"Oh big punishment," Crystal scoffed.

"Actually losing your commission at the academy is a huge black mark. He'll never be on the fast track up the chain of command now. Plus I don't think he'll ever think about touching a girl like that again."

"Why not? He got away with it once, what's to stop him?"

"The other cadets. About a week after the incident, a group of cadets caught Eugene in the shower and I guess they beat him up pretty good. He spent a couple of days in the infirmary but never revealed who was involved."

"Serves him right. I hope they made it so he couldn't use it again."

"Well I don't think they went that far," Laura said, picking up on the anger in the smoke-roughened voice. "I think my father knew who did it but he never told me."

"Were you mad at him for not defending you?"

Was I mad at him? She stared up at the stars again. "At the time I was furious with him because I thought he wasn't on my side. I blamed the Army for him caving in to the General. That's why I accepted a scholarship to Colgate. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized why he did things the way he did."

"I don't get it," Crystal said.

"Jenny told me once that sometimes the only way to win is to compromise. That's what Dad had to do with General Watkins. He may not have gotten Eugene thrown out of the academy but he made sure that his career was all but ruined. Every time he's up for a promotion, he'll be questioned about that incident. With all the fear about sexual harassment and officers taking advantage of female recruits, I don't think he'll ever see a command position."

"And you consider that a win?"

"Yes I do. You don't have to chop a man's hands off just because he steals a loaf of bread. Eugene will still be able to have a career in the Army, it just won't be a cushy one."

"I still think he got off easy," Crystal groused. "They always do. Just 'cause a guy has money or power he can get away with anything." A cigarette was lit. "Ah, who's kidding. Even the drunken slobs think they can get away with copping a feel whenever they want it." Laura again wished for a table candle so she could see the expression that went with the hard tone. "Something happen at work tonight?"

"Nothing that hasn't happened before," the stripper said with a resigned sigh. "Just a job hazard. Some asshole decided to wait outside the side exit for me to come out. I would have been fine if Rick was where he was supposed to be and not still in the hallway shooting the shit with one of the bouncers."

Alarmed, Laura sat up straight. "Did he hurt you? Why didn't you say anything before?"

"I'm fine. I've worked long enough to know how to handle myself with a stupid drunk," she said dismissively.

"But it still bothers you." Laura tried to stifle a yawn but failed. "I'm getting too old for these late nights. The sun will be up in a couple of hours." She waited for a reply and got none. "Well, I suppose it's time to"

"Can you use your computer to find people?" Crystal asked.

"Um , there's places online where you can search for people." I should be used to the way you suddenly change topics, Laura thought to herself. "You thinking of looking for your sister?"

"I dunno, maybe."

"Well, you're welcome to use the computer to try and find her if you want." Forget the candle, I'm buying one of those battery operated lanterns. The seconds ticked by before she received a noncommittal grunt from the blonde. "You know there are companies that will look for people for a fee."

"I know. Three years ago I spent over five hundred dollars looking for her. I didn't know her social security number so there wasn't much they could do." Laura heard the scraping of the chair legs against the wood as Crystal stood up. "I'd just be wasting my money again." Crystal lightly knocked on the table. "I'm tired. Night."

Laura sat there for few minutes after the door shut, listening to the sounds of night. Thinking of her own childhood, she tried to remember what her life was like at fifteen. Images of bicycles, long bull sessions on the telephone, music videos and hanging out at the mall filled her mind. How could she have survived? At fifteen I never would have been able to make it on my own. She shuddered to think what Crystal went through and found herself thinking about her roommate with a new respect. With a yawn, she stood up and went inside.

The computer beckoned her but the bed beckoned more. After removing her clothes, she folded them neatly and put them in the hamper. Avocado silk pajamas were donned and the corner of the blanket neatly turned down before she turned out the light and slipped into bed.

Laura smiled and clicked on the save button. Awake only two hours, already she had managed to get four full pages done. So focused on her writing, she missed the first two rings of the phone. "Not now," she sighed, pushing her wheeled chair over to thee.g.of the bed and picked the phone up off the nightstand. "Hello?"

"Are you speaking to me?"

"Peter?" She used her feet to push her way back to the computer. "Where have you been?"

"Now Laura, just hear me out okay? I know you might be a bit miffed at me"

"Miffed?" She put her foot on thee.g.of her desk and crossed the other one over it. "I think miffed is a rather mild word for it, don't you? Did you know she was the stripper from the Tom Cat Club?"

"Well err um"

"Peter, your ears are turning red. Don't lie to me, I know you too well."

"Laura, when she came into my office it just seemed like divine intervention. You know it's been a while."

"I do not need you to arrange sexual liaisons for me."

"I'll make it up to you, I swear," he said, his high-pitched voice going even higher. "I found her another place. A one bedroom at the other end of the complex. I'll even make the rent the same as what she's paying now."

"You found her

" Laura hesitated. Wasn't this what she had wanted? She couldn't live with a booze swilling, pot smoking, foul mouthed stripper, could she? This was the out she had been looking for, wasn't it?

"Laura?"

"Yeah, I'm still here, Peter. So you found another apartment?"

