The Price of a Dream

[SexyChele]

OOC: This is an open thread, but if you would like to join please PM me first. I have ideas for this thread, and would like to make certain that all are on board before they begin. I'm looking for a total cast of 8 players. I would also like to give first consideration to writers that I have not yet had the pleasure of writing with or who I have had limited involvement. Further, this will be an historical piece. I am more interested in developing a story than initiating a fuckfest - although this is SRP, so there will be fun along the way. And with that....

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Chicago - 1925

Chicago in the 1920s was a city where times were good - men had jobs and women were able to make certain their families were fed. However, there was another Chicago, one that was known but not discussed. Jazz was king, brought up from the South and declared to cause men to drink and lead women to wanton acts. Prohibition was in effect, but that didn't stop those who still enjoyed drink. Speakeasies were everywhere and for the correct whispered word or a few well-placed dollars, one could enter another world. This world encompassed beautiful people, alcohol, jazz, and entertainment of all types.

Yet, there was an element running through the streets. A vicious, ruthless element who would stop at nothing to completely own Chicago and keep it his. This element had a name - Alfonse Capone. His army of thugs made certain that the "operation" ran smoothly and without complications. And when complications arose, they were quickly taken care of.

There were many who came to Chicago in search of dreams. But dreams are not always free. Sometimes they come at a price. How willing is one to pay that price?

Ethel Scott arrived in Chicago during the Fall of 1924. She was fresh from Missouri, and a town long forgotten and one she hoped never to see again. She had turned 19 the past summer, and had finally saved enough money to get to the nearest big city - and she took her chance!

She quickly found a third floor cold water flat where the roaches seemed like pets and the rats deemed themselves in charge of any food that any human dared bring into the four walls that comprised Ethel's new "home". Through her landlord, she was able to make a few connections and managed to get a job as a girl in the chorus at a speakeasy a few blocks from her flat.

Ethel knew she had talent. She had been taking dance and voice lessons almost all her life, and she was good. But there was a lot of connections to be made in Chicago. Talent didn't matter here. It was who you knew and how much you dared to dream.

The first thing Ethel had had to do was crop her long dark hair to a chin-length bob. But it suited her delicate face and helped to make her large dark eyes even larger. Her figure was slender, with legs made to be shown off and breasts small and perky. Her name was the next thing to change. No one named Ethel ever went far. She finally found the "name" in Daisy Robbins.

Daisy had been with the speakeasy for just over 6 months now, and all along she had been working on an act of her own. She just needed the right opportunity, the right break. And tonight that break finally came through. One of the acts had got herself knocked up, had a severe miscarriage, and was in the hospital. Daisy got the go ahead to be squeezed into the slot and she grabbed it. She stood staring at herself in the mirror in the communal dressing room, her red costume spangled and bugled, glittering in the lights. It was loose fitting, yet at the same time clung to her body, hiding yet revealing all. She smiled at the stockings rolled to just above her knee, her thighs peeking through the fringed bottom of the costume...

“Miss Robbins, you’re on in 2. Better make it good, kid!”

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The cast for this thread has been filled. There is an OOC thread for this story, and can be found here

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Bump*

For a good writer and what promises to be a goood story too.

 

[Subo97]

Scissors

Eugene lit his cigarette and leaned back in his chair, eyes panning the smoky room. His bag of money would be a while in coming, so he took the moment to drink some whiskey and eye the flappers. He called the cigarette girl over as he crumbled his empty pack. "Hi, Suzie, how ya been?" She was a buxom blond he had met in one of Al's brothels in Cicero. He had helped her get this job, so now she only turned tricks when she wanted, or when Scissors need a friend entertained. "Hi baby," she answered, " why haven't you called me?" She lay a pack of Camels on the table, bending over to show off her sumptuous chest. "Been busy, baby," he answered her, "You know how it is."

"Yea, I know, Scissors, I know" she scowled and walked away. Eugene turned his eyes to the stage. He was moving up in the world, the wad of cash in his pocket was proof enough of that. He didn't have time for Suzie tonight, maybe later. The houselights dimmed and the stage lights turned blue, the new act was about to appear.

