Now Playing: Save the Girl!
Episode Thirteen concluded with:
“Like I said, men are fools. They see a girl
prancing about the stage in a frilly costume and they’ve got to have her.
Richardson always follows the same routine. The show runs for three nights.
Then, Phil holds a private auction. The girls in the chorus are the first to be
up for bid. The highest bidders get to spend a night with a chorus girl. Then
comes the big prize, a night with the star. This time it’s Princess
Maria.”
Dehner paused and looked around the Big Diamond.
The jasper who had cursed the roulette wheel was still losing. “What if a girl
doesn’t cooperate?”
The woman gave a scornful laugh. “What can the
kid do? She’s in a strange place away from everyone she knows. Phil owns the
law in this town.”
Dehner gave a long sigh. “And I’m sure there are
some jaspers who find pleasure in a girl who puts up a fight.”
“Yeah, some do. Like I said--”
Dehner finished for her. “Men are fools. Yes,
some are. How about Richardson? Does he take liberties with his leading lady
before the auction?”
Episode Fourteen
An
emotion moved across Jerri Mae’s face which Dehner couldn’t peg. The woman was
quiet for a moment, then gave her shoulders a slight shrug. “Sometimes.
Sometimes not.”
The
detective realized he would get no further information on that topic. “What happens
to the girls once the ordeal is over?”
The
woman waved a hand in a circle. “Look around you! Former star attractions are
everywhere. Of course, they’re damaged goods now. But they are still okay for a
trip to one of the cribs out back.”
“Is
there a bawdy house in town?”
“Yes.
That’s where you go when you’re finished here.”
“Richardson
only pulls this stunt twice a year,” Dehner said. “What happens to the Emerald
Theater the rest of the time?”
“He
rents it out to legitimate shows,” Jerri Mae shot back. “Mostly to troupes that
are on their way to Dallas. Of course, the theater is unused much of the time.
Still, Philip Richardson makes money off the Emerald. Phil does nothing if
there isn’t money in it.”
“I
hope I get a chance to kill the snake.”
“What?!”
Jerri Mae’s hand hit her glass, knocking a dollop of liquid onto the table.
“I’m
in Alcott to do a job,” anger seethed from Dehner’s eyes. “I’ve got to get
Maria Martino, that’s her real name, back to her family. Once I’ve done that, I
may pay Alcott a return visit.”
The
detective took a deep breath, trying to get his anger in check. He only
partially succeeded. “Where do the girls stay before opening night?”
“The
Alcott Hotel, it’s at the other end of the street.”
“Do
they stay in one room?”
“The
girls in the chorus do. The star gets a separate room.”
The
detective took a sip of his beer, then fell silent and considered his options.
He could try to rescue all of the girls, but that probably wouldn’t work. All
of them would resist. They thought they were on the first step to becoming the
next Carrie Whiting. He would have to limit himself to Maria Martino, who would
probably be a handful.
“I
have to be going. Thanks for the information, Jerri Mae.”
“Aren’t
you going to finish your beer?”
Dehner
stood up. “I’m not thirsty anymore.”
“I’ve
met some strange cowpokes, Rance, but you are…well…different.”
“I
guess you’re right,” the detective chortled. “Not many cowpokes are
kidnappers.”
Tomorrow:
Episode Fifteen of Save the Girl!
