Salvi, Kara and Bronte had no problems accessing the Ceiling, and Salvi made a mental note to thank Chaney’s lawyer for that. They made their way to the bar, where Bronte bought them drinks from the neural device-wearing bar staff. Salvi noted the staff tonight were different from the others she’d been served by on previous nights. They took their drinks and made their way over to the couch area. They sat together, fake laughing and hanging off Bronte, doing their best to make him look like ‘the man’.
Two hours had passed before a young man entered the Ceiling that Salvi recognized. He was tall and lean with angular features, strawberry blond hair styled modestly and his suit expensive yet understated. This was a guy who had a distinct presence, a confidence about him, and didn’t need flashy clothes to stand out.
“Two o’clock,” she said to Bronte and Kara. “It’s not Tom Bradley, but that guy was definitely in the photo with Caine.”
“Who’d he come with?” Kara said, checking her reflection in her mirrored compact.
“He looks to be alone,” Salvi said, watching him make his way to the bar. “I feel the sudden need to get a drink.”
Salvi stood and made her way to the bar. She left a small distance between her and the young man as she ordered. They locked eyes while each waited, and she smiled at him. He smiled back and when he received his drink, he raised it in a toast to her, then departed. She smiled wider. When her drink was ready, she took it back to Kara and Bronte.
“Maybe we should invite him to drink with us?” Salvi said. “Use him being alone as our angle in.”
“You want King Cock to do it?” Bronte asked.
Salvi looked at the guy, then nodded to Bronte. “Yeah. Give it ten, then go.”
They waited their ten minutes, drinking, laughing, drawing the man’s eye on occasion. Eventually Bronte stood and walked over to the guy. They spoke, shook hands, then Bronte sat down for a few minutes, before motioning over to Salvi and Kara. They both smiled at the guy. He smiled back, then stood and followed Bronte back to them.
“Ladies, this is Kelvin,” Bronte said. “Kelvin, this Sarah and Kim.”
“Ladies,” Kelvin said, offering his hand with a slight bow. “It’s lovely to meet you. I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I haven’t seen you here either,” Salvi smiled, then motioned to Bronte. “But we’re new to town. We’ve only been coming here for a few weeks now. This is fast becoming our new home, though.”
“It’s a great place,” Kelvin said, taking a seat beside Kara.
“You come here often?” Kara said, giving him a sexy smile.
“I do,” he smiled. “It’s like my second home. Or maybe my third.”
“What’s your first and second?” Salvi asked.
Kelvin looked at her and smiled. “Well, that would be my house and my apartment. Oh, but wait, I also forgot my holiday house.”
Kara and Salvi exchanged a glance and a laugh. Salvi had to fight not to roll her eyes at his blatant property listing.
“Well, now, you have me intrigued,” Salvi said. “What business are you in to afford such a portfolio?”
“A lucrative one,” he smiled.
“Oooh, we have a coy one here,” Kara said. “One hundred dollars says I get that secret out of you before the night is through.”
“A hundred dollars?” he smiled. “Is that all?”
“Name your price?” Kara said.
“Hmm,” he said, eyeing her. “Tell you what, if you’re still around at the end of the night, I’ll name my price then.”
Kara leaned toward him. “You don’t think I have the staying power?”
He went to say something, but his eyes diverted to the door. “Oh. My party has just arrived.”
Salvi looked over to the entrance and saw Tom Bradley walking in with the other two guys from the photo with Caine.
“There’s plenty of room if they want to join us,” Salvi said, then looked to Bronte. “The more the merrier, isn’t that our motto?” she smiled.
Bronte smiled. “Absolutely.”
Kelvin stood and moved to greet the others. They gathered close and spoke, the other three sets of eyes glancing over to them.
“We need more women,” Bronte said quietly to Kara and Bronte. “There’s not enough of you to go around.”
Kara looked at him. “How do you know that isn’t exactly what these guys go for?”
“They’re coming,” Salvi said, sipping her drink.