OOC Scissors is a dark haired, tall, well built, easter european immagrant type.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Thor 'Hinky Dink' McKenna

My eyes scanned, as usual, the surroundings. Although I was a politician, one could not be too careful. The usual entourage of syncophants were at the table. It amused me to think of my own 'gopher' days.

The booze was top shelf.....woe betide this place if they served me anything else. The Chicago police would shut it down in a heartbeat. Smoke wisps hung in the air...air that was redolent of booze, cigarettes and cigars, and the musty odor of a well used club.

The entertainment in this joint drifted to the earthy side, but some of the talent was worth watching. If I wanted to become more 'involved,' a brief word would make that happen.

Tonight, however, I had business to transact.............

 

[mr spikey]

Robert MacTiernan

I had received the message from Thor to meet him at the speakeasy. It was a hole in the wall basically. I knocked on the door and whispered the pass phrase 'Ralph sent me'.
I walked into the smoked-filled room. It smelled with cheap perfume and cheap liqour in the air. It had the reputation as being one of the better dives, with good Jazz and entertainment.
I made my way over to an empty table and sat down. The buxom blonde cigarette girl made her way over and sqeakily said "Cigars, cigarettes?" I smiled at her and shook my head no.
I ordered a whiskey and watched the entertainment while waiting for Thor.

 

[quintessential]

Frances (Frankie) Reilly

Frankie Reilly was the product of a Polish mother and an Irish father. As much as she loved her blonde hair, she couldn’t stand the freckles that seemed to grow in number each new day of her life. Her parents were not considered to be upscale but their life was considered good.

The little butcher shop her family ran on the east side of Cleveland seemed to make it even though times were hard. Frankie wasn’t aware, though, why that was until one day she overheard Officer O’Leary and Mr. Marinelli speaking to each other in rather loud voices. They hadn’t seen her approaching with her bright smile and ready wave and were in mid sentence when she appeared. It was too late for them to take back all that had been said. Frankie had heard everything, but the words that brought her shame were booze and liquor. From that day on, Frankie could no longer look her parents in the eyes. That made up her mind for her. One day she’d be gone and they’d feel so bad. They'd hurt just like she was. As soon as she could save some money she’d leave.

Not knowing where she’d go, she closed her eyes and brought her finger down on the map she had been studying for school. Opening them slowly, she saw the letters CHICAGO. It was settled. Her dream of opening her own shop could just as well happen there as here.

Frankie stood on the platform of the train station in her newly made red linen dress she had sewn herself. Watching the train approach, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was it. She was really going. As she climbed the steps that would take her on her way to becoming the clothing designer she had always wanted to be, she took one last look around and then boarded the train. She never looked back again. She’d make beautiful silk and lace dresses for the rich and famous women of Chicago. She’d make sure they had the perfect hat and shoes to match her beautiful creations.

From that day on, she’d call herself Frances, Frances Reilly. She had no idea how her life would change. Dreams were just that, dreams. They always came with a price and as she would soon learn, the price could be very high.

That's how Frances ended up serving drinks. She was always amazed at the irony of the situation. She felt like a failure but she knew once she could make extra money she'd really make her dream come true. That was her prayer every night before she went to bed. In her sleep she smelled the smoke that swirled all around her and she could hear the snickers of the men as she walked by in her tight little skimpy costume. The dream always ended up the same each night...a nightmare.

 

[gaigirl]

Katrina

Closing her book with a sigh, Katrina glanced out the window to check the weather. It was time to get ready for work, and the weather tended to influence which costumes she chose.

Freezing rain drizzled from the late afternoon gray sky, sending Katrina into a mood for black. Crossing the small cramped studio to her overflowing closet, Katrina chose a long sleeved satin dress with a beaded bodice and a full skirt that would probably hide the run in her black stockings. Maybe she could get away with wearing them just one more time, although they had seen better days, as had most of Katrina's clothing.

Stripping off her housecoat as she stood in front of the closet, Katrina let it fall to the floor and kicked it aside with distain. As soon as I can attract the interest of a new patron, I can get some nicer clothes, she thought. Ya never know... tonight could be my lucky night. She tossed the black dress over her head and reached her arm behind her to zip it up the back.

