“Hey, how’d you get here?” she asked, smiling.
“I had a bit of an issue.” It was only fair I told her. “An officer brought me home. I think my location was compromised. There was a man who confronted me at the beach…”
“Oh no.” Her jaw dropped open.
“He’s in custody for now, but the long and short of it is that I think I found a job, but I need to go there tonight. I need to leave the house as soon as possible.”
“I’ll drive you,” she offered. “Or better yet, you can borrow my car. Then you don’t have to feel rushed during the interview or whatever it is you’re doing tonight.”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course.” She tossed me the keys and smiled. “You’ve seen my car. It’s not like much more could happen to it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. She had a valid point.
“Thank you so much. I think this’ll be a good job or at least one that pays decent.”
“Where’s it at?” she asked.
“Buttons?” my voice went up an octave. “Have you heard of it?”
“Of course I’ve heard about it. It’s the place to be. How in the world did you get an in there?” she asked, perplexed.
“I ran into a girl who works there, and she found out I was looking for work…”
“Wow. Well whatever it is you have to do tonight, I’d say do it because jobs like that don’t come around very often.”
“She said it was like a club and she promised it wasn’t like stripping or anything…” I was hoping for confirmation.
Rikki smiled. “It’s just a place where people want to be. There are all kinds of stories about what goes on there, but it’s all urban legend. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
“Deal. Now I wonder what I should wear,” I said, feeling extremely anxious about what I’d possibly gotten myself into.
“Something stylish and revealing.”
My stomach sank. I owned neither.
“I’ve got something that might work,” she said, leaving my room.
I groaned and fell against the mattress.
Rikki came back in holding a tiny black dress that I didn’t think would stretch enough in any direction to cover any one part of me. “What shoe size are you?” she asked.
“Eight.”
“It’s meant to be,” she said, waving a pair of strappy, black heels. “I’ve heard there’s some sort of dress code there.”
“Well, I haven’t been hired yet so…”
“Once you put this on, it’ll be a done deal.”
I laughed. “I hope so. Do you know how far away it is?”
“About an hour or hour and fifteen.”
“Seriously? What time is it?” I glanced at my phone. “I better get ready. I’m supposed to meet her before her shift.”
“If you need any help let me know. I can’t wait to see you before you head out.”
“Thanks,” I said, grabbing the dress from her before she walked away.
I quickly stripped out of my jeans and shirt and pulled the dress over my head. Somehow, it managed to cover—just barely— all the vital parts. I walked into the bathroom and did a spin, surprised by my new look. We’d always been told to dress modestly and this was anything but. I kind of liked it.
My hair was a bit unruly after a day at the beach and a ride in the police car, but there wasn’t much I could do about it without a shower. And God Forbid I took a step in the tub.
I heard a whistle from the hallway, and Rikki grinned. “You clean up nice. I printed off the directions to Buttons. Do you have a curling iron or flattening—”
I shook my head.
“I’ll be right back.”
I began dotting on some foundation in a vain attempt to make me look like I was a solid sleeper and not running for my life. It wasn’t working.
Rikki reappeared and plugged in her curling iron. “Should heat up in a minute or so.”
“Thanks again for loaning me the dress.”
“It’s gotta get some use somehow,” she laughed, testing the iron. “It’s ready.”
Without skipping a beat, she began wrapping chunks of my hair around the rod, and I looked steadily in the mirror as I drew on eyeliner heavier than normal.
“You’ve got this,” she said, working her way around my head. “You’ll be out of this dump in no time.”
I smiled, hoping she was right, but also knowing I’d only stay at Buttons long enough to save enough to leave town. This city was no longer safe.
“You look breathtaking. If they don’t hire you to do whatever it is they do, they don’t deserve you.”
I smiled at her in the mirror and laughed. “I guess I already have one strike against me.”
“What’s that?” she asked, unplugging the curling iron.
“I’m a blond.”
“Hairism? In this day and age? The nerve.”
I started laughing and dabbed a bit of gloss on my lips.
“I shouldn’t be too late. And if you need me to come back for any reason—”
She held her hand up to interrupt me. “I’ve got the Housewives to watch.”
“What the heck are the Housewives?” I asked. “I keep hearing about it.”
“A bunch of women who fight with each other over petty things, go on shopping sprees, and handle real life problems, while living in mansions. You know just living life like the rest of us.” She rolled her eyes as she pointed to our surroundings.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sounds hopeful. How do I sign up?”
“Marry a rich guy or divorce one,” she teased.
“How about I just make it on my own?”
“Nah. That’s not interesting. Then you can’t be called a gold-digger,” she laughed, as I grabbed my purse. “Besides, we all watch it so we can feel better about ourselves.”
I laughed at the irony and wondered just how low the housewives went. It sounded intriguing.
“Well, have fun with the housewives. And I owe you big for this one. I’ll pay back gas money too.”
