The Killing League

22.

Lady of the Evening

Amanda Dekins sat on the park bench and watched the slow breeze take her cigarette smoke in a lazy wave up toward the magnolia tree currently providing shade from the blistering noon day sun.

The pulsating air was thick and deep, and Dekins’ sweaty hand held the card, causing the thick paper to ripple from the moisture.

They called it America, she thought. Land of the free, right? But there really was no freedom. Never had been, never would be. She hadn’t been free a second in her f*ck assed life. From her first breath she was under the control of others, being told what to do, where to go, but most of all, to keep her mouth shut no matter what happened.

And she’d done it most of her life.

At first, she thought life on the streets might be her first taste of freedom. But it had turned out to be just another type of prison. She’d just traded in one set of chains for another.

The only time in her entire life she’d felt truly liberated was when she was watching one of her customers die. Then she felt the stunning glory of being in complete control. Total power. Absolute freedom.

Now, someone was even trying to take that away.

She stared across the parking lot at the heat shimmers and then reviewed the note again.

Dear Lady of the Evening,

Don’t have too many repeat customers as of late, do you? Well, I’m so impressed with your thorough client services, I have selected you as a competitor in The Killing League.

Your travel information is attached. Opting out of the competition will leave me no option but to share your poor service record with the authorities, and maybe even the Better Business Bureau. I look forward to “hooking up” with you.

Sincerely,

The Commissioner

Amanda Dekins separated the card from the airline ticket and put the tip of her cigarette to the card. When it caught and held a flame, she tossed it to the ground.

Her newly found freedom was in jeopardy. Those brief moments of sheer ecstasy when she watched the life sucked from one of her pawing, leech-like johns were now in danger. Even those tiny pleasures were being threatened.

It figured. For the first time in her life, she had joy, passion, and direction in her life. Now, when she woke up, she had a purpose. Something to do. Something to live for.

It just happened to be killing other people.

And now this.

She watched the card’s embers smolder and get a ride from the hot breeze.

Typical, she thought.

Another man thinking he can control her.