Cat smiled, exposing her teeth in a way that reminded Susan of a cat.

"That's not all that bad, you know. But we can make bets on the side.

There's not a chick down there on the floor who can't clear three hundred a week in bets. And most of them don't lose more than a half-dozen games a week, usually to some stud that appeals to them. It wouldn't do to never have to put out, you know. Bad for business."

"Does my father have them on the payroll?"

"They get a percentage off the table fees. Not much but enough to keep them interested. And not just anyone gets in here – it's a closed shop.

A real high-class operation, believe me. Hell, we even get that motherfucker of a police chief in here now and then."

"Is he any good?"

"Not at pool. And from what I've heard, not in bed. Some of the girls think they got to let him win to keep him happy. Maybe so. I know I wouldn't let that slimy son of a bitch ever touch me."

"You play, too?"

"Sure!" She smiled her wicked smile. "I enjoy it. Challenge, right? And sometimes your old man's too busy to properly attend to me. So I go out and hustle some stud for a little action."

"Daddy doesn't mind?" Susan couldn't quite believe her father was into such a bizarre pool-sex business to start with. And from what Cat was telling her, he actually shared his girl with whatever pool bum came along.

"Naw. No reason for him to. I'm no one's chick. But your old man's about the best I ever found in bed. I keep coming back to him. But let's follow Linda on up. You can see the operation from another perspective in one of the rooms."

They climbed the stairs in time to see the door at the end of the hallway closing. Cat put her finger to her lips, indicating Susan should be quiet. They quickly went to the room beside the one where Linda and her pool partner had entered.

Cat pushed aside a small picture on the wall and motioned Susan over to peer through a crack.