Burlesque in G-String Major

Chapter 9

David sat in the green room while Edy went on stage. He told her that he'd rather sit here, backstage, instead of out in the audience. That way he could instantly whisk her out of the studio after the show. In light of what happened months ago, David became more protective of Edy than ever before. Well, he was her husband now, and the two can now savor all the hard-won happiness they so richly deserved. What a whirlwind of events, both triumph and tragic, since those harrowing months prior. Who knew that an act of violence committed nearly forty years ago would have so many repercussions? One man, whose twisted obsession led to murder, rape, sexual harassment, and blackmail, was dead, shot to death by David's ex-wife.
Actually, while he and his friends mourned Clementine's death and learned the truth behind Dorine Delish's murder, David had no idea Amy was planning to do away with Xavier Norman. That man, Xavier, who pressured Edy Smith and countless other girls into unwanted sexual affairs, had prepared to leave the country when Amy showed up at his condo. David guessed that Xavier, whose true identity was revealed by both Clementine and his father Tom Josten, would rather live on the run rather than face the consequences of his despicable crimes. Only Amy had his number all along, finally having the courage to shoot the man cold blood.  Not that David or Edy wished the man dead, on the contrary. They wanted to see Xavier, AKA Ian Josten, arrested, tried and convicted of first degree murder and sexual misconduct. No, the man simply didn't want to face the shame and humiliation.

When word got back that Amy killed Norman, David was upset to be sure. What really spooked him was Amy's account of that fateful afternoon. Dave, upon Amy's arrest, insisted he be present during her interrogation. He even sprung for a top-notch criminal attorney, but Amy refused all help from her estranged husband, even waived her Fifth Amendment rights. She wanted no pity, no trial, no due process. All she wanted was to confess  what she did and take whatever sentence handed down. David recalled, while standing on the other side of the two-way mirror, Amy babbling on and on about Dorine's ghost coming back to haunt both her and Xavier. She said that she had every intention of killing Xavier, but he got the upper hand by forcing her into several sex acts. (Which was partially true – Xavier did intend to rape Amy, but she, in the throes of passion, consented to three couplings, the next more intense than the previous.)
But when Amy woke up, she found Xavier's bags all packed, the man preparing to leave without her. Something inside her snapped, and that's when she claimed Dorine's ghost appeared to her, commanding that she finish the job she came to do. Amy then confessed to police that Xavier, himself facing down the wraith Dorine, confessed to killing the legendary stripper. Why? Because he wanted her to himself. He hated what Dorine was doing to his mother, and he hated his father for falling for Dorine Delish. The boy Ian, at the tender age of thirteen, at his mother's urging, strangled the life out of Dorine. Both Ian and Alice Josten had no idea their crime was witnessed by Clementine who silenced herself in a forty-year stupor of heroine.

David wiped away a tear when he recalled Amy in shackles, standing before the judge, pleading guilty to first degree murder. Her attorney tried to reason with her that a trial would at least get her less time, but Amy wasn't swayed. No, she said to the judge, she wanted to serve her time; she had ruined enough lives. But, to Dave, Amy wasn't the destroyer; it was Xavier. Then again, Xavier, facing the business end of the pistol, obviously had his last hurrah knowing that Amy would soon follow him to Hell. At present, Amy is serving a life sentence without parole. It's what she wanted. She even consented to a quickie divorce as not wanting to cause further scandal. David, in her mind, had suffered enough, and if it wasn't for Xavier, she would've been just another happy divorcee. But she allowed herself to fall for the villainous man's charms. Yes, she told David during his last visit to the prison (She had to sign final divorce papers), she knew the marriage was over long ago and that she should've never contested the divorce. She never meant to ruin Edy, and that Xavier convinced her otherwise.

So, one player is dead, the other spending the rest of her life behind bars. But what of Tom Josten, AKA Thad Justin, the man who carried on an extramarital affair with Dorine Delish only to have it backfire in the most horrid ways? At last report, Tom forgave his late wife and son, and promised to make amends for all the hurt he caused. Edy and David convinced Tom that he was never the cause of his son's downward spiral into madness. They even convinced him to stay in town, don't run away ever again. His long nightmare is over, and he should be relieved that his name had been cleared. So Tom Josten now goes by his real name, still lives in town and owns that curio shop across the street from Infrared. He even still takes in a show now and then, but he told Edy that he would never sell anything that belonged to a murder victim. In a way, Tom explained, he wanted Edy to buy that dress, wear it, so Dorine's restless spirit could surface.
"I wanted Ian to pay for what he did," Tom said to Edy on the night his son was killed, "and I had hoped you, by wearing that dress, would make Dorine appear, make Ian face down the demons that made him do so many despicable things."

