sandwiches. I like the watercress and cucumber, don’t you?”
He licked his lips, and she swore he giggled. Both of which gave her the creeps.
Whatever she’d been expecting, it hadn’t been this. Anxious to get away from him, she sought an excuse.
But before she could find one, he said, “Anna was nice, too. You remind me of her.”
The reference to her sister grabbed Lilith’s full attention. Her smile faded. She was no longer amused. Too thrown to stay at the creep’s table, she needed to process this.
What if he was the one?
She rose and looked for an escape. “A customer is waving me over.”
“Meet me in the lobby of The Plaza a little before four. And wear something conservative.”
Lilith walked off, muttering to herself. “High tea at The Plaza. Either this guy’s nuts, or... this guy’s nuts.”
But she couldn’t forget about the doubt he’d put into her, couldn’t forget the comment about Anna . Had it been deliberate? Or had he just been babbling? She might never know. Why, oh why hadn’t she stayed put? This was the first lead she’d gotten, and she’d blown it. She could take care of herself, so why had the little creep gotten to her?
When she pulled herself together, Lilith vowed, she would try to find out whether Paul Ensdorf was merely weird... or capable of murder.
Somehow she got through the next couple of hours. All the while, she was aware of Michael watching her work. Eventually she got used to it and simply ignored him.
She couldn’t help but wonder if one of the dancers knew something about the predator at the club. Did they all have the same attitude as Hannah? Did they all crave power over the men who lusted for them? It didn’t seem so. As far as she could determine, Mariko was all about the money. To Caresse it was just a job. Melinda seemed to be trying to prove something to her brother. And the big surprise was Irene, who apparently saw stripping as an artistic challenge.
When the last dance of the night was over, all the women gathered backstage in various states of undress. Several had tattoos, but one dancer had more ink than virgin skin. Unable to fathom why she’d want to look like a freak, why men would be attracted to tats on a near-naked woman, Lilith slipped out of her waitress uniform and into Hannah’s dress as quickly as possible. Still uncomfortable with the reality of these women’s lives, she dressed with her back to them.
Why did they do this? They made enough money to get out and find a better life, so why didn’t they?
Part of the answer was obvious. The place reeked of marijuana, and one of the dressing tables had some leftover powder. Did they all waste their money on drugs? Did Hannah?
Removing her makeup looking in the room-length mirror, Irene asked, “So what did Paulie want, Lilith?”
“Uh-oh, he didn’t waste any time, did he?” chirped Mariko.
“Does he always hit on the new servers?” Lilith asked, hoping she sounded casual.
“Only the really tall ones.”
“Tall ones with dark hair,” Irene amended, patting her own blond curls. “Dancers, too.”
“He isn’t the only guy who likes tall brunettes.” Mariko glanced pointedly at Caresse.
She and Irene laughed as if sharing a joke. Lilith didn’t get it. Were they intimating Caresse was gay... or something else? Only guy? A transvestite? Caresse glared at them and didn’t crack so much as a smile.
“There’s something really weird about the little geek,” Caresse told Lilith.
“I know what you mean,” Lilith said.
She stood in front of the mirror, playing at fussing with her hair so she wouldn’t have to leave just yet. These women might all be acquainted with the murderer. If so, she had to know what they did.
Mariko snorted. “Caresse don’t have nothing good to say about men in this joint.”
The black dancer gave the smaller woman a threatening look that made her back off. To Lilith, she said, “You think real good before you socialize with
He licked his lips, and she swore he giggled. Both of which gave her the creeps.
Whatever she’d been expecting, it hadn’t been this. Anxious to get away from him, she sought an excuse.
But before she could find one, he said, “Anna was nice, too. You remind me of her.”
The reference to her sister grabbed Lilith’s full attention. Her smile faded. She was no longer amused. Too thrown to stay at the creep’s table, she needed to process this.
What if he was the one?
She rose and looked for an escape. “A customer is waving me over.”
“Meet me in the lobby of The Plaza a little before four. And wear something conservative.”
Lilith walked off, muttering to herself. “High tea at The Plaza. Either this guy’s nuts, or... this guy’s nuts.”
But she couldn’t forget about the doubt he’d put into her, couldn’t forget the comment about Anna . Had it been deliberate? Or had he just been babbling? She might never know. Why, oh why hadn’t she stayed put? This was the first lead she’d gotten, and she’d blown it. She could take care of herself, so why had the little creep gotten to her?
When she pulled herself together, Lilith vowed, she would try to find out whether Paul Ensdorf was merely weird... or capable of murder.
Somehow she got through the next couple of hours. All the while, she was aware of Michael watching her work. Eventually she got used to it and simply ignored him.
She couldn’t help but wonder if one of the dancers knew something about the predator at the club. Did they all have the same attitude as Hannah? Did they all crave power over the men who lusted for them? It didn’t seem so. As far as she could determine, Mariko was all about the money. To Caresse it was just a job. Melinda seemed to be trying to prove something to her brother. And the big surprise was Irene, who apparently saw stripping as an artistic challenge.
When the last dance of the night was over, all the women gathered backstage in various states of undress. Several had tattoos, but one dancer had more ink than virgin skin. Unable to fathom why she’d want to look like a freak, why men would be attracted to tats on a near-naked woman, Lilith slipped out of her waitress uniform and into Hannah’s dress as quickly as possible. Still uncomfortable with the reality of these women’s lives, she dressed with her back to them.
Why did they do this? They made enough money to get out and find a better life, so why didn’t they?
Part of the answer was obvious. The place reeked of marijuana, and one of the dressing tables had some leftover powder. Did they all waste their money on drugs? Did Hannah?
Removing her makeup looking in the room-length mirror, Irene asked, “So what did Paulie want, Lilith?”
“Uh-oh, he didn’t waste any time, did he?” chirped Mariko.
“Does he always hit on the new servers?” Lilith asked, hoping she sounded casual.
“Only the really tall ones.”
“Tall ones with dark hair,” Irene amended, patting her own blond curls. “Dancers, too.”
“He isn’t the only guy who likes tall brunettes.” Mariko glanced pointedly at Caresse.
She and Irene laughed as if sharing a joke. Lilith didn’t get it. Were they intimating Caresse was gay... or something else? Only guy? A transvestite? Caresse glared at them and didn’t crack so much as a smile.
“There’s something really weird about the little geek,” Caresse told Lilith.
“I know what you mean,” Lilith said.
She stood in front of the mirror, playing at fussing with her hair so she wouldn’t have to leave just yet. These women might all be acquainted with the murderer. If so, she had to know what they did.
Mariko snorted. “Caresse don’t have nothing good to say about men in this joint.”
The black dancer gave the smaller woman a threatening look that made her back off. To Lilith, she said, “You think real good before you socialize with
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