February 1989
All five of us were gathered around the table in the squad-room so Fuller could give us our assignments at the same time. For the first time in a while, I was partnered with Ioki to check out some suspicious gang activity that's been concerning the community lately. I was looking through my folder while Fuller was giving everyone else their assignments.
"Everyone got that?" Fuller asked at the end of our meeting.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered for myself as I flipped through the pages.
Fuller dismissed us, and before I even realized that he never said Mickey's name, Mickey stated exactly that. "He didn't say anything to me."
"Maybe you get the day off," I joked.
"Maybe. I'll take a nice, long nap and refuse to step outside my apartment."
"Even on a Friday night?"
"Especially on a Friday night." She smiled and laughed at herself.
I chuckled and gazed at her softly.
Fuller was walking away from the table when he said, "Gregg, I want to see you in my office."
Mickey glanced up at Fuller before she looked back at us and we all exchanged confused looks. She hesitantly followed Fuller into his office and closed the door behind her.
"What do you think that's about?" Judy asked as we all slowly made our way to our desks.
"I dunno. Think she's in trouble or something?" Doug asked.
Ioki shook his head. "There's no way."
"Must be some sort of top-secret mission," I joked. I tried to stay light-hearted, but there was something nagging in me that something was wrong. If nothing was wrong, why couldn't Fuller have told the rest of us?
We were all silent as we waited for the door to open again. I was straining my ears, but I couldn't hear their voices. When the door opened, we all began making ourselves appear busy and pretended that we were not trying to eavesdrop. Mickey came right out and went straight to her desk.
"What did Fuller want?" I asked her quietly. I tried to study her face, but she looked neutral.
"It wasn't anything special, don't worry about it," she said while grabbing her bag. That wasn't very reassuring.
"You get in trouble?" Doug asked bluntly.
"What? No," she said. She slung her bag over her shoulder and said, "I've got to go. I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Bye," we said as she scurried out of the chapel.
Suspicious.
We all looked at each other, and no one had a hunch. Fuller came out of his office and said, "what are y'all waiting for? Get to work, let's go."
We all kept our heads down as we booked it to our cars. Mickey's car was already gone. I don't know about anyone else, but I kept wondering what Fuller told Mickey, and what made her get so discreet.
When I would come into work, I always saw Mickey at her desk. She was yawning a lot, and when I'd ask her about it she blamed it on having late nights. I know Mickey too well to know that she wouldn't be out late willingly. I kept pestering her about what her assignment is, but she simply distracted me or skillfully changed the subject and I wouldn't realize until I was in the car. Before I would leave for my assignment in the mornings, I could see her rolling her neck out or using her elbows to work out knots in her legs. What the hell was she doing?
One night after I got off work, I was sitting on my couch trying to get the day off me by eating ramen noodles and watching the news. While I was watching a commercial for toothpaste, my phone rang.
I leaned over to my little side table and I grabbed the receiver. I slurped up a noodle and answered, "go for Hanson."
"It's Doug," Doug greeted into the phone.
"Hey, man, how's it going?" I asked. Doug rarely calls me, so I was a little caught off guard.
"You know, man, I can't stop thinking about Dorothy."
I was so glad that Doug could not see me roll my eyes. He and Dorothy broke up forever ago, he should not still be sulking about it. She wasn't even that great of a person, he dodged a bullet.
I groaned and said, "you know what, you've been moping about this for too long. You know what you need?"
"A stiff drink?"
"Strip club," I suggested firmly. It was the only way I could think of for him to get over her. And I was sick and tired of him complaining about it. If taking him to a strip club will take his mind off of it, I will humbly take him.
Doug burped into the phone and asked, "Jackie will let you go?"
"She doesn't have to know. She doesn't control me," I said, "get ready, I'll pick you up in a few." I hung up before he had a chance to say no.
I shoved the rest of my dinner down my throat and I grabbed my keys. I was already wearing a jean jacket over my white shirt, but it was cold outside so I grabbed my black wool coat to wear over it. It was already dark outside, because the sun went down about an hour ago. I drove to Doug's place and gave him a few honks to let him know that I was there. I probably woke up the entire complex in the process.
