Ice Princess Ch 05

"Marie," Uncle Matt's voice carried down the hall to Danielle who was getting dressed for work in her bedroom. "What's wrong with John?" He pointed out the window. "He's passed here five times this morning. That ain't natural."

Marie looked up from her sewing and frowned. "I don't know. Things have changed at his house this week. Susan is beside herself with worry."

Danielle walked out into the living room doing her best to act as if she didn't hear them talking.

"I've got to be going into work," she informed them before they asked her. "Tonight's the big dance night. Everyone who is anyone will be there."

She picked up her car keys from the end table and walked toward the kitchen continuing to hope that she could slip out the back door without John seeing her.

"Well pumpkin," said Uncle Matt, "you be careful, you know they've not found the person who murdered Ben."

"You bet Uncle Matt," she replied, and slipped out the back door.

Setting Josie up to take the rap would be a piece of cake, she decided. The first thing she had to do was plant the idea into someone's mind. After that, that person would pass it along through the grapevine and soon the local police would be clued in. Really, it was just too easy. She shifted into reverse and backed out of the driveway. No John in sight, thank God.

The club wasn't too far away. The drive was pleasant and the air was fresh. She opened the windows and let her hair fly in the breeze.

Bill would be working tonight. She was happy about that. Stolen moments with him were like heaven. He never asked her for anything, but he gave her everything. She often wondered what he got out of that.

She pulled her car into a distant parking space and inspected her face in the review mirror. Here comes Josie, she laughed. She saw her practicing her swinging hips walk as she neared the backdoor. Her tanned legs were beautiful tonight her snow white boots did a nice job of making you realize she had a tan, and the white tank top didn't hurt either.

Danielle dropped her compact on the seat and opened her door. She didn't really need to worry over Josie, but it was an old habit and old habits die hard. And that was what she had planned for Josie, a hard death.

Danielle slipped her handbag over her arm and walked toward the door. She didn't need to practice anything. Her hair blew back and forth in the breeze. She was beautiful; she always had been. At least, to everyone around here that is.

"Welcome," said Josie, as Danielle walked into the backroom. Her smile didn't to match her eyes, but only Danielle noticed that.

"I've assigned you to the front of the room. Bill seems to think you'd do better in crowd control. She nodded toward him. Bill grinned back and chuckled.

"Just keeping the natives happy, Josie," he replied. "They always like Danielle up front."

Danielle picked up the tray she always carried and punched in. "No problem boss," she answered and moved to the floor.

The music was loud and the crowd-dangerous. Danielle sensed pry not far away. In fact, she noticed several groups of pry. She remembered this happening only once in all the years she'd been feeding. She narrowed her eyes and approached the bandstand. Her tiny skirt was swinging with her hips to the beat of the music as she walked. Tonight, wasn't going to be tip night. If she attracted too many hungry souls she'd be overwhelmed. That was something she simply couldn't afford to do.

"Hey beautiful, he said, "Where have you been all my life?" A tall, dark and unattractive male, who'd just grabbed a drink from her tray, seemed to be the speaker. He handed her a five dollar bill to cover its cost. His belly was larger than a pregnant woman's with only a few days to before D day.

"On vacation," she replied and took the cash from him as she squeezed between two attractive women in tight jeans. "Excuse me," she said and happily moved away from him.

The ladies laughed as if they were already half drunk. Danielle smiled. People acted so stupid when they drank.

"Give me that foaming beer," another looser said who appeared from nowhere but acted like he was laid back. Another beer from her tray disappeared.

"There's nothing like good beer and a smart lady."

He pinched her butt as he passed by, leaving the drink money tucked in the top of her skirt.

She pulled it free and tucked it into the money belt she always wore strapped around her waist. Tonight was going to be difficult to say the least.

"Hey Danielle," yelled Kathy from across the room, "Help!"

Danielle looked up to see what Kathy needed. "Oh boy," she laughed. Kathy was surrounded by the 'Hands Squad.' They were a group all the servers tried to avoid.

"Coming through, coming through!" yelled Danielle, as she moved into the area and separated two of hands squad from Kathy's ass.

"How's the night going for you?" she asked as she placed her back against Kathy's back. Joined by their backs the ladies served the drinks. This had become a natural serving position whenever the hands Squad come to the club.

"No free feels tonight, hairy," Danielle said as she smacked away a hand covered in layers of hair that was reaching for her breast, "and that drink isn't on the house, pay up?" She held her hand out toward Mr. Nice Guy and waited.

"You don't pay, I pay and I don't make enough money for that to be a good deal." He tossed her a fiver and disappeared into the crowd. A Mister Nice Guy he wasn't. She put her foot over the bill and kept selling. Soon her tray was empty, now it was time to circulate.

"Thanks for helping me," said Kathy. "You know Josie would have left me standing."

"I know," answered Danielle, rolling her eyes. "Did you know that she and Sheriff Ben had a thing going?"

"Really?" said Kathy, her eyes seemed to dance with the news.

"Yep, I think she got herself into trouble," finished Danielle before she moved away.

Kathy's eyes looked around the room. She was already looking for someone to pass that news along too.

Bill walked out onto the floor and motioned for Danielle. God, he suddenly looked sexy to her. She felt a tingle. This was strange...