"Requiem For A Stripper" drabbles by Christopher
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 96
Requiem For A Stripper #96
I pulled it out, hoping it was the note from the mysterious suitor. Thankfully, it was.
It was handwritten in print, not cursive. It wasn't signed and simply said:
Lily,
I don't usually do this, but I must see you tonight. You are my dream woman. I will shower you with diamonds and pearls if you will meet me by the monument in front of the Griffith Park Observatory after work. Please, I'm very serious.
I knew I had to get out front before the bartender left to see if he was the one who'd received this note for Lily...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 95
Requiem For A Stripper #95
Candy's had a lock on it but Lily's didn't. It was Lily's I wanted to check out anyway. I opened the door and found pairs of shoes in the bottom, several dresses as well as panties and bras on coat hangers. There was an overcoat all the way to the right side of the locker. I fished through the left pocket and found a tube of lipstick and a roll of Life Savers.
The right pocket had nothing in it but a hole. I stuck my hand through and found a piece of paper in the lining of the jacket...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 94
Requiem For A Stripper #94
"Have you or any of the others girls ever been approached by anyone at Hoofers asking if you do private parties?"
She was looking over my shoulder and said no in a very deadpan tone.
I turned to see Nicky Minga standing behind me.
I told Tabby good night but didn't turn back around. I continued staring at Minga.
I heard the back door shut as Minga said, "We'll be closing soon, Randolph."
I nodded and said, "I'll be leaving shortly, Nicky."
"See that you do," he said, turning and exiting the dressing room.
I turned back to the lockers...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 93
Requiem For A Stripper #93
"Can I go now? I'm pretty tired," Tabby said.
"Yeah, have a good night. And thank you."
She nodded and started toward the back exit.
"Oh, one other thing," I said before she went through the door. "Do you know if Candy or Lily ever took dancing lessons at Hoofers?"
"Yeah," she said. "We all have."
"At Klaus Schmidt's request?" I asked.
"No, Nicky. We hardly ever see Mr. Schmidt. He may own this place but Nicky is the one who runs it."
That was interesting.
"He demands that every girl that comes to work here takes lessons at Hoofers."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 92
Requiem For A Stripper #92
"D'you know what she did with this note?" I asked, looking for any clue I could get my hands on.
"I think she put it in her locker."
"Damn! I guess the cops have it now."
Tabby shook her head, "No, Nicky wouldn't let them go through the lockers. Said if they wanted to do that they could come back with a warrant. And they never did."
Good ole' Nicky.
"Can you show me which locker is Lily's?"
She got up, went over to the lockers and pointed one out.
"That was hers. The one next to it was Candy's."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 91
Requiem For A Stripper #91
"Right in this room. We were supposed to be going for a drink after our performances but she said she was going to meet a man."
Honey Comb was also going to meet a man, according to Jen.
"Did she say who this man was?" I asked, hoping I could get a name.
"No, she just said someone had left a note for her at the bar. Someone who really wanted to meet her. She seemed intrigued."
"Doesn't that happen a lot in a place like this?" I asked.
"Not as much as you'd think. Most guys are too scared."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 90
Requiem For A Stripper #90
"So," I said, "when was the last time you saw Candy and Lily?"
She thought a moment. "Candy would've been a couple of days before she disappeared. I was off for a few nights and when I came back they said she hadn't shown up for two days. Nicky went to try and find her but she wasn't in her apartment."
I nodded, "How about Lily?"
"I saw Lily the night she disappeared."
"Really?"
"Well, it must've been because she didn't show up the next night for her performance. Or any night after that."
"Where did you see her last?"
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 89
Requiem For A Stripper #89
"Would you mind talking to me for a few minutes?" I asked.
"Not at all. I'm done dancing for the night," she said.
"Well," one of the other girls said, "I gotta go shake my titties one more time tonight."
She left to go onstage and most of the other girls were now dressed in street clothes.
"We'll see you tomorrow night, Tabby."
They exchanged goodbyes and suddenly it was just Tabby and me in the now silent dressing room.
I could hear the emcee out front loudly announcing the final girl for the night.
The band began to play...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 88
Requiem For A Stripper #88
I continued, "You do know that five dancing girls have gone missing over the past few weeks, right?"
They all looked at each other and then back at me. Some of them nodded and others just looked stone-faced.
"How well did you know Candy and Lily? Were any of you particularly close to them?"
A cute girl that looked like she should've been in high school and not half-naked in a club stepped up.
"I knew both of them better than anyone," she said.
"What's your name?"
"Tabitha," she said. "But I dance under the name Tabby Cat."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 87
Requiem For A Stripper #87
Nicky left and I turned to the girls, who weren't sure what to make of me. Some looked apprehensive and others looked like they wanted to give me the same treatment I'd gotten from Jen Ann in the broom closet!
"Good evening, ladies. I just wanted to ask you a few questions about Candy Apple and Lily Padd."
One of the girls, who was behind a screen putting clothes on asked, "Why you interested in Candy and Lily? They owe you money or somethin'?"
I shook my head. "I'm trying to make sure the rest of you don't go missing."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 86
Requiem For A Stripper #86
"Follow me," Minga said through clenched teeth.
He led me to a big dressing area in the back. There were about five girls in there.
