"Billy will be very pleased with this, Lila." Mr. Smith said quietly. "I'm sure there will be a little something extra in your pay envelope this week". Lila wished he hadn't said that. Not in front of Crystal. She wasn't sure that Crystal trusted her entirely, and she needed to have that trust. "Mr. Smith, if you could see how this poor child was being forced to live, you'd understand why I say that Billy doesn't owe me anything." Lila hoped that Crystal was listening. From the drivers seat, Zack could see Lila's face and he hoped that Mr. Smith was not paying any attention. What Zack saw, would mean trouble for Miss Lila. Her naked longing showed, and Zack knew Mr. Smith wouldn't like that at all. To divert Mr. Smiths attention away from the ladies, Zack asked if Mr. Smith had been aware of Jeff's presense behind the vehicle when they pulled away. "Did he see us?" asked Mr. Smith. "No, I think not sir, he didn't look at the limo at all." Responded Zack. "Good...good...That means we have some time to get the ladies to Billy, before Jeff starts looking for her."

As they pulled up to the guard station of the gated community, Riverpoint, the guard stepped out and waved them through. Miss Billy had left instructions that the limo was to be directed to her, immediately upon arrival, without the ususal security check. This limo was a regular visitor to Miss Billy's estate and the guard saw no reason not to comply with her request. Zack thought this departure from the usual routine, was an interesting turn of events.
Apparently this girl was extremely important to her. He wondered why. To Zack, Miss Billy was a person of interest. He had his own reasons for that interest, and they led to his being the driver of Mr. Smiths limo. Pulling into the long tree shaded drive, Zack parked, and got out to assist the passengers out of the vehicle. As he was assisting Crystal out of the vehicle, Miss Billy came out the door and down the steps, giving Crystal her first look at her savior. "Welcome, why don't you all come inside where it's cooler?" said Billy. She turned to lead the way, but not before giving Crystal a long appraising look. "Yes," she thought to herself,"this one will do fine".

Crystal was uncomfortable with Billy's looking at her and chose to study the house she was being invited to enter. She had never seen anything so grand. She didn't know a thing about architecture. She had no idea that the wide expanse of steps that curved upward towards the door were marble. She just knew they were a very pretty pink with other colors shot through like winding rivers. She knew the red brick was not new, but appeared to be in immaculate condition. The large double doors with long windows on each side made the entrance look like the door to a fairy tale castle, and the rounded corners of the house added to that effect. She didn't know what they were called. She didn't know that the large area with the fence around it way at the top was called a "widows walk". She only knew that looking at all this made her feel small and insignificant.

Inside the mansion it was much cooler, and Crystal wished she had dressed in something different than what she had put on. She was shivering, whether from cold or nerves she didn't know. Zack noticed her shaking and took off the jacket of his chauffers uniform and placed it lightly around her shoulders. "Here" he said, and smiled.
"I'll get it back when I leave." Billy ushered them to the library, directed Zack to the kitchen for something cool to drink and asked him to let Cook know that they would be staying for lunch. All of them, and he was to eat in the dining room with them when it was time. In the meantime, he was to make himself at home in the guest lounge at the back of the house. "Dismissed" thought Zack, and that was fine with him.

In the library, Billy, began questioning Crystal about her life. Trying to get the girl to open up. She needed to get to know the girl better. Needed to find the way to keep Crystal in her employ. This was not the usual hooker looking to better herself. This was a young naive girl that had found her way to the big city in the clutches of the wrong kind of man. Somehow Billy would find a way to use that to her advantage. She needed to listen carefully to Crystals story, so that she would know how to act. Did Crystal need a Mother Figure? Only her story would tell her. What were Crystals dreams? How could she make it appear that she was the only way Crystal would ever reach those dreams? One thing was for sure, Crystal would be living here, with Billy, she did not like the look on Lila's face when she didn't think Billy could see. Lila was entirely too fond of Crystal. Billy smelled trouble from that direction. Well, Miss Lila, we'll see about that.

Crystal sat quietly after telling Billy her story. She began to wonder what was in store for her. No longer sure that this was the right decision. Maybe she had been too quick to trust Lila. She wasn't sure why Lila had appeared to want to help. Her experiences in the last few weeks have taught her that maybe she needs to think things through better before acting. She had needed to get away from Jeff, but she is no longer sure that this was the right move. There was someting too cold in this Billy, and something too warm in the way Lila looked at her. It didn't feel right, and she didn't know what to do about it. She wasn't sure she could do anything about it and where did that leave her? She was grateful to Zack for the loan of his jacket, it helped her to feel less exposed to all these prying eyes. She hooked her thumbs under the lapels, to pull the jacket closer to her neck." What's this?" She felt a small round button on the back of one of the lapels. She decided not to say anything, she would find out later what it was. This was Zacks business and she was going to stay out of it.

