Dancing In Darkness (5 page)

Sliding into a black mini skirt and a matching shrug that had one lone button holding it closed between her cleavage and running a brush through the silky lengths of her chestnut brown hair, she looked in a mirror. Deciding to add a touch of red gloss to her lips to set it all off, she thought she looked pretty good. The last couple of months she had become a pro at walking in some incredibly high heels, so she pulled herself from her chair in front of the mirror and walked out the door. As she began to circulate throughout the crowd, the men took notice of her. It still didn’t dawn on her to look when someone called her Ms. Pris. It was something that she was going to have learn to adapt to quickly.

When the first man caught her attention, he asked her, “Can I buy you a bottle tonight?” She responded with “Baby, you can buy me a bottle any night.” She was going to use it as her standard reply, unless something else felt appropriate. The bartender brought out the bottle, Priscilla sat down and the man started to talk. He wanted to know the basics, what did she like, did she do anything other than dance for a living, where was she from. It was all pretty basic stuff. Rather boring. It was however, cash in hand. She played her role and she played it well. When his time was up, he asked her if she would take his number. It was the same thing three more times in a row. Did these guys use the same cheesy pickup line books? It was extremely redundant.

She was getting ready to get off of the floor when she saw him. He was different than everyone else that night. He was dressed in a business suit, his hair flawless, his eyes, lethal if you looked too long. He was watching her as intently as she was watching him. Why didn’t he say anything? She hadn’t seen him before like she had many of the others. Now it was too late, she had to go back, her set was coming up. Walking through the curtain, she had to catch her breath. He was amazing. It looked like he had walked off the pages of a magazine. Opting to wear what she had on, she pulled her hair up into a loose bun. She didn’t have time to mess with it. Her music started as she finished her hair. Perfect timing.

Making her way to the stage she searched for him through the lighting. It wasn’t easy to make out faces when the spotlights were on. She found him four tables back from the stage. She made direct eye contact with him before she started to dance. For whatever reason, tonight she used every ounce of beguiling female characteristics that she could. She wanted his attention. Tonight, she knew she had it.

Across town, the West Palm Beach Police Department was working another homicide. The body of a woman found next to the parks jogging trail, only feet where weeks earlier Zena Wilkins had been found. This body belonged to Diamond Jacquere. In the last seven weeks the bodies of two adult dancers had been found in the same park, along the same trail. Even more, they danced at the same club and had known each other. This wasn’t the random killing of an innocent woman that they had originally thought it had been. Somewhere, there was a connection to these homicides. They had to find it. Immediately.

CHAPTER FIVE

With two homicides on their hands, the WPBPD had more than enough to keep them on their toes. These were in addition to the other daily crimes and a couple of homicides they had been working on. Now they had to take into consideration the possibility that they were dealing with a serial killer. It seemed to be the only plausible idea, both of these women were dancers at the same club. What were the odds that two women from the same place of employment would be killed within weeks of each other and their fully clothed bodies found in the same park, only feet from the first body? Beth Tony knew that they were going to have to examine each staff member closely. Their backgrounds, who they knew, everything. They had to do so without terrifying the entire community about a killer amongst them.

Nina Powalski was sick. These were her girls and now two of them were gone. Two of her best, longest employed girls. Neither woman had an enemy or someone that wasn’t considered a friend. Why would someone go after either of them? Nina asked the detectives, “Is someone targeting dancers and my club was first?”

“Ms. Powalski, we don’t have an answer to that. That’s what we are trying to find out. We’ll get to the bottom of it. I promise.” Detective Ward said seriously. This was terribly troubling to even a veteran detective.

“We will be in touch with everyone as we work through this case. We have to find the tie that binds these two women together, besides their job.” Detective Tony stated.

“Please, stop whenever you like. Our doors are open to you any time. These women were loved here.” Nina told them.

“Thank you, your cooperation is greatly appreciated.” They told her.

For the second time, Nina made the long walk downstairs and into the dressing room. “We have to talk ladies, very seriously.”

They all looked at her in silence, afraid of what was going to be said.

“They have found another body of a dancer. Ladies, it was Diamond.” Nina said, the tears filling her eyes as she spoke the words.

“What the hell is going on?” Abi asked. “This is insane. It didn’t just happen randomly.”

“I know.” Nina told her. “First things first, we need to stick together. I don’t care where you are going or what you are doing, do not go out alone. Who would want to target my ladies? No one is that angry with me. Unless it’s a patron, I wouldn’t have any guesses.” She sighed.

