“She’s on a business trip this weekend,” he said, returning from the bathroom, where he had removed most of his stage makeup while the braided girl, a young auburn-haired Goth in a tight black tee, black panties and black-and-white striped knee socks, poured Scotch-and-waters for everyone at the little bar in the corner. Jack took his without a word, and went to lounge on the couch with his bare feet up as the girl took a glass to Claudio, the metal ring on her leather collar jingling as she moved. Claudio thanked her graciously and sat in the easy chair, then watched her return to the bar for the remaining two glasses, which had cocktail straws in them. Miranda tried to catch her eye, but the girl kept her eyes down and would not look at her until she handed her a drink. Even then, it was only a cursory glance. There was a welt like a mosquito bite just above the collar. Miranda suspected there was a matching one underneath. Jack did not acknowledge her as she took the remaining glass and went to sit on the floor next to him and sipped through a tiny straw, holding the drink in both hands.
