New Orleans. French Quarter. Post-Pulse. Friday night. Ever wanted to see inhibition running wild? It was my world then, and I loved it. After the Pulse, most of the fancy shops in the Quarter went out of business. Tourism dried up completely for a long time. But, the strip joints and wild clubs still managed to stay open. No matter how bad things got, some things never changed. Now some of the tourism has come back, and some of the fancy shops have reopened, but at night, this world belongs to my kind. People want to have a good time, and that's what I'm here to provide.
I loved to watch the Quarter fill up with the Night People. Thousands of people that all had one intention. Get drunk and have a good time. I was more than happy to oblige. During Mardi Gras, the world turns into one constant party, but I liked this better. You could see the change. There were the wealthy people trying to blend in, but I could spot them easily. So could Pocket Polly. There she was in the alley. Slight slide against that guy, and there she was in the alley again. It was dark, but I could see her just fine. She went through the guy's wallet, and removed his cash, and then it was off to stalk another victim. That sums up everything about New Orleans right there. There were the predators, the victims, and when it was time to kick back from toiling as either the predator or the victim, there was The Treasure Chest.
I always worked the crowd when the place got jumping. Most of the men knew me, and liked to see me. Having an excellent memory was a must for this kind of business. Men liked to be called by name, and greeted. It let them know they were appreciated here. They got a thrill from a pretty woman coming up to them at the bar and saying hello. There were a few women here, and I was just as nice to them as I was to the men. There were a couple of Quarter hookers that would come in here for a drink, but they knew better than to try and turn tricks here. The last one that did that ended up unable to work for three weeks. That particular bitch's pimp tried to get me back, but he ended up with a new respect for me and my rules as well. I don't take shit off of anyone.
The girls were set for the night with everything they needed, so I went into the crowd. The place was packed to hell. Most of them were crowded around the stage where Tawny and Jezebel were dancing. My headliners were coming out later, and they men were very excited about that. These two girls were rather new, and they were just getting the men in the proper mood for the pros to come out and do their thing.
"Hey, there Mr. Cummings, so nice to see you tonight," I said to one with a big smile. I fell into the lap of another. Turned him on. "Now, Mr. Jacobs, if I don't see you more often, I'm just going to have to go to your house and drag you here, now aren't I?"
"I forgot the club hours," he replied with a huge grin.
"Well, I think you need to get yourself a business card then," I said. He reached into my cleavage and pulled one out to the cheers of the other men at his table. Someone snapped a picture of him with his hand down my bodysuit. It was all part of the fun. I made my way to the bar.
"Why, Mr. Cantrell, how the hell are you? I haven't seen you in forever!" I declared to another regular.
"Can't complain at all Miss Topaz," he said. "Just celebrating. My wife just had our firstborn this afternoon."
"I'll be damned!" I declared. "That is cause for a celebration." I motioned to the bartender. "Chris, get Mr. Cantrell here," I paused pretending to think about it, "The best Manhattan you can make."
"Why thank you Miss Topaz," Mr. Cantrell said. He patted my ass as I went to the other end of the bar. Victor saw me, and immediately handed me a bottle of water. I try to drink as little alcohol as possible while I'm working. I'll have a drink after the club shuts down for the night, but while the place is jumping, I needed water to stave off dehydration. The place got hot and sticky enough on its own. I didn't need to get drunk and make it worse.
"Everything good back here?" I asked him after taking a long drink.
"Doing great," he replied a little too loud. He leaned closer. "I had to tell Chris to keep a close eye on the new bartender. The amount of liquor we're going through looks like he's putting too much booze in the mixed drinks."
I nodded. "Is it a problem?"
"Not yet," he replied, getting my meaning. If it was inexperience, Chris could handle it. If it were stealing, Victor and I would handle it.
"Alright then," I said. "I should check on the girls." Diamond and Emerald had a fight the night before. They weren't speaking to each other right now, and even Onyx was having a problem with them. They may need a warning as to what happens to bad dancers that let their personal lives interfere with my club operations. It wasn't the first time this had happened, and it wouldn't be the last. Usually only one warning was ever needed. I could get a point across.
I went to go to the back, when he walked right on in. It still gave me a shiver to see Don Lydecker up close and personal, but I was back on my feet. He had no idea who I was, and that was everything in a nutshell. I don't think it ever crossed his mind that one of his kids could have turned out like this. Maybe he thought we would be mercenaries of some kind. Professional hackers, or maybe assassins for hire. If not, we would have jobs with a real low profile. Menial things like waiting tables in a restaurant or a cook or a courier. He would never dream one of his little soldiers would be a big whore.
I went to him immediately. "As I live and breathe," I declared. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" I kissed him on the cheek, and whispered in his ear, "Tell me you have good news." I leaned back, and he thought he knew my motives. I wanted to know if he was here because he caught Ben. I knew he didn't. We were going to play a little game. Quite fine by me. I'm used to games.
I took him over to the far end of the bar. You can't see the stage from there, so most of my customers don't like sitting there. It's also right next to the door that goes upstairs to my office. Victor came over immediately.
