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Chapter 3

The next evening, I dug out an old dress I hadn't worn in about fifteen years. If I was going to make an appearance at a dance club and try to intermingle, I decided I had better look the part. Unfortunately, after I put the thing on and stood in front of the full-length mirror (which I rarely used) I deduced that I looked more like mutton-dressed-as-lamb than a hip, chic partygoer. Not to mention that the dress itself was very dated. "Yep," I told myself, "face it Randi, you ain't 21 anymore." I took the offending thing off, threw it in the trash, and donned a nice comfy pair of black corduroys and a turquoise tank top. I brushed my hair and dabbed on a little lip gloss. After giving my lashes a coat or two of mascara, (my baby blues were undoubtedly my best feature) and spritzing on some Ed Hardy, I declared myself good to go. I slipped on my Birkenstocks and headed out the door.

I parked more than a block away from the establishment, but as soon as I stepped out of my Subaru, I could feel the ground thumping beneath my feet. I sighed. I did not do well in this kind of environment. I wouldn't really call myself shy; after all, that quality wouldn't jive too well with my profession, but all the years I had spent trying to make myself inconspicuous had left me lacking in the "party scene" department. I just knew I was going to look like a duck out of water….and god forbid that someone might actually ask me to (horrors!) dance! Sorry there, I left my right foot at home! Oh well…anything for the paycheck.

I paid my twelve dollar cover charge (really!) and made my way into the mob. Lights of every imaginable hue where flashing in rhythm to the music. I was barely inside the place and I was already getting a headache. I wandered around aimlessly for a good fifteen minutes or so, trying desperately to look like I knew what I was doing and was enjoying myself. I finally gave up, and made my way to one of the bars.

"Scotch on the rocks…a double…something expensive," I shouted over the ruckus as I planted my tush on a pink shag barstool. Why the hell not? I reasoned with myself. I need all the fortification I can get to tolerate this place.

Within side three minutes, a man who could have passed for Jimi Hendrix's' twin came over and sat down beside me. Hendrix's twin, except that I think Jimi usually wore a shirt.

"Hey pretty lady, got some fine 'e' here…real fine. You game?"

Slowly, I stood…all six feet of me. I'm sure my eyes glared an icy blue, and I think I may have even breathed a little fire.

He practically melted off of the stool. "Hey, no sweat sister….sorry man, no harm….no harm."

He scurried away like the rat that he was, but not before I heard him mumble, "Bitch!" For some reason that made me chuckle.

A high-pitched giggle joined me, and I turned to find myself facing a woman garbed in a see through pink blouse with matching hair.

"Yeah, that Harry, he's a real prize. I doubt he had any ecstasy anyway. He probably was going to sell you a couple of Advil with the name scratched off. And get a shirt for shit's sake! Talk about a major loser! Anyway, my name's Tabitha. Your first time here I take it?"

Damn, was it that obvious? "Ummm, yes…yes it is. My name's ….ah….Ra….Rachel," I answered a bit taken aback. The "get a shirt" comment's what did it. I found that a mite strange coming from a girl who was displaying her puffy copper nipples for all and sundry to see. And why did I give a false name at the last second? Not that it really mattered.

"This place can get a little crazy," Tabitha offered. "But, all in all, it's a really good time. Lots of interesting characters around."

"Do you work here?" I probed.

"Occasionally. My brother is part owner of this place. I just sort of work the floor and make sure things run smoothly. Well, as smoothly as they can in this environment. We want people to feel free to, well…express themselves, but we don't want any trouble… as in with the law."

This last part was said with the woman looking me square in the eyes. Is that a warning? I wondered. I decided not to beat around the bush and get straight on it.

"Is Sophia still working here?"

"Sophia? Ah…sort of, I guess. Maybe. Why do you ask? You know Sophia?"

Well now, is that a little fear I see behind those lacquered up eyes?

"I'm getting to know her," I said truthfully. "I talked with her roommate yesterday and she told me she hasn't seen much of her lately. She's kind of worried about her, wondering if she's OK."

Tabitha gave me a little grin. It appeared rather forced to me. "Oh, I'm sure she's fine. She's become pretty close with a couple other girls that hang here. I think the three of them do a lot of club hopping."

"Daisy and Pepper," I offered.

"What?" she said, in a rattled sort of way. "Ah yes….yes, those are the girls."

Should I ask? Ah, what the hell…

"Are they here tonight?"

Tabitha was starting to sweat a bit. "Ummm….no I don't believe so. I haven't seen them. Well anyway, I should be moving on. Enjoy your night."

And that was the end of that conversation.

All right Miss Puffy Nipples. What do you have to be so nervous about?

Behind me the barmaid started snickering. I sat back down on my stool and ordered another scotch.

"I do believe you have rattled our Miss Brookens. She has no idea what really goes on around here. Her brother gave her that floor walker job to keep her out of the way. He's also the one that hired Sophia. That Tabitha, she struts around with her titties hanging out all night trying to keep the customers happy, but she hasn't a clue….not one. To her, the drugs are the biggie. I'm Suki, by the way"

"Then what does she have to be nervous about….Suki?" I asked.

