Laughing against my better judgment, I push past him. "See you in the morning."
Watching me go, Pax never stops smiling. I don't need to look back to know this fact. Pax always smiles when he's winning.
36
Bebe
Don't Open Her Gifts
As Christmas approaches, the college girls remain at the hotel. I've considered asking the specifics of their plans, except I noticed how quiet they got when a guest was too chatty. Maybe they didn't want to share with a strange guy, or they're private with everyone. Either way, I don't plan to push the subject even if I'm curious.
I find them at the indoor pool like most days. Most of them are in the water, talking quietly. Virginia sits at a table alone. We share a smile when I enter the pool area. I keep my mouth shut while collecting wet towels from other guests.
"Tallulah is a unique name," Virginia says, painting her nails on a deck chair. "How did you choose it?"
Wiping down the tables, I shrug. "A girl at my school growing up had a cousin named Tallulah. She visited her every weekend since they were best friends. I always liked the sound of it."
"It's a great name. I just wondered why you didn't follow with the French name tradition."
So focused on remembering Lula as a baby, I nearly miss her words. When they register, I stop my cleaning and look at her. She's waiting for me to acknowledge what she said.
"How did you know about my family's French thing?"
"Sabine told me," she says, pulling her blonde hair loose as if the ponytail was driving her crazy. "We were friends."
"Were?"
Virginia studies me, and I understand what she means. Rather than a grief-stricken punch to the gut, a slow sense of dread infects me.
"Do I want to know how she died?" I whisper, moving closer.
Her expression grows dark, and I have my answer.
"I will say the people who took her life will be dead soon. I'll get revenge for you and Sabine. Your man Pax is helping too."
"Pax?"
"He's quite a character," she says, grinning slightly. "Not what I'd imagine for you, but Sabine would approve. The way he got you away from Taz was impressive."
"How do you know all this?"
Virginia pats the seat next to her. "I left town after Sabine disappeared. The trouble that took her was looking for me next, so I bailed. I never forgot her or what they did."
Her friends are quiet now. They share a look with her then leave the pool area. Once we're alone, Virginia continues, "I'm back to get what's mine and make people pay for what they did. Not just to Sabine but to others. I've been in town for months, hanging around the edges of Little Memphis. I kept an eye on you back when you lived with Flora and Perri. I wanted to contact you, but it was too early. Besides, what could I really say? You didn't know me, but I knew you. The whole thing felt too stalker-ish."
"I don't understand how you could know about me, but I never heard about you."
"She probably called me Ginger. Everyone did. The Virginia thing isn't even much of a fake name. Sage says I want to get caught. Maybe she's right."
I knew Ginger Snaps was once a prostitute before becoming a pimp when hers died. Sabine said Ginger was crazy, but my sister always acted like she meant it as a compliment. Years ago, Howie bitched about Ginger Snaps moving into his territory and stealing his girls. He and his brother tried to take her out, but she kept killing everyone they sent. Sabine said Ginger sent chunks of the people in the mail. Yeah, Ginger Snaps was certifiably nuts.
Virginia didn't look insane. Young and pretty, she seemed average. Virginia blended into a crowd in a way Pax and Ford never could. Even Howie had a presence. Ginger seems small. No way can I imagine her sending body parts in gift-wrapped packages.
"I'm sorry about Sabine," she says, and I know she means it. "She was funny."
"Yeah," I say, realizing how much I miss talking to someone who cares about Sabine. "You know, when she disappeared, no one really cared. I pretended people figured she'd come back, but that was a lie. No one cared besides me. Maybe Flora, who was in a few classes with her in high school, but nobody else."
"I cared then, and I still do. I plan to fuck up the people who took her from you. I've been waiting for years for payback. It's going to be messy, but she deserves for them to beg. I'm going to make that happen."
Her tone is quiet, but I see something in her that makes her reputation not seem so far-fetched. Killing people doesn't bother her. Revenge keeps her warm. Ginger seems average, but her heart is dark in a way I'll never understand.
"Why tell me now?"
"I don't know what Pax tells you. I just know you're tied to him and the club. You're tied to Howie and his brother too. A lot of people are making moves, and I want you to know the truth about Sabine. Just in case I'm not around later to tell you."