Katrina continued dressing and grooming for her speakeasy songstress job, thankful that at least she had a tiny pitance of income trickling in as she waited for the right connections to carry her off to the big time. There wasn't any doubt in her mind that with the right people behind her, she could advance to where she deserved to be. Tonight might be kind of fun. Daisy is going to step out in front of the chorus. I'll have to stay on my toes to ensure that she doesn't get too full of herself.

Katrina donned her coat, and set off to work in the unwelcoming cold of Chicago's evening streets. As she walked along, avoiding the patches of ice on the sidewalk, she couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was going to happen tonight. Truth be told, Katrina was not at all happy with the plan to let Daisy replace that stupid Margot, who had gone and not only gotten herself knocked up, but then had the good fortune to lose the baggage without any help. Katrina couldn't help but be a little nervous about Daisy's debut. The girl was good, there was no question about it. Katrina vowed to do all in her power to make sure that she held her own position securely in the wake of the rising young star. If it took a little sabotage, then so be it. A girl has to do what she has to do, thought Katrina, mentally listing some plans to keep Daisy in her 19-year-old place as she turned down the last street toward the speakeasy.

The trouble was, Katrina actually liked Daisy. She didn't want to hurt her, she only wanted to make sure that her own status wasn't compromised by Daisy's opportunity. Katrina would have liked to think that Daisy perceived her as a sort of elder sister, yet at the same time, she was smart enough to know that any beautiful girl younger and sexier than she posed a threat. Who says Daisy is sexier than I? Tonight, I'll just have to reach into my guts and pull out a brighter glow, and a more secure talent. Anyone who sees Daisy is going to see me too. It's up to me to give them a sight to remember.

Katrina pushed open the door, and broke into the humid cloud of smoke that hovered near the entrance awaiting escape into the night air. Showtime, she thought. Every minute counts. She glanced around the room to get an inkling of who was in attendance that could get her that one tiny step ahead.

 

[SexyChele]

Daisy could feel her heart begin to pound as the nervousness reached a new stage for her. 2 minutes! Less than that, actually. She took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes. It was really like being in the chorus, no? How difficult could that be?

As she turned to walk towards the stage, she met the eyes of the girls from the chorus - all with their own dreams, all wanting the spot that Daisy got. As she walked out of the room, she saw Katrina walk in the stage door. Katrina was one of the main acts. To Daisy, she seemed to have it all - the looks, the talent, the attitude of one who makes it. She quickly stepped out of Katrina's way as the other woman made her way to her dressing room.

A tug on her arm, and Daisy looked at the frog-like stage manager.

"C'mon, kid. You think that crowd is gonna wait forever? MOVE!"

Daisy rushed to the side of the stage and caught Edwin's eye. The piano player had always been good to the girls, though he seldom talked about himself. Well, nobody really did. Daisy glanced at the crowd, then nodded to Edwin. His fingers moved across the keys as the slow tempo filled the room.

Daisy swayed onto the stage, thankful for the light that temporarily blinded her to the crowd. From somewhere automatic, her voice picked up the song and she smiled to herself. As she swayed and spun around the stage, Daisy concentrated on the steps, the movements, the song. She slowly approached the piano and slid onto the top of it. Facing the crowd, she stretched and across the length of the piano, carefully raising her skirt to reveal her creamy thighs. Looking into the crowd, Daisy picked out a couple of male customers and smiled, knowing if any one of them were influential she would be able to maintain her spot.

Moving her hand along her body, outlining the curves to her hips, Daisy's eyes burned into the audience with a smoldering intensity. She gave a quick kick and slid gracefully from the piano and back onto the stage. As the song neared its completion, Daisy poured her heart into it, her body moving and swaying to the beat until she was able to feel it completely.

And then, it was over. Her song complete, the act done. The house lights came up, and Daisy blinked into the crowd. As applause greeted her - not the rousing applause reserved for the main acts, but decent - Daisy dipped into a deep bow, allowing just enough of her dress to dip to allow a certain teasing glimpse of what was just beneath the surface.

She gave Edwin a smile, and bounced from the stage to the waiting stage manager, eager to hear his praise.

"Yeah, that was good, kid, good. Hey! Where's the next act? C'mon ladies we gotta keep this show going!"

Daisy stepped aside as the next act rushed to the stage. She knew she did well, but how well? Would she find herself back in the chorus tomorrow night?

