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“Yeah? What else have you heard?” Montana rubbed his eyes and eased onto a stool. They were getting heat from all sides.
“Just that the guy you’re looking for is missing.”
The grapevine was ripe. Montana gave Grant a look. He wasn’t in the mood to hear any crap. “We’re looking for him.”
“Prostitutes. Who cares?” Joe snorted as he moved away.
“Yeah, who cares?” Grant hissed. “Does it matter that we have Senators and prominent businessmen involved?”
“Possibly involved. Michael certainly isn’t part of that particular pack. Neither was Mark Ramos, but he is dead after one night with a submissive.”
“Why couldn’t he be?”
Montana gave him a look. “Do you think he had that kind of money?”
“Good God. You know how money can be hidden away.” Grant admonished.
“Maybe.”
“Let’s concentrate on Mr. Cavanaugh.”
“Yeah. He seems to know some of the best clients or at least know of them.” They’d taken two hours to look through Michael’s apartment. The guy not only kept a list of victims or possible victims, he also had a detailed list of Club Noir clients – something he would check with Mistress Jade on. How could a psychiatry patient have acquired so many names? “We need to go down the list one by one.”
“And what do you think the Sargent is going to say?”
“That we’re doing our jobs.”
Grant laughed. “Right. This is an election year. The Mayor is breathing down his neck but oh, the Mayor just might be on this list. We have a potential perp. If you ask me, the guy is looking pretty damn good as our murderer.”
Montana wasn’t so certain of anything any longer, except for his feeling regarding Destiny. Then again, he wondered whether his judgment was already clouded given their relationship. Relationship. They had one night of sex. “Drink. I need to think.”
“You mean you need to find your sweetie.”
“She’s the only connection and she was on Michael’s list!” He realized he’d raised his voice just enough that others looked in their direction.
“We’re trying to find him. Okay?”
Joe pushed two beers in their direction. Montana grabbed the glass, chugging one third. He thought about his time with Destiny, both intimate and otherwise. She was not as forthcoming as she pretended. She was also putting herself in harm’s way with her amateur investigation. Should he allow her to go undercover? He could lose his badge.
They sat quietly, drinking their beer and listening to various conversations. Grant shifted, enabling him to see the entire crowd. “Maybe there’s more than one killer.”
“What do you mean?”
“What if this is about more than some guy hunting down and slicing and dicing for kicks?”
Montana tilted his head. “Go on.”
“I don’t know. You keep telling me the lifestyle is about domination, which in my book means control. Then again, what if Mistress Jade is part of a larger scheme?”
“As in she’s the ringleader of a major crime ring?” Not that the thought hasn’t crossed his mind.
“Think about it. She’s behind this Submissive for Hire gig. She knows everyone who’s anyone in the city so she could certainly blackmail at will. What prominent citizen would really want their sick needs coming out in the public?” Grant’s eyes opened wide. “I think I may be onto something here.”
He sighed and thought about his partner’s words. “Maybe. I do think we need to talk to Ms. Devereaux again.”
“We do. Finish your beer.”
“Yep.” Montana gulped the liquid as he thought about Grant’s concept. Blackmail. Of course. What if she was playing both sides? Money was the root of all evil after all. His phone buzzed, vibrating against his chest. He yanked out his phone. “Precinct.”
