Kate sat down at the table as though nothing had happened.  She ate three slices of pizza and drank the rest of the coke.  When Billy asked her what he should wear she looked him up and down while still chewing on a piece of crust.<br/><br/>“Your fine.  There are all sorts of people there.  Not to worry you’ll blend in.”<br/><br/>She finished eating then ran to the bathroom to fix her makeup and lipstick then returned to the living room for her socks and shoes.  She was lacing up her shoe with her cell phone rang.  Rummaging through her oversized black leather shoulder bag she pulled out her cell and answered.<br/><br/>“Yeah?”  She listened for a while.  “Yeah I know.  No it’s not a problem.  Yes.  Cryptangel said it was okay.”  She lowered her voice and half turned away from Billy.  “Listen to me you stupid fuck…let her in she’s a friend.  Yeah…Temptress…yeah.  Soon….I’m leaving in a min…no my…um…my friend is driving me.  Yeah?  Cool…yeah I totally love those guys…when do they go on?”  She looked at her watch.  That’s cool…yep…see you soon.”<br/><br/>Kate hung up the phone and finished lacing her shoe.  She stood and nodded to Billy.<br/><br/>“You sure you want to do this?”<br/><br/><br/>******************************************************************************<br/><br/><br/>Kate stared out the passenger side window as Billy drove.  The ride to the club would take about thirty minutes, give or take, depending on traffic.  At nine-thirty at night traffic on the southbound freeway was light to moderate; they were making good time.  Kate’s thoughts drifted from her recent readings about the Heavy Metal groups “Bauhaus” and “Nightwish” to the random distribution of particle mass and its relationship to quantum physics.  Then, as they sped past the lampposts along the highway, her thoughts switched to Einstein’s theory of relativity and time travel.<br/><br/>“Fuck this.” She whispered.  Her right knee started bouncing as she rummaged through her bag for a piece of “juicy fruit” gum.<br/><br/>“Take the next exit.”  She said not looking up from her bag.  “Then turn right at the light.”<br/><br/>Billy complied.  When they turned right the traffic increased and it took another ten minutes before they saw the club ahead.<br/><br/>The “Black Velvet” club was located in what was once the “garment district” of the city.  A six block square section of the city made up of turn-of-the-century buildings.  The area had undergone a ‘gentrification’ over the past four years and was now the home to numerous restaurants, art galleries, artist studios, private lofts, small dinner clubs and gay owned shops.  The “Black Velvet” was located in the exact center of the district in what used to be a large Victorian style opera house and theater.  A massive building that had been restored and upgraded with the most up-to-date acoustics and sound systems.  Taking up an entire city block the club had its own parking garage and valet service next door, two DJ dance floors complete with bars and a stage, offices, a small independent recording studio and “The Basement.”  A private after hour’s club with a separate entrance in the alleyway between the “Black Velvet” and the parking garage next door.<br/><br/>The “Black Velvet” was a popular nightspot that attracted clientele from all parts of the city.  On weekends any number of limos could be seen basking in the deep blue and red neon glow that bathed the avenue.  The sleek limos would discharge local celebrities, sports figures even the occasional mob boss or two and then wait there, sometimes until dawn.<br/><br/>The club even promoted its own groups: There were the “Leather Boys”; the “Dikes with Pikes” and “The Bondage Babes.”  “Dark Angel” liked the Bondage Babes.  When they were on stage anything could happen.  They were scheduled to play later that night.<br/><br/>They were still half a block away when Kate told Billy to pull into the valet parking area.  She got out and handed a fifty dollar bill to a young, clean cut young man who looked more like ROTC recruit than an employee of the Velvet.<br/><br/>“Give him your keys.”  She said as she slung her bag over her shoulders.  “The car will be fine.”<br/><br/>She held out her hand to Billy; he took it and they headed down the street.  As they approached the main entrance Kate took on a completely different air.  Her stride was confident, her head high, her hips swaying.  She could have been walking down a catwalk and anyone who saw her might think she was some high fashion model.  She was indeed a vision.<br/><br/>The main entrance was wide with multiple thick glass and brass doors polished to a high gloss.  Warm golden light spilled out from the main lobby and lit the roped off area in front of the doors.  Six very large men in suits stood inside the roped off area frisking and checking ID’s of the handful of patrons that were allowed through the ropes at any one time.  A thick line of people, extending down the block, waited outside for a chance to get in.  Rock music blared through the outside speakers and more than a few of the young line sitters were dancing.  The air was electric, charged with youthful energy waiting to be expended inside the “Black Velvet.”<br/><br/>As they approached the main entrance Kate veered off and walked up to a smaller door off to the side.  A massive, hulk of a man in a dark suit and tie, sporting a crew cut was standing in front of the door.  Billy could have sworn he knew this guy from somewhere because he looked familiar.  