“Anything you need, good-looking! You know I am always available to do business with you.”
Mingus gave her smile and a wink of his eye. “Alicia have a boyfriend?”
“Alicia has a pimp. Squirrely looking guy named Rourke. He’s small-time and small-minded. I haven’t seen him tonight, but he comes in regularly.”
“Anything unusual about their routines lately?”
“Just them bragging about some windfall they’re supposed to be coming into. But he’s the type who always has some get-rich-quick scheme up his sleeve that bombs and puts her back out on the streets taking care of him.”
“You haven’t schooled her yet, mama?”
“Like I said, young and dumb! She’s determined to learn her lessons the hard way.”
A spotlight suddenly filled the center stage. Seconds later Alicia pushed past the velvet curtains at the back of the stage and stomped in high heels to the pole in the center. She wore a red cape and carried a stuffed wolf head on a three-foot giddy-up stick.
The music in the room rose a few decibels, a thick bass line vibrating through the space. Alicia sloped back against the floor-to-ceiling pole, one leg curled behind the pole, the giddy-up stick between her legs. For six minutes she performed a bump and grind that revolved around the dance pole and the toy wolf that took her out of her cape and down to a red-sequined G-string and tasseled pasties.
At the end of her Little Red Riding Hood performance she was gathering the dollar bills tossed at her when Lily leaned in to whisper in her ear. Mingus lifted his arm and slowly waved a twenty-dollar bill as Alicia looked up to stare in his direction. She tossed him the faintest smile as she gave her associate a quick look then climbed down off the stage and sashayed slowly toward him.
Mingus gestured with his monetary offering, waving her into the seat at his side.
“My name’s Alicia,” she said as she snatched the money from his hand. She was a pretty girl. Her warm complexion was identical to Joanna’s, but she sported long burgundy braids and a mountain of makeup to mask the wear and tear of the life she lived. Her eyes were large and black, like wells of ink. But they were empty, devoid of any real emotion other than strands of anger and indifference that tensed every muscle in her body.
Mingus nodded. “You look familiar,” he said. “Do we know each other?”
She stared at him then shook her head. “I don’t think so, but for another eighty dollars we can get to know each other very well.” She slid her body closer to his, her hand sliding across his thigh, her eyes focused on the wallet he’d rested on the table.
“I graduated from Riptide High School. You look like someone I went to school with.”
“I’m not her,” Alicia answered. “I went to school in Detroit.”
“You sure?”
“You doing an interview or what? My time isn’t cheap and I’m really not looking to make new friends,” she snapped. “You’re either paying for my attention or you aren’t.”
Mingus nodded a second time. His gaze dropped to the tattoo on her thigh. “I like your ink,” he said, pointing to the tattoo on her upper thigh. “That’s different.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she said as she stood. “My play cousin Omar did it. He’s got a shop down in the West Loop if you need something.”
“Play cousin?”
“We grew up in the neighborhood together. His grandma used to babysit me and my little brother. Omar’s my boy. He’s good people and super talented.”
“Omar does good work.”
“It’s okay. If you like that kind of thing,” she said, shrugging her narrow shoulders. Her tassels spun from side to side. “He’s going to redo it in a few weeks for me. I want to cover it with a pod of baby dolphins.”
“But it’s new, isn’t it?” Mingus sat forward to get a closer look. The tattoo was fresh and had barely healed. The coloration was vibrant but still peeling slightly around the edges.
“It was my boyfriend’s idea, but I want to cover it up with dolphins.”
Mingus pulled another twenty-dollar bill out of his wallet and slid it toward her. “You have a nice night, Alicia. Thank you for the chat.”
“You don’t want a private dance?”
“Maybe next time. I have someplace I need to be.”
“Whatever,” she quipped as she snatched the currency from the tabletop and turned on her high heels.
“Yeah, whatever.”
Mingus watched as she walked away, sashaying her way to the bar and then behind the curtained stage. On the other side of the room, his friend Lily sat on the lap of a large, burly guy. With his fire-engine-red hair, full beard, handlebar mustache and the plaid shirt he wore, he looked like a lumberjack in training. The man was grinning from ear to ear, clearly entertained by Lily’s presence and she was working it for every dime she could. With the crowd beginning to pick up, Mingus imagined she’d probably have a lengthy client list before the night was over.