Doug came out and hopped in my car. He already smelled like booze, so I knew he was having a rough night. For his sake, I hoped that this would take his mind off of her once and for all. He needs a night to wind-down and relax. He deserves it.
We got to the club and showed the bouncer our ID's before he let us in. The music was blasting and there were colorful strobe lights all around us. We passed the bar so we could sit at a table in the front, right by the stage.
Doug and I sat down and there was already a stripper dancing on the pole in front of us. I tried to be polite and look at her direction, but I wasn't watching her. It made me feel awkward, so I was looking through her. I tried to imagine a unicycling dog that was juggling bowling pins behind her that was stealing my attention.
"I'm gonna get a beer, want one?" Doug asked me, which broke me out of my trance.
"What?" I asked and turned my head to him with my lips parted. What he said finally clicked and I nodded, "yeah, that's fine. Just one."
Doug got up and headed over to the bar. I asked for one, but I might have another later on. I wanted to have a good time too, but I'm driving so I'm not going to be getting too crazy tonight. We could always get a cab...
Doug was quick to come back with two mugs of beer in his hands. He handed me one and slumped into the chair next to me, and we sipped them together as we watched the stripper swing around the pole. This type of thing has never been my cup of tea, and Doug was non-stop muttering to himself with pity. He was already a little drunk, and he was barely paying any attention to the dancer.
Doug asked, "Mickey has been so, so secretive lately. Do you know what that's about?"
I was trying to be polite and watch this girl dance for us and the rest of the club, but I wasn't watching very intently. Jackie would be absolutely livid if she knew I was within fifty feet of a strip club. And she is never going to find out. I said without looking at him, "no, why would I?"
"I dunno. You guys are close."
"I have no idea what she's up to," I answered truthfully.
I finished my beer about the same time the song ended. The stripper was saying goodbye, and the patrons of the strip club were taking the small break to refresh their drinks. Doug took the opportunity as well and got us both another drink.
I was feeling a little drowsy. I had a long day, and before Doug called, all I wanted to do was go to bed. I was looking forward to it. I felt that I had finally relaxed after my long day. I was in the middle of a yawn when he sloshed another mug of beer in front of me.
"Thanks, man," I said and spun the mug around so I could grip the handle in my right hand.
"You know—" he slumped to his seat and leaned his elbows against the table "—you know who you would be good with?"
"Who?" I asked just to humor him.
"Mick-ey," he slurred.
"What?" I chuckled.
"You heard me."
"No, no, man. I'm with Jackie. Jack-ie," I said and looked over my shoulder, just in case she was somehow listening.
"Still?" His eyebrows came together.
"Yeah," I said, "weren't we just talking about her?"
"I thought you two broke up."
I shook my head. "No."
A small smile perked up my lips. The simple thought of being with Mickey made me happy. Happier than the entire time I've been with Jackie. Sometimes when I'm with Jackie, I have to stop myself from whispering Mickey's name. I really should break up with her... but I couldn't date Mickey even if I wanted to. All because we work together. I don't even think Mickey likes me like that anyways.
"Oh. Well, I was with Dorothy. And she broke up with me."
"Mick and I are just friends," I stated. "It's actually gotten me into some trouble."
"With Jackie?"
"Yep."
"How?"
"She doesn't like me hanging out with Mickey. We got into a big argument about it the other week, after that taco night. She asked me if I saw a future with her."
"What did you say?"
"I told her I didn't know. I've been struggling to commit to her because I didn't know if my feelings for her would develop further. She didn't want to wait and see, and I kicked her out."
"So wait... you are broken up?"
I sighed and spun my drink around in my glass. "No. She called the next day and we made up."
"That sucks, you had an out and you didn't take it."
"I could break up with her if I wanted to," I said while my eyebrows came together in a frown.
"No, you couldn't," Doug almost laughed at me.
"Yes, I could," I defended.
"No, you couldn't."
"Whatever, man." I gave up.
"Okay, okay, fine. You can break up with her whenever you want, I believe you. Let's talk about something else... like... Mickey again. Ever wonder what she does on Friday nights?" Doug asked while spinning his glass mug on the table. He swayed a little in his chair.
I shrugged and looked at him, "I guess."
"Think she gets sad and goes to the strip club too?"
