The moment Edy stepped
onto that stage, all hell broke loose. The black satin dress, once worn by the
legendary Dorine Delish, vacuum sealed to Edy's body. A strange force overtook
her as she began her routine. Trying to shake off those feelings, Edy launched
into Dorine's famous striptease, doing the daring dance that made the '60's
burlesque queen famous.
To patrons' cheers and hoots of approval, Edy bumped
and ground her way across the stage, stopping every now and then to exchange
slightly naughty banter with the audience. Now, Edy was no "hoochie", never was,
but something inside her broke loose.
"How's it goin', Charlie?," she called
out. "Hey, where's that cute nurse I saw you with last week?"
Charlie laughed
and guffawed out loud, clapping his approval. He turned to David and said, "You
got a live wire there, Dave. Don't let her get away. She's got a lot of Dorine
in her."
Yes, Edy did have much of Dorine Delish within, perhaps too much,
because when she reached to remove the dress, it wouldn't come off!
Oh no! Now what? I thought the zipper worked! It zipped up OK when I put it
on...Oh my God! I can't take it off! It's literally stuck to my body! Oh no!
What is this??? I can't stop...I can't stop...dancing!
Indeed, when Edy, unable to get the dress off, called out to Dave in
desperation, "I can't get it off!", he didn't quite hear her over the loud
thumping of the music or the hoots and wolf whistles of the audience. He sat
there next to Charlie and watched her performance in awe. What is she doing? Why
won't she take off the dress?
Suddenly, Edy's body seemed to have a mind all its own. She couldn't do the
routine the way she wanted; her body, or at least, some other force, was
compelling her to perform. She couldn't stop dancing. Since she couldn't strip
off the dress, Edy tried to launch into Dorine's famous "coochie" dance, but
even that never came off the way she wanted. Instead, Edy Smith became a
frenzied, writhing, wriggling, jiggling mass of feminine pulchritude. Hips
working like pistons, her body swiveled and swerved, executing movements that
Edy never dreamed of. She became the wild woman, totally unable to control her
movements, or herself. She tried to grab the pole, hoping to stop herself in
time to perform a rehearsed dance, but no dice. The moment she wrapped
herself around the pole, her body went into a sexy, lascivious, no holds barred
series of contortions that resembled copulating. Edy, thoroughly shocked,
couldn't help herself as she coiled deliciously around the pole like a sleek,
glistening eel. Her movements were sinuous, serpentine. She snaked and
slithered all over the pole, her breasts bobbing, threatening to spill out of
their black satin prison. But they didn't, much to Edy's disappointment. She
began to believe that the crowd would boo her, shun her off the stage in
disgrace. David would be livid with her for screwing up the performance of a
life time. She could hear Aunt May giving her a strongly worded lecture on her
choice of profession. She could hear the words, "Now, you see what happens
when you don't follow through on your original goals?"
Edy wanted to crawl
off the stage, get out of Infrared forever. She wished she had the courage when Xavier Norman pressed her to have sex with him, a choice that Edy regretted
to this very day. She could've stood up to him, filed those charges, and go on
with her music career.
Oh God, right now I could be playing the Mendelssohn
concerto with the best orchestras in the world. I could have gold records and
Grammies, but no, I had to do this for a living, all because of Xavier.
All because of Xavier...Edy, this is Dorine... he messed up my life as much as he messed up yours...only you're still alive...Confront him! He's the one!
What? Is that Dorine calling from the grave. What does she mean that Xavier
is the one? One what? Oh God, I really can't stop dancing! This dress is still
stuck to my body! Make it all go away, please!
With a mighty leap, Edy landed prostrate on the stage, her body still
squirming and writhing delectably. She felt a strange wetness down in her
feminine regions. She was turning herself on with her wild, erotic contortions.
On her back, slithering across the stage, the black satin gleaming in all the
right places, Edy suddenly rolled onto a table where several conventioneers sat.
What she did next shocked even David and Charlie.
She commenced with an
almost obscene table dance. Her body still rolling and twisting enticingly, Edy
launched into a simulated humping of the table. Oh yeah! She pumped and bucked
her body as if coupling with the most skillful lover in the world. Her breasts
bobbed in perfect rhythm, the nipples suddenly became hard and erect. She could
feel, deep within her feminine depths, desire grow more intense with every sexy
movement. She continued to hump the table, much to the wild approval of the
crowd. Those guys at the table stuffed tens and twenties in her cleavage, all
the while making rude remarks about Edy's "performance".
Edy knew she could no longer fight whatever force had overtook her body, mind, and soul. She just let it come, this time, enjoying the frenzied performance. Returning to the stage, still bumping and grinding, she grabbed the pole again, allowing her shapely leg to slip out, then sledged her pelvis against the pole as if it was a long silvery penis waiting to enter her. Wrapping herself around the pole again, Edy contorted, winded, slithered, shimmied, humped and squirmed on that pole like a snake in heat. It felt so good, this sexual release, this power she had over men.
