22

"Have fun, gentleman," the muscular bouncer grunted to Cole and Vince as they entered the gentleman's club named "The Industrial Strip". The place was packed, typical of a Friday night. Lights were dim except those glaring on the two small round stages at each end of the main floor and a larger half circle main stage in the center. At each stage, a sexy, scantily-clad dancer worked their respective pole.

They scouted the room for somewhere to sit. The bar ran the full length of the back wall and was completely packed with patrons absorbing drinks. The small tables far from the stages where also occupied, usually by couples, or by men who had negotiated a table session with one of the lovely dancers.

As Cole scanned the interior, he noticed a variety of dancers chatting-up potential customers, each with her own unique offering. Petite, thick, curvy, tall, short, white, black, brown -- something here for any man's taste. That is, unless that man had developed an acquired taste for the supernatural, as Cole had.

"I see two seats at the main stage -- hurry up!" Vince ordered.

They pushed through the crowded dive and took cushioned seats at the main stage. The dancer on stage, a cute brunette in a tiny white string bikini, smiled and made her way to the newcomers. She shook her round, bubbly bottom at them, then stretched her garter out invitingly for contributions.

"See!" Vince said, as he stuffed a dollar in the dancer's garter, "This was just what you needed, Cole!"

"I guess," Cole said loudly over the deafening music, also forking-over his dollar.

Several dancers came and went as they sat. Vince was obviously enjoying himself more than Cole, as evidenced by his ample alcohol consumption and the dozens of dollar bills that escaped his grip.

Cole had too much on his mind to focus on the scantly clad performers. Maria's killer was almost within his grasp. Then there was the scene this morning in the shower with Zafira. He wondered, what was that kiss about? It seemed... genuine. At least the issues with Penny were hopefully resolved, but Cole still felt all too guilty about how things turned out.

"Hey! Stop sitting there like a lump and start enjoying yourself!" Vince said with a topless dancer in his lap, snapping Cole out of his meditation.

"Let's give a big round of applause for Vanessa!" the DJ announced, signaling the sexy, big-breasted blonde that her stage time was over. She retreated from Vince's lap, gathered her bra and money that had been thrown on stage, then disappeared behind the curtain.

"You're really dragging me down, Cole. You never used to be like this when we were in college. Hell, youwere the rowdy one."

"And you have had too much to drink. Give me your keys."

"Fine, better safe than sorry," Vince said, handing over his keys.

"Fine, better safe than sorry," Vince said, handing over his keys.

The DJ spoke into the microphone again. "Alright guys, let's give a warm welcome to our newest performer! I saidwarm -- got that? Let's hear it for the super-sexy...Lillith!"

Lights focused on the main stage as a hard rock track ramped-up. Cole's eyes almost bugged out of his head as "Lillith" made her way to the main stage. While not in her usual attire, he instantly recognized Zafira. She showcased her sexy body in a black sheer halter babydoll with a mesh V-plunge that left silhouettes of her bra, G-string panties, and garter belt underneath. Attached to the garter belt were black fishnet thigh high stockings accenting her pale, supernaturally perfect legs descending into a pair of shiny black patent platform heels.

Zafira sashayed to the stainless steel pole. Parading in front of the pole, she put both hands high above her head, gripped the chrome rod, and swayed her hips. With a sudden kick of her leg, she spun around the pole several times, holding only with one hand, seemingly gliding on air.

Her feet finally touched the ground. She crouched, then jumped up and climbed high atop the pole. With the rod securely gripped between her thighs, she hung upside down and let the sheer babydoll gown slide off her body to the stage below. Her hands gripped the vertical chrome; she released her thighs, flipping upright, and then descended the pole in a whirlwind of skillfully sexy gymnastics.

"Damn! She's good! And smokin' hot too!" Vince applauded.

Cole could not hold back his smile. "Yes, she certainly is."

On her knees, Zafira ground her crotch against the base of the pole. Her eyes locked on Cole as much as his eyes were on her.

"Dude, she's totally checking you out," Vince said.

Zafira seductively crawled to where Cole and Vince sat. She motioned with her index finger for Cole to come closer. Playing along, he leaned forward with his elbows resting on the edge of the stage.

She braced herself with her hands flat on the floor behind her and swung each of her legs onto Cole's shoulders, first left, then right. She bucked and swayed her hips, her crotch just inches from Cole's face. The tip of his nose registered the heat of her pussy emanating through her thin panties. Her sweet scent once again crept into his nostrils when she balanced herself on one hand, then slightly pulled her panties to the side for Cole to view. The up-close glimpse of her glistening pussy made his cock strain hard against his trousers.

Zafira climbed back on stage and knelt in front of Cole. She reached behind her back, unclasped her bra, and tossed it aside. All eyes in the club were fixated on her perfect double D's. She leaned forward, grabbed Cole by the back of his head, and pressed his face into her cleavage. He gasped for air as she held him there, wiggling her breasts. She retreated, pulling out the top of her fishnet stocking. Cole, as well as Vince, stuffed several dollar bills inside.

