I place a 20 dollar bill on the bar. “Hey, Jason. Sit here and enjoy the show and order you another drink. I need to go have a chat with the lady who last saw Robert alive and view the club’s surveillance.”
He stands. “Well, then. I’ll go with you.”
“No. After you finish your drink, I want you to ask around, see if anybody saw anything.”
“I don’t drink!” he snaps.
I snatch the glass up. “Your loss.” I gulp the drink down and pocket my money. “Get to work, rookie.”
He groans. “Yeah, sure, Lobos.”
Goddamn rookies their over-eagerness gets ’em killed every time. On the bright side, at least he doesn’t blindly do what he’s told. Maybe me and this asshole will get along yet.
I head upstairs with Gill; she’s the club manager and owner of Dark Desires. She’s had this place running on fifteen years now. However, the prostitutes or escorts as she prefers to call them weren’t here until four years ago.
Her office is laden with red carpet and a big oak desk that sits in front of a window that overlooks the dance floor, and lastly, a small bed shoved in the corner of the office against the dark wooden wall. “Jesus, Gill. Don’t you have a home anymore?”
She grins. “My daddy always told me, the only way to operate a successful business is to keep the business close to you.”
I finish my drink and smile. “It seems you took that way too literally.”
She chuckles and shrugs. “So what can I get you today: Weed, pills both? You want one of my pleasure companions again, or have you found someone to take care of those needs already?”
“Actually, I have. He’s a college student in med school.”
Her eyes light up. “Nice! How old is he?”
“Twenty,” I say, taking a sip from her Vodka bottle, bracing for the incoming jokes.
She guffaws and shoves me. “You cougar you! Just out of curiosity, why didn’t you hook up with a guy your own age? You’re like what, forty?”
“I’m thirty-six, bitch! And guys my age, all they want to do is settle down and get married. I’m not down for that shit anymore.”
“Hey, I ain’t judging. I was just curious as to why you’re into a guy so young.” She grins from ear to ear. “Anyway, how’s the sex?”
I smile back. “He satisfies my needs. Let’s put it that way.”
She giggles. “I bet he puts it all kinds of ways. How big is his cock?”
My eyes squint. “Seriously?”
“Well, come on, bitch, details. How big is he?”
I sneer at her. “Geez, Gill. I didn’t have my dick measurer handy.”
“Well, does it slide in or is it a tight fit.”
“God, you’re a persistent bitch! It was a tight fit. There you happy?”
A toothy grin slides across her face. “I thought I heard clapping on the way up here.” She chuckles.
I let out a sigh. For fuck sakes, I am with a middle school kid now. “Do you have any weed or not?” I snap while trying to hold back a grin.
“Yes, and are you good on Xanax?”
I pull a bottle from my jacket pocket, rattling it. “Yeah, I’m good for a while.” I sit down on the leather couch.
“So, what kind of business brings you to my club tonight?”
“I need some info. The Moonlight Killer murdered Robert Stetson on your property, and I was wondering if any of your escorts interacted with him before he was ganked or maybe they saw a person who looked like they were stalking the victim.”
Worry stirs in her eyes. “What! Hey, is my girls in danger? Because if they are, I need to shut my business down.” Her voice rises with shock.
“Any of them rich or work for the oil company?”
“Certainly not. I mean, they rake in a good wad of cash. However, calling them rich would be a stretch.”
“They’ll be fine then. The Killer’s MO has been pretty much killing rich people who work for the oil companies.”
“Oil people, huh? Not much of a loss if you ask me.” She shrugs. “Look, here’s your herbal medicine. It’s on the house; just stop this psycho. He’s bad for business.”
“Bullshit! Here is the money for the half-pound. I’m not letting you give me that shit for free. You got bills to pay.”
“Ugh, you’re such a good person. Always paying your way and shit, never wanting anything for free.”
If she only knew what I’ve done. She would retract her statement.
“I was raised to pay my way. That’s what my father taught me.” I place the money on her coffee table and stuff the bag of weed in my pocket.
She pulls out a joint from her purse. “You want to smoke up before you go?”
“Sure, why not.” I throw my jacket on her couch so that I can relax. I lock the door so no one will walk in on us… like an impatient partner.
She lights the joint and takes the first puff to get the flame going. She passes it to me. “This is some strong-smelling shit, Gill.”
“Hey, nothing but the best for my favorite cop.”
I take a drag from the joint, trying to hold in the smoke, but coughing erupts
