Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows

by David O. Dyer, Sr.

Shelly stepped from the shower, patted herself dry and entered her dressing room, nude. “Hi, Big Guy,” she said as she held out her arms to the bouncer. “How'd you like the new act?"

  “Girls doing it don't turn me on,” he replied as he gave her a bear hug. “The place was packed tonight. Biggest Saturday night crowd I can remember and from the way they were whooping and hollering I'd say the act was a hit."

  She moaned as his huge right hand traveled down her spine.

  “You may have to throw more clothing to the customers, though. A couple of guys got into a hell of a fight over your panties."

  Shelly kissed him full on the lips. “How do you want it tonight—front door, back door or down the chimney?"

  He gripped her shoulders and squeezed gently. “We don't have time tonight. The boss wants to see you and she's in a lousy mood. Better get dressed in a hurry, Delilah.” He left without another word.

  She didn't like the act, damn it. Well, the customers did and that should be what counts.

  She dressed quickly, hurried down the dimly lit hallway and knocked on the office door.

  “It's open."

  “How'd you like the new act, Rita?"

  The heavyset woman with dyed black hair pushed back from her desk and stood. “You should have auditioned it with me first,” Rita hissed. “Trying out a new act without my approval, and on a Saturday night to boot, was a dumb thing to do."

  Shelly glanced at the slender blond sitting on the sofa and replied, “The guys liked it."

  “It needs work, but you're right. They did like it. In fact, two gentlemen liked it so much they agreed to pay big bucks for a private session with you and Carmen. Carmen is already with them in the Devil's Den. Get your fat ass in there and give them their money's worth. Remember that I videotape all activity in the Den. I'll know exactly what goes on."

  “Rita, what your other girls do is their business, but you know very well I'm not a whore. I won't do it."

  “You are a whore, beginning tonight, or you have no job. You look like an old woman. Your boobs are beginning to sag and they don't have that special bounce anymore."

  Rita nodded towards the blond. “I've already hired your replacement. You're no longer my headliner. If you cooperate, give exciting lap dances and take your turn in the Devil's Den, I'll keep you on, but your pay, effective tomorrow, will be five hundred a night."

  “Rita, you can't do this. Delilah Delight is your star. She's the one who draws the customers. We have a contract."

  Rita sneered as she approached the blond. “You stupid bitch. Do you have a copy of the contract?"

  “The contract is in your safe."

  “Not anymore, darling. It no longer exists.” She laughed sadistically as she rubbed the blonde's cheek. “The guys will forget all about Delilah Delight the instant they see what this double jointed vixen can do."

  Rita pulled the girl's face to her ample stomach and stroked her long hair. “Dixie, you watched Delilah's act tonight. You think you can duplicate her part?"

  “Nothing too it."

  “Well, get that lovely tail of yours in the Devil's Den and fuck their brains out."

  The woman stood, tossed the hair from her eyes and smiled at Shelly. “Nice to have met you, Has-been."

  * * * *

  Sandra held Shelly's hands and searched her eyes. “Shelly, I'm so sorry, but you're good. I've seen you in action, honey. There are other strip clubs in Charlotte."

  “They all stick together, Sandy. When one club blackballs you, they all turn their backs on you."

  “Have ... have you considered blackmail? I mean ... well, you know what goes on in the Devil's Den. One word to the authorities and they will shut down the Crazy Cat Club. That should be worth something to this Rita woman."

  “Yeah. It would be worth something to Rita all right. It would be worth the price of a hit man to turn me into fertilizer. Sandy, I was hoping we could work something out about the new club in Dot."

  Sandra pulled three books from the shelf, groped behind other books and pulled out a concealed pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “Mind if I smoke?” she asked.

  “Hiding the habit from Tim, are you?” Shelly laughed.

  Sandra smiled as she lit the cigarette. “We hide it from each other. We're like kids slipping a smoke behind the barn. Shelly,” she said as she exhaled, “these things take time. We're still gathering information. The truth is, I'm afraid the project is on a back burner right now."