 

[prometheus 2]

Eddy

Eddy's fingers slid easily over the ivories in his rendition of Ain't misbehaven a slow sensual blues arangement him and the boys had worked up it was the perfect song for Daisy. The sax player was hot tonight and the trumpet player was playing his heart out. It was going to be a great night Eddy thought as he smiled at Daisy as she finished up. he nodded his aproval to the rest of the band and signaled them to move into a short version of Chicago while they got ready for the next act behind the curtain.

 

[gaigirl]

Katrina

Just in time, Katrina thought, as Daisy rushed past her in the hall way, waiting for her cue to go on stage. Katrina headed down the hall to her dressing room, but when she was sure Daisy was out of sight, she inched back slowly toward the wings to catch Daisy's act. From behind a black out curtain, certain she couldn't be seen, Katrina watched and listened as Daisy gave all she had to Ain't Misbehavin'.

That little bitch has the audacity to take my song? Who does she think she is? Katrina seethed with indignant anger as she watched Daisy slithering over the top of the piano, milking the soul of the song. Telling herself that she was not jealous, Katrina consoled herself with some good, healthy self-talk. She may sound good now, but it won't last. She's got a lot to learn. Wait until it's my turn, baby.

Daisy finished the song even better than she had started it, and had the audience in the palm of her hand. Taking a deep bow in response to the substantial applause, Katrina could imagine the glimpse of chest revealed by the low neck of Daisy's red dress. It's gonna take more than showing your tits, Daisy girl. It won't be long until I'm up, she thought, hurrying back down the hall to her dressing room so that Daisy wouldn't see that she had been watching.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Thor "Hinky Dink" McKenna

As I sat, sipping and scanning I saw a couple of people I knew....Scissors, a lower rung on Big Al's ladder, but was reputed to be a stone cold killer. 'Ahhhh, there he is now. Damn cop, slurping at the same trough as I do,' I thought. As the young fresh singer began her gig, I motioned to him to join me later. I had some business to discuss with the very ambitious and greedy Deputy Chief...... It seems that the cops raided another speak in my Ward....one that Al had a direct interest in. I was not paying this clown to interrupt business.......nor would I be held in high regard if I could not have things in the 25th running like a finely oiled machine. The 'consideration' that I received monthly included an 'insurance' premium. Al liked the fact that he was not paying the cops directly.

I made it my business to keep a 'book' on everyone. The Deputy Chief had his eyes on higher office. He knew that I could have him sitting in City Hall - someday. The thought of a mayor owing me big time caused an almost sexual rush in my system.

I focussed on the singer by the piano. The tune was one of my favorites, and Eddy was one of the best. 'Ain't Misbehavin' was a great tune....but this girl....19, maybe 20, had something that might be special. The kind of talent I was occasionally looking for did not necessarily sing well.....but that was always a bonus. I glanced at one of my ever-attentive gophers, inclined my head toward the singer, and nodded ever so slightly.... He knew what to do....and he better always do it well or he and the wife and kiddies would be living in a box by the river.....

I signaled to....what was her name.....oh, yes Frances I think, to refill the table. 'A bit of bread for the masses', I laughed to myself. The gophers laughed dutifully, as though I had just delivered the funniest line of 1925......

 

[quintessential]

Frances Reilly

Frances had been listening to the soulful tunes Daisy was singing. Oh, if only she could sing like that she’d have it made. Daisy was so lucky to be able to show off her beautiful voice and have everyone watch her as she took them someplace else with each new note she sang.

As she was standing, leaning against the side wall, someone walked by her and pushed her with their elbow which caused her tray to tip and she watched as the empty glasses shifted and began sliding to the edge right at the rim. As she tried to tilt the tray back to move the glasses toward the opposite direction, another elbow sideswiped her and that was all it took. She watched as the glasses and the tray tumbled through the air as they headed toward the ground. It was all happening in slow motion and she even thought she might be able to catch them but this wasn’t to be. Just at that time a group of men walked through the doors and were laughing and speaking loudly so that their sounds covered the crashing of glass on the floor.

Frances wanted to hide underneath the nearest table, but she knew she had to clean the mess quickly before anyone would notice. But notice they did and the snickers and laughs that ensued mortified her and the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She quickly hurried away before anyone could see her red eyes and her crimson colored cheeks.

