Little Memphis Never Forgets
Lupe is always in a good mood. Even when she's not, she smiles and laughs. I don't know how she remains so positive, but I wish I had such a skill. Sitting in the nail salon, I feel a hard knot of loss in my gut. While Lupe says nothing about my bad mood, she decides to entertain Tallulah.
They now sit on the other end of the salon. Every few minutes, Tallulah waves at me. I wave back but am relieved she's too far away to sense the dark vibe hovering over the rest of us.
"Flora's gone to visit her mom," Darby says, leaning back her head and closing her eyes. "I don't know if she'll come back."
"I thought her mom disowned her," I mutter.
"She did. Flora said her mom found Jesus and is trying to make right with her life before she dies."
"Sounds promising," Perri says from a few chairs down from me. "My mom already knew Jesus when she disowned me."
I think about my friends starting over in a world that'll always see them as prostitute outcasts.
"I'm not pretending I don't miss her and Orion," Darby says. "I love that little boy, but leaving Little Memphis isn't such a bad idea."
Flipping through a People magazine, Jenn nods. "People never forget anything around here. If she was a prostitute yesterday, she'll be seen that way in twenty years."
Darby nods. "Remember, Jaqui?"
The older women share a grin while Joker's new wife Amanda snorts.
"Who?" Shay asks.
Still smiling, Darby clears her throat. "Well Jaqui's a New Age bitch who walks around telling people about cleansing their auras and crap. No one likes her, but people play along because she's harmless enough."
Jenn begins laughing before Darby reaches the punchline.
"Before Jaqui got married, she had a bachelorette party and slammed back her body weight in booze. Next thing we know, she's running around naked outside and servicing guys on the street. Years have passed since that night. Hell, a decade at least, but people still think of Jaqui as the chick who sucked off a dozen guys two doors down from the post office."
The women laugh loudly at Jaqui's bad rep, reminding me to avoid getting on their bad sides.
"In Little Memphis, you're always remembered by your most salacious story," Jenn says. "Darby is remembered for the time she shot two intruders. I'm remembered for the time I got jealous of Lucky's old girlfriend and drew a mustache on her whore face with a permanent marker."
"You two," Darby says, gesturing to Shay and me, "are remembered for killing Creepy Spencer."
"And I'm remembered as a prostitute," Perri grumbles.
Darby smiles softly. "Just until you get a better story."
"That mustache marker thing sounds fun," I tell Perri, who grins.
Sighing, Darby closes her eyes. "As much as I'll miss Flora and Orion, I don't blame her for wanting to leave the city."
Everyone falls silent. I suspect we're all thinking about how soon we'll leave Little Memphis. None of us knows when and if we'll ever return. Worst of all, our men will remain behind. Maybe even forever in the quarry where club enemies go to rot.
39
Pax
Shooting the Shit
When Bebe tells me where Ginger is staying in Little Memphis, she also makes me promise I won't hurt her new buddy. I reassure my woman how I have no reason to be pissed at Ginger. She killed Taz's crew and left a gift for me. Hell, I should send her a thank-you basket. What does someone buy for a killer pimp with everything?
Even fond of Ginger, I'm no fool. Ford knows where I'm headed. If I don't come back, he'll rain down hell on our new friend.
Ignoring the front desk chick, I walk down a hall to the back of the hotel where Ginger and her group's rooms are located. My hand resting next to my gun in my jacket, I knock once before wondering if I should have called ahead.
Ginger answers the door wearing a flannel shirt over shorts and a tee. She looks young and fragile, but her brown eyes are hard like those of a person who kills without thought. Those eyes look back at me in the mirror.
"Why didn't you say hi to Cassy at the front desk?" she asks, leaning against the door jam. "You didn't even give her one of those guy head nods."
I smile slightly. "You've got eyes everywhere, huh? Impressive, but I ain't here to talk to Cassy."
Ginger steps back into her room without gesturing for me to follow. I remain in my spot and wait for her. She reappears, shoving a gun in her jacket pocket.
"Let's walk and talk like business people do."
Ginger and I wander down the quiet halls of the half-empty hotel until we reach the back where a vending machine and laundry room is located.
"I hope you aren't here to threaten me to stay away from Bebe," she says, peering out of the curtain.
"Why would I?"
Ginger glances at me, and I feel her picking me apart with her gaze. I can't imagine her ever being a good prostitute with such edgy demeanor. With her dark gaze, I'd worry about getting my dick back.
"So what do you want?"
"I want to know how Sabine died."