#FF — Dark Passage

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
PHOTO PROMPT – © Jennifer Pendergast

Southwest circuit was from Albuquerque to Phoenix to Vegas to San Diego to L.A. — and every truck stop in between. The Fleetwood rolled 365. Rick maintained a stable of six girls, earning enough to keep them looking pretty with plenty of substances to keep them pliable. More than six became a pain in his ass. Even with six you never knew.

Deep down he loved his bottom girl, Candy. When she jumped out of the moho and ran for the train he had to shoot her in the back. He swore nobody would leave him after his mama did.

[100 words]

 

Terms:
Fleetwood: a brand of motor home
Circuit: A series of cities among which prostituted people are moved.
Stable: A group of victims who are under the control of a single pimp.
Bottom girl, bottom woman, or bottom bitch is an American term for a prostitute who sits atop the hierarchy of prostitutes working for a particular pimp.
Moho: slang for motor home

Ellehcor Banner FF

Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the cultivating host of Friday Fictioneers.

70 Comments Add yours

  1. Iain Kelly's avatar Iain Kelly says:

    A dark and disturbing take.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Iain.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks for reading and commenting, Neil.

      Like

  2. I am zapped! What a bloody tale! Superb, shock value

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Neel!

      Like

  3. granonine's avatar granonine says:

    Not a happy one this week, Jade. The ugliness of belonging to another person transcends race and gender, doesn’t it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Yes, it does. Thank you very much for reading and commenting, Linda.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Gabriella's avatar Gabriella says:

    This is dark, but very very good. I like it a lot.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you very much, Gabriella.

      Like

  5. Oy vey. Poor girls.
    He did not deserve his mama leaving him but that did not give him the right to off anyone since … oy.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Na’ama, I think if you go back to the beginning of any evil, you will find a root of trauma that gets twisted.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. In MOST. Not all.
        Some are wired wrong. But as for the majority, yes, most had had trauma in some form. That said, most of those who had trauma do not turn evil. So at the most this is a correlation – a strong one, perhaps – but not direct causation, and there’s plenty of intervening variables besides.
        Complicated things, people are …

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

          For sure, Na’ama. I just read the following on someone’s page a few days ago and asked if this was part of their fictional story or based on fact and the person said based on fact:

          “Monoamine Oxidase A (low activity genotype variation) and Cadherin 13 are known as the warrior genes. You may have heard of them, but didn’t know their names, well – there they are – MAOA-L and CDH13. For years scientists have been trying to find the causation of these two genes and violent behaviour; as the correlation was clear to see. One study recently concluded that whilst serial killers always have these genes, the activator is early childhood trauma. In short, if you aren’t traumatised and you have these genes, you’re likely to be fine. ”

          Have you heard anything about it? It is brand new to me.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. I would be interested in the actual references for these assertions. The correlation between nature and nurture and epigenetic mechanisms is far from being fully understood, let alone as causation or certainty as far as prediction. Possible associations perhaps. Plausible even in some, but one cannot raise the same child twice and one cannot cause trauma to see whether genes will express… So,whilst one may find that serial killers may have some genes, one does not !how how many others who are not serial killers have the genes or whether the genes are a manifestation of some other variable or combinations thereof or … Basically, maybe there are some associations but those do not show causation. let alone that there may be other things that lead to psychopathy that are not related to childhood trauma (and most people who are cruel and evil do not necessarily kill anyone…). in short, I find some of these circular rather than conclusive, or at least interesting but not explanatory.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

              I appreciate your take on it, Na’ama.

              Liked by 1 person

              1. Thanks, my friend. Not an easy (or straight forward) topic, that’s for sure. Take good care of you! xx

                Liked by 1 person

  6. Dale's avatar Dale says:

    Brilliantly written, Lisa. So real and a sad reality for too many!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Dale, thank you. Yes, this kind of scenario way too common. Police would have little interest in investigating the death of this hooker.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale's avatar Dale says:

        Such a sad and horrible thing.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Good grief! The scale of suffering that people go through is mind-boggling! Brilliant take Jade!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Jolly, thank you, yes it sometimes feels suffering knows no bounds.

      Like

  8. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    I really wonder at what humans do to each other. Much of it makes no sense. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Sandra's avatar Sandra says:

    Doesn’t take any prisoners, does he? I think this might be the most imaginative and disturbing response I read this week. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Sandra.

      Like

  10. Dear Lisa

    Rick has some serious abandonment issues. Dark, disturbing and brilliantly written.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Rochelle, thank you.
      Shalom,
      Lisa

      Like

  11. subroto's avatar subroto says:

    Oh wow! I am going to echo Rochelle – dark, disturbing and brilliantly done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Subroto!

