by Tonya Kappes
17) Hope is framing Hugh for something. She threatens to go to the tabloids with whatever she knows.
18) Hope needs something from Buddy, but what?
I make a few more notes and slip the piece of paper back in my bag.
“Yes. That sounds like the same girl.” Hope’s voice echoes throughout Linda’s master suite.
“She passed out when she saw you?” Buddy questions Hope as their footsteps get closer.
“She did, but I thought she had low blood sugar.” Hope sounds desperate.
“I don’t know who she is, but she’s showing up everywhere. She wants something with Linda. Or you.” His voice is more boisterous.
Oh god, oh god. I get my can of mace ready and start opening any door I can find in her dressing room. One of the doors opens into a dressing room with mirrored and lightbulbed walls. The next one is full of rows and rows of makeup.
Voila!
A set of stairs is behind door number three. I’m not sure where they lead, but I’m about to find out.
My phone vibrates deep in my bag.
“I hear a vibration.” Buddy’s voice is much closer.
I run as fast as I can down the steps and open the door at the end that leads into a car garage.
Without thinking, I jump into a cherry red dream and push the garage door button that is hanging on the visor.
“This is not happening,” I whisper, turning the engine, I put the pedal to the medal, never dreaming I’d be stealing a Lamborghini Aventador.
Without looking back, I can hear Hope and Buddy screaming. There is only one place to go.
Christy’s.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Calm down. Where are you?” Christy tries to make me feel better.
“I’m in Cat Cove area where Linda Minx lives. I think I know who killed her and they know that I know.” The tires squeal when I turn a corner heading toward Park City.
“Listen, I’m on my way to that address with my team. I checked on Joel and he is in recovery.” She gives me the details I need about Joel.
“Thank you so much for checking on him.” I check in the rear-view mirror to make sure I don’t see Buddy or Hope behind me. I’m sure they are on their way. “What do I do? Where can I go?”
“I know this is going to be difficult for you, but I need you to come to the party so we can get the drug smuggling ring in one place.” Her calming voice puts me at ease a little. “I’ve scoped out the address and it’s an abandoned building. Try to park that fancy car you just stole so it’s not so noticeable.”
Easy for her to say.
“Oh my god. Am I going to get in trouble for stealing a car?” I ask, not even thinking of the repercussions of auto theft.
“No, Olivia.” There is a hint of laughter in her voice.
“I’m so glad you think this is funny.” I veer onto the road leading to the address Beth had given me.
“I don’t think it’s funny. But I need you to be calm and level-headed when you go into the warehouse.” She starts to give me instructions. “You have to go in there confident. Act like nothing has happened to you all day.”
“Easy for you to say.” I mumble. “You get to go home at night, not worried that you will ever have to wake up in a jail cell. And those awful orange outfits. Did you know I hate orange?”
“Olivia, calm down. You are sort of freaking out.” Her voice is stiff and rigid. “Is that you barreling down the road?”
I look around, but don’t see her.
“Where are you?” I ask slowing the car way down.
“I’m undercover. Don’t you worry about me. You go in there and know that you are safe.” She reassures me.
I pull around to the far side of the building, closer to the next building that looks like its occupied. Something about being near regular people makes me feel better.
“Can you see me?” I feel so much better with someone on my side who can actually see me. “You know, just in case something happens.”
“Olivia, we have other agents on the inside.” Her calming voice is losing its edge. “You are going to be fine.”
I strain my neck and looking up at the abandoned warehouse I wonder why they picked such a cliché place to do whatever it is they are doing in there.
In the distance, Beth is crossing the street in her black three-inch high heels, a skirt barely covering her girly parts, and a too tight lace shirt. Without a care in the world or even thinking she is about to do something very wrong, her aura radiates teal closest to her core.
I’ll be sure to keep a close eye on her. She has a little built-up resentment for someone. And that someone has to be inside that building. Her aura becomes brighter and brighter as she reaches for the door handle.
Even though I’m in a tough situation, I feel like Beth is an innocent bystander. She freely gave me the pills and told me that she would tell Hugh she invited me. It isn’t as if he invited me. Hell, they might not let me in.
I grab my bag and look out the windows to make sure Buddy and Hope aren’t running toward me with guns ablaze, but nothing that exciting is happening. The few people walking down the street have no idea what is going on in the building they are walking past.
I put the car keys in my bag once I lock the doors. For a split second, I almost left them in there so the damn thing can get stolen and be tied to a real car thief, but Christy already knows that I took it.
I smooth my hands down my sweatshirt and sweatpants as if it’s going to make me look better. I open the door slightly to let in a little light. Walking into a dark scary building is not my ideal situation.
The dark hallway seems to have its own heartbeat as the strobe lights pulsate from a room in the distance. I hold my arms straight out in front of me as though I’m zombie in a Halloween haunted house.
“Eeow!” A hand wraps around my mouth and pulls me into a dark corner. My heart beats a mile a minute as the potential scene of my death plays in my head like a bad scary movie. A crystal aura glows into the dark, easing my nerves a little bit.
“Shh.” The person hushes me. “It’s me, Harold.”
