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“Perfect. If you’re not back by the time I’m done, we’ll meet you up front.”
Antony looked down at Lesley and winked before turning his attention back to the locker. He worked systematically, starting with the upper section. Once satisfied there was nothing there, he moved to the main compartment. After his visual check, he ran his finger around the edge between the sides and the bottom, stopping when he got to the small section where the door swung. He frowned.
“There’s a small mirror in the case. Hand it to me, please?”
Lesley dug around and found the telescoping mirror.
“Thanks. There’s something wedged in here.” He moved the mirror into position and shone the light down into the corner. “Okay. I’m gonna need your help.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Get the hemostats—there’s a curved pair—and come over here.”
“Do I need gloves?”
“Nope. You’re not going to touch this. Just set them in the locker and reach over me to take this light. Keep it shining right where I put it.”
Lesley stepped close behind Antony, to where her chest was against his shoulders. She reached over him, grabbing the flashlight and using her free hand to balance against his shoulder. “You know, if you wanted me all up behind you like this, all you had to do was ask.”
Antony turned his head to the side, and she could see his grin. “We’ll talk about what you mean by that later. Alone.”
Using the mirror as a guide, he quickly grabbed the small item from the spot and worked it free. “Okay. Lemme up so I can look at this.”
Lesley moved and Antony spun and set the object on one of the evidence bags. It was a small, folded piece of blue paper. “What is that?” she asked.
“It’s called a bindle. Used for powdered or crystal drugs, usually.” He turned it over, looking for any marks. There were none on the outside. He placed it in the bag and quickly closed it. “We’ll take care of it in the office. It needs to be sent off for testing, anyway.”
“What now?”
“Let’s go talk to Dave.”
As they rounded the corner into the main club area, Victoria stepped directly into their path. She looked like hell. Her makeup was done but smudged in places. Not like the woman he thought he knew. Whatever had happened over the last few years to drag her to this point couldn’t have been good. He also couldn’t remember what he ever saw in her. The realization was freeing, and all he could summon for her was pity.
“What the hell, Antony?” she spat at him. “And what the fuck is she doing here?”
Well, maybe not much pity.
“Better question, Vicky. What are you doing here?”
“I saw your car.”
“You’re not supposed to be around either of us.”
“I don’t care! I’ve had enough of this, Antony. You and I need to go talk right now!”
Lesley sighed and ducked out from under Antony’s arm. “I’ve got this,” she muttered.
Antony looked closer at Vicky. Her eyes were moving erratically, darting back and forth. She hadn’t looked him straight in the eye once. “How long?” he asked.
“What?” She looked at him then. Dilated pupils.
“How long have you been using? And what?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms and shuffled from one foot to the other.
Jeff came around the corner with Lesley and grabbed Vicky’s arms. She began shrieking as he turned her and frog-marched her to the office near the front door.
“Cops are on the way,” Lesley said.