As she started toward the back, she passed a table of men who seemed to be trying to outdo one another. She had noticed the rather handsome gentleman earlier as he was deep in conversation with the others. He seemed to be a very determined man, very strong. She couldn’t put her finger on why, but he scared her, he scared her to death.

As he signaled to her, she tried not to notice, but he kept motioning her way so she knew she’d better hurry. In a rather loud, demanding voice that held a tone of sarcasm, he ordered her to bring them, “A bit of bread for the masses.” Holding tightly to her tray with clenched hands, she nodded her head and listened to the laughter as she turned and walked away.

Forgetting her manners, as they had been taught, she looked back at the man with the piercing blue eyes and smiled politely as she spoke. “Yes, Sir, I’ll be right back.”

As she walked by the stage, she gave Eddy a wink as if trying to make herself feel happy and mouthed, “Nice playing tonight, Eddy.” Then her eyes were drawn to Katrina who was standing in the wings watching Daisy perform. She knew exactly how Katrina felt for she felt the same way – never first, always second, one day to be last.

Maybe, just maybe, she began thinking, I might be able to talk to the owner and see if I can dress the singers. Maybe they’d give me a chance to make sparkling gowns with sequins and glitter. Maybe…and her thoughts trailed off into her own land of make believe and wishes. Right now, though, she needed to play fetch for the table.

 

[mr spikey]

Robert MacTiernan

I noticed Thor come in and sit down at a reserved table. He glanced in my direction and I gave him a nod. We would meet later to discus 'buisness'. Another of Al's speakeasys was raided and I had to clean up the mess.
Well, that would have to wait until we talked in private. Frances, the waitress nearly fell over at Thor's motioning for a drink. Poor girl, she's all nerves. The singer had just finished her number.
She was a cute girl. She slid over the pinao, with the piano player not missing a key, and finished by really hitting the end notes. She curtsied at the close, bending over just a little too long to expose her cleavage. She appeared nervous at the start and this was probably her first time solo. Not bad, I thought, for her first time.
I could see a female off stage watching while the new girl finished up. She did not looked pleased. She turned away at the end and made her way backstage, apparently to her dressing room. I decided to wait and hear her before meeting with Thor. I looked up at Frances and got her attention by holding up my empty glass.

 

[gaigirl]

Katrina

Frog-face the stage manager knocked on the dressing room door and called out, "Ten minutes!" and Katrina answered with a mumbled thanks, being abruptly pulled out of her reverie. She had warmed up with some Mozart arias, and was in fine voice. Having spent a little extra time making up her eyes and lips, Katrina examined her face critically at the illuminated mirror. Best I can do, she thought, rising off her stool and preparing to move to her place before taking the stage.

Gliding down the darkened hallway behind the stage, Katrina listened to the rowdy chorus, and decided to open her set with something slow and lusty. Standing in the wings, she felt unusually nervous and jittery, reminding Katrina of her earlier awareness that something special was going to happen tonight. Breathing deeply and exhaling slowly, Katrina set aside the gnawing awareness of Daisy's successful debut, and put her mind in the place it needed to be for her performance.

Speakeasy or no, singing was singing, and music was music. It was only through singing that Katrina believed she could be discovered, although she admitted that the necessary talent for success was multi-faceted. For all the things that were necesary to be a star, at the foundation needed to be the ability to make beautiful music. Puccini or Porter, it was all music. For all she'd been through, and for all she had given up just to stay in music at all, Katrina refused to give up the hope that she'd be discovered for her music, and that willingness to share tits and ass were only a secondary part of the equation.

Making her entrance to the half-hearted applause after she had been introduced, Katrina leaned over the piano player's shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Eddy, let's start with Love for Sale."

Looking up at her in surprise, Eddy waited for Katrina to take her position, and then began the opening bars, setting just the right sultry mood.

Drawing deeply from within herself to grasp a real image and memory to make the song true, Katrina grasped the microphone and sang,

"Love for sale...
advertising young love... for sale...
love that's fresh and still unspoiled...
love that's only slightly soiled...
love... for sale."

