Justified killings, p.20
Justified Killings, page 20
“They won’t. I’ll quit before I fill out the application. I only work for tips. I have about ninety-five in the bank. School is paid for. My house is paid for. My car is paid for. I don’t owe anyone anything.”
“Wholly shit. All from dancing?”
“Not all from dancing. I sell lingerie on the side. That is the money I declare.”
“That is remarkable. I am impressed. But why no guy in your life? You might be the most beautiful woman I have ever known.”
“Honestly? I didn’t want the emotional burden of managing a relationship. From what I see with other girls in the club, dancing nude breeds jealousy. Normal guys can’t deal with it. Some weirdo guys might have a stripper girlfriend, but they always want more. They use them as a power trip or to support their drug habits. In the end, the girls spend all their money trying to save their miserable relationships. I decided that was not for me. Let me show you what I mean.” Kandie moved her hips over Roy’s lap. She pressed her cleavage together in his face. She pulled her nipples out with her index finger and thumb. “Would you want your girlfriend, or wife, doing this to another man?”
“No. Probably not.”
“Exactly.”
“You are mesmerizing. Practically hypnotic.”
Roy took a hundred out from his pocket. “May I?” Kandie stood up and put her long leg next to Roy. He slipped the Benjamin into her garter belt, already bulging with dollar bills. “I’ll contribute to the Kandie fund.” Kandie laughed. “So after you finish dancing, what kind of guy are you going to be attracted to?”
Kandie sat next to Roy and slipped on a sheer negligée black teddy. “He has to be kind, taller than me, financially stable, and believe in God before I will go on the first date. I prefer older men. More mature. But not too old. They have to be able to accept me in the FBI without any worry or anxiety. I don’t plan on having a relationship where I have to explain what I am doing every day at the office. I get the FBI is hazardous. If they don’t understand that, well, it isn’t going to work between us. They have to like to travel, the beach, scuba diving, outdoors, music, dancing, and doing things. I think I want kids, but not sure how many or when. And lastly, they have to like sex. I mean, really like it. Love it in fact. I don’t want some timid man who can only make love. Those moments are nice too, but a relationship will die if it doesn’t have the right spice to keep it going. I want a man I can fuck into exhaustion. I want him to realize the sun has risen and he hasn’t had any sleep. I haven’t been with a man in almost seven years. I have some catching up to do.” Roy sat with his mouth open, speechless. “It does scare me to think maybe my expectations have exceeded the available gene pool.”
Roy stood up. He put out his hand. “Please stand up for me.” Kandie stood next to Roy. “I am taller than you.” Roy smiles. “I am thirty-eight years old. I have money. I own my house. I don’t know how to scuba dive, but I am willing to learn.” Kandie laughs. “And I would thank God every day, for the rest of my life, if you and I became a you and me. I don’t just like sex; I love sex. But there is one thing you should know.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not the one who is going to be exhausted.”
Kandie grinned and put her arms around Roy. “You have been coming here for almost two years. I was beginning to wonder if you didn’t like me.”
“Why didn’t you say anything to me?” Roy put his arms around Kandie.
“It wasn’t the right time. Technically, it still isn’t the right time. You have to promise me something.”
“Name it.”
“Tonight is your last visit here to the club. To any club.”
“What? Why?”
“Promise me.”
“Okay. I promise.”
“Good.” Kandie passionately kissed Roy on the lips. “Here is my promise to you. I have three more months to go, and I’ll quit working at this place.” She kissed him again. “After I have quit, we’ll go on a vacation together. This September. To some tropical place.” She kissed him again. “Where we can fuck as long, and as often as we want,” she whispered into his ear.
“At the risk of messing up these promises, why do you have to dance three more months?”
“Because that is the deal. Will you wait for me?”
“With bated breath.”
Kandie grabbed Roy’s crotch. “He better be hungry for me in ninety days, or I will be very disappointed.”
“Oh, he’ll be ready.”
