NYPD Blues
“Was that guy your friend? Because he just left…” said the big Hispanic bouncer… This marked the beginning of our cooperation with New York City Undercover Department. “You know guys often take girls out and at the end of the night ditch them when the bill comes” he continued. No, he is our friend he probably went to get some cash” my friend and I say, as we confidently take sips of our Gray Goose vodka and cranberry juice…After a couple of minutes the bouncer comes back to us and says “are you ladies sure your friend is coming back?” by this time we are slowly getting nervous. We give a nervous nod. I pull out my phone and call him, no answer. I try again, still no answer. The bouncer looks at us and says do you ladies want to settle the bill, because he is not coming back. We insist that he will come back, by this time I have a feeling in my stomach, the kind of knowing feel that we are screwed! “how well do you ladies know this guy?, asks the bouncer. I look up slowly and say, “well we just met him recently, this is the first time that we are going out with him”. “Well, I can tell you one thing…he is not coming back, I see this happen all the time”. “But it’s ok, you ladies have an accent where are you from?”. We from South Africa, were reply with slightly shaky squeaky voices. “Wow, that’s far, how long have you been in New York?” “Umm about two weeks or so” we answer, like a well rehearse choir.
By this time all the employees at the club are aware of what is happening, they are starring trying to figure out if we trying to pull a fast one or if we are sincere. Well the manager says, “I’m sorry ladies, it’s unfortunate, these things happen, do you have a credit card or cash?”. My friend has nothing, but as a rule of thumb I always have my cards or cash, this time no dollars, but plastic. I reach for my purse and hand him my card. “Sorry, its not going through” says the manager. “Ok try this one” I hand him my other card. “Sorry, do you want to try the ATM? It’s still not going through”. We get escorted by the Hispanic bouncer to the ATM across the road. I have never been so happy to hear the sound of bills rolling as they make their exit out of the machine. “I’m so sorry this happened to you ladies” he says, “this is New York you need to be more careful”.
We head back into the club and the manager is standing with a short strong looking Asian guy. I give the manager the money that we owe. “Where are you girls from”? Asks the Asian dude, looking us straight in the eye. “We from South Africa my friend and I respond, as if rehearsed to say it that same time. “Tell me what happened tonight?” feeling slightly disoriented I open my mouth to talk but nothing comes out. I still can’t believe what just happened. The only thing that’s going on in my mind now is, how the hell are we going to get home? We both have no idea where in New York we are. Just as I was about to tell this guy the story, the bouncer explains the story. My friend and I nod confirming the details the bouncer is telling this strange Asian dude. This guy turns around whispers a few things to the owner, comes back to us and says, “I’m an undercover cop, we can catch this guy, are you ladies willing to help us?” ….to be continued!!
