“You’ll do fine, Billy. I’ll be at the club by the time you get down there so you make sure you check me before you slide out.”

“A’ight, Yoshi. I’ll see you tonight.”

Yoshi tucked her phone back in her purse and continued toward the club. It was a modest little joint with blacked-out glass doors and a green awning with its name printed on it. Yoshi nodded at the young man smoking out front and continued through the entrance.

The inside of the club wasn’t packed, but there were people sitting at the bar drinking. A few of the less attractive girls were on the pole doing their thing. They were out of shape and had skin marred with stretch marks, which was reflected in the light sprinkling of tips laid at their feet. The big spenders hadn’t gotten there yet, but when they did, the real bitches would come out.

Passing the bar and a few patrons who tried to get her attention, Yoshi snaked through the hallway to the dressing room. The room contained about a dozen or so lockers and several vanity tables. Several of the girls were putting on their costumes while some sat around smoking blunts and sipping. Yoshi nodded, but for the most part she never got too friendly with the girls she worked with.

Sitting at the vanity table at the other end of the room, Yoshi sat down and began going through her case. As she was getting her first outfit of the night together, a girl they called Scar came over. She was a beautiful chick who was at least five-foot ten and built like a track star. She got her name Scar because of the tribal marks on her face. She was from some country in Africa, but Yoshi could never remember which one.

“What’s up, China?” Scar asked in a slight accent.

“Another day, another dollar,” Yoshi said, continuing with her task.

“Say, I’ve got some killer green.” Scar produced a rolled-up joint from her halter top. “Real good shit my guy gets from Panama. You wanna blaze?”

“I’m good for right now, thanks.”

Scar sat on the bench a little too close for Yoshi’s taste. “What’s the matter, China, you don’t like me?”

“We cool, but if you don’t move back a taste that might change,” Yoshi said, with a sharp edge to her voice.

“Scar, get your hot ass outta here and leave China alone,” a voice called from behind them. Cat strolled over, dressed only in a thong and white thigh-high boots. Even without a top, her perky breasts stood at attention.

“My bad, Cat,” Scar said, gracefully sliding off the bench, “I didn’t know she was one of yours.”