After delivering Billy's message to the Cook, he told her it was a fine day and he would be going outside to sit in the Gazebo. He'd brought his cassete player and headphones becuse he was listening to one of those books on tape. "Didn't have much time to read anymore" he told the cook, so he would take advantage of every opportunity that he could to at least listen to his favorite books. Once outside in the Gazebo, he put on his headphones and fiddled with the dials until he could hear the voices from within the library. He hadn't been sure the microphone in the lapel of the jacket would pick up everything as well as he hoped it would. Bless Crystal Lynn for the shivers that allowed him to leave the jacket where he could record the conversations. His Lieutenant was going to be very pleased with this bit of luck.

The Vice Squad had been looking for a way to put Sheldon's Champagne and Limosines Escort Service out of business for a very long time. Getting the other pimp in the process was going to be the icing on the cake. He sat there listening to Crystal Lynns story, up until this point he had been thinking she was just another hooker. He had been angry with himself for feeling attracted to her. She was a beautiful girl, and he had been disgusted with the waste of such beauty. This is a complication that they hadn't planned on. This is going to change everything. He wanted... no he needed... to get Crystal out before it was too late.

"Crystal, you have to get away from Jeff, it isn't safe for you to stay with him. I can take you someplace safe if you are willing to go. Trust me, we can work this out." Lila is shocked at what she just blurted out. No thought to anything, just out, and now if Crystal says yes, she has no idea what to do. "What am I doing?" she thinks, "Where is this coming from?" Turning and taking one last look out the window, she sees a familiar car pulling up to the curb. Two of Billy's associates, Zack and Mr. Smith get out of the car. Lila has a brief moment of fear. Apparently Billy isn't going to trust her to do the job of bringing Crystal to her alone. She has sent unwelcomed reinforcements. Now what to do? She has no choice, she must take Crystal to Billy. If she doesn't, Zack and Mr. Smith will, whether she wants to go or not.

"Look," she says to Crystal. "I used to work for a pimp like Jeff. He beat and abused his girls and worked them until they couldn't work anymore. Then he disposed of them, threw them out like trash. That is what Jeff will do. If he can't get you to work willingly he'll force heroin on you until you are addicted and need to hook for the money to buy the drug. He'll take most of your money and keep you in drugs, but nothing else. Is that what you want? He brought me here to try to convince you to do it without forcing you, but he is ready to force you if you don't cooperate. He will do anything he needs to do to make you do what he wants. Not what You want, what he wants. The only thing standing between you and that kind of life, right now, is me." Lila makes up her mind that she will tell Crystal about Billy and what Billy does. She will offer the protection of Billy until she gets Crystal away from here and can find a plan that will work for both of them.

"Now I work for an escort service run by Billy Sheldon," she continues. "Billy does thing a whole lot different than the street pimps. She trains you to be the best escort you can be, gives you access to music, literature and classes on dressing to impress, she calls them. Her clientele consists of Business men from around the world, some of them just want the company. You will have the opportunity to be out among the high and mighty in society. Some of them want the sex, but Billy has different girls for different occasions. I work the sex angle but she does have the basic escort service that doesn't include the extra. You wouldn't make as much money, but you would be working and wouldn't need Jeff or any one else. It's up to you, all we have to do is walk outside and get into a car." Lila stops speaking and waits for what seems like a lifetime for Crystal to answer.

"Lila, how do I know that this Billy Sheldon isn't any different from Jeff? How do I know that he won't be trying to force me into having sex with the guys he expects me to date? Crystal looks at Lila carefully while she is speaking, she doesn't know what she expects to see, she wasn't all that smart about Jeff, but still she believes that she will be able to tell if Lila is playing false with her. Lila returns Crystals steady gaze and tells her "She's tough, she's cold, she loves the almighty dollar; but she has learned that to make the most money, you have to have girls that are happy to work for you. You have to have girls that love what they are doing for whatever reason they love it. Whether it be for the fine clothes they can afford. The fancy cars they can buy, or the penthouse apartment that is their dream. She pays well, she's learned that quality commands the best price. She is in the business to provide quality escorts for fine rich gentlemen. She doesn't force, but if she knows what your dream is and can use it to her advantage, she will, believe me, she will"

