“Sugar it is, then.” When she moves to open the door, he stops her.
“Allow me.” Pistol ready, he does a scan of the room and checks the window, noting they are in the back away from the noise of the street.
“Very good,” he says, and she slowly closes the door. When she starts to unlace her corset, his mouth goes dry.
“No!” He holds up his hands. “I need a different kind of service from you.” Relief flashes across her face, and she moves to her dressing table and pulls out a cigarette offering him one.
“Then why are you here?” Inhaling deeply, she closes her eyes for a moment and savors the taste.
Solomon watches her and sits heavily on the side of her bed. “I need information. A few nights ago, a couple of girls were murdered here. I need to know what happened.”
Sugar laughs and says, “Why do you care? No one in this hell whole gave a damn, why should a stranger?” Angrily, she puts her cigarette out and snarls at him. “Mel was a good girl, she didn’t deserve what she got!”
“Agreed. I'm after the bastard who killed her. He's left a trail of blood and bodies behind him, and from what I can tell, she was lucky he didn't get her alone. He is an opportunistic murderer. He kills men, women, and children without discrimination, though he usually likes to torture the victims for hours, if not days before he kills them. You tell me what I need to know, and I will make sure he never kills another person.”
Sugar stares into his eyes for a minute and nods her head as though finding what she needs. “He was the same as any of these pigs, he came in ordered a drink, like you, and came upstairs. Except when he got upstairs, he chose Mel, they get handsy for a minute by the railing and then with no warning, he picks her up and tosses her down onto the stage. The other one they found cuts to pieces and tied to a bed. I didn’t know her.” Sugar kicks off her heels and releases her corset. Solomon watches her hands and turns away while she strips.
He sees her purple corset hit the bed beside him and his mouth goes dry.
“Don't worry, I won't attack you, those damn things are tight. Okay, you can turn around now.” She is in a silk robe and has taken her hair down. She looks to be about seventeen, and Solomon can't help but pity her.
“Don’t look at me like that! I don’t need your pity. I almost have enough to get out of here. What else do you need to know?” she demands.
“What happened after he killed her?” He watches as she removes her makeup with a rag dipped in water.
“He held court like he was some kind of king. Offering gold for guns. He hired a gang called the Bloody Bill Gang, and they left two days later.” Her hand stills in the mirror, and she looks at him, “That gang is the worst of the worst. Bloody Bill was named that because he killed thirty-two Union soldiers with his brother before they even realized he'd done it. The others are train robbers and murderers.” She whirls around in her seat to look at him.
Solomon smiles at her. Without her makeup and clothes, she looks like a normal teenager. “You are way too smart and pretty to be stuck here. That's exactly what I needed to know.” When he starts to stand, she pushes him back on the bed.
“Oh, no you don't. You're going to stay here for a few hours until I can safely let you go. I don't want to go back to work, and if they think I disappointed you, I will get in trouble. Stay with me, I will make it worth your while.” She whispers and slips a hand down his chest to his belt buckle.
Solomon grabs her hands, gently, “I 'm not interested, Sugar. But I could use a meal and some sleep,” she moves away with a laugh.
“God, me too. What do you want to eat?” An hour later she orders a hot bath for him and fresh food. No questions are asked, some of the patrons pay extra for “specials.” She stretches a screen around the tub for him and gets coffee and food ready while he strips and scrubs.
Weeks on his trail wash away, and for a moment he thinks of Faith. Did she arrive safely in Texas? How is baby Hope doing? Did they all believe that he died from the explosion? They will forgive him, but while he is on the trail, it's best if no one knows he's alive. He sighs deeply and stands to rinse off.
“That’s a deep sigh, cowboy. Missing someone special?” Sugar asks while she snacks on the food.
“Yep. My girls are waiting for me.” He towels dry and to his surprise finds she has dropped his clothes outside the door to be laundered. “We have the best cleaner in town. Don't worry, they'll be back in a few hours.” She tosses him a robe and smiles. “Courtesy of the house.” A navy blue, cloth robe.
Solomon grins and sits to eat at a small table next to the window. Famished he eats and looks at her. “How much are you short?”
“What?” Hope fills her brown eyes, and she says, “Fifty dollars.”
“Are you headed some place special, or will it be another whore house?” he asks.
“I am going home if they will have me.” She whispers and drops her head.
“Ah, Sugar it’s never too late to go home.” He grabs