"It's over near the dumpsters and there's only one bathroom but it should be more than enough for her. I took one seventy-five off the rent. I can use the older appliances and the fact that it hasn't been rented in four months as an excuse to the head office. It'll be perfect, Laura. I promise she'll like it and move out," he said encouragingly. "The carpets have all been cleaned and she could move in as early as this weekend." "Um" Oh damn, what am I thinking? "Peter? Do me a favor and don't mention this to Crystal, okay?"

Stunned silence filled the phone line. "Did I hear you correctly? You don't want her to move out?" look, you said that apartment hasn't been rented in four months, right?"

"Right. People want new rugs and appliances and that unit isn't due for replacements until next year."

"So if things change and the apartment is still open, she could have it at the same price, right?"

"I suppose but I can't hold it. If I can get a tenant in there, I will."

"I understand," she said, feeling more confident that she had made the right decision. "I think things might just work out here after all." "Oh really?" he said, drawing out the last word. "Is your bed actually seeing something other than solo action?"

"Peter Knight, you stop that," she chastised. "Crystal is straight and I'm not interested in straight women. It's just that well, we're getting along, that's all."

"Getting along really well, I'm sure."

"Peter!"

"All right, all right. Are you really sure about this?"

Am I? She took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I'm sure."

"And you're not mad at me anymore?"

"I'm not mad at you anymore. So how are things with you and Michael?"

"The usual. He's being a screaming bitch about one thing or another. It's really rather annoying." Laura heard a tsking sound through the phone. "He really just doesn't know when to let something go."

"What did you do this time? Or should I say who?"

"I didn't do anything this time. He just thinks I did."

"Not like he's ever been given any reason to doubt your word, Peter."

"Of course not. Well, not lately."

"Exactly," she said. "So now that I'm not mad at you anymore, when are you and Michael coming over for dinner?"

"How about tonight? He's complaining he doesn't get out enough."

"Is it your night to cook too?"

"

Laughing, Laura shook her head and smiled. "Fine. I don't think Crystal has to leave for work until seven or so. Let's make dinner around five thirty." "Wonderful. Michael will have someone new to complain to about me."

"Are you dieting again?"

"Oh heavens, please. With these thighs? No fettuccine alfredo for me."

"All right. How about lemon chicken?"

"Do you want us to bring anything? Michael just learned how to make this killer spinach soufflé."

"Sounds delicious."

"Splendid. He says I don't appreciate his cooking enough. Casual or semi-formal?"

"Casual please. It's dinner, Peter, not a dinner party."

"Casual it is then. We'll see you and Miss Big Tits around five then."

"Peter, don't you even think of commenting on them around her," she said, knowing all too well that her friend had a habit of pointing out people's prominent features in sometimes less than flattering ways. "She's a bit sensitive."

"Can I help it if she looks like a young Dolly Parton?"

"Peter!"

"All right, all right. No talking about her built in life preservers."

Laura shook her head. "Goodbye Peter."

"Bye."

She hung up the phone and turned her attention back to her writing. It was only a few minutes later that she heard Crystal exit her own room and enter the bathroom. The door shut followed by the telltale click of the lock. Shower time, she guessed, confirmed a minute later by the sound of water running. Deciding she could afford to take a short break, Laura donned her robe and headed downstairs.

The high pitched whine of the hair dryer drowned out all other sound in the modest bathroom. Crystal watched her reflection in the mirror while using the dryer and brush to get her blonde hair to do something other than lay limply against her head and neck. I need a haircut, she thought as one long lock refused to go where it belonged. A pleasant smell wafted beneath the door. Mmm, wonder what she's cooking? Smells good. She gave her hair a few final strokes with the brush before turning the dryer off and unplugging it. The middle drawer of the vanity had been reserved her for belongings and she quickly learned that it included her dryer and curling iron. She dressed in comfortable shorts and a sleeveless shirt, expecting to spend the remainder of the day relaxing before going to work at the club that evening. Slipping her feet into her sandals, she tossed her towel over the shower rod and left the bathroom.

She found Laura in the kitchen removing a tray of crescent rolls from the oven. "Morning."

"Good morning," the writer replied, carefully setting the hot tray on top of the cooling rack. "Actually it's about ten minutes after noontime so good afternoon." She moved the rolls onto a plate. "Inside or out?"

Crystal looked out the sliding glass doors to see an overcast sky. "Inside is good."

"I picked up a pint of fresh blueberries yesterday if you want to have some with your cereal," Laura said as she carried the plate of rolls to the table. "Unless you'd like to share a grapefruit with me?"

Grapefruit? Ugh. "Thanks but I'll stick to my high sugar cereal." She crossed the room and opened the refrigerator, retrieving both the milk and blueberries. "Can you give me a ride over to Dunphy's later so I can pick up my car? It's supposed to be ready."

"Sure. I have to go to the market anyway to pick up some things for dinner. Peter and Michael are coming over tonight." "The guy that rented me the place?"

"And his current boyfriend," Laura said while slicing her grapefruit in half.

Crystal filled a bowl with cereal and headed for the table. "What time are they coming over?"

"Around five. I figured we'd have dinner around five thirty so you'd have time to get ready for work afterwards."

Surprised by the thoughtfulness, Crystal could only stammer out a reply. "Th-that sounds fine. Is Jenny coming?"

"No. On Fridays she has group sessions until nine. She'll be at the game tomorrow."

"Oh, so it's just the four of us?"