"Would you care for a drink Mr. Lydecker?" I asked sweetly. Most of the men I know love hearing their names said with my syrupy southern drawl. It's very sexy, or so I've been told.
"Just water," he replied. Interesting. The only men I know that would refuse a drink from a pretty girl are either gay or recovering alcoholics. Did big bad Lydecker have a weakness?
Victor gave us two bottles of water. Lydecker looked at me a little strange for having bottles ready like this. Most people do not come to a bar for water. I smiled. "I hate drinking while I'm spending time with customers," I explained. "So, I always have plenty of water back there." I fanned myself a little. "It just gets so hot and sticky in here sometimes."
I had a feeling he liked what he was seeing. I had changed into a sparkly gold bodysuit that fit like a second skin and a red leather skirt. The outfit isn't nearly as gaudy as it sounds, but it comes across very sexy. The v-neck of the bodysuit went rather deep, giving a generous show of my upper assets. Still, he checked out my legs when I sat on the barstool, crossing them. Leg man. I was sure now. He's a leg man. Was he attracted to me or Ben's bed-buddy? Did it matter?
The music was blaring and the crowd was thicker than usual. I knew Onyx's dynamic duo was due in a little before she started her routine. The last thing I wanted was for Lydecker to see his men come in here. The enemy could not be informed that his own command had been compromised. See, I did learn a few things back then. I needed to get Lydecker out of there.
"Mr. Lydecker," I said to him, "do you mind if we have this discussion in private?" He thought I didn't want anyone to know about Ben. Did he know that my actions were as deliberate as his? Probably not. How could a New Orleans whore know about tactics and strategy? There was no way she could be as good as him.
We grabbed our bottles and I took him upstairs to my office. This time, I sat on the edge of my desk, leaning back on my hands. He chose not to sit down either. "I was hoping that you're going to tell me you found Ben, and he's locked up and I'll never have to worry about him again," I said.
"We haven't found him yet," he replied. I made myself look disappointed.
"I see. Then do you have another reason for coming here?" I asked.
"I want to know where he's going to be next," Lydecker growled. Shit.
"My best guess is California," I said evenly. Show no fear. What do you have to be afraid of? You told him everything he wanted to know.
"I don't think you're telling me everything," he said in a voice that took me back about ten years. It was the tone he used before announcing your punishment. "I know what you're hiding."
Bullshit. If he did, he wouldn't be alone. There would already be an army in here. He was bluffing me. Counter-strike, I told myself. You're far more intelligent than he is, and you know things he doesn't. Make him mad. Angry men are easier to control. They are for me at least. I'd never really seen Lydecker angry though. Disappointed and annoyed, but never the kind of anger I needed from him to make him lose control. If anyone could do it, I could.
"So I left out a few details of my relationship with Ben," I said casually. "You really want to know that his body is practically perfect? That if he showed up here I would fuck him first before turning him over to you? You want to hear my opinion that you'll never catch up with him?"
He was on me in a second, grabbing my hair hard, yanking my head back so that I was staring him in the face. "I will catch him," he snarled. Sensitive point there. Was there someone after him about that? My shot in the dark just hit the bulls-eye. Damn I'm good.
"He's too smart for you," I said with a smile. "I don't have to withhold information from you. You'll never get in his head enough to catch Ben. I couldn't get in his head that much. You'd have to become him, retrace his steps, and understand why he does it. You can't do that. Maybe you could at first, but by now, you're losing your touch."
That did it. Somehow I was echoing something he'd been told before by someone else. Maybe it was just his darkest fears, maybe a superior, who knew. My heart was pounding. If he went to hurt me, he was going to find out very quickly I wasn't the whore next door.
"Like a filthy whore knows anything," he said with such deadly menace, I couldn't help a shiver of fear. It was too late to back out now of the path I was on. "I'm already in his head. I will find him you little bitch, you hear me? I WILL FIND HIM!" he yelled.
"You're in his head?" I countered. "Then tell me what it was like the last time we fucked on my desk!"
He kissed me. It was nothing short of brutal, vicious, an oral rape of sorts. Anger at losing the X-5's. Frustration of not finding Ben. Hatred of someone else. It was all there in that one hard kiss. He didn't let me up for a moment. He shoved me back, and a second later was in me, slamming into me with all of the pent up anger that had been building in him. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but there was something so triumphant in those brutal moments, that I found myself responding. I'd reduced the nightmare I'd had for so long into a mortal. I encouraged him with one obscenity after another, fighting him, attacking him with my nails. He slapped me at one point, both of us hating each other with a fury that I didn't know I still possessed.
Then it was over, and he zipped up and left without another word. I sat up, my bodysuit torn, hair in total disarray. At least my skirt was still in one piece. I sat there, staring at the closed door for a long moment. "Engage the enemy on all fronts," I said aloud. "More times than not, there will be an unknown or unrealized border left unguarded. Weakness must be used like any other weapon that you will be given, and it must be used ruthlessly." I'd learned that so long ago. I was willing to bet Lydecker never thought I'd be able to use his teachings against him like this. I did learn though Don. I remember everything. We're better than you thought. We can take what was taught and adapt it to any situation. Fuck you.