Chapter 21 – Small world

Two hours had yet to pass before the club was due to open and I was left to occupy the intervening time as I thought fit. My first need was to find myself some accommodation close by. No provision had been made by my new employers in that regard, and my new job would entail working into the small hours. The alternative of driving all the way home each night would be entirely impractical.

Clearly, I couldn’t leave the premises dressed as I was, but I was saved the trouble of changing by the presence of some raincoats hanging in the changing room. I availed myself of one directly, trusting that I would be able to return it before its real owner had need of it. The one I chose was of a trenchcoat style, particularly appropriate outerwear for a budding sleuth or so I thought! My confidence in my detecting abilities grew as I wrapped myself in the all-concealing garment. I belted it tight around me, picked up my overnight bag and left the building in search of a hotel.

Where to begin? A traffic cop was on duty at a nearby crossroads, so I began my quest on foot and walked across to enlist his aid. He smiled at my approach. Helping a young woman in dire need probably provided a welcome diversion from his other duties.

“A good hotel, not too expensive” he repeated after me and then while he considered, he held up a hand so that the cars he was directing screeched to a halt. Apparently oblivious to the confusion around him, he stood and pondered, varying this occupation with running his eyes over me.

Finally! I could claim that my looks had stopped traffic!

“You could do worse than try Rusty’s” was the conclusion of his deliberations. “It’s clean, reasonably priced and the grub is excellent.”
The officer gave me directions.

After thanking him profusely, I walked back to my car pretending to ignore the glares of waiting motorists whose journeys I had seemingly delayed. I drove a short distance as he had directed and parked up outside the building. I found Rusty’s to be all I required. The blonde woman who was seated behind the reception desk was a little older than me. Her welcome was accompanied with a friendly smile and when I explained I had just taken a job at the Golden Touch, her manner became even more cordial.

“We already have one of your fellow workers staying here. She’s on the top floor so I’ll put you in the next room. You’ll have to share the bathroom but you’re soon sure to feel at home.”

I followed her up to inspect my quarters wondering whether living so close to another ‘golden girl’ would prove awkward. There again perhaps it could be turned to my advantage. I took the room in any case. It didn’t take me long to dispose of my things in the closet and the drawers.

Wondering who my neighbour would turn out to be, I crossed the street and bought myself some food at a drugstore before driving back to the club. Though I wasn’t absolutely clear what I hoped to find out by working there the place seemed to hold a key to the mystery surrounding Raymond Price’s untimely demise. I was all out of other ideas.

I made sure I arrived back at the casino early. It would be important to make a good impression on my first day. The changing room was deserted so I flopped down in front of the vanity over which a range of cosmetics were strewn. I spent some time perfecting my hair and make-up ready for the night ahead.

When I was satisfied that my appearance was every bit as good as it could be, I paid a visit to the restroom to ensure that my tuck concealed everything beneath the skimpy gold-coloured briefs I was wearing, a vital precaution as that particular portion of my anatomy was bound to be checked out by the male half of the population during the course of the evening!

When I returned, I found two other girls had made their appearance. They were similarly if not identically clad to myself, and were too busy putting the finishing touches to their attire to make much conversation. When it was time, we headed out into the public rooms to begin our duties. Before long I was immersed in the work, fetching and carrying for the early birds among the clientele. This was all too familiar territory and the stares my striking costume provoked were not much different from such as I’d experienced before. Of more concern was the realisation that my every move was being scrutinised by Jocasta, but it was my first evening so that was only to be expected too.

As the night went on the place got busier and busier, and the three of us were hard put to it keeping up with demand. Eventually, I noticed that a fourth young woman in gold had joined us. She was working across the other side of the room. It was some time before my errands took me near her. When they eventually did, I nearly dropped the tray of drinks I was carrying. The fourth ‘golden girl’ proved to be none other than the girl I'd met at the equestrian centre, Connie. It was hard to decide which of us looked more surprised at the discovery, her or me.

“What are you doing here?” we both blurted out simultaneously, then burst out laughing.