Crystal gets up from the bed she's been sitting on and moves to the window. Looks at Lila for a second and moves past her to lean her forehead on the cool glass of the windowpane. While studying the street below she sees the limo and the two well dressed men leaning against it. So out of place in this neighborhood, that she immediately knows that they are there to take Lila and her to wherever Billy is. She has lived the past four weeks in hell, and she knows that she can't continue. She loved Jeff, and she thought he loved her. She kept thinking that there was a way that he would see things her way, but after Lila's words, she knows now that her fate is worse than she could ever imagine if she stays with Jeff. "Will you stay with me?" she askes Lila. "Yes." Lila answers, "I will tell Billy that you can stay with me during the training. If you decide that this is what you want to do." Crystal walks to the bed, picks up her few belongings, turns to Lila and nods her head. "I'll go."

Out on the street, Mr. Smith and his driver Zack are getting impatient. Maybe they should see if they can find out what room this Jeff is staying in and go up to let Lila know that they are there if they are needed. While they are making up their mind, Lila and her companion walk out the door of the Kings Rest Hotel and head straight in their direction. They notice the companion is carrying a small suitcase, "Good" Mr. Smith thinks to himself. "Lila did what she needed to do" On the other hand Zack is thinking about Jeff. He needs to get the girls and Mr. Smith into the car and out of here before Jeff comes out of the diner. He walks up to the two, relieves Crystal of her suitcase. Giving her a smile he directs them to the car. "Zack, Mr. Smith, this is Lila, she's the newest employee of Sheldon's Champagne and Limosine Escort Service" Lila introduces them to Crystal, they stow her belongings, enter the car and settle into the back seat with Mr. Smith. As they are pulling away from the curb, Jeff can be seen in the front window of the diner, paying for their meals. Lila lets out a sigh of relief and thinks,"Not a moment too soon".

As Jeff comes out of the diner he sees the limo, but doesn't pay that much attention to it. He's thinking he better get back up to the room to see how Lila is doing with Crystal. He has their food, and he is thinking that he may be a fool to leave Lila alone with Crystal. Lila has gotten above herself working for Billy. Maybe this wasn't a good Idea. He hurries across the street and into the hotel. Rather than wait for the elevator he starts up the stairs. The desk clerk calls out to him, "Jeff, your lady friends just left. The expensive looking one left you a message. She said to tell you that Crystal was going to Billy, that you knew what that meant. As a matter of fact, you just passed each other, didn't you see them?" Jeff drops the food on the floor and runs out of the hotel, looks up and down the street. No sign of either of them. "I'll get her back," he vows, "I'll teach her a lesson she won't ever forget." I'll find her and I will kill anyone who stands in my way."....

