Tony here,” and she gave Catell a cocky smile.

“Later, dear Selma. We’ll all have a nice chat, I promise you.” Paar wasn’t smiling this time.

“Paar.” Catell’s voice was matter of fact. “Who are the two guys just came in the door?”

“Who?”

“Don’t jerk your head. By the door.”

Paar turned and glanced toward the entrance. Then he gave Catell a patronizing smile.

“You are jumpy, Tony. They come quite often. Local detectives looking in on a private club.”

Catell rose slowly. He put his hands in his pockets, turned his back to the cops, and looked casual.

“I’m blowing. Where’s the back door?”

“My dear Tony, this means absolutely nothing. Please sit down.”

“Shut up. I can’t be seen with Selma right now. Where’s the back?”

“Now, really, Tony boy.” Paar put his soft hand on Catell’s arm.

Catell stepped close. “Hear this, Paar. See to it I don’t tangle with your copper friends there. Keep them and anybody else you know out of my way. If you don’t, I’ll get you.”

Then he walked away, slowly, without turning. Paar’s big forehead was sticky with sweat.

Once through the swinging doors in the back, Catell turned quickly and glanced through the glass into the room he had just left. Paar was standing with the two cops, patting one of them on the back. Then they started to walk his way, chatting.

Catell turned away. He found himself in an empty kitchen with one light over the huge refrigerator. There was a door to the left. Catell went to the door, opened it, and stepped into a long hall. More doors. He picked one, opened it, and found himself in a small cubicle without windows. Pipes ran along the ceiling. There was a mop and bucket in one corner, and a clothes rack in the other. A naked light bulb made a hard light, and under it stood Lily.

She had taken her shoes and stockings off and her hands were at her back, trying to undo the black corset. Catell closed the door behind him and she looked up, without recognition. “Hi,” Catell said.

“Hi.”

“Fancy meeting you here, Lily.” She didn’t answer. Only her eyes moved. “If you were going to scream, don’t,” Catell said. He turned the catch of the door. “I’m just staying a minute.” She looked at him, frowning, and put a hand to her breasts. “Please,” she said. “Please leave.”

Catell heard footsteps in the hall and leaned lightly against the door, both hands on the knob. “Not a word, kid.”

“Please, mister, I—”

Catell moved across the small room fast and clapped one hand over her mouth, holding her up against him with his other arm. He didn’t have to say any more. She saw his face grow stiff, mean, and she stayed very still.

After the footsteps had passed, Catell didn’t move right away. He felt her soft mouth under his hand and the curve of her thighs against him. Then he let her go. She stepped back, red marks showing on her face where his hand had been.

“Please go now.”

“Not yet.”

“Please, I have to change. I’m late.”

“Go ahead.”

“But I have to change, mister.”

“The name’s Tony.”

She bit her lip but didn’t say anything. One of the pipes along the ceiling started to hiss. Lily looked up and back at Catell, who was still leaning against the door. Neither of them moved.

“Come on, go ahead and change. Don’t tell me you never been looked at.”

She stood in the middle of the bare room, under the hard light, her mouth trembling.

“Answer me,” Catell said.

“I—I don’t know what you mean.”

“I said get undressed. It can’t be the first time.”

“I never—”

“You’re lying.”

“Never like this, I mean.”

“Fine. I like to be the first. Now get it off.”

She hesitated. He took a step toward her, looking at the girl with cold eyes. A muscle jumped in the side of his face. Lily shrank back, real fear in her eyes.

“Stay where you are. Under the light.”

Catell leaned against the door again and watched.

Lily arched her back, her hands fumbling for the zipper. Her eyes shone wet. When the zipper opened she let the corset drop. It rolled on the floor without losing its shape. Then Catell raised his eyes slowly. He saw her narrow ankles, her calves. She had full thighs that curved with a satiny sheen, wide round hips, and a sharp curve where her waist drew in. Catell chewed his lip but otherwise made no movement. He noticed that she had the same shape as she’d had in the corset, the skin of her body smooth and