"I seriously doubt it," I said, "she's probably at home."
I know she's at home. We tend to talk on the phone a lot, especially late at night about anything she wants. Sometimes until the morning. I just want to make her happy. Now that she's in my life, I can't get her off my mind.
"You're probably right," he mumbled.
"Why do you want to talk about her so bad all of a sudden?" I asked defensively.
Our conversation came to a halt when the announcer announced, "please welcome to the stage, Kitty!"
I saw Doug's jaw drop to the ground and the glass of beer in his hand nearly slipped out of his loose grip. His eyes went wide, but mine narrowed in confusion. Doug said, "I think I know what Mickey's doing."
I passed him off as just being drunk. I had no idea what he was talking about, until I looked up at the stage. My head slowly came up as I looked at this new dancer as a rock song played over the speakers. Her bare legs were wrapped around the pole seductively, and her undergarments of black and blue matched. She even had handcuffs attached to her hip. When I got up to her face, my jaw dropped too. Her eyes were bold with makeup, and her lipstick was as red as my cheeks. Her brown hair was big and curly with a costume police cap on top. It was Mickey.
She was a stripper.
That woke me right up.
Doug and I watched her dance in silence for a little bit. The awkward tension between us was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. It was hard to look away, we were in shock. Was it really her? I couldn't believe it. She walked to the side of the stage and swung her hips as she squatted in front of a few customers and they slipped some bills into the band of her fishnets. I watched her discreetly move them into the cup of her bra and she continued dancing. I scowled at the men who were staring at her with googly-eyes.
Doug got my attention and motioned to his lip, "you got some drool right there."
"Shut up," I said and turned back to look at Mickey. I didn't know what to expect, but she did a dance I've never seen before. There was something about the way she moved that attracted me like no other.
"Do you think she knows we're here?" Doug asked in a low voice, as if she could hear us.
"Should we let her know that we are here?" I asked. "This isn't exactly something she was eager to tell us that she does. She's probably embarrassed."
"Look at her. No, she's not." Doug looked a little too eager.
"She's had to do this for days now," I reminded him, "she's probably used to it."
I've known Mickey for a over a year now, and one think I know about her is that she's a shy person, and a little insecure. I've never really understood why. If only she saw what everyone else around her sees, she would understand why my heart stops when she looks at me.
"What if it's not for a mission?" Doug asked. "What if she really is a stripper?"
Mickey began making her way to the end of the stage again, this time by us. I stood up with a rolled up bill shaking in my hand. My decreased inhibition gave me the confidence to seize the opportunity to stick the bill into the band of her underwear. She squatted down by me and I managed to successfully slip the bill into the band respectfully, and my fingertips grazed her warm skin. She smelled like sweet vanilla, but usually she smells like oranges, marshmallows, and amber. A paradox of sweet and spicy, just like her.
Her sexy smolder immediately fell when our eyes met. I saw the color drain from her face and she immediately stood up and gracefully walked back to the pole. I sunk back down to my seat, and I was still in shock. She didn't look in my direction again as she danced, which was a good thing because I cannot look too deep into her angel eyes again. Otherwise, I may do something I might regret.
Mickey swayed her hips in ways that could have put me on my knees. She was posing and dipping in ways I had no idea she could do. She's told me that she's danced before, but I wasn't expecting this. I had absolutely no idea she would be doing anything like this. Is this a side-job? Is that why Fuller had to have a talk with her, because he found out?
Doug asked, "need another drink?"
I knew I shouldn't have another drink, but I said yes. Doug left for them and was quick to sit back down at the table. We watched her finish her dance, absolutely astounded.
"Holy shit! Oh, shit," Doug guffawed. The alcohol was definitely hitting him, because he was getting to be boisterous.
"I can't believe it," I said with wide eyes. My head was spinning around like a record.
I watched Mickey walk to the DJ station off to the side who was playing the music for the dancers. She said something to him, with a throat-slitting gesture. She walked off the stage, and the announcer ended her set and welcomed the next dancer.
"I'll be right back," I told Doug. I left my half-drank beer on the table and snuck to the back. I found the dressing room and saw Mickey sitting in front of a mirror. Her costume police cap was on the dresser.