I break free from his grip just as he flips on a dim flashlight.
“What are you doing?” I ask with my fist pounding at my side. “You almost made me pee my pants.” I stomp. “If you only knew what I just went through.”
“You need to get out of here right now,” he warns; his eyes big and bulging. “There is something bad here and you don’t need to be caught up in this. I’m going straight to the police tomorrow.”
“I’m undercover too, remember?” Now I have to stay. He has my curiosity up. Plus he’s in here with me, unlike Christy who is watching from outside. “Why are you here?”
“Before I left 4Play, Hugh asked me to stop by here this afternoon because they were going to get a big shipment of camera equipment.” He shines the light down the hall to see where the footsteps are coming from. He shoves me into the darkness and steps out into the hall. “Can I help you?”
“Harold, my man.” Hugh stands with his big belly sticking out. “I thought I heard something down here and came to see what it is, but I see you have it under control.”
“Yes, sir.” Harold nods and shines his flashlight back and forth down the hallway. “I’m making sure no one is here that shouldn’t be.”
Hugh gives him a light smack on the back. “Good man. I’ll leave you to your job. And remember to come get me in the back room I showed you earlier, if someone or something isn’t right.”
Harold nods his head and waits until Hugh is out of sight before he turns back to me. “Nothing is right in here. I’m not sure you should be here.”
“Hurry, tell me what you saw.” I coax him to tell me fast so I can go in and see for myself.
“I didn’t think anything of it until I stood by the door doing my job when they were bringing in these big wooden crates.” His voice trembles. “There was a trail of white powdery stuff. Then I brought it to
the attention of one of the guys with a gun strapped to him.”
My mouth flies open. “Guns? Men with guns? Guns that are strapped? Wasn’t that clue enough that something wasn’t right?”
“I don’t know how they do it these days. Young people are so different nowadays.”
I smack my forehead. “Go on.” I encourage him to finish the story.
He shines his flashlight back down the hall. The coast is clear. Quietly, he proceeds. “The guy told me to mind my own business, so I did. Until…” His eyes bulge and his aura turns a muddy blue. His fear of what can happen tonight surrounds him like a fog.
“Until what?” I hold my breath.
“Until Hugh came in and they popped open two of the crates.” He digs in his pant pocket and holds up two small baggies. “This is cocaine and this one is pills. There are at least fifty of those crates full of drugs. They are using 4Play as a front for a drug smuggling ring.”
“What are you doing with those?” I gasp.
“I’m going to take them to the police. They need to stop this.”
“I already knew about the drugs and the police know it.” I inform him. “But we are here to clear my name of the murder of Linda Minx.”
“I think she was tied to this somehow.” Harold is confident in his words. I swear his grey hair just got even greyer, if that is possible. “One of the goons said her name and Hugh spit in his face, telling him not to worry about Linda Minx and that she is staying where she belongs…six feet under.”
Music streams down the hall, making it hard for me to hear all of Harold’s story.
“I’m going in. Be sure to keep watch for anything about Linda’s death. We will talk later.” I pat his arm and follow the sound of the music into a large room that is filled with employees of 4Play, including women in skimpy outfits and men in suits. A lot of men.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Beth waves in the distance when she sees me walk into the room. I keep my eyes focused on her so I can start my night off with someone that I know. I look around while pretending to be interested in whatever it is she’s talking about.
“What do you have on?” She stands up and plants her hands on her hips, giving me the once over. “You are not going to be the biggest porn star looking like that. When Hugh sees you, he is going to flip his lid.” She nods her head back in forth like she’s giving me the business. “You better come with me.”
She grabs my hand and drags me through the crowd that has gathered on the dance floor in front of the DJ booth. Some people I recognize and some I don’t.
“Who are all these people?” I shout, piercing the loud music.
“It’s the industry.” She smiles with pride. “We are a close knit family. Most of the guys are the stars. These are rooms where you can test out your chemistry.” She points to a row of closed doors that have a glass block front. Light glows from some of them, some of them are dark.
It’s hard for me to wrap my head around this.
We walk into a room filled with whips, chains, sex toys, clothes, and DVDs.
“What is all this?” I make a mental note of everything I’m seeing while she rummages through the clothing section.
“By the way you are acting, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think you’ve never been in an erotic scene.” She winks. “Hugh and I couldn’t believe your extensive background when your agent was telling us about it. I have to tell you,” she holds up a pair of fishnet stockings and then throws them at me, “we are very excited to have you here.”
I hold the stocking up and snarl.
“Put them on with this.” She throws me a sheer black top. “No bra. No panties.”
“Where are the pants?” I ask as she tosses me a look.
“No pants.” She huffs. “Go on, change.”
“Where?” I don’t see a dressing room.
“Right here.” She grins. “I want to see exactly what 4Play has invested in.”
“I’m not undressing in front of you.” I draw the line. My skin crawls as I see her aura turn red. “You can wait to see it on film like everyone else.”
“Anticipation is the best part.” She points to a curtain. “You can go behind there. Oh, and pick out a few toys for you for later. As soon as the party really gets going, these will be scarce.”