As the door opens, Crystal starts up out of her chair, frantically looking for something to cover her nakedness. She runs to the bed and grabs the dirty blanket, wrapping it around her, but not before Lila sees how perfectly built she is. How exquisitely lovely her unmarked bottom is. How her ivory skin glows with a luminescense all its own, even in this dingy place. Shoulder length Chestnut brown hair swirls around her head as she moves, her eyes are a true cerulean blue, deep and alive as the ocean. They shine with unshed tears. Lila is so moved by the sight that for a moment she is dizzy and grabs the partially open door for support. "What the Hell's wrong with you?" Jeff asks, "Nothing, just lacking sleep, remember?" she answers. She takes a few seconds to compose herself and moves into the room. "Hi, I'm Lila, Jeff thought you could use a friend being as you're here all alone.". She extends her hand in greeting to the frightened young girl, but Crystal can only stare at it. In the seconds before Jeff decides to hit her, she moves forward and takes Lila's hand into her own. "I'm Crystal Lynn, nice to meet you." Jeff brings Crystals things in from the hallway and sets them on the bed. "Get dressed" he orders. Crystal; looks from Lila to Jeff and asks, "Right here, in front of both of you?" Lila thinks...Oh yes, that would be just what I want to see..but to Jeff she says, "Why don't we step out into the hall and give her some privacy?" Jeff wants to object, but thinks Lila may have figured something out so he agrees Outside the door, Lila tells Jeff that Crystal is too frightened right now to make any sense of what they will be trying to tell her and suggests that he leave them alone to see if she can't calm Crystal down and win her trust. "What are you trying to pull?" he asks. "Tell me Mr. just what can I pull? This hotel has one entrance, you can sit outside in your car and watch it, if you think somethings up, but I need time alone with her to make her see things your way. If you aren't going to trust me to do what Billy asked me to do, then you take me back right now." She starts walking towards the elevator, hoping that Jeff will stop her, and he does. She comes back and knocks on the door asking Crystal if she can come back in now. The door opens and a fully dressed Crystal invites them back in. It's going to be a hot muggy day, and Crystal has put on shorts and a halter top that leave very little to the imagination. Lila wonders to herself if this girl knows how beautiful she really is, and more importantly how is she going to get her away from Jeff? Turning to Jeff, she asks"Didn't you tell me you were hungry? Why don't you go across to the diner and grab some breakfast, I'll stay with Crystal for a little girl talk and when you are ready, why don't you bring something back for us? How does that sound Crystal?" Jeff does not like it one bit, but can't see any way to object to it without losing Lila's cooperation. Crystal isn't sure what this woman wants, but she needs someone to listen to her and if Jeff isn't there maybe she can get Lila to help her, so she agrees. Jeff leaves and Lila moves towards Crystal taking her hand, "Let's go sit on the bed and talk." Jeff stands outside with his ear pressed to the door, listening to the quiet drone of Lila's voice and the childish lilt of Crystals responses. He hears the sound of Crystal crying. He decides that he will go and have breakfast, but something about Lila isn't setting right with him. He doesn't really want to leave, he has a feeling that something isn't on the up and up, but he's tired and hungry, can't think. So he walks towards the elevator, leaving. Inside the room, Lila and Crystal have been sitting comfortably on the bed, just making conversation. They've been talking about the weather because Lila was pretty sure that Jeff would try to listen and she didn't want him to hear any of her plans. She had no idea how much he would be able to hear and didn't want to take any chances. She's not sure how reluctant Crystal really is and how willing to leave Jeff she is at this point. She's pretty sure that Crystal is afraid of Jeff, but in these cases you never know. The kind of pimp that Jeff is usually makes his victim so dependent, that most of the girls won't leave of their own free will. They have nothing and nobody, just him, and he uses this to his own advantage. She needs to find out where Crystal is in that process and do so without overplaying her hand. She's tired, not thinking as clearly as she needs to be or she would see Crystals gaze darting towards the door as if she's ready to run. "How old are you" asks Lila, "and how did you and Jeff meet?" At first Crystal is afraid to answer. She believes that Lila is some kind of spy for Jeff, maybe one of his "other" women. She studies Lila's face and she sees something in Lila's eyes. Something...Compassion?...Sympathy?..Something that wasn't there when Jeff was in the room. Something that gives hope to Crystal. Something that may mean there is a way out of this mess. Something that will help her not be what Jeff is trying to make of her. Something human. Not heartless and cold, something that she thinks she needs to trust. She starts to cry. In between sobs she pours out the story of her meeting with Jeff and everything that came after. Lila moves over towards Crystal, reaching out and enfolding the heartbroken young girl in her arms. She listens to the tale of a gullible 17 year old, and remembers what it was like for her. She is lost in the feeling of pain and anguish coming from this beautiful, delicate child. She realizes that she wants this child for her own. She wants to have the love of this child-woman and experience everything that relationship will bring. She wants to teach Crystal what love really means, love between two women. She wants Crystal in a way she has never wanted any man. In that split second her loyalty to Billy shatters. She devises a plan, she can do this, she has to do this. Finally Lila realizes Jeff is gone, she hears the elevator going down, moves to the window and waits. Jeff comes out the front entrance of the hotel and walks across the street. Stops to light a cigarette, stands there smoking for a bit, throws it down on the sidewalk and with one last look at the hotel, grinds it out, and enters the diner. Lila turns from the window and says, "I will take you someplace safe, if you want to go"

. Lying next to her in the bed he's wondering exactly how this is going to work. She's clean and beautiful, an absolute goldmine if she stays this way. She will earn her keep and more besides, if he just plays this right. She needs to understand and cooperate with his plan. He needs to get back to where he was before. Back at Sea-Tac, where she'll grow and prosper in her chosen profession.... His chosen profession....With two of his ladies dead... and one in jail because she was selling drugs he needed more talent. He originally intended on a one night stand. Just to pass the time. This Crystal is so HOT she was just beggin' for it. Now I need to figure out how to get her to cooperate. I don't want another drug addicted bimbo with track marks and sores. I want this one naked and as clean as she is right now. This one they'll pay for, and beg to pay more. Jeff, you just take your time and play this one right, you're lying right next to easy street, one false move and it will all go up in smoke.

