The Case of the Missing Drag Queen
Page 20
“Including me in your circle of friends is thanks enough,” Luke said. He winked at Pixie. “And that goes double for you.”
Chapter 38
Thursday, November 4, 1982
THE DOOR to Frank’s office was open. Luke poked his head in and rapped on the door.
Frank looked up and smiled. “Hey Luke. Come on in and have a seat.”
Luke dropped onto the only available chair. “Pixie said you wanted to see me.”
“That’s right,” Frank said. “I want to thank you for finding Ruby. She means the world to me, and I really thought we’d lost her.” He opened his top desk drawer, pulled out a check, and handed it to Luke. “Here’s your half of the reward.”
“Wow.” Luke gaped at the check for a moment. “That’s a lot more than I expected.”
“Two more anonymous donors contributed a thousand dollars,” Frank said. “Along with dozens of small contributions. You earned every dime. How was the interview?”
“Better than I anticipated,” Luke replied. “First time I’ve seen Aunt Callie at work.”
“She’s very good at her job,” Frank said. “And she adores you. I’m sure it will be a great story and good publicity for the Garden.”
“She told me you’re having lunch together,” Luke said. He folded the check in half and put it in his wallet.
“Yeah.” Frank smiled. “Should have called her years ago. I’m looking forward to catching up and reminiscing about the good old days.”
“Was there anything else?” Luke glanced at his watch. “Time to start setting up.”
“Yeah, one more thing.” Frank tented his hands over his chest. “Want to work full-time in the Green Carnation? I need somebody six nights a week. Charlie won’t be coming back, and another bartender is moving to Atlanta.”
Luke stroked his chin for a moment. Taking on three additional shifts and working upstairs all the time would better than double his income. But then he’d have no time for his friends or his novel. And with the reward to bring him up to date, he could get by on three nights a week in relative comfort.
“Think about it,” Frank said. “I don’t need to know right now.”
“No need to think about it,” Luke said. “I enjoyed working upstairs and really appreciate the offer, but I want to stay in the Gilded Lily.”
Frank nodded. “I’m not surprised. The Gilded Lily isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The performers are a tight-knit group who can be more than a little cliquey. Charlie never fit in. Rescuing Ruby made you part of the family.”
“Yeah,” Luke nodded. “I know. That’s why I want to stay.”
“That’s Thursday through Saturday every week. Want to work the other three upstairs?”
“No, thanks.” Luke shook his head. “I’m working on a novel and thinking about going back to school. Six nights is too much of a time commitment, but I’m happy to help you out until you find someone else.”
“Thanks. I’ll take you up on that,” Frank said. “Two nights more a week?”
“Sorry.” Luke shook his head again.
“One?”
Luke took a deep breath and let it out slow. The money would come in handy, and he could spare one night. “Okay. Wednesday?”
“Wednesday it is.” Frank stood and extended his hand. “Deal?”
“Deal.” Luke rose, grasped Frank’s hand firmly, and gave it a pump. “Let me know if you need me to work Monday and Tuesday.”
“Will do,” Frank replied. He handed Luke his bank and deposit bags and they walked toward the door. “I should know by Saturday.”
Luke whistled to himself as he descended the spiral staircase to the corridor. Pixie stood outside the Gilded Lily with her hands clenched together. She ran up to Luke and grabbed his arm.
“Did ya take the job?”
Luke smiled. “What do you think?”
“You’d make more money upstairs,” Pixie said. “And I know that’s important.”
“Very important.” Luke nodded. “I need to make enough to live on.”
“Very true.” Pixie’s face fell, and she tugged on her lower lip. “Guess ya didn’t have much choice.”
“No choice at all,” Luke said.
Pixie nodded and dabbed a tear with her knuckle.
“Don’t be sad,” Luke said, lifting her chin. “We can still hang out.”
“I suppose,” Pixie said with a sigh. “Grab lunch before work, or hit Polly Jo’s after we get off.”
“Don’t forget Sundays,” Luke said.
“Right,” Pixie said. She sniffed and dabbed the corner of her eye.
“Or Monday or Tuesday if you’d prefer.”
Pixie looked up at him, and her eyes grew wide. “You didn’t take it?”
“Yes and no,” Luke replied.
Pixie furrowed her brow. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I’m going to work upstairs,” Luke replied. He paused for a moment. “But only on Wednesdays.”
Pixie’s face lit up. “You’re not leaving the Gilded Lily?”
“Nope.” Luke shook his head. “Not for all the money in the world.”
She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “You really had me going.”
Luke grinned. “I know.” He offered her is elbow. “Shall we?”
Pixie grabbed his arm, and Russel let them through the gate into the Gilded Lily. Simone, Kitty, and Ruby were seated around a table near the end of the catwalk.
“Y’all,” Pixie said, beaming. “He’s staying!”
They rose as one, hurried over, and gathered around Luke and Pixie.
“I’m so glad you decided to stay,” Ruby said. She hugged him warmly and kissed his cheek.
Kitty finger-combed Luke’s hair and then draped her arm across his shoulder. “I wouldn’t have blamed you for moving upstairs, baby doll, but I’m glad you didn’t.” She pecked his cheek and smiled. “I’ve always wanted a little brother.”
