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NEWMAN OPENED THE door to the strip club like ere just customers No one stopped us, or yelled, Cheese it, the cops, or really seemed to notice us at all The interior of the club was so dark that even after we took off our sunglasses, it still took time for our eyes to adjust At least there was no entry platforht while you were blind to the rooet shot, but that was justoverti and waiting for my eyes to adjust in a club, and today was no different I still felt better e could see well enough to move farther into the dim interior

There was a dancer on the stage wearing a shiny G-string and those clear plastic heels that so many strippers seem fond of Jean-Claude had banned theht they looked cheap I just thought they looked uncomfortable, but then so did most of the heels that dancers wore The dancer was barely e topless was enough to get custoh at Guilty Pleasures, but then, Jean-Claude helped his dancers put together acts for their routines So to just gyrate to the music, your moves had to be athletic, well-done, and at least on ti on to the pole in thenone of the three Guilty Pleasures had really spoiled me for strip clubs

The dark, faded interior of the club also hter, more upbeat aters had started out as dancers, they’d pay ht as you entered the club, and the man behind it was inches taller than Newman, so at least six feet five or six He was also twice as broad as Newman, and most of that was shoulder spread He smiled at us like he meant it and said, “Bar’s open, and we have some daily specials What’ll it be?”

I saw scar tissue on his knuckles as he handed us the menus He’d either started as a bouncer and worked his way over to bartender and waitstaff, or he was a man of many talents Since his fist was the size of et aimed in our direction

Newe discreetly “We just need to speak with one of your dancers briefly” He smiled as he said it

I just stood there, doing ood at that, though aduns, blades, and body arear on aze in my direction that let me know he’d noticed

He kept sot a badge, too?” he asked

I got mine out and showed it to him He tried to touch it or maybe my hand, but I moved just out of reach

“I’es, that’s all”

I kept e out where he could stare at it

Hebitter “Preternaturalplace We don’t let monsters dance here” He said monsters like it was a dirty word

I felt myself stiffen and knew that my face wasn’t friendly anymore

The bartender noticed, because he said, “We have a right to hire ant”

“Of course you do,” New and cheerful He’d turned and seen the look on rumpy cop

I’d try not to go frorumpy to bad, but I couldn’t promise It would depend on how much the bartender pissed h I’d handle the prejudice in exchange for enough information