EXTRACT FOR
Learning the Game
(Faye Valentine)

Pulling into a long driveway cutting through a well-manicured lawn leading to reinforced wooden gates set into a tall stone wall, Maya's heart thumped hard in her chest as she had reached the point of no return. Stopping at the gates, she rolled the window down and was just about to press a button on the intercom when a female voice spoke through it. 

"Maya Collins?"

"That's me. Are you Lena?"

"That's me. Before I open the gates to let you in this is your last chance to refuse the operation and go back to being an everyday detective as once you're inside there's no leaving until your training has been complete and then it's to the streets as its newest sex worker."

"I'm not leaving so you might as well let me in."

"Very well. Pull in and park to the left of the garages. I'll meet you at the door."

And just like that the heavy wooden doors slid open revealing a beautiful well-maintained ranch-style house and yard beyond. Pulling in, Maya drove several hundred more feet before parking in one of the guest spots to the left of the three car garage. No sooner was she out of her car, then she saw a beautiful redheaded woman wearing black leather pants and purple vest step out onto the front porch. Walking up to meet her, Maya held out a hand which was immediately taken. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise. You match the description Chief Ferguson told me to expect, but I'll need to see some credentials."

"Of course." Showing her badge and detective credentials, Maya waited patiently.

"Very well," Lena said. "Did you bring your firearm?"

"No."

"This stays here with me. As does your purse and everything in it. From this point forward your name is Chloe Matthews. You cover story and all relevant documentation are inside. You'll commit it to memory or you'll be disciplined. Is that understood?"

"Disciplined? What does that mean?"

"It means that every time you get a part of your new life wrong you'll be caned until you get it right."

"Excuse me? Caned? I never agreed to that!"

"You're going to out there on the streets picking up every man and woman willing to show you even a hint of attention. You're going to perform every act of sexual perversion they demand whether you like it or not. That includes everything from taking it up that sexy ass of yours, to being flogged, slapped, and caned. Sure, most sex workers have some sort of limit, but you don't have the luxury. If you want to get close to Crane, to infiltrate one of the most secretive sex trafficking rings in history, you're going to have to forget about inhibitions and accept the mantle of slave. Now, if you can't handle that then get back in your car and go home."

"I don't know what Chief Ferguson told you, but I spent most of my teens living on the streets."

"As a sex worker?"

"No, but..."

"No buts. You're here to learn the ins and outs of being a sex worker and that's exactly what you're going to learn."

"How long is this going to take? I mean, how hard is it to sell my ass on every corner of the city?"