Looking up as she held the note on the word sale, Katrina caught the eye of a well dressed gentleman in the audience. At his table were some thugs that Katrina had run across before, which didn't look good, but the man exuded an air of confidence and power that told Katrina he was just the right kind of contact. Continuing into the bridge, Katrina gave the song all she had as though it were a personal invitation to him.

"Who will buy...?
Who would like to sample my supply...?"

 

[Honey_B]

Catherine O' Malley

Catherine stepped through the door of the Palmer House and out into the icy gale that was Chicago. She wrapped the sable tightly around her form as the wind tugged at the red curls of her fashionable bob.

“Good Gracious, but it’s cold!”

The doorman who had been hailing Catherine a cab turned to her.

“Did you say something, madam?”

Catherine regarded the servant with chilly disdain.

“To you? Indeed, I did not. Now open that vehicle’s door before I freeze.”

Her voice was colder than the wind whipping off Lake Michigan. Once safely ensconced in the cab, Catherine turned her attention to the driver and his question regarding her destination.

“My good man, I am looking for a place to wet the whistle, so to speak. I will triple your rate if you can take me to such a place.”

The hack picked up on the meaning behind the request and headed towards one of Chicago’s many speakeasies. A ride through some rather questionable looking districts put them in front of a very nondescript building.

“Show them some green and tell him that Harry drove you over.”

Catherine nodded and paid the driver, feeling her excitement rising. Frequenting a speakeasy wasn’t her first brush with illegality, not by a long shot. No, it had just been so long since she had a night on the town. Practically an age had passed since she had been free to indulge her own passions.

The room sparkled like shards of cut glass, just as glittering and just as dangerous. Catherine slowly stripped off the sable as she drank in the undercurrents of the bar like a fine wine. Without looking she handed the coat over, knowing someone would be there to take it. The dress she wore would have been coveted on the streets in Paris, an emerald sheath that ended just above her knees. When she moved the dress came alive as tiny beads caught the light.

"Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?"

Indeed. Cole Porter could have been talking about her and the way she had chosen to live her life. But not tonight. Tonight it was the Cat who was on the prowl.

 

[SexyChele]

Daisy sank into the shadows of the cutains backstage, the glow of her debut slowly fading. The girls in the chorus would never admit if she had done well, and the stage manager was far too calculating to let on if she was valuable property to keep - if she suspected what she was worth, she might just ask for it.

A commotion on the floor suddenly attracted Daisy's attention, and she noticed the waitress - Frances, was it? - rushing and scurrying about. She wondered what had happened until she noticed the gentleman at the table motion for her. She couldn't help but notice the men at the gentleman's table. Made men, all of them. That much even Daisy knew with her limited knowledge.

A flurry of activity suddenly filled the back stage and then there was Katrina. Elegant and sophisticated making her way towards the stage as the sea of people seemed to part for her. Daisy drank in her costume, her look. She watched the way the other bent over Eddie's shoulder and whispered into his ear.

"Daisy? Daisy!" Her head turned at frog-face's yelling of her name.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Guy here wants to talk to you," he replied, his eyes on Katrina. "She's over there."

Daisy stepped forward, anxious as to who would want to speak to her. She was confronted by a man who had probably come from a notorious past but was hiding it well. "You want to speak to me?" Daisy was prepared to give the guy the send off. Men like him were a dime a dozen, always feeling they could grab whatever girl caught their eye for a little action on the side.

"Yeah. You gotta come wit me. This way." He grabbed her arm and started to pull her from the back stage.

"Hey! Just who do you think you are? Nobody treats me like that, you hear? Nobody!"

"Look, ya little tramp, you see that gentleman sitting out there? Well, he can make things happen for you, but ya gotta play nice. Get it? Now, MOVE!"

Daisy glanced at the man sitting at the table and swallowed hard. This might be a chance to take a step up, or it might lead to bottom of the pit. She followed after the man dutifully, just as the house lights dimmed and Eddie and company struck up the first few strains. From the corner of her eye, Daisy saw her walk in - she was one of those types difficult not to notice. Society dame, certainly. Daisy saw them from time to time. Bored, looking for a thrill - a cat looking for a mouse.

She bumped the table accidently, and murmured her apologies. She heard the man who had "escorted" her mumble something about her being a clutz. She chose to ignore him.

"You want to speak to me, Mister?"

