The Cop and the Chorus Girl by Nancy Martin Page B

“I think it’s likely that Joey will withdraw his support of The Flatfoot and the Floozie. ”
    Her words drew groans from the cast.
    â€œCome on, Dixie!” Charles blew up. “You’ve been in Joey Torrano’s bed for weeks! Surely you could have used your influence!”
    â€œI have not been in Joey’s bed,” Dixie snapped. “And everyone in this cast knows that’s true.”
    Charles looked sullen while a few of Dixie’s friends loudly stood up for her. The handsome leading man was a British native, and he had perfected a sulky upper-crust accent and attitude despite his Liverpool background. Few cast members actually liked Charles, but he was a good actor and dancer, so they tolerated his presence for a show that needed every asset it could get.
    â€œLook,” Dixie said, cutting across the raised voices. “You all know I was supposed to marry Joey today, and I didn’t go through with it. I just—I couldn’t do it.”
    â€œSo now he’s going to close the show,” Charles snapped.
    â€œIt’s not Dixie’s responsibility to keep the show open,” Kiki Barnes piped up. “We would’ve closed the first week if it hadn’t been for her. We’re lucky she came along!”
    Charles kept his steely gaze trained on Dixie. “But you couldn’t sleep with Joey to keep us going a little longer?”
    â€œNo, I couldn’t,” Dixie said just as coldly. “I’ve got my self-respect, Charles—”
    â€œNot to mention two thousand dollars a week more than the rest of us for being in this show,” Charles countered.
    â€œI’m willing to give up that two thousand,” Dixie retorted. “ And the rest of my salary to keep the show open if Joey backs out. I’ll do it as long as I can. But I can’t do it myself, Charlie.”
    â€œYeah,” Kiki added. “If we want to keep the show open, we’re going to have to find another investor.”
    â€œWe can’t let the show close,” said another actor. “I need this job. And Kiki—well, she needs it real bad.”
    An odd moment of silence greeted that remark. Dixie knew perfectly well how badly Kiki Barnes needed her job in The Flatfoot and the Floozie. Kiki was providing financial support for her twin brother Kip, who was desperately ill with AIDS. Kiki’s brother had been a dancer in New York for many years, and he was a good friend of many of the actors in the room at that moment. Nobody wanted to lose their job, for they all—Dixie included—pitched in to help with Kip’s expenses, but mostly they didn’t want Kiki to lose hers. Working on the show not only gave Kiki money, but a reason to get out in the world every day.
    Dixie planned to do anything in her power to keep the show alive as long as possible—not just for Kiki and Kip, but for all the people with similar stories.
    â€œSo.” Charles broke the uncomfortable silence. “Where are we going to find another investor?”
    â€œI have an idea,” Dixie said slowly, causing heads to turn in her direction once again.
    â€œOh, yeah?”
    â€œI think Joey might stick with the show if I left.”
    â€œNo!” cried several voices.
    â€œIt’s true,” Dixie argued. “I’ve hurt his ego. He might keep putting his money into Flatfoot if I’m not around to remind him of—”
    â€œGreat idea,” Charles said laconically. “But hardly foolproof. If you walk out, we’re sure to close. At least with you on stage every night, we sell tickets.”
    â€œYou haven’t heard the rest of my plan,” Dixie said. “I think we ought to challenge Joey.”
    â€œChallenge him?”
    â€œYes, by making him think there’s an even bigger spender interested in backing the show. Then Joey might decide to keep his money in Flatfoot just to beat the other