He tossed Lily a nod of thanks as he rose from his seat. Reaching to the table for his beer bottle, he chugged back the last of his beverage. His attention suddenly shifted to the door and the two men moving through the entrance. Alicia had moved back into the room and she rushed to greet the man Mingus knew to be Kyle Rourke. He was heavier in the face than his last mug shot was taken, but it was him. His walk was cocky and there was a distinct air of arrogance that he exuded. Alicia pressed her body to his and his response was dismissive as he shooed her off to work, snapping at her like a chained dog. His bark was meant to intimidate her and everyone within hearing distance. The mistreatment was pervasive and Mingus felt himself bristle with indignation, wanting to reach across the room and punch the fool in his face.
But it was the man standing beside Rourke that Mingus found most interesting. He looked anxious and clearly out of place. His nerves were getting the best of him and he was trying hard not to let it show. Sweat beaded across his brow and he was shaking in the brown leather loafers he wore. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, his stance as if he were preparing to run. The suit he wore was expensive but ill-fitting against his thin frame. He was pedigreed, eyebrows meticulously plucked, his face freshly shaven and his olive complexion looking as smooth as a newborn’s ass. His companion, who was clearly not as preened, was not in his league. The two together looked like oil and water trying desperately to mix. Mingus suddenly had more questions than answers. Pretending to dial a call, he shifted his cell phone in his hand to snap a quick picture without being noticed.
As he moved to the door, passing the two men as he sauntered past the bar, he and the nervous stranger exchanged a look, each measuring the other like grown men sometimes did. Shifting his gaze away, Mingus dismissed them both and made his exit.
* * *
Joanna moved from the large bay window back to the living room sofa. She’d been pacing the floor since Mingus had left earlier. Wondering where he was and what he was doing had her a lot stir crazy. She had questions, curious to know more about the stripper he’d been so anxious to go speak with. Wondering what type of woman Mingus was attracted to. She couldn’t stop herself from imaging the stripper who might have his attention and something like jealousy pitched through her midsection. She shook the sensation, desperate to focus on anything except Mingus Black.
Twice she’d gotten into her car, pulling it out of the garage and down the driveway. Twice she’d been determined to do something. To do anything that would help her feel like she was doing something because she was feeling exceptionally lost and it was not sitting well with her spirit.
Her last attempt had been stalled by a police cruiser driving past the home to do a routine wellness check in the neighborhood. Despite her efforts to maintain a confident attitude when Mingus was around, she wasn’t feeling very self-assured now that he was gone. In all honesty, she was scared to death and slightly desperate to find
the answers that would fix what was broken and return a semblance of normalcy to her life.
She was also tired of the pity party. Feeling sorry for herself had become exhausting and it hadn’t been seventy-two hours yet. She needed to cut the life crisis short before it sent her spiraling into a pit she couldn’t crawl out of. She needed to feel useful and less like a victim. She stood and moved to the window, sliding back the sheer curtains to peer outside.
There was a full moon surrounded by a spattering of stars, all illuminating the night sky. The home across the street from hers was dark, just a single light flickering from a back room. The street was quiet, no sign of Mingus or anything else moving around outside. Joanna blew a soft sigh and headed into the kitchen for a bottle of wine and a bowl of microwave popcorn.
An hour later there was a soft knock at her front door. Joanna was slightly surprised, having lost herself in thought as she navigated the pages of the most recent copy of Saveur magazine. Rising from her seat, she hurried to the entrance, peering through the peephole before throwing it open to welcome Mingus inside.
There was something about his presence that Joanna found exhilarating. The energy he exuded actually gave her goose bumps. He was truly one beautiful man! His hair was cropped close and his beard and mustache were meticulously edged. The black jeans and leather jacket he wore flattered his physique. But it was his eyes, the lids hooded slightly as he stared at her, that gave her pause. His gaze was intoxicating and when he bit down against his bottom lip she felt moisture puddle in the most intimate places. She felt herself gasp as she stared at his full lips, the plush pillows lifting in the barest hint of a smile.
“Hey...”
Joanna glanced over his shoulder. “Where’s your car?” she asked as he eased himself past her. She took a deep breath and inhaled the aroma of his cologne. It was a decadent scent, light and fresh with a hint of citrus finished smoothly with satinwood and amber. She held her breath, allowing it to fill her lungs as he answered.
“I parked it down the road.”
There was the briefest moment of quiet as she pondered his comment. “I guess it would look a little suspect if that news crew came back and found a strange car parked in my driveway.”
“Maybe not suspect, but we don’t want to give them anything else to talk about.”
Joanna closed and locked the door, following behind him as he moved into the center of the living room. He dropped down onto the sofa, assuming the seat she had just vacated.
“Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?”
Mingus shook his head. “No, thank you. I’ll take a drink, though.”
“What would you like?”
“What do you have?”
“Juice, tea, water...”
“Nothing stronger?”