Rikki pushed me out the front door, waving one last time as I walked down the steps toward the street. I glanced around the neighborhood, looking for anything suspicious, as I walked to Rikki’s car and got in. So far so good. Maybe Donald was the only one out here, for now. I turned on the engine and memorized the first few instructions on how to get to Buttons. As I drove out of the neighborhood and onto the highway, I wondered what was waiting for me at Buttons. Liv said it wasn’t a strip club and there was no hint of that on the website. Although, there was no hint of anything on the site. I guess it added to the mystery and intrigue.
After a wrong exit and two missed turns, I finally arrived at Buttons. The square building was stucco and brick with Tudor style windows showcasing wrought iron scrollwork. The glass had been blacked out, which only added to the mystery. The parking lot had a gate and a parking attendant stationed at it.
I rolled down my window and stuck out my head. “I’m here to meet Liv.”
“She’s already here.” He nodded and lifted the gate.
I found an empty space right next to the building and parked. Here went nothing.
I got out of the car and tugged my dress down before walking to the entrance. Velvet ropes had been pushed along the building. It must not be open yet. I tugged on the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
“May I help you?” a voice asked out of nowhere.
I took a step back and looked around, finally finding an intercom.
“I’m here to meet with Liv.”
The click of the lock sounded and I pushed the door open. I took a step into the building and saw an ivory suede wraparound couch in the lobby. The lighting was beyond dim, the walls painted a deep shade of crimson, and the wood floors so dark, they were almost black. There was a hallway leading away from the area where I stood. As I debated whether or not to follow the corridor, I heard Liv’s voice.
“You made it. I wasn’
t sure if you’d come or not.” She walked out of the hallway and waved. “You look amazing. I told one of my bosses about you, but I think he’ll be stunned to meet you in person.”
“Thank you,” I said, looking around the lobby and then back at Liv. “But I’m really not sure how being here has explained anything more to me.”
“All in good time,” she laughed. “Follow me, and I’ll give you a run through about what a typical evening would be here.”
Wrought iron sconces that looked like candles flickering in the breeze lined the long hallway, creating a warm glow throughout.
“So the shifts start at five and are over by two. Generally, we have five days on and two days off. Our customers like to see familiar faces.”
We stepped into a large room that looked like an ultra-modern lounge with suede booths along the walls and gigantic leather ottomans and small tables dotting the middle of the floor. There were swings hanging from the ceiling and mirrors in the corners. My heart started pounding as I looked at the open second level that looked over the main floor. Liv followed my gaze.
“That’s the VIP section. It costs an extraordinary amount to sit up there. Our shifts are rotated so that at least once a week, we all get a chance to serve the VIP patrons.”
My mouth went dry as my eyes landed back on the swings, dangling from the ceiling. If this wasn’t a strip club, was it one step beyond?
“You might want to close your mouth,” Liv said, softly touching my shoulder. I jumped a foot in the air from the contact and stepped backward. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. I just don’t understand…”
Liv grabbed my hand and pulled me across the large room, passing the bar and the good-looking bartender who stood behind it shining glasses.
“There’s a male bartender?” I asked.
“There’s always several male and female bartenders at any one time. For protection, really.”
“What?” my voice hoarse as we walked down another hallway.
“Don’t worry. None of us have ever needed protecting. It’s just a smart thing to do when you have this many attractive women in one place.” She winked and opened the door to the dressing room.
I was in way over my head.
Luke
When the email from Hannah came over, I nearly punched a hole in the wall. They’d found her and I was clear across the country. I sent an email to my administrative assistant to clear the rest of the meetings that I’d planned here. I quickly threw my things into the suitcase and scanned the hotel room for anything I might have left behind. Looked clear.
I checked out at the front desk and rolled my carryon behind me as I walked to my rental car. There were two flights out of here tonight, and I hoped I could get on one of them.
Damn it. I never should’ve left California.
Turning the car onto the highway, I dialed the detective’s number and only reached his voicemail. I called Derek’s number next. He was in charge of security personnel and could be trusted to only ask questions that were relevant.
“This is Derek.”
“Hey, I’ve got a new client. Rather sudden. I’m stuck on the east coast, but I should be able to catch a red-eye. The perp is in custody, but I don’t know how long he’ll stay there or if there are others. We need some counter-surveillance set up, and I want to get a trapline on the client’s old cell number.”
“Got it, sir,” Derek replied.
“I’ll text over the client’s new cell and hopefully you can trace her location. I would’ve but I need to get to the airport. I want a shadow detail on her.”
“Anything else?” Derek questioned.
“Send me her location when you find it and if it changes.”
“Affirmative. I’ll get right on it.”