"Crystal Honey, you just have to help us get ahead in the world, it won't be long, just enought to help us make a new start" That's what he said to her. Hell, she said she loved him, she ought to be willing to do anything for her man. But NO...the Bitch wouldn't buy that either. Thinks she's too good for that. Well...We'll just see about that.
I ain't lettin' this one get away until she learns to do ANYTHING a man wants, and to do it for money. My way, and if she ain't cooperating...well...there's always the needle. I don't like it that way, but sometimes you gotta do things the easy way. Some bitches just don't know when they got it good.

"Look, I got some business to attend to. I want you to stay here and think about what we've been talkin' about. It ain't going to hurt you any to do it my way for awhile." said Jeff. He's sitting on the edge of the bed preparing to get dressed and an idea comes to him. He needs to find Billy and Lila, last he knew Billy was hanging out at a strip joint on the edge of town. What was the name of that place? He can't think of the name, but that doesn't matter, he knows where it is and how to get there. That's where Billy finds "the girls" as she calls them. Young college girls needing extra money and taking up stripping. When Billy gets done talking she makes the escort service sound like Heaven. Maybe Billy will have some ideas about what to do with Crystal.

"NO you can't go with me. I'll be back at midnight. In the meantime you just think about how you're going to prove to me that you love me." He pushes her away and she falls back on the bed. "Wipe them damn tears off your face or Daddy Man will give you something to cry about." Oh, and I'm takin your clothes. Want you here and waiting for your Daddy Man when he gets back" He's Evil and Crystal is beginning to understand that. She now knows that he doesn't love her, that she's alone and afraid.

Finding Billy was as easy as he thought, but Billy won't let Lila go with him until she's done for the night. Lila has an expensive party that she's attending. It means good money for all of the six girls attending, and for Billy. When Lila comes back Billy will send her with Jeff, with instructions to do anything Jeff asks. In the meantime, Billy invites Jeff to enjoy the show with her until Lila's return. Jeff doesn't have sense enough to stop bragging about how great a deal this girl is. How much money he's going to make off her. Billy runs an escort service, she doesn't hire anything but the best. Looks, and the ability to make conversation. She is known for the quality of her girls.

Billy starts to thinking that if this Crystal is as good as Jeff says, then she's too good for the likes of him. He's in her territory now, and she calls the shots. Maybe she can kill two birds with one stone. Get rid of Jeff, and hire this Crystal for herself. When Lila comes back, Billy tells her what she has in mind and asks Lila to go and check this situation out. See if she can turn this girl their way. If Jeff proves to be difficult, Billy will take care of him, but find a way to get Crystal away from him. Billy will handle everything else. In front of Jeff, Billy tells Lila that she's to do anything she can for Jeff. Lila is tired and wants to tell Billy that she can't, but Billy gave her everything she has and she owes her. She won't let her down. So she gets into Jeff's car and they drive away.

"It took way too long to find you. I told Crystal I'd be back about midnight. Look, I know I'm asking a lot of you under the circumstances, but I need help with her." Jeff said to Lila as they pulled up in front of the hotel. When Lila didn't respond right away, he reaches over and punches her arm."Jesus", she said rubbing the spot where his fist had just been. "I said I'd help you." She was tired, been pulling her share all night long. She wanted nothing more than a long hot bath and some sleep. Billy said she was to help Jeff, and what Billy said went, as far as she was concerned. She knew better than to not pay attention. She knew what was good for her.

Walking through the lobby, Lila thought about the early days and her time at flea bag hotels. When Billy took over, she didn't have to work the streets or the old hotels. Now, her territory was more upscale and she was commanding a better price. Sometimes as much as $500 a trick, thanks to Billy. She knew she only had a few more years where she could command that kind of price. Billy was generous as pimps go, and she'd managed to make a few investments and put some aside for a rainy day. She wasn't about to screw that up now. This Crystal Lynn was going into the business one way or another. She understood the problem, she was in Crystal's shoes once herself.

Outside the door to 502 Lila placed her hand on his arm, "Look Jeff, I'll talk to her, I will tell her how easy this really is. I will show her how much money you can make at this, but any rough stuff, any drugging, you will have to do it." He nodded as he placed the key into the lock, and opened the door.