Mickey was fluffing out her thick dark hair when she saw me in the mirror. She immediately turned around. Her inky black cat eyes were wide, and she didn't seem mad, just confused. She asked, "what the hell are you doing?"
"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
"No, I mean, what are you doing here?"
"I think the real question is, what are you doing here?" I asked as I sauntered up to her. There was no one else in the dressing room, but I saw lots of makeup and hair products littering the vanities all over the room.
"Fuller put me here. Dancers have been getting kidnapped and raped so I've been undercover to figure out who it is. Fuller didn't want me to tell anyone for... obvious reasons." She crossed her arms over her exposed cleavage.
I felt relieved that this wasn't a side-job. It wasn't her fault that Fuller gave her this assignment. He gives her and Judy all sorts of assignments like this all of the time. I never would have found out about this if I never came to the strip club tonight. So how many assignments has she had like this that I've never known about?
"Don't tell me you agreed to it."
Mickey waited a beat, glancing around at the room we were in before her eyes coming back to mine. Sarcastically, she responded, "you're gonna be so disappointed."
I had realized how dumb my question was so I decided to move past it. I asked, "Fuller couldn't have chosen a persona more inconspicuous than a cop?"
She smiled softly and said, "it was so I could have my handcuffs without it seeming suspicious. I had to dance so I could scope out the room, and if I saw anything during one of my sets, I could jump off the stage and make an arrest." Then, she twitched her hips which made the handcuffs clank together.
My breath halted in my throat. The way she moved her hips got me thinking of things I had to keep to myself. She was driving me crazy, but I was into it. How does she not see what she does to me? How could we ever just be friends?
I swallowed the lump that was forming and tried to think about something else. Toenails... bath water... Mickey in a bath... no, no. Stop that, Tom... chewed up gum... grandma's thong... okay, I'm good. My mind came back to the assignment, and how I hate that they have to go through these things alone. I offered, "I'll help you."
She didn't even hesitate before she turned me down. "No. No, it's your day off. Just sit back and just enjoy the show."
My eyes involuntarily glanced down at her smooth, long legs before they slowly made their way up to her lovely face. I asked, "are you going back up there?"
"No," she said quickly.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because you are here," she laughed. "It's weird."
"Then how could I possibly enjoy the show?"
She rolled her eyes and laughed. "I think Ruby is on next. Go on. I've got it taken care of."
"Got it. I'll be on the lookout for Ruby. Ru-bee," I said slowly.
"Here's some coffee, I'm not gonna finish it," she said, handing me a cup she swiped off her vanity.
"What's this?" I asked, peering down at the cup and back at her.
"You look tired."
"Why are you insulting me?" I quipped.
Mick laughed, "drink it or a buck fifty is going down the drain."
I took a sip of it and had to stretch my lips around because of the bitterness. It made Mickey laugh, so I smiled and continued drinking the coffee. I was just being dramatic, it really wasn't bitter. She put so much cream and sugar in it, I think it's the sugar that keeps her awake rather than the caffeine. She doesn't even like coffee so I don't know why she had this in the first place.
"Can you just not tell anyone else on the team, please? I don't need this kind of thing getting out and tainting my reputation. Tell Doug too, I saw him out there."
"You couldn't waterboard this out of me."
Mickey laughed a bit while I gave her a close lipped smile. I tossed the empty cup in a nearby garbage can and I heard footsteps behind me, followed by a gasp. Some lady started yelling, "customers cannot be back here. Sir, I need you to come with me."
I involuntarily groaned and looked at Mickey. She gave me a smug closed-lipped smile and flirtatiously waved me off. I assumed the woman was the owner and I followed her out to the main room.
"My buddy is right over there—" I pointed over at Doug "—and I'm real sorry for going back there. It won't happen again."
"Better not, because if I catch you peeking at my dancers, I'll get you kicked out. Understand?"
"Loud and clear," I told her.
She escorted me back to Doug, and I sat beside him. He had drank the rest of my beer, and was watching the new dancer on stage.
"Doug," I said to him and he turned his attention to me.
"Huh?" He asked.
I told him everything I found out about why Mickey was so discreet all week and why she was there. He listened intently, and seemed very interested in the case.
"Then we have to go. We have to help Mickey," he said and started to stand up.
