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I’m thankful when we pull up to Donahue’s house. Even though it’s in darkness, I notice the gates are wide open. He never leaves them unlocked. Usually, they’re shut tight when he goes to bed. I recall one late night, my sloshed arse stumbled up to his house, and I had to bang on the gates to wake him up. He allowed me to sleep on his sofa, sobering me up with coffee.
I kill the engine and help Miren to her feet before I follow suit. Her soft footfalls behind me are the only sounds besides mine against the concrete tiles. I’m pretty sure she’s holding her breath. I pull out my gun and unlock the safety before knocking on the door. But the moment my knuckles hit the wood, the door slides open.
My gut twists with anxiety. I know I’m about to find a dead body. There’s no doubt in my mind. I know because I’ve come across scenes like this too many times to count.
“Stay behind me,” I whisper as I step over the threshold. The entrance hall is empty, and I turn left into the lounge where I see him before Miren does. Immediately, I spin on my heel and stop her. “Stay right here. Do not come in this room.”
Her eyes are wide as she stares up at me. “What’s wrong?” Even though I can hear the break in her voice, knowing she has realised what we found, I shake my head.
Leaving her at the entrance, I move deeper into the room and crouch down. The body of Father Donahue is unmoving. And when I reach for his pulse point, I feel nothing. Someone killed him, and I have a feeling I know who it is.
A gasp of surprise behind me has me shooting to my feet. I turn to find Miren, hand on mouth, tears streaming down her face as she looks at the old man.
“Is… Is… Is he dead?”
I nod. There’s no reason to hide it anymore. “Unfortunately.”
Slowly, Miren falls to her knees, and a sob of agony falls from her perfectly plump lips. I tell myself I didn’t notice them, I didn’t truly examine every inch of her that I could, but it would be a lie. I did, and I don’t know why.
“You need to be honest with me,” I tell her, causing her to look up through wet lashes.
Her lower lip wobbles. “What do you mean?”
“Is Donahue yer uncle?”
For a long, silent minute, I’m pretty sure she’s about to nod, but then she says, “No. He’s an honest man who didn’t deserve this.”
The anger in her voice has me watching her reaction. If she’s not his daughter, then there’s something she’s still hidin’. Perhaps I should keep her around. More time will allow me to learn who she really is.
First things first, I need to call Sergeant O’Malley. And then I’m going to take Miren home, let her work for us, and have Tye dig into her past. Those secrets need to be uncovered, and when they are, I’ll make her pay for her lies.
NINE
MIREN
I followCallia around the club. It’s not too busy yet, but the few club members that are here have girls on their laps with drinks in their hands. Thankfully, I’m able to observe before I start a shift.
“This is the main bar,” she tells me as we reach the centre of the room.
It’s got a wall filled with bottles of spirits, along with glasses, and shelving that’s illuminated in a soft purple. The counter is dark wood, a veneer that shimmers under the low lights. It’s not what I expected to find. When someone says strip club, the immediate image that comes to mind is a dingy dive. But this is elegant.
Opposite the bar are round tables, with soft cushioned seating, and a large stage that looks like it’s been created for a band. There’s a pole smack dab in the centre, and it’s the only evidence of what this place is. The waitresses are all dressed in black shorts and figure-hugging tees. However, they aren’t showing off anything more than you’d see if they walked by you on the pavement.
“This is…” I look over at Callia who’s currently assessing me. I’m not sure what to say.
This place is really nice. Even the clientele who are seated at the tables overlooking the stage are respectful. They may be shouting outwhoopsandget on, ye lassiebut they’re not grabbing at the girls.
“Not what you expected from a bunch of bikers?” Callia laughs when I nod slowly. “Told ya, yer man, Monster, is sound. Most of the eejits who walk in here are thrown out on their arses.”
“I just didn’t think it would be so…” I’m not sure what to say.
“Classy?”
“Yes,” I mumble, and Callia laughs again before taking my hand and leading me over to the bar.
“You’re welcome to sit back here and enjoy the night. Drinks are on the club, but don’t get too drunk. Monster doesn’t approve.”
When I look at her, I notice a glint in her eye, but it’s gone before I can ask what she means. She offers me a wave, and I know her shift starts soon, so I order a Coke and settle in. I observe the two girls who are currently on the stage. They finish up their routine just as another performer steps onto the platform. I can’t deny she’s beautiful.