They watched as the group approached them and introductions were made. Tom introduced himself to Bronte, kissed Salvi’s hand, then greeted Kara. The stocky guy beside him with a closely cropped head of dark hair was called Travis, and the chestnut-haired one wearing data-enabled glasses, with the long fringe but shaved high on the sides – perfect for wearing neural devices – was called Edward. They spilled around, taking seats, and Tom raised his hand, motioning the barmaid over to take orders.
“You have a knack,” Salvi said to him. “Pretty sure if I did that she wouldn’t move.”
He looked at her and smiled. “I’m a regular.”
“I know. We met a few nights back.”
“We did,” he smiled, “and then I was quickly shooed away.”
“I’m sorry but I had a prearranged date with Lance that night.”
“It happens,” he shrugged.
“Well, I’m here now,” Salvi smiled. “Do you believe in second chances?”
His eyes moved to Bronte. “I don’t know. What does he think of second chances?”
Salvi looked at Bronte, who was talking to Travis and Edward about football. “He likes second chances a lot,” she said turning back to Tom. “We, er, like to change up the menu if you get my drift. Variety is the spice of life, is it not?”
“I see,” Tom nodded. “So, just so we’re clear, you have an open relationship and he won’t beat the shit out of me if I hit on you?”
Salvi gave a nod. “You’re very perceptive.”
He smiled. “Why don’t you like monogamy?”
Salvi shrugged. “It’s fine, but we get bored easily.” She leaned forward. “Why do you think we come to the Ceiling?” She sat back again, bringing her drink to her mouth. “And Diabolique.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, as his grin grew wider. “How do you know about that?”
“I’ve been there before. It’s fun.” She glanced over nonchalantly to Kara, who was pretending to laugh at whatever Kelvin was telling her.
“Lance gave you the tour, didn’t he?” Tom said.
Salvi nodded.
“You must be special,” he said. “Lance doesn’t do that for just anyone.”
Salvi shrugged. “I’m worth it, I think.” Tom smiled.
“Is he here tonight?” Tom asked, glancing around. “I haven’t seen him for a few days.”
“He’s probably at one of his other bars,” Salvi said, glancing around too.
“You’re not meeting him here?”
Salvi shook her head. “Not tonight, no.”
“So,” he said, returning his eyes to hers. “Diabolique… It’s not bad.”
“Not bad? I thought it was great. There’s nowhere around here that comes close.”
“Isn’t there?” he said, eyes twinkling and a mischievous grin taking over his face.
Salvi stared at him playfully. “You know of somewhere better?”
He sipped his drink and eyed her curiously.
“Do tell,” she said, curious. Had Tom been the one to introduce Caine to this other club Chaney spoke of?
His grin morphed into a smug smile. “Let’s just say that Diabolique is… okay… for amateurs.”
“Are you calling me an amateur?” she feigned insult.
He looked her over. “Well, you don’t look it, but you never can tell.”
Salvi gave him her best sultry look. “Amateur is fun… but I’ve always been one for the big leagues myself,” she patted Bronte on the arm.
“A lot of
people say that,” he said, dropping his smile, “but when they hit the big leagues, they find they can’t handle it.”
Salvi studied him curiously. Did he know about her night at Diabolique? Had he seen her leave? She remembered people laughing at her, but she’d been too out of it to see or notice who they were. After all, Kara had seen her that night, but she’d never seen Kara. Still she had to forget about that now. If he’d seen her, he’d seen her. She had to repair her reputation and fast.
“I’m always up for a challenge,” she said. “And if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again, right?”
“The road to success is paved with failures.”
“And challenges,” she stared at him. “And I’ve always been a fan of a man who can rise to a challenge.”
He laughed. “You’re not backward about being forward are you.”
“I’m sorry, did you want a girl who’s meek and mild? I can be that, if you’d like.”
“Who said I want a girl at all?” he said, eyes drifting to Bronte. Salvi looked at her colleague, then back to Tom. “So why were you chatting me up that time?”