I put my hand on his shoulder to yank him back down. "No. It's our day off, and you are drunk."
"So?"
"And she said no."
"Oh, well, if she said no then the answer obviously is no."
"That's right," I said and pat his back. "She told us to just have fun."
"I already feel loose than a goose."
What the hell is even that? I just responded, "yeah, okey-dokey."
I sat back in the chair and my attention was immediately taken off the dancer and to the back door just off the stage. Mickey was walking out, still wearing what she wore while on stage. I wondered if she saw me, but her eyes were narrow and focused.
I followed her intense gaze and saw that she was staring at a customer giving one of the other dancers a drink from the bar. She walked purposefully over to the two, but the music was too loud for me to hear what they were talking about. I nudged Doug's shoulder and made him watch as Mickey grabbed the drink from the dancers hand and put it off to the side while expressing her anger through her hand gestures and facial expressions.
Suddenly, she pulled out her badge from her bra and held it to the customer. Then, she pulled out the handcuffs and handcuffed the customers hands behind his back. I sat up a little straighter as she turned to the other dancer and told her something. I noticed the dancer go straight to the phone behind the bar and dialed a short number.
I stood up and left Doug so I could walk through the crowd to get to them. Mickey was holding the creepy middle-aged customer's hands behind his back.
"Need help?" I asked.
"No, I'm fine," she said and tightened her grip, which made the man yelp in pain. "I saw him slip a drug into her drink. He is the man we've been searching for."
I glanced down at the man and nodded. "Good job," I said to her. I wasn't working, but I don't think I would have noticed that. I'm glad she did though. She probably saved a lot of lives. I quickly slipped my black coat off and draped it over her shoulders because I assumed that this creep was getting off on the fact that she was practically naked right behind him. She was very thankful.
The uniformed cops were there in a matter of minutes. The music was so loud and the dancers on stage pulled the attention away from the bar. They took the man away, and Mickey didn't say anything to me before she slipped to the back again.
I got back to Doug and saw his head was resting on the table. I put my hand on his shoulder to lightly shake him and said, "hey, man, it's time to go."
Doug lifted his head up and pressed his hands on the table to help him stand up. He was looking a little sick, so it was time to get him home. He nearly tripped on the leg of his chair as he was trying to get to me, but I waited for him.
"Ready to go?" I asked him.
He swung his head back to the table to make sure he didn't leave anything. He looked back at me and said, "I'm good. Let's rock and roll."
I noticed the door open again and Mickey came out wearing a beige trench coat buttoned up to hide her stripper clothes, with my black coat hanging over her elbow. She must have washed off most of her makeup, because I didn't see a blend of purples and blues on her eyelids anymore and her red lipstick was off. I think she looks much better without it. She smiled at us warmly and asked, "do you boys need a ride?"
"No, it's okay. We're fine," I told her.
"You sure you can drive?" She asked.
"Tonight, I could fly to the moon if I wanted to."
She gave me a once over before she made me follow her finger with my eyes. We use this test on the field to determine the sobriety of someone, like if we pull them over or for general public intoxication. We generally look for a twitching or jerking of the eyes as they move. Another good indicator is when their head moves and not their eyes. Once I passed that test, she handed me my coat and said, "all right. Then I'll see you two later. Get home safe."
I said, "bye, Mick."
"Bye," Doug said.
"Bye, guys," she said to us over her shoulder as she walked to the exit.
I watched her leave the club, and I sighed softly. That woman is my destiny. Even if it takes forever, then I'll wait forever. She's worth it.
Doug cleared his throat and said, "you could have faked drunkness and get her to take you home."
I scoffed at his suggestion. "That's weird."
He shrugged. "I think that's a good idea."
"No, it's not, that's just embarrassing." I put my coat on and patted my pocket to make sure I had my wallet. When I felt it, I said to Doug, "okay, buddy, let's get you home."
I was debating on posting this one because it just seemed so different from my other chapters and it doesn't really contribute to anything. I guess this chapter is just for fun since I came up with it because of the gif 😂 I tried to think of something better to use for it and I couldn't so... ta-da
Next chapter is going to be another Tom original, of what happened right before Tom and Mickey's First Date— with what happened with Russell Buckins 🤩🤩