Simone snapped her fingers. “Hold on now. Ain’t gonna be no incest up in here.”
She pushed Kitty away with a smile then wrapped her arms around Luke’s waist and lifted him off his feet. Luke flung his arms around her neck and held on for dear life until she stopped spinning, kissed his forehead, and returned him to the ground.
“I’m glad you stayed,” Simone said.
“Thanks, Simone.”
“Me, too,” Russel said. He patted Luke on the back and grinned. “Ain’t always ’bout the money, right bro?”
“Right,” Luke replied. “Some things are more important than money.”
“Yes, sir,” Simone said. “Like staying on the good side of every queen in Lexington.”
“Wish I’d gone to Charlie’s with you, man,” Russel said. “But you did aright without me.”
Hugging the big man made Luke feel like a child again. “I followed your advice and threw the first punch. Well, knee.”
Russel laughed. “You do what you gotta do.”
“Hey!” Annie rattled the gate. “Unhand my boyfriend and let me out of this cage!”
Russel grinned and headed for the gate. “Hey, girlfriend.”
Ruby checked the watch hanging from a chain around her neck. “I hate to break this up, but we’ve got a show to do.”
Chapter 39
THE GIRLS filed into the dressing room, Russel took up his post at the gate, and Annie joined Luke behind the bar to get ready for what was sure to be an unusually large crowd. They’d barely finished setting up when Russel opened the gate. A moment later, the bar was lined three- and four-people deep from end to end. The sudden onslaught got Luke’s adrenaline flowing. After a few minutes, he found his rhythm and entered the zone.
“Yes, folks,” Annie yelled. She pointed at Luke. “That’s Luke Tanner—the man who saved Ruby Dubonnet.”
Applause erupted along the bar. Luke slowed down and took time to acknowledge expressions of gratitude, compliments, and the occasional come-on. His cheeks ached fro
m smiling so much.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” Frank’s voice boomed from the loudspeakers. “Welcome! Tonight is a special night here at the Gilded Lily. We’re thrilled to welcome back to the stage, the Pride of the Bluegrass. The one and only Ruby Dubonnet!”
The crowd roared its approval and chanted, “Ru-by! Ru-by!”
“Joining her, we have the Dirty Duchess of Broadway, Simone!” He paused for a moment and then continued. “Queen of the Cathouse Kitty Galore will also perform, and…” He waited for the applause to die down. “Our very own Trailer Park Fairy, Pixie Wilder, who, along with head bartender, Luke Tanner, rescued Ruby from a mentally disturbed kidnapper.”
Luke squinted in the glare of the spotlight and waved. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, punctuated with hearty cheers and raucous whistles. He wasn’t sure which surprised him more: his new title or Frank’s characterization of Charlie Ross.
“I’d also like to welcome our special guests, Ruby’s chosen family.” The spotlight homed in on a table beside the stage. “Vince Patrick, Millie Maxwell, and Michael Dean.”
The three of them stood and waved. Vince seemed uncomfortable in a tan leisure suit. Millie looked beautiful in a long-sleeved burgundy shirtdress with a white corsage on her breast. Michael, who’d look great wearing a trash bag with holes cut out for his head and arms, was stunning in a black T-shirt under an open sportscoat rolled up to his elbows with pleated pants in the same fabric as the coat.
“With them is a very special guest, my high school sweetheart and Luke Tanner’s aunt, Callie Combs!”
Luke gasped. His hand flew to his mouth when he saw her stand and wave around the room before taking her seat between Michael and Millie.
“She tells me Luke is the author of the upcoming Case of the Missing Drag Queen. If you can’t wait for the book to find out how Pixie and Luke found Ruby, read Callie’s story in Saturday’s paper.”
Luke shook his head and smiled. Any remaining doubt about passing up the opportunity to make more money in the Green Carnation evaporated. Returning to Lexington had turned out better than he’d expected. The Gilded Lily was where he belonged. His coworkers had proven themselves to be the best friends he’d ever had. His financial worries were behind him, at least for now, and with no need for help from Aunt Callie or Pixie.
He looked up to find Michael Dean at the bar and dropped a cocktail napkin before him. “The usual?”
“Yes,” Michael said, smiling. “And a Tom Collins for Millie—easy on the booze she said, Maker’s Mark and 7Up for your aunt, and Vince wants an extra-dry martini—up, with olives.”
Luke set about making the martini. “Anything else?”
“Yeah,” Michael said. “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go on a date.”
“A date?” Luke gulped. Surely he’d heard wrong. He set the martini on a napkin, rinsed the mixing cup, and started on the Tom Collins. “With you?”
Michael chuckled. “Yeah, with me.”
Luke’s heart raced. “Sure. When?”
“I’d love to take you home tonight and make love until the sun comes up,” Michael said.
Luke’s voice failed him, and for a moment, he thought he might faint.
“But first, we should get to know each other,” Michael said. “Got lunch plans tomorrow?”
Luke shook his head. “I don’t.” He fixed the last two drinks, placed them on the napkins, and met Michael’s gaze.
