"I used to think so, but now I'm not so sure."

Karen was the smart one, always watching her back. She looked like she'd been around the block - a lot.

It was always business with Karen. Even when she was blow drying her hair - you could see her mind busy with calculations of the days revenue. She was charming in a crude sort of way.

I asked her once how she ended up in this particular dive. She was no beginner and I figured that with her 'abilities' she'd be in a better place by now. She gave me a thumbnail. . .What I can piece together is that she was a madame, had a good amount of girls under her, was doing well for herself, got busted and did some time.

I watched her calculated dances and her practiced come-ons and wondered if she would again turn Trick to Trade.