“Something is up, yes they worked together, but they weren’t friends outside of here. They didn’t hang out, didn’t have the same circles. Why would someone have anything against either of them, let alone both?” Abi asked.

Priscilla spoke up, “Maybe it has nothing to do with them at all other than they were strippers? Someone who had seen them both and knew their schedules.”

“The police are investigating that possibility too. If that is indeed the case, it leaves every one of us vulnerable.” Nina added. “With that said, protect yourselves. Use common sense and do not leave this building without a security escort. If you think someone is following you, do not stop and get out, do not pull into your driveway or parking garage. Drive to the nearest police station or find an officer on the street.”

It had been a good night until they learned about Diamond. The only active dancers they had were now Abi and Priscilla. Two girls could not carry the entire shift. There was bottle service and rest periods that still needed to be taken care of. Nina knew that she would have to find two or three other girls to come in. She had a list of names that she could contact, but if they knew the circumstances it was going to be difficult to find anyone that would do it. Nina wracked her brain to try and understand why her girls would be targeted. She kept drawing a blank.

Detectives Ward and Tony were working long hours to try and find a solution to these two horrific crimes. Both women had been strangled, but not sexually assaulted. There were a few other things, but they wouldn’t be releasing them to the public. They had to keep those under lock and key, hoping that the killer would somehow slip and make a mistake. For now, on top of trying to find the killer, they had to worry with keeping the other staff safe. Not only at Nina’s Place, but at other strip clubs around the city. If it was someone who was singling out exotic dancers, then eventually they would move to another club. That’s what bothered Detective Tony so much. It was two women from the same club. They were both losing sleep over this case, it was very troubling.

Friday night, they had three fill in girls. They weren’t the greatest, but they would do under the circumstances. Priscilla and Abi would pick up whatever pieces were left. Priscilla closing out the night would be beneficial.

When Priscilla went out to make her rounds for bottles, she noticed her mystery man. He was there again. This time in a black suit instead of the gray pinstriped one. His eyes watching her, following her closely. He still made no attempt at speaking to her. In light of recent events, it made her slightly uneasy. If he wouldn’t talk to her, she would start a conversation with him. At least get him talking so she knew the sound of his voice. Using her brain for a camera, she scanned every inch of him that she could see. Hell, with two of her friends dead, she couldn’t be too careful even right here in the club.

“Hey handsome.” She cooed at the man.

He responded by smiling at her and saying “Hello.”

“You aren’t very talkative are you?” She chided. “Want to buy me a bottle of champagne? Loosen up that tongue a bit.”

“I’m not interested in the fifteen minutes that I would get. A friend dragged me in the other night and I’ve found myself back every night since.” He started to speak to her.

“Really now?” She asked, trying to play it cool.

“Yes, really.” He replied simply. “Let me ask you a question.”

“Sure, go ahead.” She told him.

“Why are you here? I mean really, why are you here in a place like this?” He asked her seriously.

“This place has been good to me. That’s why I am here.” She replied.

“You deserve so much more than this. You carry yourself well, you are eloquent when you speak, and you are beautiful. I don’t understand.” He continued.

“Well, all of those things are great, but money doesn’t grow on trees and I needed a job where I could make some quick cash. This did it and I’ve been here since. Not long really, a couple months.” She stated.

“I’d love to buy you a drink, but not here.” He told her.

“I have a no dating clientele rule that I adhere to strictly.” She commented clearly.

“I see. Technically, I’m not clientele. I have never tipped you or bought your time.” He half grinned.

“Touché” She said, smiling back at him. This time with a genuine smile. He noticed the difference. “You have a sense of humor, I like that.”

“We could have a cup of coffee in the morning somewhere if you would feel safer in public.” He suggested.

“Perhaps we could.” She agreed. “I hate to run, but I have to get back to work. I’ve already given you more than fifteen without a bottle.” She winked.

“I told you, I don’t want your fifteen.” He said, back to his more serious self.

As she was walking away, he called her by name, “Ms. Pris., tomorrow morning, the coffee shop on the corner of Beach and First St., I’ll be there at nine.”

Without saying another word, she smiled back at him and continued across the room. She managed to squeak out four bottle services, but could not tell you what they said, because she was caught up in the man in the suit. She still didn’t know his name.

Leaving the floor, Nina touched her on the shoulder. “Girl have you lost your mind? Zena and Diamond are gone and you are flirting with a stranger on a personal level?”

