“Did she behave afterward?”
“Of course not. She married a guy and abused his daughter for a year before the girl tried to kill herself. She left everything in the suicide note, and this time Teresa was locked up for a long time. She died of breast cancer a couple years ago. I still have the clipping of her obituary pinned on the wall in my office.”
To some, the idea of holding onto such a souvenir probably seemed morbid. And, maybe it was, to a degree. But, Andy understood why she had. Being on her wall, the clipping was proof, a constant reminder that her personal demon was dead.
“So, is that what made you become a probation officer? Because of what Teresa did when she was let out?”
Rucking out her lips, she glanced away from him as she leaned back. He couldn’t tell if she was disappointed by his question or insulted. “So, it’s that one, huh?”
“Should I not have asked that?”
“No, no,” her voice rose in pitch. “It’s fine.”
“Doesn’t sound like it’s fine.”
“I promise it is. Why do you want to know?”
“I’m just—”
“—curious. Right.”
“If you don’t feel comfortable telling me…”
“It’s fine.” Karen heaved a sigh. “Whenever someone asks about my career choice, the answer I give them is usually a lie.”
“Will it be this time?”
“No. I’ll tell you.” She absently stroked the rim of her cup. “Some of it has to do with Teresa, I’m sure. But, mostly the reason is my dad.”
“He wanted you to be one?”
“No—I mean, he never said he didn’t, but never said he did, either. Does that make sense?”
“And he was a probation officer, I take it.”
“You are correct.”
“And, what did your mom think of you wanting to follow his footsteps?”
“After the Teresa ordeal, Mom was never the same. I hate to say that she was embarrassed over the amount of publicity the case received, but she was. I think the way she looked at it was this: Had she been paying attention to her daughter, she might have figured out it was happening a long time before the truth finally came out. She felt guilty, and I think she also…well…felt like an idiot in her own eyes and the eyes of her friends and coworkers. I don’t think of her like that, because I know how good of a job I did hiding it.”
“You’re dad noticed, though.”
“He did. But, I think he was looking for it, you know. It was the artwork that led him to think something was wrong. My mom…there was no bond between the two of us before it happened, and after that there was no point in trying anymore. We butted heads all the time.”
“Why do you think that was?”
“Some of it was her self-pity for letting me down, but mostly I hated how she treated my dad. Not just after everything, but before it, too.”
“Bad?”
“Not really. She didn’t really treat him any way at all. He was there and so was she, but she never acted as if it mattered, until he was killed.”
“Killed?” The hollow feeling inside turned into a sinkhole. “I’m so sorry.”
She poked out her bottom lip. “An offender, scared shitless Dad was going to send him back to the pen, stabbed him to death.”
“Shit…I’m sorry I even asked you…”
“Then, if you can believe it, the offender freaked out because of what he’d done, sped away, and crashed his car. The bastard wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, so naturally he sailed through the windshield. Still didn’t kill him, though. He lived for another five months while machines pumped his heart and did his breathing for him. Tax dollars paid his hospital bill and we had to pinch pennies just to put my dad in the ground.”
Andy saw his hand reach across the table, saw his fingers curl around Karen’s. The contact caused her to flinch. Looking at him, shocked at first, a small smile curled her lips.
“Sorry,” she said. “I just started to vent off there, didn’t I?”
“It’s understandable.”
“Maybe. But, I’m sure it’s not something you’re comfortable hearing.”
He wasn’t, but didn’t tell her so.
“Want me to refill that for you?”
Alexia’s voice surprised them both. Neither had noticed her arrival.
Karen glanced at her, nodded, then handed her the cup.
Taking it, Alexia said, “I promise not to touch anything except for the cup.”
“Thanks,” said Karen.
“What about you, Lover? Want a fresh beer? That one looks a little flat.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Be right back,” she said, leaving the mug behind.
Karen, still holding Andy’s hand, looked at him. She had a thin streak glistening down her cheek from the corner of her eye. “How are you feeling…with Nicole? I haven’t asked, but not because I don’t care. I just didn’t want to bring it up.”
But you did.
He sighed. “I don’t know how I feel, but I know I don’t really want to talk about it. Not right now, not here.”
“Wow, what’s wrong with me? I demand you tell me personal things about Danny earlier today, now I’m jabbing at you to talk about Nicole, when all you really want is just to be left alone about it.”
“That’s about right, yeah.”
“I’m not usually such an inconsiderate bitch.”
Andy cringed hearing her say that. “Don’t think like that. You’re being very considerate.”
“Too considerate?”
“Maybe, for now.”
Andy was starting to sweat. He hated it when the attention was turned to him, especially the compassionate kind. He never knew how to react, or the correct words to say to make the sympathizer understand he was okay. This also made him a terrible comforter, which was why he avoided it as much as possible.
Alexia came back with their fresh drinks, setting them down. She smiled, nodded, then left. No sneaky hands, no tricks, and no show. Andy wondered if it was tough for her to restrain herself from putting on some kind of beguiling act.
Andy noted the smirk showing on Karen’s face. “What?”
She shrugged. “She behaved this time, didn’t she?”
