Beka was stunned at the woman staring back at her from the mirror. With the long straight hair and the brown contacts as well as make-up Mariah had helped her apply, she looked totally different. Anyone that knew her would recognise her straight away, but people who had only seen her on the news? Nope. Very, very unlikely. She dared a little smile at her change, though the hair was getting on her nerves already. After a couple of days of constantly trying to swing it out of the way and it getting everywhere she started to remember just why she’d always kept it short. She shrugged at her mirror image and went down to eat. The news of her real identity had spread fast but also died fast. It had already been discussed, turned around and milked for every little bit of juiciness it could possibly get. It was now old news, and while Beka found herself getting more respect from the other girls, she was pleased it was over. All she wanted was to blend into the crowd, not to be anyone special, and she’d lost that now.
“Hiya,” she said absently as she sat down at the table. She got spread replies and listened carefully at them, then relaxed. They sounded normal. The last few days, whenever she’d entered a room people had gone quiet and then started asking her questions. It had stopped, and Beka was relieved. Thinking about Andromeda still hurt, and the less she had to talk about it, the better. She was never going back there, and that was that. Even if they were looking for her. She briefly wondered just why they wanted to find her. Did they think she was in trouble? Looking at the surroundings she almost started giggle at that thought. “Gee, why would they think that?” She then cleared her throat, turning serious. They didn’t know where she was, they didn’t know what she was doing. But the news had said the Maru was confirmed sold. She never sold the Maru. Anger flared inside her at the thought, whoever had stolen it had pretended they’d bought it off her. Had Dylan got it back? Or had he just assumed she must have sold her ship and left it with them? It would be just like Dylan, wouldn’t it? Pouting slightly, she sank further down into her seat and started nibbling on her food. Her appetite still hadn’t come back fully, but at least her work didn’t make her feel sick anymore. She hardly even thought about it.
****
The atmosphere onboard the Andromeda was tense. Very tense. The list might not have seemed too long, but when they were going to each place, rummaging it for any sign of Beka, it did take it’s sweet little time. They’d only got through about a fourth of the list yet, and it had taken them nearly a month. Right now, they had just visited a small, lowlife drift where there, as per normal, had been no sign of Beka. Harper, sat on a barstool, ordering another drink from the bartender. Andromeda wasn’t due to leave yet for a while and he might as well stay around. Though it wasn’t exactly a nice place to stay. Worry was growing inside him as well as despair. He sincerely doubted Beka had sold the Maru, and what if those bastards who stole it killed her as well? What if they’d just go around, looking and looking when in fact she was dead? Tears formed in Harper’s eyes at the thought and he blinked them away. Surely that couldn’t have happened? She’d be somewhere, and there’d be a good explanation. Maybe the Maru had got stolen and she’d be working for someone wherever she was when they took it. Or maybe she had sold the Maru for some bizarre reason. He doubted the second one very much, and he couldn’t stop himself worrying about her.
“Damn it Beka,” he mumbled, “where the hell are you?” As if on cue, the bartender delivered the drink, but it wasn’t giving him the usual satisfaction. What else could he do to calm his nerves? He leaned forward to the bartender, trying to look casual.
“Hey.”
“What?”
“What can you do around here?” The bartender frowned.
“What do you mean?” Harper shrugged.
“Just…what do people do here? They must come here for something?”
“You mean for fun?”
“Yeah, I guess.” The bartender nodded toward a large building not too far away.
“Well, this is a dull little place. Lowlifes come here at night to get drunk and possibly rape any women who dare show up,” he explained. “But the main attraction would be the local whorehouse,” he paused, “or brothel as they like us to say it. Never been there myself but I’ve heard there are plenty of good-looking girls. They never come out though, probably clever of them.” Harper thought for a second. A brothel? He’d never, ever been to a prostitute before, and the thought didn’t quite appeal to him. But then again, he seriously needed a distraction, and no one would have to know, would they?
****
Beka knew she had to work again in only a few hours, but she didn’t want to go to bed. She was way too jittery. Pacing her room back and forth, she had a feeling something bad would happen. Very soon.
****
Harper’s steps slowly but surely led him into the big building. His legs were shaking. Should he do this? Oh, what the heck, why not? He wasn’t drunk, but the alcohol still gave him the little extra courage he needed to go up to the desk.
“I just want to…uh…” His courage failed him. The greasy-looking man behind the counter smiled at him.
“I’m Mr Culligan, and I own this establishment. I trust you are looking for a girl? Any special requests? Blondes? Brunettes?” Harper shook his head.
“No…” he mumbled, “I’m not too fussed.” Mr Culligan nodded.
“That’s nice,” he said, “you have to understand though, we mostly work at night so the girls will probably be sleeping. You might have to wait for a few minutes while one of them gets ready.” He said this all in a pleasant voice, but as he tapped a little button on his desk his voice turned less pleasant. “Mariah, find a girl who’s not sleeping, and get her ready now!” He then turned back to Harper and flashed him another greasy smile. “If you just wait for a few minutes.”
****
Her intercom buzzed, and Beka turned to it. It was most likely a message everyone was getting, but she went over to it anyway. It was Mariah’s voice.
“I need someone who’s not sleeping to get ready quickly!” Beka looked down at herself. She wasn’t wearing her work clothes, but her make-up was still on and her hair hadn’t been messed up from sleep. She sighed and pressed the button.
“I’ll do it,” she said tiredly. Mariah seemed to sigh in relief.
“Thanks Rebekah,” she said with gratitude, “I promise you can sleep in later, and this’ll count as one of your customers for tonight.” Beka nodded and quickly proceeded to change into her work clothes. She threw a quick glance in the mirror and was pleased to see she had no dark circles under her eyes, even though she hadn’t slept all day.
“Ok,” she said over the intercom, “send him in.”
****
As Mr Culligan got the message, he turned around to Harper.
“You can go up now,” he said, “room 22, first floor, left hand side.” He’d already taken Harper’s money and was pondering whether he should do what Mariah had suggested and let Rebekah sleep in later as thanks. “Redhead, that do you?” Harper nodded and started walking up the stairs.
