Patricia Rosemoor - Skin

When the last dance of the night was over, all the women gathered backstage in various states of undress. Several had tattoos, but one dancer had more ink than virgin skin. Unable to fathom why she’d want to look like a freak, why men would be attracted to tats on a near-naked woman, Lilith slipped out of her waitress uniform and into Hannah’s dress as quickly as possible. Still uncomfortable with the reality of these women’s lives, she dressed with her back to them.

Why did they do this? They made enough money to get out and find a better life, so why didn’t they?

Part of the answer was obvious. The place reeked of marijuana, and one of the dressing tables had some leftover powder. Did they all waste their money on drugs? Did Hannah?

Removing her makeup looking in the room-length mirror, Irene asked, “So what did Paulie want, Lilith?”

“Uh-oh, he didn’t waste any time, did he?” chirped Mariko.

“Does he always hit on the new servers?” Lilith asked, hoping she sounded casual.

“Only the really tall ones.”

“Tall ones with dark hair,” Irene amended, patting her own blond curls. “Dancers, too.”

“He isn’t the only guy who likes tall brunettes.” Mariko glanced pointedly at Caresse.

She and Irene laughed as if sharing a joke. Lilith didn’t get it. Were they intimating Caresse was gay… or something else? Only guy? A transvestite? Caresse glared at them and didn’t crack so much as a smile.

“There’s something really weird about the little geek,” Caresse told Lilith.

“I know what you mean,” Lilith said.

She stood in front of the mirror, playing at fussing with her hair so she wouldn’t have to leave just yet. These women might all be acquainted with the murderer. If so, she had to know what they did.

Mariko snorted. “Caresse don’t have nothing good to say about men in this joint.”

The black dancer gave the smaller woman a threatening look that made her back off. To Lilith, she said, “You think real good before you socialize with anyone you meet here.”

“Miz Paranoia.” This from Irene.

“I got reason to be paranoid. We all got good reasons, huh? Three of ’em.”

“Two. Only two are dead!” Lilith insisted.

The room went quiet, each of the women suddenly concentrating on getting out of there.

“Do any of you have reason to suspect one of the customers?” Lilith asked. “Or how about one of the employees? What about that Rudy?” She hadn’t forgotten him. Allie said he didn’t like redheads. “Is he into blondes or women with dark hair?”

“He’s not into me, thankfully,” Irene said.

If anyone knew anything more than that, she wasn’t talking.

Frustrated by the silence, Lilith said, “We need to watch each other’s backs.”

All that did was to chase the dancers away, leaving behind the smell of fear. The only one left was Caresse.

“If one of them knew, she wouldn’t talk, Lilith. She would be afraid of being the killer’s next target.”

“He’s not done with Hannah yet. Not according to the police.”

“You mean Anna.”

Lilith nearly choked on her gaffe. “That’s what I said — Anna,” she lied.

“Uh-huh.”

Caresse jerked open a big leather shoulder bag and threw in her makeup kit. Lilith caught a glimpse of a handgun before the flap descended to hide the weapon once more. She guessed Caresse had good enough cause for arming herself — who wouldn’t want protection under the circumstances?

Lilith would rather depend on her learned street survival skills than a weapon that could be turned against her.

LILITH SLEPT most of the next day and didn’t roll out of bed until midway through the afternoon. She wasn’t used to waitressing or being on her feet wearing heels for hours. Today would be even busier. She had a class before work and before that an even more important mission.

Normally, Lilith didn’t pick up Carmen, rather met the girl at the gym, but today she made an exception. Carmen’s future was at stake.

The Vargases lived in a big apartment complex in one of the streets in Uptown that hadn’t yet been gentrified. The building was surrounded by scrubby grass and had one sad-looking tree in the courtyard. Lilith entered the litter-strewn hallway and was buzzed up to the third-floor apartment.

How twelve people lived in a single city apartment, even a big one, was something she couldn’t fathom.

Carmen met Lilith at the front door. “I told Mama you wanted to talk to her. I think she’s not too happy.”

The teen escorted Lilith into the living area, whose floor was strewn with toys and three little kids.

Balancing a baby on her hip, Mrs. Vargas awaited her with a sour expression. “What can I do for you, Miss Mitchell?”

“I was hoping to talk to you about Carmen’s future. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

The woman nodded and indicated she should sit. Carmen took the baby from her mother, then rounded up her little brothers and sisters and escorted them out of the room.

“Your daughter has a lot of responsibility for one so young,” Lilith said.

“As did I. By the time I was eighteen, I already had her and was pregnant with her brother.”

Which made Mrs. Vargas thirty-five with nine children to care for. She looked far older. Fine lines already radiated from the corners of her eyes and around her mouth. Her hair was already streaked with gray.

“Carmen wants something different for herself.” Lilith tried to phrase this carefully, so as not to hurt the woman’s feelings. “What do you really want for her ?”

“I am a good mother!”

“Of course you are, Mrs. Vargas. And I know things are difficult for you and your family. But if Carmen were able to finish high school and go on, things could be very different for her. And for your other children.”

“You don’t understand. People here don’t have choices like you.”

“Like me? If anyone understands being desperate for a different life than she was dealt, I do, Mrs. Vargas. At least your children are loved and protected. I had to escape my old life, and I did so by going to school.”

The woman’s expression changed at the revelation, and Lilith sensed a tentative connection.

“You think this is possible for my Carmen?”

“She’s a very smart girl. She wants to go to college. I’m sure she can get a scholarship. At least she could go to one of the city colleges. I know it’s a sacrifice for you, but think of the future. If Carmen could get an education, she could get a really good job. And she wants to help her brothers and sisters do the same.”

“They’re not like her. Not ambitious.”

“And they never will be if you don’t give Carmen the chance to set the example. Don’t take away her dreams. Just think about it, please.”

An excruciating few seconds passed before Mrs. Vargas nodded. “I want my children to have more than this,” she said, looking around at the tired furniture in the too-crowded apartment. “I’ll talk to my husband.”

Lilith hadn’t realized how tense she’d been until the woman agreed. Carmen had come to mean a lot to her. She’d been trying to do for the girl she mentored what she hadn’t been able to do for her own sister.

They were barely out the door and into the courtyard before a cautious Carmen asked, “So what did Mama say?”

“She promised to speak to your father.”

“Yes!” Carmen hugged Lilith and danced around her. “I knew you could do it!”

“Nothing is settled.”

“But it will be.” Carmen threw her arms around Lilith’s neck and nearly strangled her. “You’re the best!.”