She heard the door open, then slam. A purse sailed over her head and smacked against the wall. It thudded heavily, landing with a muted jangle. Acacia looked back over her shoulder to see Naresha, in her perky little waitress uniform, standing before the door. Her legs were braced, her fists clenched, her head down, and she was breathing like a steam engine. Acacia snapped her gum. "Bad day?"

"Mother--fucking--Lester."

"That says it all." Acacia rolled over on her back, laying the open magazine on her stomach. "What is it this time?"

"What is it ever? I've been doing well in tips, so he upped his cut." She gave a shudder, and rubbed her hands briskly over her arms, then her thighs. "And the bastard is way too touchy-feely. He asked me for a date."

"Did ya tell him to fuck off?"

"Not in so many words, darling. I made vague noises about feeling a migrain going on. He was not gracious." She looked around. "Where's Kitten?"

"She went back. I think she plays with Kathleen."

"And Milda?"

Acacia raised her voice. "Milda? 'Resha's home."

Milda came out of the bathroom. "Goodness, you look like you're ready to chew nails and spit rust."

"Lester tried to check my slip strap, and I'm not wearing a slip," she snarled.

Acacia started flipping through the magazine again. "Too bad he doesn't collect the take at night. I could take care of him and snag us some cash at the same time."

"Casey!"

The older girl shrugged. "Survival, sweetie."

"It would not be. We have money--we don't need to steal."

Naresha dropped down on the bed, kicking off her shoes. "It may become a matter of survival, Milda. He's getting very pushy, is Mister Lester. I think he might be one of the ones who has a hard time understanding the concept of 'no'. How about rolling my tips for me, love?"

"Sure." Milda took Naresha's purse and removed a small paper sack of mixed change. She dumped it in a bowl on the dresser, then began to fill several partially filled rolls of nickles, dimes, and quarters. "I think we have about thirty dollars in change here. We ought to change it for bills soon."

"I'll bring it in to the diner tomorrow and change it out. That idiot Lester never thinks to bring enough coins."

When she was done, Milda went and knelt before Naresha, taking her sister's feet in her hands and beginning to massage them. "Nar, I wish you'd let Acacia or I trade off with you. We could wear the wig, and I bet no one would notice." They'd bought a black wig a week ago when they noticed that Naresha was growing blonde roots. It had been decided that it would be cheaper in the long run and a lot less aggravating.

"You two might be able to pass physically, dearest, but in behavior?" She made a rude, but good-noise. "Casey would rip the spleen out of some of the wolves, and you would be so sweet that it would seriously undermine my reputation." She leaned forward to caress Milda's coppery hair. "But thank you, sweet. I know your heart is in the right place. No, I'll do it--no reason why you two should have to share the shit."

Milda picked up one of Naresha's discarded shoes and ran her finger over the toe. "Oh, he must have really gotten to you. There's a hole here."

She sighed. "Damn. No wonder I have runs in my hose. Must've happened when he managed to push against my butt while he passed me behind the counter."

Acacia tossed down the magazine. "Did you check the newspaper?"

Naresha's full lips turned down at the corners. "Yes, I did. Tonight's the night, all right. We'll find out for certain whether or not this is going to be a regular part of our routine."

"Crap," Acacia pouted. "I was hoping to get down to that dance club on Green Street."

"You just have a crush on one of the waitresses," Naresha scoffed. She began to strip as the other sisters spoke, then pulled on one of Acacia's short dresses, and donned her ankle-high boots.

"Do not. I like it 'cause the don't give a damn about checking IDs, and I can have a snort when I want to."

"I wish you wouldn't, Casey," Milda said quietly.

"Aw, geez, sis, don't go all Bible Belt on me."

"You know that isn't what I meant. It's just that the way we are it isn't wise to have too loose a grip on our control when we're around others." She noted Acacia's petulant scowl and smiled. "I'm not trying to spoil your fun, Casey. Why not just stick to wine, at least when we start to get close to our time? You can do that, can't you?"

Naresha removed the black wig, laying it on the dresser, and peering into the mirror.

Acacia studied herself, seeing only her own blonde streaked hair instead of Naresha's growing out 'do. "Yeah, I can do that." She frowned at the dark lipstick *How the hell did I get that on?* and wiped her mouth clean, then applied a fresh coat of bubblegum colored lipstick. "In fact, I can do that right now. The liquor store down the block doesn't check IDs any better than the club does. Back in a flash."

As she went out the door, Naresha called, "Please, God, no more Mad Dog!"

He heard the sucking sound of the cooler door opening, then it's slam. There was the rap of footsteps and she crossed the aisle again. *Well, now.* It was the first time since she had been hired that he'd seen her in anything other than the waitress uniform. It wasn't what he would have expected of her: a sheath of screaming canary yellow decorated with large, green daisies. *Still, it's short--that's what matters.* He forgot about what he'd been doing before and went to the front.