Tom laughed again. “I’m just fucking with you.” He sipped his drink.
“I see,” she sipped her drink too. “A game player.”
“Life’s pretty boring without a game or two. I’ve always been a fan of hide and seek, myself. Though I prefer to be the hunter.”
“Oh, so I’m the prey. Am I making it too easy for you?” She smiled. “You want to play a game to knock me off my balance and therefore win me?”
“Resistance does make it more interesting. And the success more rewarding.”
“If that were true, why did you give up so easily the other night?”
“Because you were with Lance Chaney.”
“So?”
He shrugged. “He owns this place. He knows a lot of powerful people. You don’t fuck with that.”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t strike me as a vindictive person.”
“Well, I didn’t want to test the waters. I like coming here. I’d hate to have him ban me.”
Salvi nodded.
“So, anyway,” he said. “You and Lance. What’s the story?”
She shrugged back. “We had fun. Briefly. Then I guess he lost interest.”
“That… doesn’t sound like Lance.”
“Doesn’t it?”
He held his hand out, motioning her to hold that thought. “Hey, I like the guy. I’m just making sure it’s over between you because I wouldn’t want to step his toes, you know? Cut him off.”
Salvi paused. Was that an innocent comment or did Tom just make an intentionally bad joke about stepping on Chaney’s toes? Chaney, who’d had his fingers and toes sliced off. She smiled again. “It’s over. Besides, if this guy,” she pointed to Bronte, “my husband doesn’t own me, then Lance Chaney certainly doesn’t either.”
He studied her a moment, then raised his glass to her. “Nice to know.”
She took her glass and connected it with his, and they both finished their drinks.
Salvi looked at the group. “So, what do you say? Should we hit Diabolique?”
The group paused and looked at her.
“What?” she asked, glancing around at them.
“That’s not something we talk about out in the open,” Tom said.
“Sorry.”
“Well, I’m down,” Bronte grinned, lightening the mood. “I haven’t been there yet.”
“Me either,” Kara smiled. “Let’s do it.”
Tom looked at his friends. “What do you say, guys? Shall we take things underground?”
“Starting early,” Kelvin said, checking his expensive ringwatch. “I like it.” He stood and held his hand out to Kara. “Shall we?”
She took his hand. “Lead the way.”
They easily cleared the security measures and she found herself dropping in the silver elevator capsule with Tom to the underground cavern. Again, she made a note to thank Chaney’s lawyer for making it happen. They stepped out into the old candle-lit underground tunnel, and waited for the others to arrive. When they did, Salvi began heading toward the entry for Diabolique, hoping she wouldn’t see Erica there. Hoping Chaney hadn’t said anything to her about Salvi being a cop.
She looked back at the group following and wondered if Caine had done this exact thing with these guys. Wondered if they’d been the ones Caine had spent his last moments alive with. Wondered whether they had taken him to this other club. Wondered what Caine had seen to have ended in his death. Wondered whether one of them had been responsible for it.
Tom whistled, catching her attention. She looked back at him.
“Wrong way,” he said.
She looked back toward Diabolique. “But–”
“I thought you wanted the big leagues?”
Salvi paused and smiled. “I do.”
“Then that’s this way, my dear.”
Kelvin laughed as he slung an arm around Kara’s shoulders and began leading her down the tunnel in the opposite direction. Edward, VR glasses alight with scrolling text, grinned and followed. Tom held out his hand to Salvi and she took it, as Travis gave Bronte a friendly slap on the back and ushered him forward.
“Oh, we are in for some fun!” Travis grinned.
They moved down the tunnel and Salvi was certain that she was walking the same footsteps as Caine. Maybe even the Chief’s daughter too. She recalled Chaney talking about his silent partner, how they’d set up the kind of club they’d wanted to; a club, that took things further than Chaney was comfortable with. She was sure it was this club that Tom and his friends were leading them to, that Caine had seen, and that it was this club, and what Caine had seen there, that had gotten him killed. She glanced at Kara and Bronte, checking to see if they were sensing the same thing. They were both chatting with the others, laughing now and then, but she still saw an alertness in their eyes.