Minga said, "Girls, this is a dick named Randolph. He's gonna ask you about Candy and Lily. Answer his questions."
He turned on his heel and started out.
"Thanks, Minga," I said in an insincere voice.
He stopped and slowly turned around. I could see the muscles in his jaws twitching.
"One of these days, Randolph, you and me are gonna tango again."
I just grinned, "My dance card is always open for you, Nicky."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 85
Requiem For A Stripper #85
I went back into the club. Minga was at the bar. He still had smoke coming out of his ears. He was really gonna love this.
"Minga, Klaus said you're to assist me with anything I need. And I need to see your girls."
He acted like he didn't hear me.
"Did your ears get damaged when I kicked you to the ground, Minga? I said get up and take me to the girls!"
He stood up. He wanted to hit me, but I couldn't tell if he resisted because of his boss or if he was just a coward...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 84
Requiem For A Stripper #84
"Yes," I said.
"Zhey both did. And a few of ze ozher girls here as vell."
I nodded, " D'you mind if I speak to some of your girls?"
He shook his head, "Not at all. If it vill help clear up zhis mess and possibly get Candy and Lily back I vill help in any vay I can."
I stood up and put my hand out, "Thank you, Mr. Schmidt."
He shook my hand, "Klaus."
"Jake," I responded.
"Tell Nicky zhat I said he is to assist you in any vay you need."
I nodded and left the office...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 83
Requiem For A Stripper #83
"It must've worked if you haven't had any more girls go missing," I said.
He shook his head, "No, zhose vere ze only two."
He took the last shot of his drink and said, "May I ask you a qvestion?"
I nodded.
"Vhat is your interest in zhis matter?"
"A girl that went missing from another club had a friend who hired me to find out what happened to her."
He nodded, "I zee."
"D'you know if Candy or Lily ever took dancing lessons at a place called...?"
He interrupted, "Hoofers?"
I think my hunch about that place was right...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 82
Requiem For A Stripper #82
I nodded, "And how did you discover they were missing?"
"Candy was ze first to disappear. She missed her show one night, zo Nicky vent around to her apartment and she vasn't zhere. And she never showed up at ze club again. Ze next veek, Lily didn't show up."
"I suppose the police got involved at that point?"
He nodded, "Zhey came around after Candy disappeared and asked qvestions. Zhey did same ze next veek vhen Lily disappeared."
"Did you start taking any kind of precautions after that with your remaining girls?"
He nodded quickly, "Escorts to and from vurk."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 81
Requiem For A Stripper #81
"Now," Schmidt said as he took a sip of his drink, "vy didn't you just ask to see me, instead of assaulting my staff?"
"I did. Minga wasn't cooperative."
He nodded, "Cooperation isn't exactly Nicky's strong suit."
"And that's why I assaulted your staff."
Schmidt grinned slightly.
"Zo, vhat iz it you vish to ask me?"
"You had two strippers that went missing a few weeks ago. Candy Apple and Lily Padd. What can you tell me about them?"
"Ah, zhey vere lovely girls. Candy vas effervescent, full of life. Lily vas very shy until she stepped on ze stage."
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 80
Requiem For A Stripper #80
"Please come in, Mr. Randolph," Schmidt said to me before looking down at Minga and saying, "Nicky, get off ze floor!"
Minga rose up and straightened his suit jacket.
"Boss, you're not gonna listen to this guy, are ya?"
"Sit down, Mr. Randolph. Nicky, go tend to ze club."
I smiled as Minga walked out, seething.
I sat down in front of Schmidt's desk.
"Would you care for a drink, Mr. Randolph?" he asked as he went to the drinks cart in the corner.
"No, thank you."
He poured himself what looked like a brandy and then sat back down...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 79
Requiem For A Stripper #79
Schmidt leaned over his desk and looked at Minga on the floor.
"Vhat is zis, Nicky?" he asked with a thick German accent.
"A gumshoe named Randolph!" Minga yelled.
Schmidt straightened himself up and looked at me.
"I have no need for ze services of a private detective."
"You sure?" I asked. "You've had two girls go missing recently."
"Girls come and go in zis bizness all ze time, Mr. Randolph."
"But dancing girls are going missing all over town. You think that's a coincidence? How many girls can you afford to lose, Mr. Schmidt?"
He thought about that one...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 78
Requiem For A Stripper #78
"I can't believe you fell for that, Randolph," Minga said with a grin.
"I can't believe you fell for this," I said as I brought my right leg up and kicked Minga backwards. He crashed into the door at the end of the hall and fell into the room in front of a desk that had Klaus Schmidt sitting behind it.
I turned, headbutting the guy on my right, which hurt like hell. He fell back into the room he'd just come out of, and I turned the other way and punched the remaining guy back into his respective room...
Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 77
Requiem For A Stripper #77
He led me to the door he'd just come out of. I followed behind. There was a long hall with doors on either side and a door at the end. Each set of doors we passed I paused briefly to make sure someone wasn't going to jump out of it. We got all the way to the end of the hall when the last set of doors opened and a guy came out of each and grabbed me by my arms.
Minga turned around and grinned at me. He really thought he'd fooled me.
I wasn't so sure he hadn't...