“Great,” Michael said. “How about I pick you up at noon?” He grinned. “I know where you live.”
“Sure,” Luke said, nodding. He waved Michael’s money away. “This round is on me. You going to be able to carry all four?”
“I’ve got big hands,” Michael said. “And thank you. I’ll let everyone know you picked up the tab. See you tomorrow.”
Luke’s cheeks screamed with pain as Michael carefully balanced the drinks in his hands and walked away, but he couldn’t stop smiling. Heads turned as Michael passed, and when he got to the table, after he leaned down and said something to them, Millie, Vince, and Aunt Callie waved at Luke and raised their glasses in his direction. Aunt Callie threw her head back and laughed, and then touched Michael’s arm and nodded.
Frank’s voice again boomed from the speakers. “Please welcome to the stage, the gorgeous ladies of the Gilded Lily.”
The curtain parted, and Ruby stepped out, followed by Pixie, Kitty, and Simone. Dressed like Vegas showgirls, they lined up, held hands, and bowed until the plumes of their headdresses touched the stage. The music came up, and they paraded down the catwalk, clapping their hands and encouraging the audience to sing along with “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge.
Luke folded his arms across his chest and watched his friends perform, darting envious glances at Michael’s table where even Vince appeared to be enjoying himself, clapping and singing with Millie and Aunt Callie until another of Ruby’s fans wanted to meet them. Seeing his aunt having a good time like the fun-loving woman she’d been before he was dropped into her life warmed his heart.
Things were looking up. He wasn’t just existing and going through the motions. He’d made a life for himself—with help from his friends and Lady Luck—with a home he loved, neighbors he adored, and part-time jobs that more than covered his expenses and left three full days every week to work on his novel.
Annie moved over next to him. “Nobody in my family would ever set foot in the Garden.” She patted Luke on the back. “You’re a lucky man, sir.”
“Yeah.” Luke nodded. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
More from Michael Rupured
A Philip Potter Story
On Christmas Eve in 1966, Philip Potter, a kind-hearted Smithsonian curator, wraps up his last-minute shopping. Meanwhile, James, his lover of several years, takes his own life back in their home. Unaware of what awaits him, Philip drops off gifts at a homeless shelter, an act of generosity that will later make him a suspect in the murder of a male prostitute.
Following James’s shocking death, two men enter Philip’s life—and both drive yellow Continentals. One of them, though, is a killer, with the blood of at least six hustlers on his hands. And both are hiding something.
As Philip is about to discover, no good deed goes unpunished.
A Philip Potter Story
Terrence Bottom wants to change the world. Little does he know the world is already changing, and his part in it won’t be what he expects. A prelaw student at Columbia University, Terrence’s interests range from opposing the draft and the war in Vietnam, to civil rights for gays, to anything to do with Cameron McKenzie, the rugged blond hanging around the Stonewall Inn. Too bad Cameron bolts whenever Terrence looks his way.
College dropout Cameron McKenzie left tiny Paris, Kentucky, with dreams of a career on Broadway. Although he claims to be straight, he prostitutes himself to survive. Now the Mafia is using him to entrap men for extortion schemes. He’s in over his head with no way out—at least not a way that doesn’t involve cement shoes and a swim in the Hudson.
Terrence finally confronts Cameron, and they return to the Stonewall Inn during another police raid. But this time the patrons aren’t going quietly. While Terrence sees his chance to stand beside his friends and stand up for his beliefs, Cameron sees the distraction of the riots as an opportunity to escape—even if it means walking away from the only man he’s ever loved.
MICHAEL RUPURED grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, the thoroughbred horse capital of the world. In 1998, he moved to Athens, Georgia, home of the B-52s, R.E.M., Widespread Panic, and countless garage bands aspiring to make it big. He’s an avid fan of SEC sports—especially Georgia football, Kentucky basketball, and women’s gymnastics. Michael’s personal involvement in sports consists of running, working out at the gym, and playing with his longhaired Chihuahua, Toodles. In addition to “writing stories true enough for government work,” he’s on the faculty of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgi
a. He’s received numerous awards for financial education programs he’s developed over the last thirty years for youths and low-income families and served in a variety of leadership roles at the state and national level. In 2015, he was named Postsecondary Educator of the Year by the Georgia Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education. He joined the Athens Writers Workshop in 2010 and has since published three novels: Until Thanksgiving in 2012, After Christmas Eve in 2013 (rereleasing as No Good Deed in 2016), Happy Independence Day—a Rainbow Award runner-up for historical fiction in 2014—and Whippersnapper in 2016.
Blog: rupured.com
Twitter: @crotchetyman
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorMichaelRupured
Email: mrupured@gmail.com
By Michael Rupured
LUKE TANNER MYSTERIES
The Case of the Missing Drag Queen
PHILIP POTTER SERIES
No Good Deed
Happy Independence Day
Published by DSP PUBLICATIONS
www.dsppublications.com
Published by
DSP PUBLICATIONS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dsppublications.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Case of the Missing Drag Queen
© 2018 Michael Rupured.
Cover Art
© 2018 Alexandria Corza.
http://www.seeingstatic.com/
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.