She was leaning on the counter, looking bored while the clerk studied her ID card. He looked from it to her. She blew a bubble, snapping it, and raised an eyebrow at him. He frowned. She pushed another five dollar bill into the small pile of money sitting next to the bottle of Thunderbird. "Problem?"

He scooped the money up, tucking the five into his pocket. "Not at all, Miss Ballard. Happy to do business with you." He slipped the bottle into a paper sack.

Acacia picked it up and turned quickly, almost bumping into the leering man standing behind her. "Shit! Sneakin' up on people is a dangerous proposition, Mister! If you startled me bad enough, you coulda got this bottle upside your head."

"Now, now, Naresha. Is that any way to talk to your boss?"

The clerk frowned. "Naresha? I thought the card said Danielle."

"It's my middle name, okay?" His frown deepend. "Shit." She flipped another five at him. "Okay?"

He made the five disappear. "Makes perfect sense to me."

She stalked toward the door, snarling, "Thanks a lot, dim-bulb! You cost me an extra five."

He followed. "But that's so unecessary, Naresha. If you went out with me I'd be more than happy to supply you with whatever drinks you want."

"Not interested." The bell jingled as she exited.

Lester followed. This was intrigueing. Naresha had always been so diplomatic at work, evading him with smiles and winks. He found this cruder rebuff interestin--it seemed so out of character.

She was standing at the corner, waiting for the light to change when he caught up with her. It was rush hour, and the cars were whizzing past. He stood beside her, and she turned her face away, pretending interest in the bus schedule on the sign at the stop. "What are you doing to your hair?" In this part of town, dark roots were not unusual, but blonde roots? She made no response. He reached out and touched her hair, curious.

The reaction shocked him. She whirled on him, knocking his hand away with a force that made it sting. "Hands off the merchandice!"

Lester regarded her with surprise. There was something different, something aside from the dress and the hair. It was the way she held herself, the attitude. There was a wild spark in those tilted blue eyes that he hadn't seen before. It made him start to get hard. "What's gotten into you, Naresha? You know, I could fire you."

"Fire away, an' quit calling me Naresha! Damn, I don't know how she's kept from gutting you by now." The light hadn't changed, but she sprinted out into traffic. There was the screeching of tires. Horns blared and voices were raised in curses. The girl skipped nimbly out of the way of a skidding Pontiac, flipping the bird at the howling driver, and made it to the other side.

Lester wasn't about to try that stunt--he waited for the light to change, then hurried after her. He saw her enter the parking area of a seedy motel, but lost sight of her. By the time he neared it, she was gone. *She must have ducked into one of the rooms. Well, at least I know where she's staying now. I'll be back later, Naresha, and we can discuss your attitude--and what you'll have to do if you want to keep your job.*

Milda chimed in, harmonizing. "Closer. Doo wha doo. Let me whisper in your ear. Doo wha Doo. Say the words I wanna heh-ear."

Naresha, smiling, crooned, "Ahm in love with y-o-u..." She took a more conservative swig. "Don't tell me that wine makes you mellow, Acacia."

"I don't think anything could make me mellow right now except unconsciousness," Acacia replied. "Milda, babe, I know you're the Queen of Calm, but go ahead and take a few slugs, wouldya? I can tell that it's getting to you."

Milda sighed. "You're right--I am feeling a little tightly strung." She accepted the bottle and drank. "How much good is this going to do us? One bottle for three people isn't likely to have that much effect."

"I dunno. We've almost finished it, and I'm starting to feel a little ripped," Naresha commented. "What per-centage alcohol is it, anyway?"

Acacia snatched the bottle away from Milda and drained it, then squinted at the label. "That is some fucking tiny print. I dunno." She held up her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. "Probably about this much. I should have gotten two bottles, I guess. I'm hopin' that it'll make this hurt a little less."

"I don't think it will be quite as bad," murmured Milda. "I've noticed that flexing my nails hardly hurts at all now."

Naresha twitched the curtain and peered outside before letting it fall back. "The sun has set--it shouldn't be long before moonrise." She picked up the little cardboard sign that said DO NOT DISTURB, opened the door, and hung it on the outside doorknob before shutting the door again. She depressed and turned the button on the knob, locking the door. "Cheap ass place. They could at least have put in chains, too, but I guess they were afraid the guests would get up to something, and they wouldn't have been able to get in and shake their fingers."

Nareesha sighed deeply. "I think so. Gad, my bones ache!" Milda nodded.

"Okay, we agree, right? Anybody needs to use the bathroom, we try to remember to hop into the shower."