      Like

  12. Wow, that’s different! Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Keith!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Irene's avatar Irene says:

    Such a complex story in exactly 100 words; brilliant!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Irene, thank you very much.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. draliman's avatar draliman says:

    He sounds a right stand-up guy. Thanks for the glossary!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Bill's avatar Bill says:

    While this is indeed a ‘story’ well-written, it is also as believable human trafficking nightmare. Inhumanity.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Bill. Yes, it’s very much happening all over the place.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Bill's avatar Bill says:

        You’re very welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Danny, much appreciated.

      Like

  16. doodletllc's avatar doodletllc says:

    So very dark and troubling…an underbelly of the world that is rarely seen. Well done..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, and yes, unless you’re a part of it in some way. I think about the Jeffery Epstein mess and everybody, including Prince Andrew, connected with it…

      Like

  17. plaridel's avatar plaridel says:

    what can i say, he’s the lowest from the low.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Yes he is. Thanks, Plaridel.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. siobhan1967's avatar siobhan1967 says:

    Gosh that was harsh. Poor Candy – and all the other women in such awful situations.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      It is a terrible reality for so many, and police often turn a blind eye to it.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Raw … a vividly described, Jade. WOW … I know it’s a tough
    topic but would make a great read. I hope you continue with it.
    BRAVO this week. Be Safe …
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Isadora, thank you very much, for your compliment and your well-wishing. You be safe as well.

      Like

  20. Mike's avatar Mike says:

    Powerful, and so real. The descriptive words added a lot also.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Mike.

      Like

  21. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

    That is probably truer than we think…I love the description Lisa…really good.

    The trafficking… I’ve read some recently about adrenochrome and that is what some want out of young girls…it’s some sick stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      What is adrenochrome? In this story, the “girls” are young women, but in real life they do traffic all ages.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

        Yes I went off topic…someone at work just talked to me about it.
        A lot of conspiracy theorists are talking about it…something you can get from children…it’s really dark…to help people stay younger.

        Someone talked to me about it the other day…kind of like a natural steroid that athletes take to stay healthy and heal quicker…
        I don’t really believe it but that is the talk now.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

          OMG that is taking evil to a new level. Until our institutions (police, courts, etc.) start taking abuse, exploitation, trafficking, etc. seriously, it will continue. They need to get the drug and property criminals out of the prisons and put the ones who really need to be behind bars in — and not let them out. IIRC Minnesota has laws on the books that can keep dangerous sex criminals behind bars beyond their sentences and they also have lifetime tethers on the parolees. This is the kind of serious I’m talking about.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

            I apologize for bringing it up…she thinks this is going on and bent my ear for a while…which it was interesting and I really hope not true…when I read your post it was still fresh.
            It’s beyond dark. I agree…someone selling pot does not need to take space from these kind of people.
            Any one who would do anything to a child…no judge no jury…you don’t come out.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

              I see you’re interacting with co-workers again? Is your office populated again?

              Liked by 1 person

              1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

                Not a lot…only 8 people in the building and none in IT…I’ve locked all out.
                I had to move her to a new office (computer, phone)…Lisa I haven’t moved anyone in years lol. It was a lot of fun though…we all wear masks…but she was the only person I saw all day…I stay in my office.

                Liked by 1 person

                1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

                  Sounds like you’re staying safe at work. Good!

                  Liked by 1 person

                  1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

                    Oh yes…I have label I stuck on my mask for the few times I see people… “NO MASK = NO TALK”

                    Liked by 1 person

  22. James McEwan's avatar James McEwan says:

    Well, that was a shocker. Rick is clearly needing psychiatric help. those girls have got to run.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Rick needs a cell/grave and the girls need to get out. Rick gotta sleep sometime.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. It’s funny, but just the other day I read a novel that involved a guy who moved his “girls” around the truck stops off freeways. Before that, I never knew about the mobile circuits, and I’ve been exposed to a lot of underlife. Thanks for a great story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Eugenia. In my old job I had some training on human trafficking through a task force I was on. Truth be told, sex trafficking isn’t the most common trafficking situation (labor trafficking is) but it’s the most heinous as it often involves minors.

      Like

  24. pvcann's avatar pvcann says:

    Dark passage indeed, the brokenness of real people.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Nobbinmaug's avatar Nobbinmaug says:

    Pimpin’ ain’t easy, but it’s necessary. It’s probably not, but that’s what I’ve heard.

    Like

  26. Laurie Bell's avatar Laurie Bell says:

    Oh no… A terrible tale. Well told.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Laurie.

      Like

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