“Guess she was afraid not to.”
Making her voice sound Cuban, Karen said, “Don’t touch ze’ merchandise.”
Laughing, he let go of Karen’s hand so he could have both hands to support the giant beer mug. The glass felt cold and powdery as his fingers curled around the handgrip. Sipping the beer, it once again tasted good. Delicious.
His love for the beer petered away when a grooving song, heavy with wah-pedal, came over the speakers. Porno music. It had the panging drum beat and smooth-flowing bass the older ones he used to watch as a kid on satellite TV, with his cousin David, when spending the night at his aunt’s house.
The heart-shaped bed grew a tad brighter from a single light mounted on a rafter in the ceiling. With the extra light, Andy noticed there were two matching pillows, the same black cherry color as the bed.
“Looks like it’s Showtime,” said Karen.
Andy felt a mild nip in his testicles. He looked around the room. The crowd had stopped what they were doing to watch the stage. There was still no sign of Danny or Rosco among them. With no other choice, he faced the front and sighed.
Here we go.
A minute later, the biker sauntered onto the stage. His tread was heavy, stilted steps that vibrated the stage. He moved stiffly, like an android, or a puppet on strings. Gone were the leather and jeans. Now he was dressed in a white silk robe that made it easy to affirm he was naked underneath.
When he arrived at the bed, he dropped the robe. A beef log of a penis sagged from under his abdomen. Its head was the size of a baby’s fist. His body was muscular and tight, unnaturally pale and tan-less. Crawling on top of the bed, he arranged the black heart pillows at an angle. Then he leaned back against them, propping his sh
oulders and head up on their padding.
Not acknowledging anyone in the audience, he took his penis in his hand and began stroking. He was doing it as casually as one might flip channels with a remote. The fat tube in his hand started to expand, growing unbelievably larger.
Andy wanted to turn away. He couldn’t. His eyes remained glued on the ogre penis that seemed as if it would never stop rising. No one made any sounds. Other than the generic accompanying music track, the room was silent.
“Oh my,” said Karen from beside him. By her tone, Andy guessed she was as appalled by the giant size of his growing erection as Andy.
Andy said, “Is he just going to keep doing…?”
Karen shrugged.
After a full minute of tugging had passed, a woman joined him from the back. She had no robe on. Her naked body looked coated in melted butter under the dim pink lights. She too was hairless but, instead of a tonsured dome, she had short hair with long bangs that came down to a tip at her nose. Her breasts were small but perfectly shaped with tiny dots for nipples that seemed to match the color of her skin. Angel wings had been tattooed in the space between her navel and groin. Little gems festooned the design, glinting in flashy winks.
She also ignored the spectators as she mounted the bed. On her knees, she leaned over, and putting a hand on each of his knees, dropped her head down.
The head of the penis went for her opened mouth.
“Holy shit,” whispered Andy.
Karen looked at him, her eyes shocked and wide. “I didn’t think they could…do the actual act…”
In unison, their heads slowly faced forward.
The girl’s head violently bopped up and down, gross slurping sounds carrying over the intoxicating music. Suddenly her head shot back, lips smacking as they tore away from the slobbery tower of the man’s penis. Andy noticed the large hand clutching the top of her head. The girl winced from the violent tugging of her hair, smiled, and groaned a sharp cry as her head was slammed back down.
“Oh…man…” Though his voice sounded upset, he didn’t stop watching.
When the lady had been in control, she’d only taken half of the man in her mouth. But now it had disappeared entirely as the girl’s mouth was stretched endlessly wide. She made gagged quacking sounds as the penis strangulated her.
“She’s just letting him…do that…?” said Karen.
“Sugar said anything.” Andy replied.
“God…”
The man jerked her head up so she could suck in quick gasps of air. Thick snakes of phlegm trailed from the corners of her mouth and connected to the tip of his cock.
Then he yanked her back down.
Andy and Karen looked at each other while the sounds of the girl being sexually humiliated came from the stage.
Chapter Nineteen
The girl moaned even though she couldn’t be gaining any kind of satisfaction from what the guy was now doing to her. On her back, she held her breasts tightly together, and with the guy straddling her belly, he was thrusting his penis into the valley between them. Her head was propped up on the pillows, her mouth open to catch the prodding head between her lips.
The bald biker had finished a while ago as well as the subsequent three other volunteers who’d followed. When the last one had finished his anal attack, the girl called for another man. A lanky guy with stringy red hair made it to the stage first, so she chose him to join her.
And now he was humping her breasts…and like the others, wasn’t wearing any kind of protection. Not that, Andy thought, he needed to for what he was doing.
How could she enjoy this kind of punishment? While people watched, nonetheless.
I’m watching, he reminded himself.
And so is Karen.
He looked at Karen. Her eyes had not shrunken, appearing even wider than before. Her mouth hung open, a slight twitching in the corner as if it threatened to smile.
The girl cooed, then giggled from the stage. Andy turned back to watch. He wondered what she did when she wasn’t here. How much time—and drugs—did it take to work up the courage to perform?
Maybe she just liked it.