Kandie removed her hand and took a step backward. She pulled off her lingerie. “Sit your ass back down in that seat Detective Crenshaw.” She slowly removed her bikini bottoms. “You were saying something about you didn’t want another dance?”
Roy smiled and pulled out another hundred-dollar bill from his shirt pocket. “I think you are misremembering. Dance for me Miss Kandie Kerrie Kane.”
Roy’s cellphone vibrated. “Detective Crenshaw.” He paused. “Hello? I can’t hear you. Hold on.” Roy took Kandie’s hand. “I have to go. Work.”
“Saturday night fights.”
“But I don’t want to go.”
Kandie kissed Roy. “I’ll call you later.”
“But what about the three-month thing?”
“I said no strip clubs, and no fucking. I didn’t say we wouldn’t be talking. We have a lot of shit to plan. Here.” Kandie took a pen from the top of the table and wrote her phone number on Roy’s palm. “Go catch the bad guy.”
Roy left the club. “Hello? Sorry about that. The music was too loud. I couldn’t hear you.”
“Detective Crenshaw, this is Sergeant Barclay at the station. I have been trying to reach Detective White, but he isn’t answering. Did you have Keith’s hounds at the Skyline crime scene today?”
“I did. I hadn’t heard back from him though.”
“He said he wasn’t getting a cell signal for some reason. Anyway, his dogs picked up another scent.”
“A scent of what?”
“A body. He’s requesting you go there.”
“What the hell am I going to do there tonight?”
“Figure it out Detective.”
“Tell them I am on my way.”
Roy turned off his phone and took a couple steps toward the entrance of the club. “Damn it!” Roy abruptly turned around and bumped into Judith.
Judith was wearing an exquisite long deep red sleeveless sequin dress. He glanced at her and smiled. The idea of women entering a strip club was becoming more common, especially as the sexuality of the human species was experiencing an awakening to what was considered to be normal. But she was alone.
Roy grabbed the polished gold door handle and opened it for Judith. She entered without looking at him or saying anything. He had a puzzled look on his face. “Have we…?” Judith disappeared through the second door into the main room. He let go of the handle and began walking to his car. “Number four has been found.”
Judith continued into the club and sat in a corner booth. She looked around the room at the dancers. Kandie meandered her way through the tables, glancing at the patrons with the hope of catching their eye. It was very clear that if a man, or a woman for that matter, did not make eye contact with her, they weren’t interested in a private dance. A waitress interrupted her view of Kandie. “Hi. I’m Sasha.”
“I’m sure you aren’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“I would, if you would please take one step to your left.”
Sasha glanced over at Kandie. “Are you looking at Kandie? She’s beautiful, isn’t she.”
Judith put out his arm and moved the waitress to the side. “In more ways than you realize.”
“Can I get you a drink?”
“Do you know her favorite drink?”
“She likes champaign.”
“That seems a bit cliché.”
“How do you mean?”
“Champaign is a celebration drink. Is she celebrating something? Is it her birthday?
“I’m not sure…”
“What does she drink when she is out with friends?” Sasha had a dumbfounded expression on her face. “What does she drink when she is in the back room after a shift at work?”
“She likes apple martini’s.”
“Sounds like a drink from the movies.”
“What movies?”
“Never mind. I’ll take an Old Fashion with Maker’s Mark, and a Cosmopolitan.”
“Oh yeah. She likes cosmos too. Good choice.” Sasha walked by Kandie and whispered in her ear. She looked over at Judith, smiled, and walked over to her.
“Would you like me to dance for you?”
Kandie started to remove her top. “Stop! What are you doing?” Kandie looked surprised. “I didn’t come here for you to shred your clothes. Any off-the-street can do that. I want to be seduced. Enticed. Tempted.”
Kandie bent down with her face in front of Judith’s. “Temptation is a dangerous game not everyone is able to play. You may not be able to resist what you truly desire.” Judith smiled. Kandie ran her fingers through Judith’s hair.
“You think you know what I desire?”
“Follow me.”
