Wednesday Wicked Ways

Chapter 1
“It’s snowing! The first flakes are falling! Let’s go!” Pru stood half inside and half outside one of the exits to Fast Freddy’s Gentlemen’s Club in Decatur, Illinois. The bone-chilling January wind blew her long red hair into her eyes and made her shiver. Cupping her hands around her mouth and calling into the building, she yelled, “Ladies? I don’t want to miss the first snowflakes of the season. Get your butts in gear! This is a tradition. We celebrate the first snowfall of each new year—and we curse the ones that follow!”
Chantilly, a tall Black woman, hurried toward Pru. “Taffy is on her way. She’s not sure what to do about a coat. A stupid customer spilled his beer all over her. Her coat is soaked.”
“Sorry about your coat,” Pru said, as Taffy dabbed at the beer stains with paper towels. Taffy was coltish in a short faux leather skirt and a low-cut black sweater. She wasn’t dressed to go outside. She’d recently dyed her hair red. Not quite as stunning as Pru’s natural color, but alluring all the same.
“It’s ruined.” Taffy’s voice cracked. “And it’s freezing outside.”
“Here.” Pru shrugged out of her zebra-striped coat. “Take mine.”
“But that’s your best coat! Everyone loves it.”
“Take it. You can return it tomorrow.” As Pru stood under the red glow of the EXIT sign, her auburn hair seemed to be on fire. Her eyes were bright with good humor. That was typical of her. As the club’s featured performer, she exuded star quality, giving off a shimmering vibrancy. Known to her adoring public as “Candy Cane,” Pru attracted legions of fans who clamored to see her every night.
“Let’s go!” Chantilly tugged on cream wool gloves. Her houndstooth coat was fashionably short to show off her long, toned legs. Underneath, she wore a tight-fitting sweater dress that stopped mid-thigh. On her feet were gold high heels.
The women trooped past a long line of framed photos of featured performers and hesitated at the side exit. Only a few of the pictured dancers were still in the business. Exotic dancing is a career for young women, thought Pru, a reminder she couldn’t do this forever.
“I’ll get this back to you tomorrow!” said Taffy, staring at the striped coat with appreciation.
“No problem. We won’t be outside long. Besides, I’m hot-blooded,” said Pru with a wink. It was a lie, but she was eager to see the snow. Every year, she greeted the arrival of winter like a long-lost friend. Unlike most of her pals, she relished the changing seasons.
Pru asked, “Do we have our act together? Are we ready to face the first falling flakes?”
Moving past Pru, Chantilly threw herself against the strike bar of the door. She was the first to stagger outside. The others followed. The cold air struck them in the face, taking their breath away. The women were attracted to the puddle of orange light put out by the sodium lamp. Clustering there, they stared in wonder at the snowflakes drifting down like fat goose feathers.
“It’s perfect!” Taffy laughed.
“It’s not even that cold! It had to warm up to snow,” said Pru.
“Yes,” said Chantilly. “It’s the first snowfall of the Winter of 1987. From here on, it’s all downhill.”
” Don’t be so negative!” said Pru, twirling in a circle, “It’s glorious!”
“Wooohooo!” said Taffy. She’d taken ballet lessons since the age of five and couldn’t resist the chance to do a pique turn, a classic move accomplished by twirling on one foot while the other touched her inner thigh. Taffy executed the dance step perfectly.
“Good one!” said Chantilly as she applauded.
“Look! I’m on a snowflake diet!” said Taffy with her mouth wide-open and head thrown back to capture snowflakes. Her giggles were contagious.
Pop! The sound exploded the frigid night air.
A backfire, thought Chantilly. A firecracker, thought Pru, standing not far from her friends. Weird, thought Taffy. She intended to get inside her car, but her legs didn’t cooperate. Instead, they buckled.
Chantilly made a diving grab and caught the other girl before she hit the ground. Being stronger and taller, Chantilly was able to ease Taffy to the pavement. While doing so, she noticed how white Taffy’s face looked.
“Taffy, you okay?” asked Chantilly, lightly slapping Taffy’s cheeks.
“Leg,” Taffy moaned.
Chantilly ran her hands down the other woman’s body. She stopped when she discovered a warm wetness. Lifting her gloves toward the parking lamp, Chantilly gasped in horror. Blood dripped down her arm.