulled up my collar and took in The Web before I entered.

It was one of those parts of town that no one can ever seem to find. An old, almost antique part of the city. Old brownstones surrounded by skyscrapers and businesses. Made sense really. This was where all of those successful businessmen, those supposed “family men” went after work to escape from the reality of suburban life. The place where these powerful, wealthy men went to get away from the wife and kid that they subconsciously never wanted. The thought of such men sickened me. Not for chasing prostitutes, that would make me a hypocrite, but for fooling themselves into a nightmare they could not escape, and for being able to get what so many wanted, but could not themselves appreciate.

The Web was actually a very unassuming brownstone surrounded by the city’s financial district. Some of these buildings dated back to the colonial period. You could easily walk past The Web and not even know it was there save for a small neon spider web above the doorway.

In this business, discretion is key.

I walked into the web.

The inside was not as discreet as it’s exterior. The place was dark and filled with smoke and black light.

I was stopped dead in my tracks at the top of the staircase by a line up of beautiful women in lingerie.

Easy Jack, take it easy. Charlotte, you have to ask for Charlotte.

I lit up a cigarette and whistled at the cosmic temptation in front of me.

“My mom was right all these years, there is a heaven.”

The girls giggled politely at me as a spicy Asian number stepped forward. She kept in good shape and her breasts poured out of her pink, lacy bra.

She took my cigarette and pulled a drag, slowly blowing the smoke back into my mouth as she kissed me.

“I’m Jade, you look like you’ve had a hard day.” She said. “Do you wanna relax with me, baby?”

“As tempting an offer that may be Jade, I’m here to see Charlotte”

Jade gave me a pout, which would have made weaker men crumble. Though, it vanished the moment she heard the voice behind her, at which she straitened up and fell back in line with the others.

“I’m Charlotte, Mr. Midnight, I’ve been expecting you.”

The cigarette almost dropped out of my mouth.

Standing in front of me was a tall, long legged beauty wearing a red see through teddy over red-laced underwear and stockings, connected to the panties with a strap.

As distracting as her body was, it was her face that put me in shock.

She looked exactly like Veronica.

“V…”

She put her finger on my lip, hushing me.

If Veronica was an angel, this was her devilish counterpart.

Her body and the look in her eyes screamed lust. There was something innocent about Veronica that did not exist here.

“Why don’t you go to my room, you’ll be more comfortable there,” She told me. “And it’s more…private.”

Before I had a chance to say anything, she kissed me.

I kiss back.

If she was truly a Black Widow, I was already caught in her trap.

“Go on, I’ll be right in, help yourself to the bar.”

Help myself I did.

Charlotte’s room was… elaborate to say the least.

There was plush carpeting that made me want to take my shoes off and walk around barefoot.

A king-size bed, of course.

Maroon and Ivory colored walls and drapes.

Colorful oil paintings in ornate frames of different varieties.

Medieval-type weapons anchored to the wall in majestic fashion.

This bedroom was much bigger than my entire office.

I headed over to the bar and fixed myself the usual. The bar was full, and would satisfy the pickiest of alcoholic.

I took my entire drink down in one shot and poured myself a second. I let this one simmer on the bar a bit while I lit a cigarette.

I inhaled deeply and held the smoke in my lungs. I closed my eyes trying to imagine what this was all about. Images of Veronica danced in my head. I considered her role in all of this and I was almost positive that Charlotte and Veronica were related.

They were siblings most likely. Hell, they could pass for twins.

Complete night and day though, Charlotte looked more the type that I’d hang around. Veronica looked to be my salvation.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a door open and close.

I opened my eyes and finally let the smoke vacate my body.

Charlotte was standing in front of the door to her bedroom. One arm leaning up against the door’s molding, her body leaning in that direction. The curves to her body were in perfect form, her clothing of choice tactfully clinging in select parts.

She had my full attention. The ash on my cigarette continued to eat the tobacco and paper as I let it dangle from my fingertips on my right hand.

I grabbed my scotch with my left and took a big swig to compose myself. The drink burned more than it should have but I did not flinch. I put the remainder of my cigarette out in the ashtray on the bar and began to get up.

Charlotte was standing in front of me before I was able to leave the chair. She playfully pushed me on my shoulder. Though it had enough force to knock me back into full sitting position.

This dame knew what she was doing.

Charlotte stood there in front of me and manipulated a panel built into the bar.

This made the lights dim, though I was sure that any type of finger manipulation by Charlotte would cause things to work in her favor, whether from lights or a person.