"You lucky bastard!" Vince said to Cole as Zafira returned to gyrating around the pole.

Cole only smiled as he watched, ignoring Vince. With her back against the pole and gripping it above her head, she lifted herself from the floor, her body horizontal with her legs spread wide. Those extraordinary legs ascended; she locked her ankles around the pole and spun gracefully while hanging, inverted.

Her song wound down. Zafira finished by flipping upright, then sliding down the pole doing "the splits" as she met the floor.

"Wow! Just fucking wow!" the DJ yelled. "Let's make some noise for Lillith!"

Everyone stood and applauded Zafira's performance, showering her with admiration as well as greenbacks. Cole, Vince, and several other onlookers "made it rain" all over the stage. Zafira retrieved the cash and her strewn garments and vanished behind the curtain.

"Well, that certainly perked you up," Vince said.

Cole laughed. "Yeah, it did."

"I need to take a piss; save my spot."

"Don't fall over while you're in there. The last thing I want is to have to carry you out of here."

"I'm fine! I just have a nice buzz."

Cole felt Zafira's slender hand on his shoulder not long after Vince departed. Without asking, she sat in Vince's chair.

"Hi there, Cole."

"Lillith, huh?" he inquired.

"Do you like it? It means 'into the night'."

"Well, it certainly is appropriate. By the way, you were incredible on stage!"

Zafira smiled, "Thank you! That was a lot of fun. If I had a need for human money, I'd actually consider doing this more often."

"So what are you doing here? I thought being in public was a risky endeavor."

"It is, but no angel or crusader would be caught dead in a place like this. The risk here is minimal. Besides, I'm starving, and there are plenty of 'candidates' to choose from. Take your friend Vince, for example."

"Vince?!" he protested. "Are you nuts? He's perverted, but he's straight as an arrow!"

"That's what you think. You really are far too trusting of people."

"Oh really? Enlighten me."

"Your friend Vince is a murderer," Zafira sighed.

Vince? A murderer? Something did not add up. Cole knew in his gut that Vince was a good person. Still, Zafira had never been wrong before. There must be some kind of explanation.

They barely noticed the returning footsteps. "I see you didn't save my seat, Cole," Vince said, smiling at Zafira.

Zafira stood. "Oh, I'm sorry! Take it back -- or would you rather sit in a chair in one of the VIP rooms? I'll make it worth your while."

"Lead the way!" Vince said with enthusiasm.

"Wait!" Cole interrupted. "Before you go, could I talk to you outside for a moment?"

"Now?" Vince replied. "Can it wait?"

"No. It won't be but a minute."

Vince turned to Zafira. "I'll be right back, baby."

"Don't keep me waiting too long, sugar," Zafira smiled.

Cole escorted his friend outside. He did not have much time to get to the bottom of Vince's dark secrets. Vince's very life depended on it.

"So what is this about?" Vince demanded.

"Vince, have you... ever done something really bad. Something you've never told anyone?"

"You brought me out 'ere to ask me that? The hell is wrong with you lately?"

Cole ignored his slurred questions. "Please, just answer me. It's important."

Vince paused, sensing the seriousness and sincerity in Cole's voice. "Speaking as friends, correct?"

"Yes."

Vince collected himself. "I told you once while back in college that I was from Detroit. Before college, I ran with a nasty group of people; petty thugs, really. We did some things that..." Vince stopped, turning his back to Cole.

"Go on," Cole insisted.

Vince could not look at his friend. He spoke quietly, hesitantly.

"There was a deal that went very bad, very fast. Shots were fired from both sides. I ducked behind a dumpster and fired several times blindly around the corner. After the dust settled, I peered around and saw that a small kid riding his bike down the street had been caught in the crossfire. Judging by where his body was, and the direction I'd fired, I know it was my shots that hit him."

Vince turned to Cole with a sorrowful look in his eyes, "That day changed my life. I went to trial with several other guys. I was prepared to accept my punishment, but I got off due to a mistrial -- all because of how the evidence was handled by the police. It was at that moment I chose the career path that I did. It's why I'm so thorough with my forensics. I make damn sure no one else gets away with what I did. I hate my job -- it reminds me every single day of the mistake I made. It's my way of repenting for my sins."

"I had no idea you struggled with such a heavy burden," Cole said.

Cole felt sorry for Vince. He may have been a bad person earlier in his life, but that is not the person he is now. People make mistakes. It is up to the individual to learn from their mistakes or keep repeating them. Vince felt genuine remorse for what he had done, and that in itself, Cole thought, argued against having his soul ripped from his body.

"I've never talked to anyone about it. In a way, it's kind of a relief. Why did you ask me this anyway?"

Cole had to think. Zafira was waiting for Vince to return inside. Convincing her to spare his life would be a huge undertaking. He thought about leaving, but Zafira would surely find them if they fled. His only option was somehow to convince her to spare him.