Hell To Pay

“We’re gone,” said Strange, handing the receipt to Quinn.

Vapor lights cast a bleached yellow on the lot outside the club. They walked the asphalt to their cars.

“That was good,” said Strange. “Subtle, like.”

Quinn kept looking back to the door of the club.

“Wanna go back in, huh?”

“Drop it.”

“Terry, one thing you got to learn to do is, don’t take all this bullshit too personal.”

“Guess I ought to be more detached, like you.”

“You need to manage some of that anger you got inside you, man.”

“Tomorrow’s Wednesday. We got practice in the evening, right Derek?”

“Six o’clock on the dot,” said Strange.

“I’ll see you then.”

Quinn drove his Chevelle out of the lot while Strange killed some time, fumbling with his car radio and such. When Quinn was out of sight, Strange locked up his car and walked back into Rick’s.

chapter 11

“GIRL,” said Strange, “you gonna bleed me dry.”

“House rules,” said Eve with a shrug. “You want me to sit down with you, you gotta buy me one of these drinks.”

“Tell the truth, though. There’s no liquor in that glass, right?”

“You know it ain’t nothin’ but sugar and juice.”

“Figured it was some kinda hustle,” said Strange.

They were seated at the far end of the bar, away from the sports junkies, near the service station. Eve’s bouncer was nearby, talking to one of the dancers, keeping one eye on the house, one on Eve.

“That your man?” said Strange.

“Yeah. You got to have one, and he’s as good as any I’ve had. Never has raised a hand to me once.”

Eve slid a cigarette from a pack the bartender had placed before her as she took her seat. Strange struck a match and gave her a light.

“Thank you, sugar.”

“Ain’t no thing.”

“Say your name again?”

“Derek Strange.”

She dragged on the smoke, then hit it again. Strange took a ten from his wallet and placed it on the bar between him and Eve. Eve’s head was moving to the Tower of Power coming from the house system as she slipped the ten into her shorts.

“‘Clever Girl,’” said Strange.

“I ain’t all that. Would I be here if I was?”

“I’m sayin’, that’s the name of this song. Lenny Williams up front. Ain’t no question, he was the best vocalist this group had, and they had a few.”

“Little before my time.”

“I know, darling.” Strange leaned in close to Eve. “Let me just go ahead and ask you straight up, you don’t mind. Do you know the girl in the flyer?”

Eve shook her head. “No.”

“I didn’t think you did.”

“I told your boy.”

“But you do know this cat Worldwide.”

“He was my pimp at one time.”

“Was?”

“I stopped trickin’ last year. I can make a better living doing this right here. Plus, I got this thing at Lord and Taylor’s, up in Chevy Chase? Givin’ out perfume samples, like that.”

“Always wondered where they found those pretty girls in places like that.”

“Thank you,” said Eve, lowering her eyes for a moment and then fixing them again on Strange.

“Sounds like you’re doin’ all right.”

“I’m makin’ it.”

“You just walked away from trickin’, huh?”

“Worldwide specializes in those young girls. It wasn’t like I went off to another pimp. That’s something he wouldn’t let happen, understand what I’m sayin’? What it was, he couldn’t use me no more. I got old, Strange. So I clean-breaked and came on over here.”