Kandie disappeared between two thick hanging velvet curtains followed by Judith. The fifty square foot room was surrounded with flat black painted walls covered with multiple full-length mirrors and colored lights positioned in various places. Judith noticed a very small black security camera in the corner with a dimly glowing red light on the top of it. A dark purple plush corner couch was pushed up against the opposite corner. Two minimal metal u-shaped tables flanked each end of the couch to hold a drink.
Sasha entered the room bumping into the back of Judith nearly spilling the drinks off the tray. “I am so sorry. Did I spill any on you?”
Judith turned with a sarcastic smile. “It’s hard to knock on material. Perhaps in the future you should verbally announce you are entering the room.”
“Put the drinks on the end tables Sasha.” Kandie was also displeased.
“Of course.” Sasha left the room.
Judith sat at the end next to his drink.
“Sorry about that. What’s your name?”
“Judith.”
“Do your friends call you Judy?”
“No. Only two people have ever called me Jade, but with strangers, I will only be called Judith.”
Kandie took a sip of her drink. “How did you know this was my favorite drink?”
“It was an educated guess.”
Kandie guzzled more of her cosmopolitan. She bent over in front of Judith. Don’t go anywhere, Judith. I will be right back.
Judith slipped a hundred-dollar bill between her cleavage. “I like anticipation.”
Kandie left the room. Judith stood up and faced one of the mirrors. In the reflection, she saw Judas. “Hello brother.”
“Hello Jade. You look stunning this evening.”
“I believe it is already tomorrow.”
“It is. Let’s talk later. I hope you have fun.”
Judith smiled and turned to another mirror facing the back of a man in a tank top focused on mixing some chemicals together.
“Hello Judah.”
“Hello sister. How are we doing this early morning?”
“Just out to satisfy some cravings. What are you doing?”
“Preparing for tomorrow morning.” Judah looked up. “You look stunning. That dress is a good color on you. You should wear that color more often.”
Judith looked down at her dress. “This old thing?”
She looked back at the other mirror with the image of Judas. “Judith, are you aware there is a camera in the corner of the room?”
“I disconnected it before I came into the club.”
“Do you think Roy recognized you?”
“Not a chance. I was a memory echo of an image he couldn’t place.”
“Let’s have a good time.”
“Always.”
The recognizable drum beat of Touch Me by Stained Images began to pound from the main stage. Kandie slowly backed into the room moving her hips to the rhythm wearing a red leather skintight mini skirt barely covering a red laced thong. Her long legs were accented by the Christian Louboutin polished red pumps. She continued her way to Judith as the lyrics began. She raised her arms with her palms clasped together revealing her breasts bulging out from the side of her matching bikini top. Kandie looked over her shoulder as she backed up until she was nearly on top of Judith. She moved her hips in front of him to the beat of the music until she could deliberately squat down and rub her ass on Judith’s bouncing knee. She stood back up and slowly turned around mouthing the words of the song, “(Touch me) Please take away my heart.”
Judith began to move to the pulse of the melody. She pulled out another hundred-dollar bill and put it in Kandie’s empty red garter. “Is the essence of my soul.”
Kandie swung around singing. “I’ll let you touch all of me.” Kandie raised her arms and bounced her cleavage. “I want you deeper inside me. I’ll let you touch all of me.” Kandie put her lips close to Judith’s. “Everything I am is a lie.”
Judith moved her head back and forth to the beat. “My life has become my sin!”
Kandie smiled and closed her eyes and continued dancing. She loosened the back of her bikini top. The swaying material flashed her breasts. She untied the strings from around her neck. Her top fell to the ground. She put her hands over her breasts and turned back around. Judith put another hundred-dollar bill in Kandie’s garter. She pulled down the zipper of her leather skirt and moved her hips until it fell to the ground. She stepped out of it and turned back toward Judith.
Judith moved to the edge of the couch.
Kandie pointed to her thong. “You can have my private me. You can have all that I am.” She pressed her palms together again like she was praying. “You can take away my soul.” Kandie took Judith’s hand and put her index finger through a small loop on the side of her panties and pulled the Velcro strap ripping off her thong. “You can have the rest of me.” She placed the red lace in Judith’s hand. Kandie squatted down in front of Judith with her legs spread. “Touch me.”