"Agreed." Naresha grimaced, nose wrinkling. "Rather than finding a little present in a corner, like last time."

There was a knock at the door. They all stared at it, then looked at each other. Naresha held a finger up to her lips, and they sat quietly. The knock came again--longer and more insistant. Someone outside called, "Come on, Naresha. I know you're in there."

"Fuck!" Acacia's whisper was fierce. "That bastard followed me."

Naresha groaned. "Casey, after all the trouble I've gone through to keep him from finding out where we live."

"It wasn't my fault--I tried to shake him."

The knocking graduated to thumping. "Naresha! I want to talk to you."

Naresha raised her voice, trying to keep the strain out of it. "Lester, I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Why don't we discuss whatever it is at work tomorrow?"

"You think I'm going to let that attitude you gave me pass that easily? C'mon."

"Get stuffed!" Acacia snarled. Naresha shushed her furiously.

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. You're a little too fresh for your own good. Open the door."

Naresha swore quietly, then whispered to the others, "In the bathroom, and be quiet. I'll try to get rid of him."

As she followed Acacia to the bathroom, Milda whispered, "Reesha, hurry up! The moon..."

Naresha was pulling on a pair of slacks, hiding the warm brown fur that coated her legs. "I know, darling. I'll try."

The door opened. Naresha's expression was a little tight, but she didn't exude the cockiness that she had at the liquor store. "Lester, this really is a bad time."

"What happened to the blonde roots?" Her hair was its usual uniform black.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I get it--you're wearing a wig. Your hair must be naturally blonde judging from the roots--why would you want to wear a wig? Unless you have a reason for changing your appearance."

Her smile faded, and her blue eyes were cold. "If I did, it wouldn't be any of your business, would it? Go away, Lester, and we'll talk about whatever you want to tomorrow, but go away. I'm in a very bad mood right now. I may get... snappish."

"Enough of this shit." He pushed past her.

"Hey! Look, this is my home, you can't just come busting..."

"There's something really funny about you, Naresha. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I figure I have enough to make things real uncomfortable for you, if I so choose."

"I don't know what you think you know..."

"I know that you use a fake ID, and that you're underage, and that you've bought alcohol with it. I bet there's someone, somewhere looking for you." Her eyes were narrowing. "Who knows? There may even be someone willing to pay something to get you back."

Naresha's voice was low. "Lester, you don't know what you're doing, really you don't." Her gaze darted toward the bathroom door. "Look, I think I know what you want, and maybe we can work something out, but not now. There's someone else here."

"Boyfriend? I find that hard to believe. I've watched a hundred guys try to get into your pants, and they never made any headway."

She was scratching at her arms. "It's a man--it's my sister. She's the one you saw at the liquor store--we're twins. Look, I'm sorry if she snipped at you. I'll talk to her. I doubt if she'll apologize, but I'll try. But you have to go--now!"

"Not likely. I don't mind her being here at all. The only number I like better than two is three."

He started toward the bathroom, and Naresha grabbed at his arm. "Dammit, Lester! I'm trying to keep you from..."

He shoved her back, hard, sneering. "You might as well get it through your head that you're not going to stop me from getting what I want." He jerked open the bathroom. "Come out, come out, sis. You can't hide from me." It was empty. "Where are you?"

"Right here."

The voice came from close behind him. He turned, blinking. How had that other girl gotten behind him? He hadn't heard the door open. Then he blinked again. No, it wasn't another girl--it was Naresha, without the wig. The wig lay at her feet, like a small, sleek animal. But was it Naresha? She seemed different. That hostile, angry gleam was back in her eyes. Her entire stance was different, her voice was huskier, without the little drawl he found so appealing. "Naresha?"

"No. And I fucking hate hide and seek." She lashed out. It never occured to him to duck. After all, she was just a girl. Her fist caught him flush on the chin, and he felt like someone had clipped him with a baseball bat. He staggered back, falling through the open bathroom door. He slipped on the worn tile and landed on his ass, swearing at the jolt of pain that lanced up his spine.

She stepped into the room after him. Dazed, he noticed that she was clenching and unclenching her hand, and he thought he saw bright orange between her fingers. After a moment he recognized it. It was a roll of quarters. No wonder she punched like a mule kick. "You bitch! You're gonna get it now. I'll have your ass on assault."

"Make it attempted murder." She kicked. Her foot caught him just under the chin this time, snapping his head back so that it smacked against the hard porceline of the toilet. He slumped, eyes closing. "Or better yet..." she grapped the limp man under the arms, turning and heaving him, and shoved his head into the toilet. "Let's go for the grand prize."

"Casey, no!" Milda came up behind her, grabbing at her sister's arms. "You can't!"

"Watch me."

"Casey, please, don't. Look, he isn't dead yet, he's still making bubbles."