The guy began to groan. It started off faint but descanted to a growl. He made awful grunting sounds as he released a spattering glop of semen across the girl’s neck and face. Her tongue lashed at the thick white splashes.
When he was finally spent of all his seed, he sat back on his knees, panting.
Applause filled the room, a few whistles.
He climbed off the girl, standing still and motionless while she got to her feet. Standing, she took a proud bow, smiling as she bent over.
Karen nudged Andy with her elbow, and began to politely clap like a parent would at a talent show. She nodded to suggest that Andy do the same. So, he joined her applause.
The woman bowed a moment longer, then retreated to their left, leading the skinny guy away by his hand.
Afterwards, a short swarthy man, chubby and balding, with thick black glasses on, approached the bed from backstage. For a moment, Andy feared he was going to put on a show next, but his worry dissipated when he noticed the squirt bottle and rags he was carrying.
The clean-up crew, he realized, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Sugar ran up on the stage in a single long-legged step. She spun around, putting her mouth back to the chrome face of the microphone stand. “Wow, wasn’t that great?”
Applause.
“Let’s hear it one more time for Ginger!” She started another round of appreciation. When she stopped clapping, the rest slowly petered out. “Our next show will commence in ten minutes. One of our favorites, my boss and yours, Victoria, will be out soon to entertain you like no one else can. Now keep in mind she only chooses a special mate each month to lay with, so if you are the one she chooses, consider it a great honor.” She glanced down to Andy. “You won’t want to miss it.”
Andy shivered.
Sugar smiled out to the audience, then quickly ducked away. As the custodian continued to scrub the sex sap off the mattress, a swinging song came over the speakers.
“Sounded like a threat,” said Karen, amused.
“You think so?” He looked at her, his head turning much quicker than he would have liked.
Karen laughed. “I’m joking.”
“Ah.”
“What do you think so far?” asked Karen.
“It’s um…something…for sure.”
Karen laughed. “It is that.” She shook her head.
“I wasn’t expecting that kind of…” He shrugged. “…show, that’s for sure. I didn’t think it was ever going to end.”
“Me neither. As graphic and distasteful as it was, there was still something so erotic about it.”
He thought back to the girl making those sounds that Andy figured someone might make if they had a cucumber lodged in their throat. Erotic? He wasn’t so sure. You didn’t enjoy it. Not really.
That was a lie.
And yet, the more he considered it all, the more he began to agree with Karen.
“I guess so,” he eventually said.
“Are you sure?”
“Well…yeah. I mean…”
What did he mean?
“I know what you’re trying to say.”
“Please tell me what it is.”
“You liked what you saw, and you’re trying to tell yourself you didn’t.”
He nodded.
She elaborated. “It’s like we both know we should not have found any kind of enjoyment watching that, but we did, and we’re trying to make sense of it.”
“We shouldn’t have even watched it.”
Karen nodded. “True. If we can look at it like watching a dirty movie or something, we should be all right.”
“Yeah. But, you’re right. I guess I might have liked what I saw…”
“Maybe we’re just both really horny.”
They both laughed.
Andy reached under the table and touched hi
mself. He felt something akin to solid steel behind the zipper of his pants. Now that he had acknowledged it, he felt the throbbing deep in his testicles.
“Does seem like the kind of place Danny and Rosco would be desperate to find,” she said.
“But, where are they now?”
“I don’t know. Remember, they’re only open on the weekends…”
“But that doesn’t explain where they’ve been all week.”
“I know it doesn’t. We’re getting there, okay. We just have to blend in for now, until we can start asking questions. Maybe if I let Alexia rub me some more, we can interrogate her.”
Andy groaned. “Maybe. I’m just getting really annoyed. It’s just like Danny to piss me off, even now. It’s almost like he knows I’m looking for him, so he’s doing all he can to stall me finding him. I know that’s not true, but sometimes I wonder if Danny has this sixth sense to know when people are counting on him so he can let them down. I mean, his wife is…dead…for christsake, and he needs to know.”
Karen smiled, not humorously but understandingly. “I smell cigarette smoke, don’t you?”
Confused, he looked at her through squinted eyes. “Yeah, I guess…why?”
“That means we can smoke in here.” She started looking around.
Andy hoped so, because he desperately needed a cigarette.
“I see an extra ash tray on that table over there.” She stood up, went to the table where the couple Alexia had permitted to feel her up sat, and started talking to them. The woman nodded, then Karen grabbed one of the ash trays. She returned to her chair, placing the ash tray between them on the table.
Before she’d even crossed her legs again, Andy was digging around the inside of his pocket for his pack of cigarettes. Accidentally brushing his stiff member with the side of his hand, he trembled from the minor friction. He felt as if he might pop like a bicycle tire with too much air.
The snaps of their lighters striking flame cut through the hushed babble around them. No one seemed to notice.
Andy dragged heavily from his cigarette. The smoke swirled into his lungs, tingling all the way through. He felt a little better, not quite as antsy and nervous.
The custodian, finished with his duties, returned to the back. He kept the bottle clutched close in one hand, and the other down by his side with the rag dangling from his fingers.
The Skin Show Page 16