Chapter 2

Riki, huh. Some name.Riki was one of those in jeans, elephant legged and long, right down over whatever he had on his feet. On top a black T-shirt with glitter and those psychedelic flowers and stuff all over it. Good looking, too. Almost black hair down over his shoulders and a wicked grin. Jerry was sure he’d seen a guitar case and a big amp in the heap of the other guy’s stuff. Maybe he even played in a band. Oh man, that’d be outta sight!

And that was how it all began…1

Hunched over the typewriter, Jerry pounded away, trying to finish a paper that was due tomorrow. He’d done Riki’s first. After all, his roommate had given him ten dollars to do it. At first, he hadn’t wanted to. Oh, what the hell. If the guy failed a class this time, he said he was off to the military and probably next to Vietnam. Jerry couldn’t wish that on anybody, although some of his old classmates at Piney Ridge High had gone in right after they graduated. Still, two had already been killed. He figured it must be hell over there.

Across the room, Riki strummed his guitar, although Jerry could see he wasn’t really into it.

“Let’s get outta here,” Riki said, all at once. “I ain’t sitting in this shitpit room another minute. I hear there’s a bar in that classy hotel across the border where you can pick up hot older chicks and they’ll pay you for some fun instead of the other way around. If I’m gonna keep gas in my car, I gotta bring in some bread. You better get into some different rags, though. Nobody wants to be seen with a dork.”

Jerry wasn’t sure he’d heard right. “Women payingto get fucked? Man, that’s weird shit. I never heard of that. So, can I borrow a pair of jeans and a shirt? This is really all I have, and I can’t afford new—er—threads right now.”

Riki shrugged. “Sure. We’re close to the same size. Jeans might be a little short, but better than those khakis. Yuck. You done with that paper?”

“Yours is. Mine’s almost. I can finish it in the morning.”

Jerry lost no time in changing, then the two of them clomped down the stairs. On a week night, the dorm was quiet. Still, nobody locked the main doors so they could come and go as they chose. At least the men had more freedom than the girls. He’d heard their dorms were locked at nine on weeknights and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

They took Riki’s ‘Vette across the Rio Grande after Jerry kicked in a couple of dollars for some gas. They found the bar, all right…a joint called the Purple Panther, much more of a classy cocktail lounge than a simple, small town saloon. It was in a pretty choice-looking hotel, too. Once inside, they stood out like a couple of whores in church. Most of the people there were men and most wore suits and ties, like guys who worked in the big oil company offices and probably drove Caddies and BMWs. The women were really foxy, although most of them seemed tall and there was something a bit odd about them. Although Jerry couldn’t put a finger on it, they just didn’t seem quite right. Well, maybe rich women really were different. After all, how many did he know?

Riki ordered drinks, and they sipped them, lounging against the bar, while they scoped out the room. Finally, an older man approached them. Good-looking for an older guy, well dressed in a silvery-gray three-piece suit, crisp white shirt and extra wide, striped tie. Slim and dapper, he looked elegant and distinguished with his silver-dusted hair and a neat mustache.

“I haven’t seen you boys here before. Looking for some action? A little fun?”

Riki’s glance followed one of the women, a leggy blonde. The man chuckled. “No use wasting your time there, sugar. She’s not a she, if you know what I mean. Some of the men like the illusion until they get down to business. You couldn’t afford that one, anyway. Lucky for you, you don’t have to. A friend and I can show you a better time and make it worth your while.”

When Jerry felt his heart jump into his throat, he tried not to show his shock. This was not what he had expected, although he wasn’t sure he could perform with a rich lady, either, even for money. His experience was seriously limited.

The stranger went on, “You’re a nice-looking pair of lads and probably still pretty new to this, right? Maybe not quite virgins, but I bet no semis can turn around in your bung yet. That sounds good to me. Come on upstairs. We’ve got a well stocked bar in the suite if you want some more to drink, and it’s all on me.”

Jerry hesitated until Riki grabbed his arm. “Come on, man,” he whispered. “No time to get cold feet now. Shit, sex is sex. Doesn’t matter who with. If this guy will pay me, I’m in.”

“Me, too.” Jerry managed to get the words out as he turned and scampered along at Riki’s heels, following the stranger. They took an elevator up several floors and stepped out into a corridor hushed with thick carpet.