The Big Enchilada

almost had a stutter in it.
    I told him I represented a group of South American gentlemen who sold some very special goods and services to selected clients around the world. From what I knew of the Black Knight, I said, I was certain they would be interested inpurchasing the full range of products. Up to this point, Lascar was looking bored. I then said I was selling a series of snuff films. At those two words his attitude changed, and while he tried to look uninterested, I knew I had him.
    In the sexual underground, snuff films have an almost mythical quality attached to them. Stories about them abound, but few people have actually seen them. Each new rumor of the existence of one sets off a frenzy of activity to locate it. Very simply, snuff films are like most stag films except they end with the torture, mutilation, and murder of the woman. The thing that gives them their high market value is the fact that they are real—the leading lady does not come back to make a sequel.
    Lascar questioned me closely about the films I was selling, not believing at first that they were the real thing, but I described them in detail and soon convinced him.
    “The broads are really offed?” he said, and I nodded. “How much you want for them?” He had difficulty remaining cool.
    “Ten thousand, apiece, and you have to take all five.”
    He started coughing and choking.
    “That’s way out of line,” he said after he recovered himself. “I can get stuff like that for a lot less anywhere.”
    I stood up. “Bullshit. If you can get the genuine article anywhere else, be my guest. I thought this was the right kind of operation, but I guess I wasted my time.”
    I moved to the door. His head was jerking and twisting around like a weather vane. He called me back.
    “Wait a second. I might be interested, but I’ll have to think about it.”
    “You mean you’ll have to ask the boss?” I said with a lot of contempt.
    “I am the boss.” He failed to sound very convincing. “Bullshit. If you were the boss the deal would be made already. With the kind of place you run here, you could get your bread back two or three times over, easy. These are quality goods.”
    “Take it easy. That’s a lot of dough. I’m interested, but I’ve got to talk to a few people first.”
    “Why don’t you just tell me who the man is, and I’ll deal with him direct. Otherwise no deal. I don’t like talking to jerks who have no authority.”
    He was getting pretty upset. “I can’t tell you. The man likes to stay behind the scenes. If he wants to talk to you, he’ll talk to you.”
    “You’re blowing it. I wonder what the man’ll say when he hears you fucked up?”
    “Take it easy. We’ll work this out. It’ll take a couple of days is all. Besides, there ain’t no place else in town you can move films like you’ve got.”
    “Maybe not,” I said. I looked at Lascar and decided it would be a good time to send out a feeler. “Meanwhile, maybe you can help me out. One of my clients is looking for a girl, a particular girl. She ripped him off or something, and he wants to see her again. If you could get a line on her, I’d be willing to sell the films cheaper. Your boss wouldn’t have to know, and you could have the difference.”
    Lascar started to look more comfortable. This was more in his line, and he could always use a little extra. His kind never had enough. “You came to the right place. I can locate any broad. If she’s in the trade, I can get her. Who is it?”
    I took the picture of Linda Perdue out of my wallet and handed it to him. “That’s her. She looks like somebody’s virgin daughter, but take it from me, she’s a lot of trouble. A whole lot of trouble.”
    As soon as Lascar saw the picture, all the color drained from his face, he started coughing again, and his head twisted around almost completely. I was obviously onto something, but I decided to let it rest for the time being. Lascar looked at me, and I could see that he was really frightened. I just stared back at him without any expression until he started to relax.
    “Never seen her,” he said when he’d calmed down enough, “but I’ll ask around. Maybe I can come up with something.”
    “Okay, do that. I’d appreciate it, and, like I said, it would be worth your while.”
    Lascar couldn’t figure out what was going on, but, since I was moving to the door, he was breathing easier. I decided to rock him one more time.
    “Say, I almost forgot,”