"Requiem For A Stripper" drabbles by Christopher

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 276

Requiem For A Stripper #276

There was something about the way she said Jake that disturbed me.

"Yeah, everyone calls me Jake."

"I'm sure they do," she said with a wink as she went back to her office. She came back momentarily and we left Hoofers as another group of people was sauntering in.

"Do you not have another class?" I asked as we nodded at the passing crowd.

"No, that's Lance's class. He handles the intermediate students. I used to do that too but found I prefer to get people while they're still virgins. Dancing-wise, of course."

"Of course," I responded, grinning slightly...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 275

Requiem For A Stripper #275

"Well, catch your breath and let me dismiss the class and I'll take you to a little place I like. Nice and cozy," she said as she stood up.

"Okay, class. We'll see you next Monday and continue from there. You all did very well."

If she thought I was going through this again next week she was out of her ever-loving mind!

She looked at Ty and I could see that I wasn't the only meal she had on her menu.

"Okay, let me get my things and we can go, Jacob. Or can I call you Jake?"

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 274

Requiem For A Stripper #274

The girl Linda introduced as Melanie came over to me and asked, "Are you alright, Mr. Randall?"

I was still trying to catch my breath, "Oh sure. My legs always do this on Monday nights."

She chuckled and went back to the other girls as Linda approached me.

"Well, Jacob. Are you going to buy me that drink you promised?" she asked as she sat down beside me on the piano bench.

"Yeah, if I don't hyperventilate first," I said through heavy breathing. "I was in the war for three years and didn't exert myself that much!"

She just laughed...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 273

Requiem For A Stripper #273

"Now, as soon as Sid, our piano player, gets out of the bathroom we'll get started."

And get started we did. For an entire hour Linda ran us through the rudiments of dancing, starting off slowly and then picking up the pace a little. She was actually quite a good teacher. I bet she used to teach men a lot of things back when she worked for Madame Helga.

When the class ended my legs felt like jelly. I needed a place to sit down. As soon as the piano player got up I sat down on the piano bench...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 272

Requiem For A Stripper #272

"Then call me Jacob," I said as she led me in.

"Let me introduce you to the other members of your class. This is Melanie, Nancy, Regina, Judy and this handsome young man is Ty," she said as she put her hand on his arm. I'd already been replaced with a guy whose name sounded like neckwear.

"Hello, everyone. I must tell you in advance that I've never danced before in my life," I said, actually telling the truth for once.

"Well," Linda said as she stroked Ty's arm, "everyone here is a beginner. That's what this class is for."

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 271

Requiem For A Stripper #271

I grabbed a shower when I got home and put on some blue slacks and brown loafers. Then I put on a white button-up shirt with a blue blazer over it.

I got to Hoofers just before 7 p.m. I saw a few people already inside, mostly girls but there was one other man that looked like he was a beginner as well.

I pushed the door open and Linda Erickson saw me.

"Mr. Randall! Good to see you," Linda said as she approached me and kissed my cheek.

"And you as well, Ms. Erickson."

"Please, call me Linda."

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 270

Requiem For A Stripper #270

"I'll be drinking it here so I can get my 3 cents back," I said indignantly.

"Suit yourself, Mac."

I downed it quickly and handed him the bottle. He took it and grudgingly gave me my 3 cents back.

I walked outside to wait for the cab. I was scanning my eyes up and down the street. I didn't think that the shooter would be stupid enough to hang around but decided to err on the side of caution.

The cab came and I went back to the police station to retrieve my car and then headed to my apartment...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 269

Requiem For A Stripper #269

I walked to a gas station and went inside. I saw the guy behind the counter, a skinny little man with red hair done in a flat top style. He was wearing a yellow shirt and I swear he looked like a giant pencil.

"You got a phone?" I asked.

"In the corner, Mac."

I called a cab and then grabbed a bottle of Pepsi.

"8 cents," he said, ringing it up on the cash register.

"Are you serious?"

"5 for the drink. 3 cent deposit on the bottle. Bring the bottle back and you get your 3 cents back."

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 268

Requiem For A Stripper #268

I eased toward the door and saw someone running away. They hopped over the chain-link fence as I came out the door. They turned back, taking another shot at me. I dropped to the ground as they turned and started running again. I got up and jumped over the fence as they ran down the street and turned a corner.

I tried to catch up but by the time I'd turned the corner they were gone. I cautiously went down the street a bit, but there were too many places they could've gone.

Yep. Definitely didn't want an autograph...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 267

Requiem For A Stripper #267

Now, I couldn't be recruited to dance at an elitist soirée, so there were only two reasons why someone would need a photograph of me. Either they were a fan of my investigative exploits and wanted an autograph, or it was a way for someone to identify me so they could kill me. And my money was on the latter.

I heard a noise outside and looked around the corner at the back door that I'd entered through. Just then a bullet whizzed by dangerously close to my head.

