Baring it All (part 39) Motives We dropped off Granny at her house. She agreed that we needed to stay with Travis but didn't think Claude would be after "an old woman" as she put it. Granny lived in a predominantly senior's neighborhood and it was usually pretty safe but I promised to call her before going to bed. As soon as I arrived at Travis' house I called Marcus on his cell phone. He was just leaving the club. "Marcus Thomas". he said into the receiver "Hey Marcus, it's Marissa." I said trying not to sound too upset. "Hey Rissa, I'm glad you called. I wanted to tell you I'm opening back up on Friday. I just hired a great new dancer, her name is Eboni and..." "Marcus! I have something to tell you" I interrupted. "What girl?" he said. "I'm on my way home." "Marcus, are you sitting down?" "What Marissa? I'm sitting in my car but I don't have time for games." he said impatiently "Monica is dead. She's been murdered." I said quietly. "What!? Monica?!" I slowly filled Marcus in on the details the police had given us. "Give me this Reverend's address. I'm coming right over" he said. Marcus and Sheila arrived simultaneously and I let them both in. After introducing Travis to Marcus we all sat down in the living room. Sheila spoke first. "Look, I'm only here because D insisted I come. I'm not hiding from Claude's crazy ass. Besides why would he try to kill either of us." she said. "Speaking of why, did the police say why he killed Lisa and Monica?" Marcus asked. "They aren't sure and honestly I can't think of a motive." I said. "I mean Claude and Monie have lived together over a year. I've never known them to even argue. This just doesn't make sense." "Exactly. And Claude barely knew Lisa." Danesha said. "That's why I asked you ladies to come here because we don't know why. I don't want to take any chances on what he might do next" Travis said. "Wasn't Claude one of the 3 onstage with Lisa the night before she died?" Marcus asked. "Yes he was. Claude was banging that pussy out!" Sheila said laughing. "Sorry Rev. No disrespect." she added. "None taken." Travis answered. Sheila continued. "This was probably some freaky ménage 'trios shit between the 3 of them. Claude went crazy and killed Lisa and stole her jewelry. Then Monie's thieving ass stole from him and he got pissed and killed her too. Come on ya'll, this ain't got shit to do with the rest of us." she finished. "Maybe not Sheila, but I'd feel safer if you Marissa and D stayed here with me." Travis said. "I'm not staying Travis. I appreciate the concern but me and D will be fine at home." Sheila said. She got up to leave. She looked at Danesha and gestured for her to follow her. Danesha sat motionless on the couch. "Are you coming D?" she yelled. Danesha shook her head no, and Sheila left in a huff. "Well Rev. I think you are doing the right thing protecting these ladies. Sheila is hard-headed but I'm sure she'll be fine." Marcus said. "I'm not saying that I think Claude is stalking your dancers or anything I just would rather be safe than sorry." he answered. "Oh, I feel ya and I agree." Marcus sighed deeply. "I guess you guys know that the club will remain closed now at least until after Monica's funeral. I can't believe this is really happening. Two dancers dead in a week." Marcus shook his head quietly. We spoke for a few more minutes and Marcus left. He said he'd call the other employees the next morning from his office. He was going in to check on some things and expected yet another visit from the police. Danesha said she was tired and went into the guest bedroom to sleep after hugging me and kissing Travis on the cheek. Travis locked up the house and turned off all the lights. Then we walked together to his bedroom. Travis and I lay down on his bed. For the first time since I was 14 years old I didn't have any sexual desire in my body. It was completely gone. I snuggled up next to Travis until he fell asleep. I lay awake next to him and stared at the ceiling fan as it turned... Just a short while ago I had been so happy to be working at Chocolate Paradise. Now 2 dancers were dead and I was asking myself how did I end up here? I had wanted to attend college and Granny always praised my grades when I made A's but after what happened to Momma I gave up. I knew Granny could never afford it. A chill ran up my spine as I thought of her, Margaret Rogers Anderson. Momma had been married once but it only lasted a year. She's never told me who my father is and I don't remember my stepfather at all. I'd only met him once when he and Momma showed up on Granny's doorstep that Christmas. They'd promised Granny they were there to take me to California with them to live but when I woke up the next morning they were gone. By February Momma was back and we moved to Glenn Street Projects. Momma had told the social services people I lived with her in order to get a larger apartment and a bigger welfare check. But truth be told I still was with Granny most of the time. Momma had a gentleman caller almost every night. Some nights there were 2 or 3. She would drop me off at Granny's and go home to "entertain". Sometimes she'd let me stay with her but all she did was sleep all day. Around 6 o'clock she'd get up and put on her party clothes as she called them. Momma always had a closet full of sexy party clothes. Short, short dresses with low cut necklines, Daisy Duke shorts, thigh high boots, and fishnet stockings. She also had drawers full of lingerie. Probably more than in the whole Victoria Secret store in the mall. I received the beating of my life one day when she'd caught me trying on one of her teddies. After that she always locked her bedroom door. Momma would send me to my room when her gentleman friends arrived. I would lean against the wall and listen to my Momma having sex with a different man each night. It fascinated and excited me. I still remember the day I came home from school and Momma was gone. Granny had explained to me that she'd been arrested for prostitution. They also had found a large amount of drugs in the apartment and Momma was sentenced to 15 years in prison. I had moved in with Granny. Here I was a senior in high school and I still had not figured out on my own what Momma was doing. I still refused to believe it and I decided she just loved sex and men. She always screamed and moaned as if she enjoyed it so much. Momma was beautiful men couldn't resist her. I had always loved her and wanted so much to be like her. A tear ran down my cheek as I suddenly realized...that I was. I was just like Momma.