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“Can you take me to Simon?”
“I’ll tell him you’re here; he doesn’t like people going back there.” Celia started to argue but decided not to. If anything shook loose, she could always come back with a warrant. They walked inside, and she stood at the end of the bar and waited, looking around to see if she was making anyone nervous.
As far as she could see, no one paid her any undue attention. “Good evening, detective.” She turned to see a very handsome, very well dressed man in his thirties with a thousand dollar smile holding his hand out for her to shake. “Simon Vale, I presume.”
“At your service. Amber tells me you’re here about Melissa, why don’t we have a seat over here where it’s less noisy?” He pointed to a table in the far back corner, and she nodded her head before following behind him. A server approached as soon as they were seated with a bottle of spring water and a glass on a tray.
“Anything for you, detective?”
“No, thanks. So, what can you tell me about Melissa?” He waited until the server poured him a glass of water and squeezed his lemon wedge inside before walking away.
“Not much, she worked here for a while, was a mediocre dancer, but she had the looks, and the body and no one complained.”
“Did she ever have any problems with anyone.”
“Not that she told me about. I pay the bouncers well to look after the girls, and I have… I guess you can say a reputation, so not many would try that shit in my place.”
“Why did she quit?”
“She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. I’m not a babysitter detective; half these women are down on their luck. Most of them have mouths to feed. I like giving everyone a chance, as long as they’re not strung out or into some otherworldly shit and look halfway decent, I give them a shot.”
“Melissa wasn’t the best, and she wasn’t the worst, but she was hungry.”
“Hungry? What do you mean?” He shrugged his shoulders and played with the stem of his glass. “She wanted more; it was in her eyes. She was one of those types who never outgrew their high school popularity and thought that life owed them something more than the hand they were dealt.”
“Was anyone bothering her, did she ever complain to you?”
“Nope, not a word. But I wasn’t surprised when she left. She was a very popular girl; she wasn’t as lived in as some of the rest. She still had that new shine to her that men who frequent these kinds of places like.”
“When did you see her last?”
“Not since the day she quit, and before you ask, I was here last night until three in the morning. I was on the computer most of the time, and the security cameras would vouch for me, I guess.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, but… Someone you know?”
“What?” She looked over her shoulder to see Riley walking towards them.
CHAPTER 16
“Hello, Simon, you behaving yourself?”
“Ri? What’re you doing here? Never thought I’d see you set foot in my place.”
“I’m here to collect something of mine.” Riley looked at Celia when he said it, and she gritted her teeth, not quite sure if to be angry or amused.
Simon had a grin on his face as Riley ran his finger along the detective’s cheek before taking his hand away quickly as if remembering where they were. He’d been giving serious thought to hitting on her though she seemed too prim and proper for his taste; now, he was glad he hadn’t put his foot in his mouth.
“You want something?”
“No, just her when she’s done. I’ll be over at the bar.” Riley walked away without another word, and Celia looked back at the club owner to find him looking at her with a light of merriment in his eyes. She knew he was trying hard not to laugh and felt her cheeks tint with heat as she searched for an explanation to give him.
“Sorry about that. Here’s my card, please contact me if you think of anything else that might help with the investigation.”
“Don’t feel too bad. Riley’s always been a hard ass.”
“You know him well, it seems.”
“Yeah, we went to school together a million years ago, guy hasn’t changed one bit.” Simon laughed as if he had some inside joke that she didn’t know about, and Celia just walked away.
She was very tempted to ignore Riley, just walk out of the place without acknowledging his existence but somehow ended up having to stifle her laughter when he gave her a look that pretty much said he gave no fucks. Still, she wasn’t about to let him off the hook that easily.
Outside she got into her car, which he’d parked next to and pulled out of the parking lot without saying a word. At the first light, she saw him coming up behind her and decided to play a game that was sure to piss him off.