Ohhh. Suddenly I feel sick. I disappear behind the curtain and take my phone out of my bag. I think it’s time to call Christy. I probably have enough evidence between Harold and Erin to bust the drug scandal wide open.
Damn! There is no cell service on my phone. I’m sure the warehouse has some dead spots. I’m going to make sure to find a spot to call out before I get in too deep because I don’t plan to be here for the extracurricular part of the night.
“You look fabulous!” Beth squeals. We walk back out to the crowd. “I can’t wait for you to meet Pac.”
“Pac?” I question pulling the sheer top as far down as it will go, which is to my belly button.
“He’s amazing! He’s had a lot of sex and looks great on film.” She stops shy of the dance floor. “He is one who loves to do it on screen. Amazing!”
I notice that everyone is staring at us as we walk across the dance floor back to our seats…well…couch. The entire warehouse floor is full of couches with people on them holding all sorts of crazy looking drinks. Women in chain outfits walk around with trays of drinks and little cups.
“Here.” Beth hands me a drink and a plastic cup off one of the passing trays.
“What is it?” The cocktail is blue with a few sprinkles of red in it and the cup holds two small pills.
“Don’t worry. It will make you happy.” She downs the drink and pills she got for herself.
I nod and watch as she quickly goes into some sort of daze. Once she is pretty much out of it, I know it’s time for me to find a place where I can get cell service. Now that I have the physical evidence, I can leave this crazy life of 4Play, even if I haven’t figured out who killed Linda.
Jail is looking pretty inviting right about now.
Harold stands by the hallway and barely tips his head when I walk by him. My stomach settles a little, knowing he is keeping an eye out for me.
The hallway on the opposite end of where Harold is standing is dark but secluded, making it perfect for me to snoop around for a cell spot. Digging my phone out of my bag, I hold it in the air to search for a signal, as well as use it as a flashlight.
Taking my cell out of the air, I stop when I hear voices in the distance. A woman and a man are having a heated discussion. Instantly, I picture one of the nasty rooms Beth had mentioned earlier, but this sounds more like an argument.
Like a bad horror film, I can’t turn away. I edge closer to the voices. Was it more evidence I can use against Hugh and 4Play?
I glance down at my cell, which still has no service, and click on the record button. Sometimes I don’t hear or remember everything when I’m in a rush of adrenaline. By the shaking of my hands and rattling of my teeth, I have to say my adrenaline has kicked in.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her just like I took care of Linda.” The woman threatens.
“How do you plan to do that?” Hugh’s voice rings through the door.
I knew it. Hugh is the mastermind behind Linda’s death, but what happened? Why?
Out of nowhere, someone shoves me straight through the door and I land at the feet of Hugh and Angela.
Chapter Thirty
“I’m so glad you are here.” I jump to my feet, hold on to my phone with one hand and hold the pills in the other. “This is some sort of brothel and they are smuggling drugs just like you thought. I have proof. Harold, the security guard, told me all about.”
Christy rolls her eyes. “Thank you.” She grins.
I smile back, but realize she isn’t thanking me. I follow her gaze behind my shoulder where Pac stands. He is the one who just pushed me through the door.
“Are you thanking me, or him?” I point betwe
en the two of us. Pac takes a rigid stance with his arms folded over his massive chest.
“Oh, Olivia.” Christy walks behind the desk where it appears she has Hugh positioned to arrest him.
“Did I screw up the arrest?” I cringe. Leave it to me to screw up a big bust.
“No. Just the opposite.” Hugh stands up and kisses Christy on the cheek. “Go get the old man.” Hugh orders Pac to retrieve Harold.
Suddenly the fog clears, or I should say the aura clears, giving me all the information I need.
“No!” I throw my hand over my mouth. “You are one of them?”
She easily moves around the room as though she is in charge. She pushes my shoulder, causing me to fall back into a chair.
Pac charges in with his fists full. In one, he is holding Hope by the hem of her shirt, and in the other, he has Buddy by his collar. Both are fighting him. Both are losing.
He shoves them on the couch across from me. We glare at each other.
“You had to go and be nosey.” She grins, squatting down between my legs, and resting her hand on her gun holster. “One more big shipment and we are done.”
She stands up, flicks the snap pulling out the gun and waves it between us.
“It was planned out perfectly. Poor Joel didn’t have any clue when I called him about going undercover for the team.” Her laugh rings in my ear. Her aura has a dirty brown overlay, letting me know she is holding onto energy and some secrets. “It was perfect. I found him a job with the Park City Podunk police.”
“There really wasn’t a sting operation with the FBI?” I ask. Thank goodness, Joel is in the hospital and not here in danger.
“No. Joel is in charge of the drug smuggling operations, and when I called to tell him that I was put in charge of this sting and I needed the best undercover agent, he was all over it. After all, I was willing to sacrifice him as the ringleader. You know ‘all-the-woman-scorned’ crap.” She waves the gun in the air. “Payback is hell. If something went wrong with the deal, I’d already laid the groundwork to send Joel to prison for a long, long time.”
