Durable Goods by Patricia Hale

Author:Patricia Hale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intrigue Publishing
Published: 2018-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Elizabeth was in the bathroom leaning over the sink, a wand of mascara in one hand and a bottle of Jack Daniels in the other.

“Starting a little early aren’t you?” I asked.

“Fuck-off,” she said. “Like you should talk.”

“So tonight’s the big night?”

She turned to look at me. “Lots of money, important people. We don’t have to sit in some dick’s car and freeze our asses off. Tonight they come to us.”

“Isn’t a john, a john?”

She took a slug from the bottle. “Not always. Tonight it won’t be just anyone who has fifty bucks.”

“Ruth said the more they have to spend, the more they want the unconventional.”

“Ruth doesn’t know shit.”

“The girls don’t seem too excited.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Isaac tries to pair us up with who we deserve.”

I lay back and looked at the ceiling wondering who would be coming through Isaac’s door and if any of them would be leaving in the back of a police cruiser.

“It’s all yours,” Elizabeth said coming out of the bathroom. She walked to the closet and selected a turquoise halter-top slit to the waist and a short, white leather skirt.

I’d never been much for make-up and had no experience with the array of products Rose had supplied. Give me a lipstick and mascara and I was good to go, but in the bag before me lay an array of eyeliners, eye shadows, blush and concealers that I had no idea how to apply. Seeing my quandary, Elizabeth laughed.

“You need help?” she asked.

“If you have the time.”

She did my make-up, tossed a black silk mini skirt and silver sequined tank top on the bed and took a pair of black patent stilettos from the closet. In fifteen minutes, she had me looking like I belonged there. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. But Isaac seemed pleased when we came downstairs dressed and ready for whatever the evening would bring. I followed her to the bar and accepted the shot of Smirnoff’s she handed me. A little fortification might counteract the adrenalin ricocheting through me.

By six-thirty everyone had a heavy buzz on board. Even Isaac had come in early from the barn and downed a couple of shots, a rarity. He was upstairs changing out of his work clothes. In the living room, the girls were subdued. Rose was rattling around in the kitchen like a pretentious hostess. Since most of the food Isaac had bought was pre-cooked and pre-arranged on platters, she was doing little more than moving plates around the counter.

“What do you want?” she asked when I came into the room interrupting her fantasy.

“Do you need any help?”

She laughed. “A little late for that don’t you think? You’ll be gone tonight.” She untied her apron and tossed it onto the counter. “I need to change my clothes. I’ve been stuck in this kitchen all day.”

The martyr, I thought. “I’ll keep an eye on things out here. Go ahead,” I said, seeing my moment materialize.

“I won’t be long. Keep the girls out of here.

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