The only illumination came from the streetlight on the corner that shone through the filthy windowpanes. It was the fifth floor of a cheap hotel that had delusions of grandeur. Called itself the King's Rest. Just the usual rundown dirty hotel found in the urban jungle of every big city. Inhabited by winos and streetwalkers too old to make a living at the oldest profession in the book. If you can stand the smell of the carpet in the lobby long enough to sign the book, you get a room with a view, no questions asked. Windows covered with soot and faded red drapes of some heavy material that is so old it's no longer recognisable. Chair, table, bed with threadbare sheets, nightstand and a lamp. All the amenities. Just don't turn on the lamp. Looks better this way.

She moved to the window, drawing aside the drapes to get a better look at the street below. There still was no sign of him and it was getting late. He said he'd be back before midnight and it was now 3 a.m. She didn't know what to do. There wasn't anyone she could call to ask, and she couldn't go back home. All she could do was wait, and hope he'd be in a better mood if he did come back. She supposed it should be when he came back, not if. She knew he'd come back, she was all he had. Just like he was all there was for her. Get some sleep, and when he came back she would try again, and again, until there was nothing left. Just the ashes of her dreams.

What did she do so wrong that this nightmare became her life? Her family hadn't liked Jeff. They felt that there was something missing in him, something that he was hiding. Her sister felt that he was too glib, too easy with the answers for everything. Momma refused to let him in the house. She couldn't abide snake oil salesmen and she wasn't letting one into her home to spread their oily charm. She was forbidden to have anything to do with him, but he made her feel so special. No one had ever paid the least bit of attention to her before. So she snuck out of the house at night to meet him. They would drive in his expensive car to the Overlook and talk and make love until it was time for her to sneak back in and get ready for her job.

She quit school the year before and had to go to work to help support her Momma and her sister. It wasn't much, counter help at the local diner, but the tips were good and meant that she could contribute to the household and have a few dollars left for herself. That's where she met Jeff. At the diner during the breakfast rush, what feels like years ago, but was really only a few weeks. He said he was a talent scout for a modelling agency. They were looking for a new face for an upcoming campaign for some big cosmetic manufacturer. She had the perfect face and figure. He wanted her to go with him to try out for the campaign. She believed him, she was so sure that her Momma and Sis were being selfish. They just wanted her to stay and work to take care of them. They didn't want her to have a life, they couldn't see how much more money she'd make as a model.

"Crystal Lynn, if you leave with that man,. don't you never come back. I won't have no slut in my house. This here's a christian house and don't you go forgettin it. " So, here she sits, waiting for Jeff to come back. No money to get away, no friends to help her, no family to go home to. Just the way he planned it. Real fancy car, real handsome man, too bad he's a pimp and she's going to get added to his stable when they get to where they are going. "You like it with me, you'll like it with any man, especially since your going to get paid. All beautiful women want is money, and you got the goods to get it" That's what he said to her, and then he left.

She's tired of fighting, tired of trying to tell him that it's different with him. Tired of telling him she loves him. "Prove it", that's what he said. "Prove that you love me, do what I tell you to. I need you to do this for me Baby, just until I get back on my feet." She doesn't think she can do it, she always thought making love was just that. What you did with someone you loved, somehow even doing it with Jeff is making her feel cheap. Very cheap, now that she knows what he is. She can't even cry anymore, last time she did it made it worse. She had no idea that anyone could ever be treated this way. Momma always told her that men were no good. Crystal thought that it was the way Momma was that made Daddy leave. Now she's not so sure.

Maybe if she continues to say no, he'll leave her. She can get a job, maybe the diner across the street need help. She was a good counter person, her boss said so. Maybe she could convince Jeff that she could support them that way, that she doesn't need to turn tricks to make money. She just wished she knew what to do. It's so lonely here without Jeff. Why doesn't he come back? Why doesn't he love her the way he said he did? How could he do this to her? If only she could leave this awful room, but Jeff took all her clothes with him when he left.
"Can't have you running away from me , no, we can't have that, can we? Need to have my Crystal Baby right here where she belongs when her Daddy Man gets back."

She sits in the chair, staring at the tenements across the street, now visible in the dim gray light of dawn. Ugly broken brick buildings with boarded up windows. Only those inhabited places have windows open to coax what passes for a cooling breeze to enter. Someone set a flowerpot on a windowsill. An attempt to make their otherwise dreary existance more attractive? A gift from an admirer? Don't know, doesn't matter. It isn't going to make her life any better. It isn't going to change a thing. She still is locked into room 502 of the Kings Rest Hotel, naked and alone, waiting for Jeff and trying to figure out what she needs to do. At the corner, a red Cadillac turns onto the street and the girl in the chair sobs. One lonely tear escapes and trickles down her cheek.