“Nina, I promise you that I am very aware of the situation. I will not put myself into a place that is dangerous. Apparently right now, just being me is dangerous enough.” Priscilla told her.

“Just take care of you.” She replied.

“He wants to meet me at the coffee shop over on Beach at nine in the morning. It should be busy enough and public enough.” Priscilla went on.

“If you are going to meet someone, you let somebody know where you are every moment. I’m not playing. I don’t give a damn about you being an employee, I’ve grown to love you like family. To me, that’s important.” Nina said sternly.

“I promise, I will let someone know every move we make.” Priscilla smiled, “Does that make you feel better?”

“Yes, yes it does. I still don’t like it, but you are grown.” Nina replied.

Setting her alarm for seven thirty in the morning, she crawled into her bed, thankful for her new apartment, a job that provided well and how life had started to turn around. What made her sad was the loss of her two friends and the worry that there would be more. Trying to put all of that out of her mind for the night, she closed her eyes. Sleep found her easily tonight, she didn’t realize how exhausted she was.

Finding the coffee shop with relative ease, she parked her car and walked inside. There he was, his back to the entrance, yet he said hello to her when she started to approach him.

“How did you know it was me?” She asked out of curiosity.

“The smell of your shampoo and the perfume that you wear.” He answered, looking up at her. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?” He asked.

“Sure, thank you. Black with one sugar is good.” She replied.

While he was ordering their coffee, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Nina. “At Beach coffee shop.”

A minute later she got the return text, “Thank you for letting me know.”

He brought back their coffees and sat down. “So tell me about you, Ms. Pris. The real you, not the dancer you. I obviously know Pris is not your name.”

“No, not technically, but it is a shortened version. Priscilla.” She replied.

“Well hello, Priscilla, it’s nice to meet you.” He smiled genuinely.

“It’s nice to meet you too. Except you are a step ahead of me, I don’t even know your stage name.” She smiled back.

“Adam Linston.” He told her. “I should have introduced myself last night.”

“It’s okay, we’re all even now.” She replied.

“I should be up front with you. I didn’t bring you here only for coffee.” He said, his words catching a bit as he spoke. “I have a business proposition for you. It might sound kind of odd, but just think about it before you respond.”

She looked at him nervously and nodded her head, no words would form.

“I want to hire you as a private dancer. For parties, no sexual acts involved, just dancing. It wouldn’t be an every night event, only when I host a party.” He told her. Usually he had no qualms being perfectly blunt, however, he was afraid that if he was, she would run.

“If these are just parties and nothing sexual, why are you having such a hard time telling me about them?” She asked him, genuinely concerned.

“I didn’t say that there was nothing sexual, I said that there were no sexual acts involved for you. Let me explain,” He paused momentarily before continuing, “I own a club of my own. This club has members. It’s a BDSM club. I don’t mean the type you see in porn across the internet. It is a light version, no harm comes to anyone, light bondage, discipline within reason. That type of thing. There are various different rooms with different activities. It is for the very discreet. We have one hundred members, some of which are in official positions. You would dance in the main room for the specified hours.”

Priscilla was stunned. She had no idea what to say, except that she thought she should probably go. As in run as fast as she could. There was a small part of her that was intrigued. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She asked herself. Sitting there speechless, he smiled at her.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds. There’s an entire network of our clubs. While they vary from what you do now, you could remain clothed as you do when you dance at Nina’s. It’s usually a six hour night, with adequate break and rest periods for you. After watching you dance, I would be willing to pay you ten thousand dollars per party. You are worth it. My clients would thoroughly enjoy it.” He told her.

“Ten thousand dollars for six hours and there is nothing sexual about it?” She exclaimed. “Do I have to sign a contract or could I try it once and then we go from there?” She couldn’t believe that she was contemplating this insanity, but if it wasn’t every night and six hours would earn her that much money, it was something to toss around.

“We could work that out. If you were uncomfortable signing a contract for the first event, we could sign a non-disclosure agreement that was legally binding, keeping our members privacy intact. This club could end some of their careers.” He told her.

“When is the first party?” She inquired.

“We meet on the first and third Saturdays of each month, usually between ten and three in the morning.” He informed her. “That would be tonight. It’s the first Saturday and why I had to have coffee with you this morning.”

“I’m supposed to be working at Nina’s tonight, so that would be a problem.” She commented. “They are a little short-handed as it is.” She said.

“I understand its short notice, but perhaps you could work something out with Nina?” He was pushing her slightly and it was starting to annoy her.