Tom bumped her shoulder with his, looking at her. “Penny for your thoughts?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was letting my imagination run wild.”
“I don’t think your imagination can fathom all that lays before you,” he grinned.
As they walked along, Salvi wondered whether the club was down here somewhere or if they were merely heading toward an alternative exit. If it was an exit, she sure hoped it was one that Cyber had noted and placed surveillance on.
They reached a curve in the tunnel and followed it around, out of sight of the tunnel behind them. Before them was a dead end and the group slowed to a stop. Salvi saw no doors.
“Are you pulling our legs?” she asked the group. “I don’t see any more clubs down here.”
“Oh, this is the way to the club,” Tom said, grinning. “Isn’t it, Travis?”
“Sure is,” he answered. “The doorway is just there.” He pointed to the wall of the tunnel.
“Once you step through, though,” Edward said, plucking a haptic glove from his pocket, sliding it on and tapping the air in front of him, “there’s no turning back.”
“What does that mean?” Salvi giggled, although the truth was she felt an alarm rising within her.
“It means, this club is beyond secret,” Kelvin said, as they stood around in a rough circle. “Like, once you see it, you’re in it for life.”
“As in,” Edward grinned, glasses aglow, “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” His friends laughed.
“Oh yeah?” Salvi said. “Sounds like I need to sign another NDA.”
They laughed again. Bronte joined in.
“Chaney was such a nerd,” Travis said. “Making people sign NDAs.”
Salvi shrugged. “Privacy’s big for him. I get it.”
“An NDA is just a piece of paper,” Tom said, shaking his head. “Who is going to take that to court? The club is secret, right? No one’s going to talk about it anywhere the cops can get involved. They might as well indict themselves.”
“So what do you do for this other club you’re taking us to?” Salvi said. “You want us to sign in blood or something?”
“Something like that,” Edward said, grinning as he continued to tap away at the air. Tom took Salvi’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly, giving her a smile to match.
“Well, here we are!” Edward said, raising his hands.
Salvi, Kara and Bronte looked around and saw nothing but the end of the tunnel and its walls. She looked back the way they’d come but only saw the curve in the track and solid walls of concrete and steel.
“You’re kidding, right?” Kara said.
Salvi nodded. “They’re definitely having a laugh at our expense.”
“No really, it’s through this door,” Edward walked over to the tunnel wall, removed his haptic glove and pressed his hand against one section. Beside it they saw a panel rise, which revealed a console. He punched in a code and, sure enough, part of the tunnel wall slid back. The door was a new installation that she doubted was on any of the city plans that Noble and his team had analyzed.
From Salvi’s angle, she couldn’t see what was on the other side, but it dawned on her, the confirmation this was how the Chief’s daughter had been seen entering Floor to Ceiling, but never leaving. This was why she wasn’t picked up on any surveillance footage taken in the area; because she left the club this way. A secret way. Underground. Just like John Dorant had. Which made Salvi wonder, were these guys linked to Dorant? Were they merely clients? Or were they working for him?
“Alright, let’s go,” Bronte clapped his hands together.
“Wait,” Tom held up his hand to stop him. “Now, I hope you know we don’t just take anyone through here.”
“I bet,” Kara said, “but we’re grateful.”
“Are you, though?” Kelvin asked.
“What do you mean?” Kara asked him.
“Well,” Tom said, sighing, “it’s just that the last time we took a cop through here, he didn’t take it so well.”
Salvi, Kara and Bronte paused.
“What?” Salvi asked.
Movement behind them made them turn around. Another man, around the same age, stepped out from around the corner in the tunnel, holding some kind of taser-like handgun, which he swiftly aimed right at Bronte.
The Sensation Page 25