"Oh, I think she realizes something else is going on…she just can't figure out what. Plus, she always assumes new people that come in here are cops. She needs to lighten up."

"Ok, is there something else going on? And if there is, and you know what it is, why haven't you told her?"

"I enjoy seeing her get spazzed out occasionally," was the honest reply. "Besides, her brother would fire me on the spot if I did."

"Alright then, what's the big, dark secret? I promise I won't tell her."

The lady lowered her head, and looked up at me through hooded eyes. "Let's just say a few of the girls that come here eventually find their way to a nice cozy street corner a few blocks over."

"Um...you mean someone here's pimping them out?" I queried. "Is that the case of Pepper and Daisy? What about Sophia, any particular street corner?"

"Well, mainly over by Mason Avenue and Spring Street. And, yes, I mean Pepper and Daisy….and maybe Sophia; although I'm not really sure about that. That creepy Christian is the ringleader. Sophia was thick as thieves with that bunch when she was working full-time here. Pepper and Daisy still show up off and on…and always leave with some new chic, or two hangin' all over them. I admit the two of them are gorgeous creatures, but come on. I don't think Jaxson likes it very much, but Christian is part owner so he just deals with it. Actually, Christian owns the building. Jaxson is just part owner in the business."

Well now…the plot thickens!

"Jaxson is Tabatha's brother I take it?"

She nodded in way of response and I picked up my drink and took a healthy swig. When I sat the tumbler down, I caught a glimpse of Tabatha standing across the way in deep conversation with a short, stalky bald man. I didn't think much of it until she blatantly pointed my way and they both snuck, or thought they did, a few glances at me.

Jaxson, I presume. Shit. Maybe it's time for me to wrap this up tonight.

I turned back around and relayed to Suki that I would like "one more for the road". Oh, lord, did I really just say that?

"So," I started as she set the drink down. "You don't really know if Sophia's turned in to a street walker?"

She started wiping imaginary spots off of the bar top and answered. "Well, if she has it's a crying shame…and that Christian needs someone to knock the stuffing out of him, because he'd be the one who put her up to it. Sophia has too much going for her. I don't know, maybe she's just bored, but you would think with all that money in the family she could find something to do ….hangout at the country club, shop all day long, hell… go backpack your way through Europe! Anything, but turn into a…a…tart!"

I stifled a laugh. Harsh! It then occurred to me that I had no idea what Pepper or Daisy…or Christian looked like. I suppose I didn't really need to know, but I thought it would certainly help my cause. I decided to chance asking, odd as it probably sounded.

"Hey, Suki, you don't happen to have a pic of Pepper and Daisy around do you?"

She didn't bat an eye, but walked over to a cork board on the wall behind the bar, un-tacked a pic, and handed it to me. The girls were shown hanging onto the arms of a suave looking gentleman that I assumed was Christian. They were something else. One was an obvious bleached blonde…so blonde her hair looked almost white. Her face was deathly pale and her lips were huge and red as blood. She was wearing a low-cut, gold chain halter top and was extremely flat-chested. The other woman, however, had cleavage busting out all over. She looked like a cross between Elvira and Snooky. I handed the picture back to Suki.

"Keep it." She remarked. "There are several of them around here. And yes, that's Christian with them." I was grateful that she didn't question me any further.

I drained my glass, left Suki a sizable tip, said ta-ta, and started to leave. I almost made it to the door, when a pair of hands grabbed me by the waist and spun me around, nearly knocking me on my ass.

I jerked around to find myself cheek to cheek with a woman old enough to be my grandmother.

"Awww…you're not leaving already are you, sweet thing? Come on and dance. I have something that will blow your mind!" This last sentence was vocalized in a low, husky tone, straight into my ear.

When I gathered my wits about me, I pulled myself free and coldly replied, "Not interested."

I sprinted for the door.

I felt, rather than saw, that someone was watching me as I walked the block and a half to my car. I put my fist around the tiny, lighter-sized can of mace I carried with me in my pocket at all times. (I was ambushed once by an irate woman when I relayed the message that her newly found fiancé had no intentions of returning home) I also know Tae Kwon Do and I'm not afraid to use it….right after I give you a face full of mace. The trip back to my apartment was uneventful, however, and I immediately ditched the cords for flannels as soon as I got home.

I climbed in bed with a bowl of tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich, a cup of orange spice tea, and my trusty tape recorder. The night was decidedly a strange one, but I came away with my biggest break in the case yet.

"Tomorrow," I uttered into the hand held mic, "I'll mosey on over to Sophia's parents. Just to see if they have any useful info. Gotta be careful what I divulge though. Don't want dear old Mom and Dad getting any weird ideas…even if they might be the truth. Unfortunately, Granny is just going to have to wait for any information. I don't want to scare the poor woman…yet. At dusk, I will take a little trip to the corner of Mason and Spring. See if this Suki person knows what she's talking about. I have this strange feeling she's dead-on though. Regardless of how this whole business plays out, it is turning into a bit of an adventure."

Little did I know.