"Milda, this'll be kinder than what will probably happen to him in a few minutes." Her nails had already extended, scraping shallow gouges in the back of Lester's neck as she held him.

Milda was always the gentle one, but she showed surprising strength. She managed to drag her sister away from her victim, then haul him up. He coughed and spluttered, but did not regain consciousness. "It doesn't have to be like that. We can leave him in here." She grabbed some towels and began to tie him up. "We can leave him in here and shut the door while we're changed."

"And what then, Mildy?" Naresha asked, watching as Milda tied the man's feet securely. "We can't just keep him in there forever. He'll make trouble for us after this."

"Simple. Tomorrow we leave. We leave him tied up here and just go, put the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door. No one at work knows where to look for us. By the time the motel management comes around, we'll be long gone."

"I think that will work," Naresha agreed. "Shove a gag in there, love, and I'll give you a hose to tie it with."

"If we're going to do this, we might as well do it right. Better tether him to the base of the toilet," Acacia grumbled. "And hurry." She started to strip off her clothes, and her voice was thick. "It's getting close."

In another minute they had the door closed, and they managed to shift the dresser in front of it. The last coherent thing Acacia said, just before she dropped onto all fours, was "That should keep the undeserving fucker safe."

"Yes." Milda closed and latched the second of their suitcases, setting it with the other and the overnight case. "I'll be glad when we can spend enough time in one place to acquire something other than a few clothes."

Acacia rubbed her shoulder. "We'll have our own little lair some day, kiddo. Don't you worry."

Milda cast a concerned look back to where the dresser was still across the bathroom door. "Do you think he's all right in there?"

They heard faint thumpings. "Yeah, he's okay. Good thing you thought to go in there and take off his shoes, Naresha. I don't think that's going to bother anyone enough for them to report it."

They went out, and Naresha said, "Just a minute, girls. That's Lester's car."

"So?" Acacia shrugged. "We can't take it. Too big a chance of being picked up--they look for stolen cars."

"Not that, pet. Just a moment." She went back into the room and returned with a wire coat hanger. Milda and Acacia watched as she unbent it into one long wire, then formed a hook in the end.

An elderly man, another long term resident, was just shuffling back from the manager's office with a newspaper under his arm. "Lock your keys in your car, little lady?"

Naresha smiled charmingly. "Clumsy me."

"Here, let me help you with that." He took the wire and slid it down between the window and the side of the car. After a few moments of fishing around, he pulled upward. There was a thunk, and the lock inside popped up.

"You are such a sweetie!" Naresha gave him a kiss on the cheek and, as old as he was, he blushed. He mumbled something about her having a nice day and went on to his room. When he was gone she opened the door and started rummaging around.

"What are you looking for, Naresha?" Milda asked, curious.

"This!" Naresha pulled a paper bag out from under the seat. She opened it and let her sisters peek inside. There was a zippered canvas bag inside. "Yesterday's bank deposit. I figure the shit owes me at least this."

"Fantastic. That should make up for the tips he extorted. Let's blow this popsicle stand," said Acacia.

"Yes. But let's drop the bags off at the bus station, then I have one more stop to make."

"I'd like to think that I'll leave a hole in your life." She smiled at Donna. "I'm sorry, dear, but this is necessary. I have to leave. You'll know why soon."

"Well, at least you didn't just take off--you came around to say good-bye."

"I hate to leave you alone on the shift, you know that."

"I guess I do." She paused. "It's because of Lester, isn't it?"

"In a way, but I would have had to go soon, anyway. I'm going to miss you and Carol. Will you tell her good-bye for me?"

"Sure."

Naresha looked around. The last shift's waitress was in the back, clocking out. "I have something for you." She pulled something out of her pocket and pressed it into the older woman's hand.

Donna looked at it. Her eyes widened as she spread the bills. Five twenties. "Naresha, what...?"

"It's yours, Donna. You earned it. Use it to buy something nice for yourself and Carol." Her eyes hardened. "Buy yourself some nice clothes and go on job interviews for an office or a nice restaurant. Get out of this rat hole, and away from that rat."

Donna searched the girl's eyes. Such a strange girl, but she'd proven to be one of her better friends. She tucked the money down her blouse, into her cleavage. "Thanks, kid." She leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "You try to pick somewhere better the next time, too, huh?"

"We'll see, but I think I'll have to spend a bit longer crawling around in the shadows." She handed the uniform to Donna. "It's paid for. Maybe you can alter it, or make a mother-daughter outfit for Carol for next Halloween."

Naresha strolled toward the door. She paused just before she stepped out onto the streets and gave Donna a little wave. Her smile was sly, feline. Donna waved back, watching her disappear. She whispered, "I don't know what you did to Lester, honey, but it probably wasn't enough."