Chapter 4
Gabrielle Lamarr not her real name was a prostitute. There weren't too many hookers in Meadowbrook, and even the Mafia didn't bother with such a small community, so Gabrielle and the few other hookers who did work there were free-lance, and as a result, kept all the money they earned.
Gabrielle had gone to school with Andrea and Roger when they were younger, but Gabrielle, coming from a poor family, had to resort to the world's oldest profession in order to earn a living and support her mother, and her five brothers and sisters. Her father had died while she was in high school, and that was when Gaby, as she was known, had turned to becoming a pavement princess. Since there wasn't that much competition in Meadowbrook, Gaby received the best rates from a whole bunch of deviates, both men and women, all of whom were parents of kids she had gone to school with.
Roger knew Gaby, and he liked her, more than liked her. He'd had direct amorous feelings but hadn't let her know. Now he felt a bit sorry for the way she was forced to earn a living. That is, he felt sorry for her until she told him one evening that she enjoyed earning her living that way. They had met in a small bar near the edge of town where Roger had been wandering, looking for the right person to help him put his plan against Andrea into action. He had paid for Gaby's time, and had merely sat and talked with her about old times in school. They sat in a booth at the back of the bar, and as they talked, it occurred to Roger that Gaby had once been accused of lesbianism by Andrea when Andrea had wanted a part in a school play that was going to go to Gaby.
"The funny thing is," Gaby said to Roger, "I didn't even know what lesbianism meant at that time. Today, I indulge in it, along with all the other wonderful vices. Still, I'd like to get back at that bitch for taking away the one decent thing I had earned in high school. It would have been nice being the star of the school play."
"Well, then," Roger told her. "I have an idea just how we can both have a little fun with her."
He then proceeded to outline his idea to her, and Gaby smiled, saying, "I'm willing to do that for nothing. Gratis!"
"Hell!" Roger laughed. "That'd ruin your professional standing. Tell you what, though. Andrea is just one of five I've been yearning to revenge myself on. I may or may not tell you the names of the others as I go along, depending on whether or not I'll need you. But I want you on twenty-four hour call. I'll pay your five hundred bucks a week just to stay on call. If I use you, I'll pay you fifty bucks an hour for your time. In the meantime, you can continue to ply your trade and still earn money."
"Fine," Gaby nodded. "I have an answering service, and what's more, I carry one of those little phone beepers to let me know when I have an urgent call. Any time you want me, just phone the answering service. Okay?"
Roger handed her five bills, all hundred dollar denominations, and said, "Okay. By the way, why are you calling yourself Lamarr. I mean, we all know that isn't your real last name."
"You know it, and half the town knows it," she smiled. "But there are people moving in all the time who don't know it, and Gabrielle Lamarr can earn a lot more money than Gabrielle Fishbein."
"True," Roger nodded. "Now, in order to expedite our plan, may I suggest you take a room at one of our swankier motels and let me know precisely where you'll be."
"I keep a room at the Blue Poppy," she smiled. "Just go to the room clerk and tell him you want The Suite. He'll understand."
"Even if I have Andrea with me?"
"They know I'll swing any which way."
"Good!" Roger nodded. "Suppose we tentatively set this thing up for this coming Saturday night."
"Fine with me," Gaby nodded.
It was the following night that Roger phoned Andrea and asked if he might come over to see her. That was when she was surprised to hear from him, and more surprised that he had managed to catch her in the house, since she was almost never there. She had been planning to go out with some local playboy, but the plans hadn't been definite, and besides, the playboy sounded like such a dull person. Roger Starr sounded to Andrea as if he might be a real live wire.
So Roger had come over. The two of them had hit it off, especially since they both discussed Andrea's favorite topic, Andrea, all evening long. So when Roger set up their date for Saturday evening, Andrea was more than willing.
"I sometimes like fun and games both, before and after I go out," he told Andrea. "How about you?"
"What makes you so sure I'm that kind of girl?" Andrea asked.
"You look like the fun type," he smiled. "Besides, bet I can teach even you a few new tricks."
"We'll see," Andrea shrugged.