#fenixtj

"Bit late now, hold a sec, I'll take you there myself, it'll be quicker than you searching around. Let me get into some jeans and stuff okay? Please? I'm sorry I was snappish if I was. I just thought the art was good, and instead it's caused trouble for you"

"Not trouble, Nancy, really. I can find it."

"It's not just a matter of trouble, it's also just..well, we don't hang out too much anymore. Been almost bored with my free time.. really, just give me five minutes?"

"Meet you at the door."

Jess goes to get her maul, anyway.

And soon, Nancy, Jessica, and the maul are at the door

And heading for a pawn shop.

With guidance they get to it right away

the pawn shop is set to close in about 20 minutes, so they go in, andd the bell at the door rings

Jessica looks for the shopkeeper.

The man yawns, then blinks "Ah, you back huh? Who is your tall friend?" He seems completely mortal

"Hello."

"My friend bought a painting here. I'd like to know where it came from."

"You want paintings? I still got paintings.. this one? a tasteful nude" he says starting to pull one out.. how 'tasteful' it is is.. up for aguement

"No, no, thanks...." hastily "Just want to know where the one my friend bought came from. I'll pay for the information." she offers.

"How much you pay?" He grins

"Nancy, what did the painting cost?"

She names a minor price, apparently the 'tasteful nude' cost twice that

Jess repeats the price Nancy gives as a starting point to buy information.

THe man wants five times that

"You greedy son of .." Nancy huffs

Jess just lifts an eyebrow.

"FIne fine" he goes down to 3 times the price of the painting

"What about if we buy that painting..." she indicates it "....and you throw the information in for free?"

"Mm very well" He says, "Pay first"

Jess takes out her wallet and pays.

"Fine. A lady came in and sold it, she looked rough. Would not be surprised if she were whoring by now" A shake of his head "I have.. ah..here... Destiny Lamas that's her name."

"Any point of contact there?" she murmurs.

"Yes.. here" He gets the phone number and appartment adress "No email"

Jess copies it down. "Thank you." to Nancy she says "Can you, um, take care of the painting?"

"Yeeah" She says "I know some one who enjoys this ... " She holds it with a sad look. She's got nothing against nudes, but this has no class

"Thank you, Nancy." sincerely "You ok to get back?"

"What, I'n not going with you on this?" She asks

"I thought you'd want to head back." as they exits the shop.

"Well, not really.. I 'm willing to if you want me to put up the painting now"

"You want to just carry it around? Maybe he'll hold it for us?" she looks back at the shop "That is, without charging rent for it?"

"I don't carry things Ican't sell" He snorts

"He's a jerk. Fine I'll head back, if you're gone too long I know where here adress is too now"

"Good point. Ok. See you, um, at home." and Jess is off to the apartment address.

It takes Jessica awhile to get there, and it's not a pretty part of town. It's fallen on hard times, and it is indeed in the very district known for a redlight effect

More than one woman struts herself out even in Winter to see if men are wanting an ancient way to get warm, for a price

Right about at this point, Jess realizes she .... doesn't know who she's looking for. She has no physical description.

She tries to remember Ricardo's mortal image, and .... look for a woman like that?

Llama looking woman, check

While she's looking, she sees an angry girl who can't be more than 15 years old. She is wiping off make up, and putting a over sized t-shirt over a skimpier top

Jessica frowns uncomfortably; is the girl being harassed?

Nope. Indeed, no man on the street is so much as looking at her. Not that she's an unattractive girl for her age, but they seem almost.. scared to?

the girl sees Jessica's eyes on her and snaps "What are YOU looking at, Gringa?"

"Nada, Seniorita."

"Maybe he'll let YOU operate around here, blondie! Asshole told me I was too young... told him I wanted to help my mom with the rent. He said if caught me hooking, he'd SHOOT my mom . Told me I had to go to school. Watch out. He's a jerk!"