So...With Dorine's killer at last exposed and defeated, that spirit could finally rest in peace. But there were even more surprising results. In going through an old trunk of 1950's vintage clothing, Tom found something interesting: Dorine's will. Apparently she had it stashed away amongst her prized outfits. Tom had no idea the trunk belonged to Dorine, and it shocked him to find out that she left the bulk of her estate to him. It was mostly money she had invested in CD's and stocks – Dorine was no spendthrift as she knew her days as a burlesque queen would fade as she grew older. In that will, she requested that Tom use the money to get Ian some professional help; she knew the boy was troubled. But with the son now dead, Tom didn't know what to do with all that cash. He was getting on in years and really had no need for it. When Tom learned that Dorine added an amendment stating he use the money in any way he saw fit, that is if Ian refused help, Tom gave all of it to David and Edy as a special wedding gift.
Wow, thought David, Tom was being quite generous, and Dave almost refused until Edy passed on good news that she got accepted into a special graduate program. She would be studying under a premier violinist. Well, with the nice tidy sum Dorine left, Edy could finish her grad studies in style without going into debt.

And even more good news for Edy. Her instructor was so impressed with Edy's talent and virtuosity, that he arranged a special audition with the local string ensemble. Imagine Edy's surprise when she learned that she earned a plum position in that ensemble, and that the group was about to embark on a twelve-city tour. And they were recording a CD when the tour finished. Dave was so proud of this girl who nearly had her dreams shattered by the nefarious actions of one man. And it didn't matter to the ensemble or to her instructor that she once was a headlining burlesque queen. They understood Edy's special circumstances. Two of the ensemble's cellists also had fallen victim to Xavier's dark designs, so Edy was among people who supported her and knew the hell she went through.

And what happened to Infrared? With all that happened – Xavier's death, Amy's imprisonment, Clementine's murder, Dorine's ghost coming back to haunt – David decided it was time to move on to something else. After Amy was sentenced and Tom Josten cleared of murder charges, David, once he and Edy married, sold the club to Maris who still maintains the hottest house of burlesque in town. David and Edy, when they aren't on the road or in the recording studio, manage to take in a show every now and then. Edy is still amused when the twins Mandi and Candi take centerstage, performing their perfect in tandem strip. By the way, Mandi apologized to Edy for all the catty remarks and mean-spiritedness. Edy accepted that apology and still counts the twins as her closest friends. They still keep in touch, passing along club gossip and such.

David watched Edy's performance on the monitor in the green room, marveling at her incredible talent and virtuosity. Oh what could've been if some people hadn't gotten in the way of that dream. But, Dave surmised, Edy wouldn't have felt compelled to seek employment at Infrared, they would've never met, and Edy would've never bought Dorine's dress. And a forty-year old mystery would've never been solved, thus letting the guilty go free while Dorine's true love spent the rest of his days in hiding.
He sat there as Edy chatted with the talk show hostess. She was so poised, so together as the hostess leveled many questions, especially about her involvement in burlesque. Edy made no apologies, only saying that she had many issues in college, and that she was desperate for a job. Edy came across so sweet, so sincere, that she garnered even more adoring fans. OK, so after this show it's off to another rehearsal, to another city, another concert, to more wonderful adventures and long overdue accolades.

After the show, just before Edy exited for the green room, a stagehand approached her and handed her a package. "What is it?," she asked.
"I don't know," he said. "A lady backstage said to give this to you. She said it was a token of appreciation."

When Edy returned to the green room, Dave greeted her with a warm embrace and kiss. He saw the gaily wrapped package and asked about it. "I don't know," said Edy as she unwrapped the box. She lifted the lid and gasped. Inside was a most beautiful diamond and emerald necklace. There was a note inside the box that read:

Dear Edy,

I thank you for all you've done for me. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude. Wear it with pride the next time you grace the concert stage. You are definitely as Charlie said, "The next Isaac Stern, only prettier."

Sincerely,
Harriette DeLong

David scratched his head in puzzlement, then asked that stagehand to describe the woman who left that package. "Oh," he said, "she was a real looker. Tall and stacked, if you know what I mean. Lots of dark red hair, big green eyes..."

He paused and nodded to Edy, adding, "Like yours. And she was dressed all in black satin. I tell you, she was a hottie."

Could it be? Can't be! No, thought Edy, it can't be Dorine...Then again...

Hope you enjoyed this novel as much as I loved writing it. Feedback? Comments? Send 'em on! :-)

Copyright©2003, 2004 by P.R. Parker. All Rights Reserved.