His eyes on Katrina, he waved to a chair casually. Daisy looked at the man who had brought her here.

"Sit down, doll, he wants you to sit down."

Daisy moved to the indicated chair and sat, feeling nervous and uncertain and just a little fearful.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Thor "Hinky Dink" McKenna

"You want to speak to me, Mister?"

Her voice cut through my thoughts and the enjoyment of hearing the singer on the stage. I would have to compliment the frog face (everyone called him that) that runs the joint. His talent is definitely on the upswing.

Just as I was about to answer her, a rush of cold air stirred the smoke by the door. 'I hope that idiot Deputy Chief did not let a raid happen here tonight,' I thought.....the humor of the image bringing a smile to my face. I saw a real looker, society dame by her bearing, standing just inside the curtain that hid the front door. Green clingy dress.....and snooty. A rich one....looking for a thrill on the town. I remembered with some fondness a time in the past...... Then I came back to the present.

The young singer that my gopher had summoned was looking like a deer caught in the headlights, perched on the edge of the chair next to me. I reached into my pocket and palmed a crisp twenty. Slipping my hand out of my pocket, I slid the twenty into one of the hands that were nervously twisting in her lap. She jumped like I had slapped her.

"Relax and tell me about yourself." I spoke in a low voice, one that could only be heard a couple of feet away. I leaned over, putting on what I called my 'trust me' face and let the song from the stage flow around me............my eyes casually sliding over what could only be described as a firm curvy body....

 

[prometheus 2]

Eddy

Eddy was surprised when Katrina asked for *love for sale*, it was one of her best numbers and she usually waited until later in the evening when the croud was better. Then as her sultry voice joined his magic fingers and he looked out into the audience he knew why. A well dressed man was obviouly very interested in what Katrina was offering. Eddy smiled a knowing smile thinking that this might be the chance for Katrina. Like Lola what she wanted she usually got. He saw Daisy being lead out by some goon. After this number he'd get the boys started on something more lively like *Puttin" on the Ritz* then he'd take five and check on Daisy to see if she was ok.

Then he saw her,.... as did everyone else in the place, waltzing in like she owned the joint. Hell, who knows maybe she did. At any rate she sure had class somewhere in his alcohol laden brain he thought he should know her. From here he wasn't sure. The lights were dim and shadows hid her features but something about her..... of course he'd met a lot of dames in his thirty years of playing, classy ones like this one and some not so classy but all with love for sale like the song said. Well Maybe not always love but something close to it.

 

[mr spikey]

Robert MacTiernan

I was still trying to get the attention of Frances when the whole room stopped and stared at the front entrance. I looked up and saw who was standing there like SHE owned the joint.
I recognized her immediately, although I was unsure if she remembered me. I was the investigating officer in the death of one of her husbands, although I cannot remember which one. She had an alibi of course, and there was barely any evidence to go on. The only damning thing against her was that ALL of her husbands had died under mysterious circumstances. I never could prove anything, but we figured she had killed them all.
I could see men looking her up and down and wondering if they had a chance. She looked around the room searchingly, she was the one who was going to do the choosing tonight.
She held out her sable coat as the coat-check boys scrambled to be the lucky guy who got to put her coat up.
Her green dress sparkled in the dim light. I could see how many a man would nearly kill himself to get ...... It was a shame that every man that did, died. I tried signaling for another drink, I needed one after seeing her again.
She certainly knew how to enter a room.

 

[Honey_B]

Catherine O'Malley

Her eyes swept the room, noticing the men first, the women second. One in particular stood out, staring at her with an intensity she thought promising. Catherine chose to go to the bar instead of a table. The wait staff looked over-loaded with work, judging by the look of dismay she observed on one waitress’s face. She draped herself over a barstool that had immediately opened up upon her arrival.

“Vodka martini with two olives and I’m going to run a tab.”

While she waited for her drink to arrive, Catherine shifted her green gaze back to the most ardent of her admirers. His attention was immersed with trying to get another drink. She couldn’t help but notice that he was exactly her type – big, strong, looking as if he came from good working stock. And he had eyes that looked like the warm waters off Cape D’Antibe. She wouldn’t mind taking a dip.

When the barkeep brought the martini, Catherine asked for a whiskey. She carried both drinks over to his table, and bent low enough to whisper in his ear.

