The shocked looks on the faces of my friends when we pulled back up to Susan’s house made letting Liz drive even more worthwhile.“What the fuck, T...avis?” Sarah asked. “You never let me drive your car.”“I had to put up with his lecherous advances for the past two weeks,” Liz said.“Oh, gross,” Sarah said.“You’re telling me,” Liz agreed – much to the enjoyment of everyone else.“If that’s the cost, I’ll stick to riding the bus,” Sarah said.“I heard you preferred to pull trains,” I said. Only Chris. Curious, she cautiously mounted the stairs on the ragged carpet past the detritus that was almost certainly the result of the vandalism of Soviet or even German soldiers. The house was no longer a welcome place, but one of shadows and redolent of despair.The door was open to the bedroom where Ilse lay naked on the bare stained mattress on the metal bed frame. The morning sun shone through the grimy lace curtains onto her pale shoulder. At first Rebekkah had no idea who it was collapsed in this. We hit up a couple of places without much luck. The girls either didn’t fit the profile Ashley and I sought or we simply didn’t feel the vibes from anyone. Several hours into the evening, a heavy rain rolled into the city, forcing us into a tiny bar that smelled of foul-dishwater. I’ll never forget the smell. It almost made me want to pack it up for the night and forget it. In our waiting, Ashley suggested that we visit the strip club a few blocks over. We had talked about going to a strip club. Now get out of my sight you disgusting excuse for a man. Now I’m free to find a real man to satisfy me instead of you”.Marcus walked towards the front door, picked up an umbrella from the stand and his overcoat from the hooks by the door and walked out into the cold blustery night.Chapter Eleven“Are you going to be out there all night Em, I thought you wanted to watch Downton Abbey, it’s nearly finished”.“Won’t be long babe, give me 5 minutes”.“bloody women and phones, they’re bloody.