Coming off the pole, she slithered
her way onto the floor, meandering through the crowd, accepting the wads of
bills offered her. She climbed upon the bar, with some assistance from grateful
patrons, throwing herself into a hoochie dance that even Dorine couldn't improve
upon. The hips bumped and swiveled; the entire body writhed as if on fire. Sweat
poured all over, giving her body a sexy sheen. Deciding that if the dress won't
come off, at least the hair can come undone. And that she did. Her dark auburn
mane cascaded down her back, then flailed wildly as Edy treated the crowd to
MORE erotic gymnastics.
Maris, from behind the bar, watched this
performance with amazement mixed with sheer delight. Whatever possessed Edy to
do this? This is no where near Dorine's act, but...I love it!
Edy continued her sexy bar top dance, then espied Clementine standing in the
shadows. That voice again, Dorine's voice was heard saying, "She knows. She
knows..."
Knows what? Why won't you explain? Why do you make me perform like
this? I don't want this anymore, I don't! I want to play my violin...I don't
want to be a burlesque queen...I want...I want my life back before Prof. Norman
took it from me!
Edy jumped from the bar then wriggled her way back to the stage. In a fit of
frenzied, frantic, almost orgasmic desperation, Edy finally confronted her
demons. Looking out into the audience, her body still squirming and bucking, she
saw HIM! In a flash she shouted, "YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED DORINE! AND
CLEMENTINE SAW YOU DO IT!"
She didn't know what came over her, but she could
see Xavier Norman get all worked up, even Amy shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
Clementine finally came out of the shadows and made her way to where the
nefarious professor and his lover sat. With an accusing finger pointed right at
Xavier, Clem said, "I saw you! I saw you run from that girl's apartment! I
heard her screaming for her life, but you took it from her!"
At once, Edy, with a mighty yank, stripped off the dress, revealing the
tiniest black patent leather bikini. Her body barely contained, she executed a
few more sexy pole moves, writhing and jiggling until she actually felt herself
come. Orgasmic waves rolled over her again and again. She shivered and trembled
as the music came to an abrupt end. Her body glistened with sweat, the hair
plastered to her head. She exhausted herself.
******
Xavier Norman, not wanting to remain in this den of common trash disguised as
"entertainment", urged Amy to leave with him. He shot Clementine with a
withering look, saying only, "My good woman, that is if you do have your wits
about you, you have obviously mistaken me for someone else."
He paid little attention to Clem's
repeated charges that he killed Dorine Delish, then he turned to Amy and said,
"Let's get out of this place. Why I ever let you talk me into coming
here..."
He felt a tap to his shoulder. He turned around to face the little
old man who finally emerged from his usual place at the bar. He looked at Xavier
intently, saying only, "Son, don't you know me?"
Xavier Norman stared at this
man for a few moments, then he blanched at the realization. Not offering a
response, Xavier grabbed Amy and exited Infrared. He could be heard saying to
her, "If you want your divorce, then let David call the shots. I'm no longer in
this mess. Find yourself another patsy!"
******
"Edy! Are you OK? What was that all about?"
That was David who came
backstage only to see an exhausted Edy slumped at her makeup table. Most of the
Infrared girls had stayed behind to catch Edy's act, now it was the hot gossip
topic. Whatever was Edy doing onstage? What possessed to put on a performance
like that? Good, sweet, oh-so such a lady Edy Smith, who preferred Brahms over
Beyonce and discussing the arts and literature rather than the latest hot
celebrity. And did they hear her right when she pointed at that professor guy
with Dave's wife? Did she say, "You killed Dorine?" And Clementine got in on it,
actually walked over to guy's table and said she saw him kill Dorine. Then the
guy and Amy walked out right after Edy's show.
All the gossip didn't escape
David's ears, who saw Amy leave with Xavier Norman after the latter was
confronted by Thad Justin. David knew the truth, and so, apparently, does
Xavier. And what about Amy? Whatever possessed her to take up with a jerk like
Norman? The same guy who sexually harassed Edy, then tried to do the same with
Maris' daughter, and countless other girls. To tell the truth after tonight,
David really wished Edy would get out of burlesque, go into something more
respectable – such as her music. That was partially why Dave wanted to talk to
Edy, and not just because of her 'unusual' performance. He wanted to talk her
into quitting, but not here, not now, not with all the girls hanging around.
"I'm OK, Dave," Edy said, her face now devoid of makeup, her hair tied back
in a ponytail. After her act, she immediately returned backstage, showered and
changed. She was still shaken, still drained. All she wanted to do was go home,
sleep, and forget she ever set foot in Infrared.
"Edy," Dave said, looking
about for prying women. He spotted Mandi standing in the doorway of the lounge.
In a sharp, angry voice, he said, "Go home, Mandi! There's nothing to see here!
