Amaryllis understood immediately. 'You want to link? Here? Now?'
'I'm a detector, remember? If York is using any talent, I'll pick it up.'
Amaryllis's cheeks burned at the memory of the sensual sensations that had flooded through her the last time she and Lucas had linked.
'I don't think that's such a good idea.' She almost winced at the prim tone in her voice. 'I'm supposed to be here on business.'
Lucas grinned. 'You're scared.'
'That's not true.'
'Don't worry, you're a professional, remember? You can handle it.'
He was goading her. Amaryllis knew it but she couldn't seem to rise above it.
'All right,' she muttered. 'But just for a moment.'
Lucas's eyes gleamed in the darkness. He reached across the table and took her hand.
The link happened quickly. A few seconds of seeking, the brief sensation of vulnerability, and then Amaryllis went to work. The prism took shape on the psychic plane.
'You know, professionally speaking. Miss Lark, you're good,' Lucas drawled softly. 'Very good.'
Talent pulsed through the prism.
The noise of the music and the crowd faded. To her dismay, Amaryllis became acutely aware of the warmth in her lower body. She had been doing a reasonably good job of suppressing her reaction to Lucas all evening, but some- thing about the link loosened those inner controls. His fingers tightened around hers.
'I'm not picking up anything from York,' Lucas whispered. 'The guy's a complete fake.'
'I knew it.' Amaryllis hastily broke the link. The prism winked out of existence.
A woman's shriek sliced through the dark room. A man gave a muffled groan. The couple sitting at the neighboring table began to kiss passionately.
'Want to leave?' Lucas asked gently.
'I have to talk to Vivien.'
'We can wait outside until the performance is over and then go to her dressing room.'
Amaryllis felt absurdly grateful for the suggestion. 'Excellent idea.' She leaped to her feet.
Lucas put down his unfinished beer, stood, threw some money down, and took her hand. He forged a path through the maze of tiny tables. The cries and moans of people who appeared to be in the throes of sexual climax rose and fell.
'I can't believe that all these people have actually convinced themselves that they're being sexually stimulated by York and Yolanda.' Amaryllis said. 'This is nothing more than self-induced mass hysteria.'
'I guess it works for them,' Lucas said.
Chapter 7
'Hold it.' Amaryllis held up an imperious hand as Lucas reached for his wallet. 'What do you think you're doing?'
Lucas glanced at the expectant expression on the face of the massive man who blocked the stage door entrance. The guard looked as if he had once been severely overmuscled. He was now seriously overweight. He created a formidable barrier.
Lucas assessed the situation and looked at Amaryllis's disapproving frown. 'What do you think I'm doing? I'm going to bribe him to let us in so that you can meet Vivien of the Veils. That's what we're here for, isn't it?'
'We shouldn't have to give this person a bribe just to get in the door. It's not right.'
The heavyset guard eyed Amaryllis with kindly indulgence. 'You must be new in town.'
She took a step toward him. 'I am not new in town. And even if I were, I'd still know that bribery is wrong.'
The big man looked at Lucas. 'No offense, but I'd suggest you get yourself another lady friend. Don't think you two have much in common.'
'You'd be surprised.' Lucas shoved three bills into the guard's massive fist. 'Can we go inside now? We're in a hurry.'
'Be my guest. Viv's door is the third one on the left.' The guard heaved his bulk off a stool and indicated the entrance with a surprisingly gracious wave of his broad hand.
Amaryllis favored the big man with one last reproving frown as she went past. 'You should be ashamed of your- self, you know.'
'Oh, I am, I am.' The guard beamed.
Lucas took Amaryllis's arm before she could continue the lecture. 'Let's go.'
The corridor inside the entrance was cramped and narrow. Lucas could have easily touched the low ceiling. The throbbing music from the stage created a dull background roar. The walls vibrated.
The sign on the first door indicated that it was a storage closet. The second door was labeled 'Wardrobe.' A large purple star glowed on the third door.
'Something tells me this is Vivien's.' Lucas halted in front of the star and knocked twice.
'Come on in, it ain't locked,' a woman called out loudly enough to be heard over the music.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lucas saw Amaryllis's hand clench around her purse strap. She looked anxious but resolved.
Vivien, garbed in a purple dressing gown, was seated in front of the mirror. She paused in the act of wiping off some purple makeup. Her eyes moved over Lucas with business- like speculation. Without the elaborate makeup, her features were far less exotic than they had appeared on stage. The hard lines around her eyes and mouth bespoke a wealth of streetwise experience. But the smile she gave Lucas was polite, almost indulgent.
'Sorry. I don't do unscheduled private acts. You gotta make an appointment.'
'I'll keep that in mind,' Lucas said.
Amaryllis stepped out from behind Lucas. 'Hello. My name is Amaryllis Lark.'
Vivien switched her appraising glance to Amaryllis. 'New in town? Not a bad stage name. If you're looking for a job, you'll have to try somewhere else. Me and York and Yolanda have a long-term contract here.'
Amaryllis blinked. 'A job?' Understanding lit her eyes. She turned pink. 'Oh, I see what you mean. No, I'm not looking for work. I just wanted to ask you a few questions.'
'Questions, hub?' Vivien's gaze sharpened. 'You two cops?'
'No, of course not,' Amaryllis said quickly. 'This is a personal matter.'
'Personal.' Vivien turned back to the mirror and began to smear cream into her purple eye shadow. 'That'll cost you.'
Lucas reached for his wallet a second time. Ignoring Amaryllis's obvious disapproval, he dug out a few more bills and handed them to the stripper.
Vivien made the money disappear into the front of her purple gown. She met Amaryllis's eyes in the mirror. 'Ask away, honey.'
Amaryllis clasped her hands in front of her. 'Well, I suppose what I want to know is, were you acquainted with Professor Jonathan Landreth?'
'Sure, I knew Jonny.' Vivien expertly massaged more cream into the skin above her eyes. 'Funny little guy. Always acted as if his underwear was a couple of sizes too small, but other than that, he was okay. Real reliable. Never missed an appointment.'
Amaryllis cleared her throat. 'You called him Jonny?'
'Sure. What else?' Vivien sighed. 'I was real sorry to hear about his accident last month. Poor old Jonny was definitely wound a little too tight, but he was a perfect gentleman. And he always paid up front.'
Amaryllis's brows came together in obvious bewilderment. 'What did he pay for?'
'Paid to watch me dance, naturally. Private performances only. Jonny never wanted to sit out front with the audience. Kind of shy, I guess. He wanted to watch me perform for him alone.' Vivien chuckled. 'Said he didn't need York and Yolanda to get him hot.'