  * * * *

  “I wish it could be like this forever,” Shelly said as she nestled in Boyd's arms.

  “Me too, Shell—me too.” He kissed her hair. “What are you going to do, baby?"

  “I don't know. I really don't. I feel so ... so useless."

  He trailed his fingertips down her arm. “You could always get a regular job, Shell."

  “Doing what? Waiting on customers at the Korner Kafe?"

  “You think Rita would give you your job back if you agreed to her terms?"

  “I'm not going to do it, Boyd. My mother went down that road and look where it took her. I'm just not going to do it."

  He rolled her onto her back, kissed the underside of her breasts and trailed his tongue to her navel. “You have a great body, Shell. I have contacts. You can make a fortune as a call girl."

  “Forget it, Boyd. I'd rather kill myself."

  “Don't even joke about that, Shell. I can't stand the thought of life without you."

  She stroked his hair as he rested his head on her stomach. “You're so damn sweet when you're sober."

  “I love you, Shell. Marry me."

  “Idiot,” she said, playfully slapping the top of his head. “I'm already married."

  “Have you ever heard of divorce?"

  “Why didn't you think of this before you talked me into marrying Sam? I would have jumped at the chance to be your wife. Hell, I begged you to marry me."

  “Because I am an idiot. Shell, there's nothing forcing us to stay in North Carolina. Let's move to Florida, California, any place you like. You can be a headliner again and I can get a job as a club disk jockey with no problem at all. I'm good."

  “Aren't you forgetting something?"

  “What?"

  “Annie."

  He propped on his elbows and rested his chin in his hands. “You asked me once when I was going to grow up and accept responsibility. I'm ready. I can be a good father to Annie."

  “When you're sober, maybe."

  He slid his hand down her lower stomach. “I swear on your beautiful pubic mound, if you will go away with me, I'll never drink another drop of alcohol."

  She sat up and pulled him close. “Oh God, how I wish I could believe you. What would we use for money, Boyd?"

  “You have some saved up for Annie. We can tap that until we get on our feet."

  She pushed him away and shook her head. “That's Annie's money. I won't touch it."

  He eased off the mattress and stood in front of his bedroom window, gazing into the distance.

  “You have a great butt,” she said.

  “So do you, Shell.” He turned and looked at her for several seconds before continuing. “There's the insurance."

  “What insurance?"

  “Sam's life insurance, Shell. Five million dollars."

  “Boyd! What are you suggesting?"

  “It was just a thought. Forget it."

  Shelly kicked off the sheet and slipped to the edge of the bed. “I'd better get out of here before you talk me into something horrible. Besides, I told the Borders I'd pick Annie up by five."

  * * * *

  Sam slammed the door behind him and glared at Shelly, slouching on the sofa and wearing a filthy tee shirt over panties.

  “I work my ass off all day and come home to a nasty house, a woman who hasn't even combed her hair and not given a thought to starting dinner.” He stomped over to the sofa, slapped the box of chocolates from her hands and shouted, “Can't you find anything better t
o do all day than watch TV and stuff yourself with candy?"

  She leaped to her feet and slapped him. “How was your day, Asshole?"

  His face turned red and he lifted his hand as if to strike her.

  “You hit me, you bastard, and I'll leave your ass so fast it'll make your stupid-looking head spin."

  “Damn, Shelly,” he said as he started picking up sections of the daily newspaper from the floor, “the least you could do is straighten up a little."

  “I told you it would be like this, but you wouldn't listen. The only fucking thing I promised to do was hump you, and I've done that."

  “Sure you have, but what happened to Delilah Delight? You lie there like a damn corpse and don't even try to participate. When I reach for you at night, you jerk away from me. I guess you get enough from the guy who visits you once or twice a week. Do you dress up for him, Shelly?"

  “What the hell are you talking about?"

  “Do you think the Nickels haven't told me about the gray Ford that shows up from time to time while I'm at work?"

  “I told you at the beginning that ours would not be a monogamous relationship. Sam, you suck in bed. I have my needs."

