A Body to die for

next to me. “You don’t happen to be a smoker?” I asked.
    “I’m not selling my stash. If you want to tell Ameleth about it and get me fired, that’s up to you.” I said, “I’m not trying to get you fired.” I flashed to the towel boy. “Everyone thinks I’m out to get them fired. I just want to examine the stash.” The Valium was beginning to kick in. I began to relax.
    Molly looked at me strangely and said, “Look, if Ameleth finds out I’m selling at the club, she’ll fire me. I need this job. I’ve got regular customers. I’m not pushing. Just moving my painkillers and speed. No one gets hurt. And no one knows—except me, Larry, and now you.”
    I was confused in my haze. “And your supplier, don’t forget.”
    “And my supplier.”
    “Who is?” I asked.
    “No one you know.”
    “I know a lot of people.”
    “Not this kind of person.”
    “I knew a lot of sleazy people.”
    “He’s not a sleaze,” Molly said defensively. “I met him at the club. He gets his cut, but most of the money goes to me and Larry.” She smiled sweetly, her taut face wrinkling. “We’re in business together.”
    “The business of love?” I asked drunkenly.
    She shook her head. “I wish. He’s willing to sell drugs—he rationalizes that they help people in their quest for physical fitness—but sex before marriage? Forget it.” Damn Jehovahs. She didn’t say it, but I could hear her think it. “I’ve got to get him out of Brooklyn Heights. He’s living in that Bossert Hotel surrounded by all those weirdos. I’ve been saving for years. Just a few more weeks of this, and we’ll have enough money to get out of this town.”
    “And move to Hawaii where you plan to raise island children and get as far away from Brooklyn Heights as you can and still be in America.”
    Molly’s eyes narrowed. “How the hell did you know that?”
    “When you walked past me in the restaurant, you were whistling the theme song to ‘Hawaii Five-O.’ It was kind of hard not to notice.” I did a head bob. Even drugged, I was born to sleuth.
    “Ever been?” she asked. I shook my head no. “Me neither,” she said excitedly. “But I’ve got a cousin in Nebraska who went there on her honeymoon, and she said it was paradise. That’s where I’m from— Nebraska. We’ve got tons of Jehovahs out there.” I’d heard that Jehovahs were Nebraska’s largest export crop next to com.
    “Ameleth doesn’t know you’re selling drugs, and you’d like to keep it that way.” She nodded. “So,” I said. “What’s in it for me?” Her face scrunched up like she didn’t understand. “And don’t think I’ve forgiven you for breaking my ribs either.”
    “I hate you, and I refuse to pay.”
    If I wasn’t pain-free from the Valium, my feelings would have been hurt. “I didn’t say I wanted money.”
    “Forget sex—I’ll never do that again.”
    I didn’t know if she meant never having sex with a woman, never having sex at all, or never again having sex for a bribe. “Look, I don’t want your savings or your body.” My eyelids were beginning to flutter. Shit, I needed a bed, and fast. “I’ll be in touch.” I stood up to leave, but sank back down on the stoop. I repeated this exercise (in futility), and even broke a sweat. Jack would be proud.
    Molly watched my attempts at standing. She said, “If you aim your gun at Larry again, I’ll kill you.” Then she loped like a gazelle down the street and back into the club. I wondered if Ergort watched the whole exchange from his post. I should have cared, but I couldn’t find the energy. In fact, I couldn’t quite find the energy to keep my eyes open.

    “I thought this might happen to you someday,” said the voice. I heard a slap sound and my cheek tingled. “Though I must say you look beautiful by stoop light.”
    “Alex?” I asked. My brain crawled its way to consciousness. I heard another slap. “Ouch, you bastard.” I cradled my cheek with my hand. It felt hot. I opened my eyes. Alex was standing over me, shaking me not too gently. He was wearing sweatpants and a white T-shirt. He looked cute, as usual, and sported a devilish smile. “I’m in agony,” I whined, holding my I ribs.
    “I barely touched you,” Alex responded. “And, despite how flattered I am that you’ve been waiting for me prostrate on the stoop, I must admit that I’d have thought you’d net more than a buck twenty-five.” He pointed to a pile of change at my feet.