I ducked back behind the wall as I heard footsteps outside...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 266

Requiem For A Stripper #266

Was Madame Helga wanting to try and recruit Jen Ann for one of The Immoral Society's Sodom & Gomorrah fests? It looked like it.

I pulled some pieces of paper up and there were even more stacks of girls' photos. How many chickies did The Immoral Society go through? They had enough potential girls there to last a year. They must be recruiting elsewhere as well. There weren't this many girls available between the three strip clubs and Hoofers.

I kept rifling through the things on the desk and found one more picture that was interesting: a photograph of me...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 265

Requiem For A Stripper #265

There were photos of the recently deceased Lily Padd and Debra Snow, as well as a bunch of other girls I didn't recognize. Some were taken at Hoofers and others looked like they had been snapped candidly. Madame Helga was apparently up to her old tricks again, recruiting girls for The Immoral Society's parties.

I kept thumbing through the pictures, wondering if any of these were Honey Comb, Barb Winston or Candy Apple, the other missing strippers. I also saw a picture of Mindy Porter.

And then I saw a picture that made my blood run cold: Jen Ann Tonic...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 264

Requiem For A Stripper #264

I turned the knob. It wasn't locked. I eased my way inside and began looking for clues. There was a lot of dust and clutter but not much in the way of clues. I wasn't even sure if this was Madame Helga's place.

I found a roll-top desk in an area adjacent to the living room. I rolled the top up and found the desk full of pictures, papers, and assorted junk. I found a business card for Hoofers, so I was pretty sure this was Madame Helga's place.

I picked up the pictures and started going through them...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 263

Requiem For A Stripper #263

I walked around to the back of the house and jumped the fence. It was still daylight so I had to be careful not to be seen. I cautiously eased my way up to the back door and peered through the window into what was presumably a living room. It looked like time had stopped in about 1920. I could see an old RCA Victrola in a corner with a bunch of 78 R.P.M. records stacked up beside it. The furniture looked like stuff you could've easily picked up for a song and dance at a Salvation Army charity shop...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 262

Requiem For A Stripper #262

I continued, "And if that means I have to step over the line from time to time then that's what I'm going to do. And if you want to arrest me for that then get your cuffs out."

I turned and started to walk across the street.

"Randolph!" Harrigan yelled. I turned back.

"Yeah?" I said.

"Be careful," he said and then got back in the car and drove off.

I stood there for a moment thinking that friends like Harrigan are hard to come by. Even though I might act like it sometimes, I've never taken that friendship lightly...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 261

Requiem For A Stripper #261

Harrigan shook his head, "I cannot believe that you had the gall to go to a breaking and entering in a chauffeur driven police car!"

"Well, you don't really know me at all, do you, Jim?"

He nodded, "Yeah, you're right. I don't know why this surprises me!"

"Harrigan, I just need to see if this is Madame Helga's house and if there are any clues in there that will lead me to whoever is killing these strippers. You swore an oath to uphold the law. I swore an oath to find the truth, however I have to do it."

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 260

Requiem For A Stripper #260

"I can't do that, Jake!" Harrigan said, practically yelling.

"Okay, then leave me here and I'll call a cab when I'm done," I said as I opened the door.

"I can't leave knowing you're about to commit a crime!"

"It's only a crime if I get caught," I said as I exited the car.

Harrigan got out, looking across the top of the car at me, "Well, I'll stay here and catch you. Then it'll be a crime!"

"Okay, I won't do it," I said.

"Is that the truth?" he asked.

"As far as you're concerned it is," I said...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 259

Requiem For A Stripper #259

It was a small house with green siding and a screened-in porch. The property was encased by a chain-link fence. The small lawn in the front didn't look like it had been mowed in months. There were blinds or curtains over every window. It didn't look like any natural light could get in the place.

Harrigan parked at the curb across the street from the house.

"Okay, so now what?" Harrigan asked.

"I've got to get in that place."

"Are you seriously suggesting that I should turn a blind eye to breaking and entering?"

"Yeah," I said, grinning...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 258

Requiem For A Stripper #258

"Well," Harrigan said, "I'm willing to bet a month's pay that this girl is one of those three."

"I guess you didn't consider the possibility that other girls might have gone missing that haven't been reported to the police, huh?" I asked with a smirk.

"Well, gambling's illegal in this state anyway."

Since I came with Harrigan I had to hang around while he performed his duties. It was actually kind of interesting. I'd never observed him working that long.

Once everything was squared away at the crime scene he ran me over to 375 Cherokee Street in West Covina...

Jake Randolph in "Requiem For A Stripper" Pt. 257

Requiem For A Stripper #257

An officer led us over to a body that was partially hidden in a clump of bushes. It was a woman lying face down and, at least the part that was sticking out from the bushes, was naked. Harrigan bent down and took a look at her back and then rose up again.

"Guess?" he asked.

"Well, I'm going to go out on a limb and say a stab wound from what was apparently a very large knife."

"You got it," Harrigan replied. "Who's left on the list of missing strippers?"

"Honey Comb, Candy Apple and Barb Winston," I responded...