  “And I have mine. Cleaning up after you is not one of them."

  “Shit, you bastard. You can't blame it all on me. What happened to the romance, Sam? You haven't even taken Annie and me to the pool in four weeks."

  “Why should I? So you can screw the Dollars’ butler? Yeah. I found out who he is. Is that who comes to see you, Slut? Is that who you're screwing in my bed?"

  “I told you I broke it off with Ron, and I did. Tomorrow's Saturday. Take Annie and me to the pool, Sam. Hell, I'll even agree to take the twins with us."

  “How can I? I have to spend the weekend cleaning up this pigsty, washing your damn clothes and doing the yard work. Go do something to yourself. I'm too tired to cook tonight. We'll eat at the Korner Kafe."

  “Why don't you just pick us up a pizza?"

  “Because I'm tired of pizza!” he shouted. “Where's Annie? She's probably a mess too. You don't even look after her anymore."

  “I don't know where she is—outside someplace."

  He clinched his fists. “You don't know where she is? What kind of a damn mother are you?” He stormed through the kitchen and out the backdoor.

  * * * *

  Shelly waited until Sam was snoring and slipped out of bed. She reached for her robe, padded down to the room they were now using as a study, snapped on her Macintosh and clicked on Boyd's email address.

  It's three in the morning, Boyd, and again I can't sleep. I can't stand much more of this. I hate the bastard. He's gone back on his promises. He's trying to make a damn housewife out of me. Tonight he raped me. I fought him but, like you, he's much stronger than I am. He rammed the damn thing inside me without a condom and laughed at me when he ejaculated. You slap me around sometimes but you've never done it without a rubber—at least not since Annie was born. I almost wish I did have AIDS or something so I could have the satisfaction of giving it to him. I douched for an hour but I'm still not sure I'm clean. My pussy still smells like fish.

  Can you believe it? The bastard forced me to go to church with him this morning—said it was good for Annie. There I sat with all the other hypocrites in Dot. One funny thing happened, though. Tim Dollar sings in the choir. Sandy and some guy I've never seen before sat on the pew beside us. She wore one of those extra short miniskirts she likes so much. So help me Boyd, she sat on the guy's hand through the whole sermon. Several times, she made strange little noises. I think his fingers brought her off right there in church! Can you believe it? I was so curious that when the service was over I checked her out. Her hose were soaked right down to her knees. It was hilarious!

  Speaking of being soaked, I need you so bad, Boyd. I'm coming to see you tomorrow. If you have a broad in your apartment, save some for me and kick her out by noon. I'll pick up a bucket of chicken on the way. At least the bastard hasn't taken his credit card away from me yet.

  I love you, Boyd. We must figure something out.

  * * * *

  “Boyd,” Shelly said as she buttoned her blouse, “I hate to eat and run but the Borders are going somewhere this afternoon. I have to pick Annie up by four and I need to make a trip to the grocery store before that."

  “Let Sammy do the shopping, baby. We haven't touched the chicken you brought."

  He tried to unbutton her top button and she playfully slapped away his hand. “You know what we ate for lunch. It's a hell of a lot better than cold chicken."

  “Baby, you just got here. You and your beloved husband can go shopping tonight."

  She shook her head. “He's changed, Boyd. He has something up his sleeve and I'm not sure I want to find out what it is. He left a grocery list on the kitchen table this morning and wrote that he expects me to do the shopping before he gets home from work."

  She looked into Boyd's eyes and saw the hunger. “Baby,” she said, throwing her arms around him. “Let's do it."

  “You mean it?"

  She nodded. “It's worth the risk. I can't stand any more of this."

  He stepped back. “We'll have to plan carefully. Murder is a capital offense you know. We don't want to be caught."

  “Hell, Boyd. I wasn't talking about that. Let's run away—go to Florida and start a new life together. I can rush home, throw a few things in a bag, get Annie and be back here in a couple of hours."

  “Money, baby, money!” he reminded her.

  “I still have the five thousand Rita paid me the night she fired me. That'll last a while."