I ended the call and drove down the exit ramp, following the signs to return the rental car. I just might make it on the next flight out of here. I pulled in behind the long line of cars and watched as the workers scanned each car back into the lot. I left the keys in the ignition and grabbed my suitcase from the backseat and set it on the pavement next to me. The guy with the scanner was two cars away, which gave me enough time to text all relevant information to Derek.
The beep of the scanner alerted me that it was my time to check the car back in.
“Bringing it back early?” the guy asked, reading his device.
“Shortened my trip,” I confirmed, smiling.
The man popped his head into the car, turning on the ignition.
“Didn’t bring it back with a full tank. That’s going to cost $8.95 a gallon. Sure you don’t want to run across the way and fill her up?” he joked.
“I’ll take the hit,” I assured him.
He printed off the receipt and handed it to me as I saw the airport shuttle pull up to the curb. I picked up my carryon and jogged over to the bus, barely making it in time. The bus was standing room only so I stuck to the front, gripping the pole tightly with one hand and checking my phone with the other. I texted Hannah, not expecting to receive a response and switched over to Google as the bus lurched at a stop sign, nearly tipping me sideways.
I typed in NLC and watched as the news results popped up on my screen. For an organization that had been around for so long, there were surprisingly few results that surfaced. I clicked on an image of a man, who vaguely resembled one of the men in the hostile group of greeters I’d encountered, and zoomed in on the image. It was definitely him. Miles Norman was his name. He’d been with the organization for years.
The bus came to a stop at my airline terminal, and I shoved my phone back into my pocket as I walked down the steps onto the curb. Something felt out of place. I didn’t like what I was feeling, but I recognized it. The watcher was being watched. I made a quarter turn and glimpsed a man take a step behind one of the luggage carriers. Two could play this game. I stood still, my eyes narrowed at the empty space the man had occupied. I didn’t have time for this, but I wanted to see who wanted to get so up close and personal. He’d budge from his post any second. They always did.
Sure enough his arm swung out and he took a step out from cover. The man’s eyes turned uneasy once he realized I was waiting for him. I flashed him my best smile as I watched him squirm. His chin jutted out, giving his features a rather pronounced look, emphasizing his dark beady eyes. His thin lips stretched into an unpleasant grimace.
“May I help you with something?” I asked.
He worked his hand through his dark hair with a jerkiness.
“I was asked to escort you to the airport,” the man’s voice uncertain.
“Really. And who do I have the pleasure of thanking for such personal attention?”
“Client information is always confidential.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at this amateur.
“Well, I hope they sent their best,” I said sincerely, pulling out my wallet and cell. I dug a twenty out of my wallet as I kept my finger steady on the cell camera. I took two steps forward, startling the man, and handed him the cash while my finger pressed down steadily. “Take this to cover parking and let your people know I’ve made it to the airport just fine. But you might not want to mention this little encounter.”
The man’s jaw tensed as I walked past him, seemingly unfazed and completely unaware that I just took his picture. The doors to the terminal opened, and I rushed to the airline counter and explained my wish to change my return flight to the next one. The attendant grabbed my ticket and quickly typed into the system, scanning for available flights.
“We don’t have first class available,” she said. “Only economy, but it’s an exit row.”
“That’ll be great,” I said as my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw that it was Derek. The attendant printed off the boarding pass and I thanked her swiftly as I answered my phone.
“I’ve located the client, Mr. Fletcher.”
“Great. Where’s she at?”
“She’s at Buttons.”
> What the hell was she doing at Buttons?
Hannah
Until recently, I had lived my life with a wide-eyed innocence. That was what initially attracted a lot of the people to the community, the innocence. In hindsight, I now saw it for what it was, ignorance. Blissful ignorance, not innocence.
And standing in a room full of women clad in lingerie made me miss that blissful ignorance. Not because of where I was, but how I got here, what drove me to create a new life, which was unfortunately discovered all too soon. I pushed the fear back down and tried to concentrate on my task at hand, getting the job.
“So, you’ve heard of Hooters, right?” Liv asked.
I nodded.
“Well, it’s just like that, only instead of short shorts and pantyhose with runs in them, we wear lingerie.”
I turned to look at Liv. “Do you serve chicken wings too?”
“Actually, we do. They aren’t hot wings, though,” she said, laughing. “They’re teriyaki with a pineapple glaze.”
I rolled my eyes just as a brunette dressed in a lacy, pink negligee bounced over to us. Her hair was braided and there was an innocence around her, which seemed quite contradictory considering everything.
“You must be Hannah,” she said, forgoing the handshake and launching into a hug. “You really are gorgeous. I’m Tammi.”
My stomach tightened with just how important beauty appeared to be to so many around here. Not that I was above all that or anything, I just never thought about it much until I set foot in California. It felt like I was always on display whether I was grabbing a cup of coffee or walking on the beach.
“Thanks,” I said awkwardly, as she released me. “You too.”
Hidden Sins Page 7