As Kate drew closer the man suddenly smiled and pulled open the heavy door.<br/><br/>“Evening Angel.”  He said in a deep husky voice.  “Good to see you again.”<br/><br/>“You too Max.”  She answered as she dragged Billy past the man and into the lobby. Billy was stammering something about the man when Angel answered his question.<br/><br/>“Yeah that’s Max Boswell that famous ex-linebacker for the Rams?”  She glanced back at Billy.<br/><br/>“He’s a really nice guy.”  She said smiling broadly.  “He’s into particle beam theory.  Never would’ve guessed from looking at him would you?<br/><br/>The lobby was the focal point leading to the heavy music and dancing within.  Wide semi- circular staircases on either side formed quotation marks around the central floor.  Gold filigree banisters and red carpet gave it a rich Victorian feel.  The two staircases met and formed a wide balcony overlooking the lobby.  A crowd was milling around as people entered and left the dance floors.  The high ceiling, made of bronze colored embossed tin, held a massive crystal chandelier.  Billy couldn’t imagine how much money had gone in to refurbishing such a place…it was palace.  The lobby was a melting pot of styles and looks.  Like a casting room for movie extras.  Vamps and Goths mingled with business types in expensive suits.  Rappers and Leather Gays hung out with punks and wiseguys.  All attracted by the constant thrum of the heavy music from the dance floors; one upstairs and one downstairs.  Every now and then one of the doors to both dance floors would open and the pounding pulse of the music within would vibrate its way across the lobby like volcanic lava.  It was impossible to stand still in such a place.  The beat was primeval and hot.<br/><br/>Kate dragged Billy to one side and got the attention of a tall, rather striking Vamp girl, he thought ‘girl’ because she did not look much older than Kate.  Kate yelled something at her because normal talk was impossible.  The young woman, who wore an outfit right off the set of “Underworld,” gave Billy the once over and smiled: she had fangs.  She took something out of her bag and handed it to Kate who handed it to Billy shouting in his ear.<br/><br/>“This is a pass.  If you leave the club and want to come back inside just show this to Max.  Oh”…she pulled the tall girl over…”This is Cryptangel, if you need anything at all make sure you see her first, okay?”<br/><br/>Billy nodded and stuck the pass in his back pocket.<br/><br/>Kate and Cryptangel talked, or rather yelled, at each other until another equally striking young woman joined them.  This one was Goth all the way carrying the ‘black mood’ theme to the max with a blend of “The Matrix” and “Alice in Wonderland.”  Kate embraced the newly arrived girl and brought her over.<br/><br/>“Billy?  This is my really, really, good friend Temptress.  Temp?  This is my uncle Billy.”<br/><br/>Temptress smiled at Billy but did not seem impressed.  The three girls talked while Billy stood by watching the room.  Suddenly it occurred to him that the three girls had stopped talking and were looking at the far staircase.  Temptress and Cryptangel looked at Kate, then at Billy, then back to the staircase.  Temptress laid her hand gently on Kate’s arm.  Billy followed their gaze.<br/><br/>About midway down the staircase stood a man around thirty or thirty-five years old.  He wore a tailored grey business suit, probably an Armani and a black shirt with no tie; the shirt was open at the collar.  He had dark hair that was neatly trimmed.  His face was tan and he held himself with a confidence that screamed ‘money.’  He was looking directly at the girls but in particular…at Kate.<br/><br/>Kate stood transfixed like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car.  Temptress and Cryptangel drifted away as the man descended the staircase and crossed the lobby.  People got out of his way.  He approached Kate with a warm smile and a sparkle in his eye.  He was well built and judging from the way he walked he worked out; a lot.  He never took his eyes off her and when he reached her he stood only inches away.  He was taller than she and seemed to tower over her.  Billy assumed this must be Jeffery.  What Jeffery did next shocked Billy to his core.<br/><br/>Jeffery reached behind the back of Kate’s head and, with his right hand, roughly grabbed a fistful of hair close to the scalp.  Then he jerked her over backwards almost pulling her off her feet.  Holding her by the hair and laying his left hand on her stomach, he kissed her full on the lips and held it.  Billy’s jaw dropped.  Some of the crowd nearby whistled and hooted but most just ignored the scene.  When Jeffery finished kissing her he stood her up and swung her around still holding her by the hair so that her back was against his hip.  Kate winced in pain as he swung her around.  He whispered something in her ear while running his left hand up her thigh.  Then he let go of her by shoving her out of the way.  He glared at her then glanced at Billy, winked, and walked away.  He headed towards the downstairs dance floor.<br/><br/>Kate had stumbled against a display case holding programs of past concerts and posters for sale.  She was holding herself up by her hands and breathing hard.  She blinked several times then glanced at Billy from under her veil.  Regaining her composure she straightened up, said something to Billy that he could not hear; then chased off after Jeffery…<br/><br/>