  “Not enough. Not near enough. Look, I've been thinking. It's such an easy thing to do. You leave the backdoor open. I'll slip in, steal a few things, blow the bastard's head off and slap you around a little to make it look real. Shell, that way we get the house, the insurance and anything else Sammy boy owns."

  She backed up to the apartment door. “You've lost your fucking mind!"

  “Damn, Shell,” he said, trying to smile, “don't you know when I'm kidding?"

  * * * *

  “Where the hell were you this afternoon?” Sam asked as he stepped out of his shorts.

  “You know where I was, Sam,” Shelly replied, slipping a nightgown over her head. “I was at the damn grocery store."

  “That took an hour at most. I called several times and there was no answer."

  She picked up a magazine and propped up on her side of the double bed. “I must have been outside."

  “No you weren't. About three-thirty I called the Borders to see if you were over there. They said you dropped Annie off at eleven and had not yet come home. Where were you?"

  “What did you want?” she asked, opening the magazine.

  “Where the hell were you?” he shouted.

  “Keep your voice down. You'll wake Annie. If you must know, I was with Annie's father."

  “That bastard? That's who you're sleeping with now?"

  “Keep it down, damn it. You said you want to adopt Annie. The lawyer told us it would be a piece of cake if the father agrees. I talked with Boyd about it today."

  “What did he say?"

  “He said for you to kiss his ass."

  “I'm going to take a quick shower,” Sam mumbled as he pulled the robe over his naked body.

  Shelly replied absently, “Suit yourself."

  He stepped into the bathroom and immediately returned, eyes flashing. “Get in here!” he ordered.

  She looked up as he approached. “What's wrong with you?"

  “You left a damn ring in the Whirl Pool."

  “Get a life, Asshole. I did the damn shopping for you and even straightened up the house a little. Did I hear a thank you? Not one damn word!"

  “When you use my Whirl Pool you leave it clean. Now get in here."

  “Your Whirl Pool? I thought the big man gave half of everything to his adoring bride."

  “Clean the damn Whirl Pool."

  �
�Clean it yourself."

  He reached for her, but she stopped him with an index finger in his chest. “I've warned you once. You lay a hand on me and I'm out of here."

  “I don't think so, Slut. You pretend you don't love Annie, but the truth is, she's the most important thing in the world to you. One word from me to the authorities and they will declare you an unfit mother. I may not wind up with her, but, by God, they'll take her away from you."

  He grabbed her arm. She yanked away and tumbled to the opposite side of the bed. He lunged for her as she leaped to the floor. He sprang from the bed and cornered her, placing his right hand on her throat and pinning her against the wall. “Clean the damn Whirl Pool,” he repeated through clenched teeth.

  “Shit.” She pushed past him and headed for the bathroom.

  * * * *

  Boyd,

  It is again three o'clock in the morning—Tuesday, I guess it is. The asshole is snoring loud enough to wake the neighborhood, and, as usual, I can't sleep. Tonight he threatened to take Annie away from me. I know I've said it before, but this time I mean it. I can't take any more. The one thing that keeps me going is the dream of holding you in my arms every night. If you have the guts, let's do it—but not here. I don't want Annie anywhere close when it happens. We must come up with a better plan.

  Chapter Nine

  “Eggs okay?"

  Shelly nodded. “A little runny but they're okay."

  Sam sipped his coffee and stared at the cleavage her loosely closed robe revealed. “I'm sorry,” he said.

  “About what?"

  “The way I acted yesterday. Shelly, I've been under a lot of pressure at work. One mechanic quit last week and another is out with an injury."

  “At least you have a job."

  “I talked with the boss yesterday. They don't usually hire two people from the same family, but they need a secretary badly. I told him you are out of work right now and are good on a computer. He said he'd give you a shot at the job if you're interested."

  She refilled her cup and topped his off. “What does it pay?"

  “Minimum wage to start."

  She laughed sarcastically. “A babysitter would cost more than I would make, Sam. What's the point?"

  “I suppose you're right. I just thought it would give us more time together."