“Mind if I join you?”

She set the whiskey in front of him with an elegantly manicured hand.

 

[mr spikey]

Robert MacTiernan

She sauntered, that was the only way to describe it, over to the bar. She ordered her drink, a Martini by the look of it, and then a whiskey. She walked over to my table and as she set the drink in front of me, she leaned over and whispered in my ear 'Mind if I join you?'.
I stood up and pulled out the chair next to me and said "I would be honored, lady." I was still not sure if she recognized me. After she sat down, I smiled at her and introduced myself "MacTiernan, my good lady. Robert MacTiernan."
I looked into her piercing green eyes for any signs of recognition. I could read nothing. She was too well practiced at the art of deception to reveal anything.
'Careful Laddie, you may be getting in over your head' I tried to remind myself about her, but she exuded sexuality. She was the hunter. I was the hunted.
I lifted my glass and toasted her "Thank you, lady. For the drink and a grand entrance. I am in your debt, how can I repay you?"

 

[SexyChele]

Daisy Robbins

Daisy jumped when the 20 dollar was slapped into her hands. That was a weeks pay as a chorus girl! She looked up nervously at the giver, not certain what to expect.

"Relax and tell me about yourself."

Relax? How could she do that? And what would he want to know about her? She searched his face in the dim light, wondering what he truly wanted to hear - and for what reason. She took in hsi demeanor and the self-confidence that flowed from him. She knew couldn't outright refuse - she would loose her job for sure. But Daisy had learned early not to give away too much information.

She took a deep breath, and turned her face towards him and smiled brightly.

"Well, my name is Daisy Robbins, and I suppose my story is probably very similiar to a lot of girls who come to Chicago. Wanting to make it big, you know. Willing to work hard. Waiting on a dream. I'm sure even the most influential people have aspirations, don't they?"

Suddenly, her mouth was dry, and she hoped her tongue wouldn't stick to the roof of her mouth. And further, she hoped that the answer was one that would satisfy this man's curiosity.

 

[Honey_B]

Catherine O'Malley

Thank you, lady. For the drink and a grand entrance. I am in your debt, how can I repay you?

"We'll just have to see, won't we. As for my entrance, you should see my exit."

Catherine gave a playful little wiggle of her rear and sat down in the chair opposite Robert's.

"Incidently, my name is Catherine O'Malley. My friends call me Cat. Something to do with having the green eyes, I suppose."

She fixed her glittering green stare on Robert's face. His name rang a bell and now that she had gotten closer, his face looked familiar. Had they met before?

"Mr. MacTiernan, is it possible that we have met before? I have only recently arrived in Chicago, but I used to live here. Before the war."

 

[Subo97]

Scissors

Who will buy.......
Who would like to sample my supply.....

Scissors listened to the singer and wondered what the price would be. He knew what he had paid to get out of the mines, and what he would pay to get further. Someday he's own his own club, bigger and nicer than this. and no one would muscle him, the way Al Capone muscled his way around Chigago. Eugen already had a mattress stuffed with dough in his secret place out in Geneva. Some day he'd be done with Al Capone, if he lived that long, then he'd get out of Chicago, maybe head to California or Florida, somewhere where it was always warm, somewhere where the women were always warm.

He slid off his barstool and headed backstage to pick up his envelope of cash. There would be no problem, this bar owner wasn't that brave. Nodding to the ugly litle stage manager as he passed, Scissors headed for the speakeasy office.

 

[mr spikey]

Robert MacTiernan

She commented on her exit being grander than her entrance by wiggling her rear end as she sat down. I thought 'now that would be worth..'
She introduced herself as Catherine O'Malley. Her friends called her Cat. She asked if we had met before and that she had lived here before the war.
I decided not to let on that I knew her. "No, Mrs. O'Malley, err ..Cat. I don't believe we have met before. I would certainly remember you."
So it was O'Malley now. I tried to think back and remember what her married name was at the time of the investigation. Her piercing green eyes looked right through me. She was trying to remember and I began to lose track of time and memory. Her gaze had that effect on me.
I looked at her and said "Cat then. It suits you. A toast to the loveliest green-eyes lass I have seen in quite some time and please, my friends call me Robert or Bob."