Judith mouthed the words. “You like what you see?”
“Touch me.”
Judith raised her nose and inhaled. “It's our sex you can smell.” They began to exchange lines from the song.
“Touch me.”
“You make me feel so raw.”
“Tell me who you want me to be.”
Kandie put her hand and knees on the carpet and began to crawl backwards. “I’ll let you touch all of me. I want you deeper inside me.” Kandie jumped to her feet and put her arms in the air jiggling her chest. “I’ll let you touch all of me. Everything I am is a lie. My life has become my sin.”
Judith put another hundred in Kandie’s garter. She continued to dance around the small room as the dripping beads of sweat on her torso glittered from the colored lights. She moved around the room to the beat of the music, swaying her hips, keeping her eyes focused on Judith. Near the end of the song, Kandie faced Judith and straddled her leg and draped her arms over her shoulders. “Have you been seduced? Enticed? Are you tempted?”
Judith smiled. “Everything I am is a lie.”
Kandie put her lips near Judith’s ear. “My life has become my sin.” Judith put five more-hundred-dollar bills into her garter. Kandie stood up and rocked side-to-side toward the curtain opening. She bowed her head and exited out of the room.
Judith stood facing one of the mirrors. Her eyes had a red glow from the spotlights. Judas was in the reflection. “She’s talented.”
“She is.”
“You appear to be a woman who has changed her mind.”
Judith looked into another mirror. “I already have the trichloromethane prepared.”
“You are the chemist, Judah.”
“Are you having fun?” Judah held up a flask.
“I am. I like Kandie.”
“She certainly has good taste in music.” Judith looked back at the other mirror.
“It was one song, Judas.”
“And happens to be your favorite.” Judith looked back at Judah.
“That’s true, Judah.”
Judas rubbed his palms together. “Our plan is working.”
“It is.”
“So what are we going to do, Jade?” Judas asked.
“Yes. It’s time. What is your final decision, sister?” Judah asked.
“He will die.” Judas nods. Judith looks over to Judah. He nods. “Good. We are in a trinity of approval.”
“Don’t be too late, Jade. It’s going to be an early morning.”
“I’ll leave after I finish this drink.”
“Coming into the room,” Sasha declared as she opened the curtain holding another Old Fashion. “The lady said this one is on her.” She looked around the room. “Is there someone else in here with you?”
“Not anymore.”
Sasha picked up Kandie’s clothes off the floor and the couch. “Please place the drink on the end table.” Judith pulled out a couple hundreds and handed them to Sasha. “Please pay the tab. The rest is for you.”
“Oh my. Thank you so much. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Judith didn’t respond as Kandie reentered the room dressed in a plunging V-neck long backless royal blue dress and matching pumps. Her hair had been brushed and her perfume refreshed. “Just put my things in my locker, Sasha.” Kandie sat on the couch and sipped her drink. Judith sat in the opposite corner facing Kandie. “Thank you, Judith. It was a pleasure dancing for you.”
“You picked a good song.”
“It’s one of my favorites.” Kandie took another sip. “I don’t typically talk with my customers, but I am curious, what do you do, Judith?”
“Regarding what?”
“Do you work?”
“If by work, are you asking if I perform tasks outside of what I would consider my own time?”
“That is certainly a way of putting it. Yes. That is what I am asking.”
“Then no; I don’t work. Everything I do is because I want to do it.”
“I can’t imagine how it must feel to live with that kind of freedom; all that passion.”
“Of course you can. It’s a decision every adult individual can make themselves. You either choose to live that way, or you don’t. It really is that simple. In fact, that decision-making process carries into nearly all aspects of life. If you’re poor, then make the decision to either get a better job or educate yourself to open the doors to a better opportunity. If you are fat, then make the decision to lose weight. If you are miserably unhappy, then do what it takes to change. Passion is only one part of the life equation.”