Go home!" When Dave used that tone – and he seldom raised his voice to any of
his employees – Mandi took the hint and left.
"Edy," he began again, "let me take you home. We'll grab a pizza on the way,
or would you prefer Chinese?"
Edy raised her head, turned her green eyes to
David and said in raspy voice that attested to her utter exhaustion, "Honey, if
it's all the same to you, I'd like tonight's performance to be my last. I don't
want to strip anymore. It was fun, but..."
He kissed her tenderly. "I know,
Edy. I know. And I fully understand. But..."
A thought came to him; what Edy
said, during her performance, to Xavier, finally clicked. He coupled that with
what Charlie revealed today about Tom Josten, and what witnessed tonight when
Xavier avoided Thad Justin. His heart ached for Edy, and it dawned on him that
Xavier and Amy may pull one last trick to keep the truth about Dorine Delish's
murder a secret. But does Amy know the truth? That her professor lover is
actually Ian Josten, Tom Josten's son? Or that Thad Justin is, in reality, Tom.
Oh why didn't Tom make himself known long ago. Why didn't he flat out turn in
his son to the cops? All Dave knew right now that Edy could be in danger, so he
suggested an alternative plan.
"Edy, instead of going home, why don't we crash at the Golden Butterfly
B&B? We can still grab a bite to eat on the way. What do you say?"
Edy
dried her tired eyes. "OK by me. But, Dave? Aren't you going to talk me into
staying on?"
David smiled, took Edy by the hand and said, "You do what you
think is best. Actually, I'd rather see you onstage at Carnegie Hall than
here."
That said, Edy finally managed a slight smile, put her hand into
Dave's and let him escort her out.
******
In the darkened alley that runs behind the coffee shop, Clementine rummaged
for scraps of pastries and sandwiches. It was always like this as Clem never had
enough cash or food stamps at the end of the month. A forty year heroin habit
took its toll on her and her wallet. The meager Social Security check was
certainly insufficient to pay rent (if that flophouse she resided in could be
called a home), food, and methadone treatments. She was just past 70, a shallow
shell of the vibrant woman who once serenaded her way through the jazz and
blues circuit.
She didn't care if it was way past midnight. And with all the
brouhaha at Infrared, all she wanted to do was to scare up some sustenance and
go home. Normally, Clementine would hang out Infrared's backdoor, waiting for
the kitchen staff or one of the girls to give her food and money. But she didn't
want to stick around, and she saw that fleeting meeting between Thad Justin and
Xavier Norman.
And that fool just looked at Tom like he didn't even know his own
father...and he's gonna be in trouble with the college once Maris' girl files
those charges...Damn fool, he had to kill that sweet girl, and for what? He was
only thirteen!
Once she salvaged enough scraps which would make a spartan but somewhat
filling meal, Clem took off up the alley and into the street. Now, normally, it
took Clementine just shy of three minutes to walk from Infrared to the bus stop.
Then it was a five minute wait before her bus arrived. Since it was going on
1:00AM, traffic had thinned out on this Friday night. Good! I can make that
light and get on that stop well before the bus comes. Reaching the intersection,
she noticed no cars in sight, so Clementine took a chance and crossed the street
against the light. Whew! I don't like to jaywalk like that but I might miss my
bus.
When she reached the stop, she could see the bus in the distance. Oh
joy, right on time, too. Now I can go home and put my feet up. Then I'm gonna
call that police friend of David's. I've gotta tell the truth about Dorine and
what that boy did to her. Can't let him get away with it no more. And his father
doesn't have to live in shame. Poor Tom...I remembered him coming to the Blues
Room long ago. That man sure liked his good fun. Shame he wasted his sperm on
that no-count son of his.
Clementine laughed to herself and rummaged through her pocket for her bus
pass. She thought of Edy and Dave, of Maris and Nancy, of Amy, and of Tom – all
those people who had their lives messed up by the Xavier Normans of the
world.
Suddenly a car sped out of nowhere. Clem thought it must've been one
of those gang bangers or drag racers up to no good. She silently said, "Come on,
bus! Hurry up with your slowpoke self. Old folks could get run over by those
crazy punks."
The car slowed to a stop. It parked momentarily across the street from where
Clementine stood. She worried that it could be young punks waiting to snatch
what little she had. Her heart raced as the car's window lowered. The bus was
now five blocks away, held up by that insufferably long red light. Come on, light,
change will you? Those punks might take my food and money, and I ain't got
much.
From that car window, the muzzle of a .357 Magnum emerged; Clem didn't notice
it. A shot rang out. Then the car sped off in the darkness. When the bus finally
arrived, the driver and few passengers saw Clementine's body sprawled out on the
sidewalk. The bus pass was still clutched in her hand.
TO BE CONTINUED...GO TO CHAPTER 7!
Copyright©2003, 2004 by P.R. Parker. All Rights Reserved.