There was no time for explanations just then so “Later!” we chorused, and after dissolving into giggles again we got back to work.
It was much, much later when I got the chance to take a breather. I was intrigued to know how the girl from Trail-to-blaze came to be here, so I delayed my break to coincide with hers.

In the relative calm of the dressing room, she was the first to speak. “Doesn’t that just beat it, seeing you of all people? How come you’re working in the same place as me?”

“Pure chance, I guess” I responded, truthfully. “I just quit a similar job in a smaller club. It was getting to be same old, same old every night there and I’d had my fill of it months ago. This place looks much more promising.”

“Where are you from?”

I mentioned the town where I’d been working, then added. “I’m planning to stay around these parts for a good while, at least till I see how it goes. I’ve taken lodgings at a little hotel called Rusty’s. It’s basic but my room is up on the top floor which I like. Quiet, but you can see what’s happening.”

Connie laughed out loud. “That’s just too spooky! We’re going to be neighbours.”

“No! I love that. See, I’ve made a friend already. But I thought you worked at the riding stables. Have you quit?”

“Nope. I work there afternoons. It isn’t far from here across country, so I can combine the two. I just love being around horses. I’ll have my own spread one day.”

“That sounds great and I can just see you doing it, too. Uh-oh. Break time’s over. We’d better get out there.”

“That’s right. You don’t want a run in with Jocasta on your first day.”

We got out there. It’s fair to say I earned my dough that evening. One good thing was that there were plenty of tips. Alexander was at the tables and because I knew he was generous, I made a point of anticipating he had everything he could need. It was easy to see that in our glittery costumes the ‘golden girls’ were a hit with the male customers. Being dressed so outrageously began to feel almost normal and as often had happened to me before I found myself enjoying the attention I was getting. Jocasta had taken pains to explain that there was a rule in place of ‘no touching’, so I was confident enough to discourage any over familiar advances. For someone with my experience, it was easy enough.

I’d just been deflecting a couple of the more persistent optimists’ ‘admiration’ under the eagle eye of the grande dame, when I noticed a familiar face.in the crowd.

Guy!

Next moment he wasn’t there, but I was sure of what I’d seen. I guessed he had slipped away somewhere to find a quieter place where we might meet, so I hunted around until I came across him in a corner of the bar. I made my way over so we could talk.

“What can I get you, sir?” I smiled, then sotto voce, “Like my outfit?”

I gave the ex-agent a flirtatious twirl. It was too good an opportunity of showing the man what he was missing.

“You look sensational” he replied evenly, “but have you any idea what you’re up to?”

“I’m investigating” I murmured. “There’s something going on here that we need to uncover. There was a connection between Ray Price and this place. Also Gloria worked here at one time. Anyway, can’t say more just now.” In a normal voice I added “I’ll be back in a moment with your drink, sir.”

Seeing Guy had lifted my mood. Having him around gave me a new level of confidence, though whether that was well-placed or not, only the future would tell. I was conscious that the wiggle of my rear end might be a tad accentuated as I glided over to the bar. I told myself it was entirely due to my too-high heels rather than any desire to draw the man’s attention to my gilded derrière. No honestly! He was my boss, for heaven’s sake!

I ordered a drink for the ex-government man at random and a few minutes later made my way back to where he was seated. “There you go, sir. Bottom’s up!” I teased, cheekily.

The man clearly didn’t match my flirtatious mood. “Jennifer! You need to be careful. This place could be dangerous for you” he admonished. “Call me when you finish up tonight.”

I smiled my assent and left him to serve to another punter. When I glanced back, it was a shock to see that the man had gone. I would have liked him to stick around.

The rest of the evening passed in a sort of blur and all of us four hostesses were rarely able to take a breather until the close. In my previous job I hated slow evenings, but here the problem was just the opposite. My co-workers acted a little warily around me at first, but when they saw that I was prepared to do my fair share they soon accepted me. I began to hope that a camaraderie would develop and lessen the sense of isolation I was feeling. If only Guy had stayed a bit longer.