“I think there’s a bottle of vodka and maybe some bourbon left from the last party I had. I’m not a big drinker, so I really don’t keep anything on hand. I might have some wine left, too. I don’t think Simone and I drank it all.”
“Bourbon’s good.”
She nodded as she turned and moved into the kitchen and the pantry where she kept the booze. The bottle of bourbon was tucked in the back behind an assortment of canned goods. It had been there since Christmas and the holiday open house she’d had for her friends and coworkers from Riptide. It had been a full house, everyone in a spirited mood. Noise and laughter had been abundant and any bad behavior blamed on too much drink and a good time.
Clint Owens, the head of the history department, had dropped his pants to show off the dancing elves on his boxer shorts and Principal Donato had danced a tad too close with a young substitute teacher who’d snaked a hand beneath her blouse when he’d thought no one was looking. There had been a slight ruckus between Angel and the coach over a hand of bid whist at her kitchen table and then everyone had headed home to celebrate the holiday season with their families. It had been a good time.
Joanna prepared a quick cheese board, piling on cheddar, Camembert, Gorgonzola and Pepper Jack cheeses, a small round of Brie, prosciutto, pepperoni, crackers, seedless green grapes, olives and a small bowl of pepper jelly. She set the wooden cheese board, two crystal tumblers and the bottle of bourbon on a larger tray and carried it into the living room. She placed it onto the coffee table and took the seat beside him, pulling her legs up beneath her buttocks. Reaching for the bourbon bottle, she poured them both a shot.
“I didn’t mean for you to go to any trouble,” Mingus said, his eyes skating over the delicacies. “But it looks good.”
“I can’t drink without eating something.”
“I thought you didn’t drink.”
“Just on special occasions.”
Mingus chuckled. “And this is a special occasion?” he said as he took a sip of his beverage.
Joanna shrugged. “It’s something.”
The room was quiet, her favored country music playing softly in the background. Despite the pleasant lull, both were lost in thought, the two of them deliberating over the last few hours.
When Joanna could no longer take the silence, she shifted her body to face him. “So, what did you find out?”
* * *
Mingus stared. Since he’d been gone, she had showered and changed, her hair still damp and pulled back into a ponytail. She’d removed her makeup, her fresh face gleaming. She was as pretty as he remembered, her natural glow reminding him of summer sunshine and liquid gold. There was something special about Joanna Barnes, but she was also proving to be quite the distraction.
He wasn’t accustomed to anyone continually questioning him on how he did things and Joanna asked a lot of questions. He suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable as they exchanged looks, falling deep into one another’s stare. Her eyes danced a slow two-step with his, lashes fluttering softly. The nearness of her caused a wave of heat to ripple softly through his body, settling sweetly in his southern quadrant. He tensed, muscles tightening naturally. He shifted in his seat, crossing one leg over the other.
Few women moved Mingus Black. He had never been interested in a committed relationship with anyone. Women who shared time and space with him knew he was not their happily-ever-after. At hello he was upfront about what he wanted and most appreciated him being direct and to the point. He’d enjoyed more than his fair share of one-night stands and the few who’d gotten more than one night could be counted on a single hand with fingers left over. Now, suddenly, Joanna had him wondering what old age might be like with a woman like her. Her eyebrows lifted, her expression still questioning as she waited for him to respond. Mingus had no intention of telling her about Alicia or the tattoo. He didn’t need her riled up before he had the answers to explain what was still a question mark in his own mind. Mingus answered her unspoken question with a query of his own.
“Tell me about your tattoo.”
Joanna’s gaze narrowed, those lashes batting rapidly. “My tattoo?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
This time Mingus was the one eyeing her curiously. “You have more than one?”
“I have five.”
Mingus shifted forward. “You have five tattoos?”
Joanna nodded. She turned her head slightly then tilted her chin down. “There’s the butterfly,” she said, revealing the image of a small monarch hidden behind her ear.
Mingus reached a hand out, his fingers lightly grazing the butterfly’s wing. The pad of his thumb trailed across the small design and down the line of her profile. Her skin was silk and heated beneath his touch. A hint of perspiration beaded over her brow. He suddenly wondered what she would do if he were to press his lips to that spot behind her ear. As if she read his mind, he heard her breath catch, pulling him back to the moment.
He nodded, snatching his hand away as if he’d been burned. The gesture moved Joanna to smile ever so slightly.
Joanna pointed toward the floor as she turned her bare foot out for him to see. The phrase Walk by Faith was inked in a soft font, the design simple and elegant. She leaned back and lifted her T-shirt to expose her abdomen. There was a delicate filigree that circled her belly button and a piercing: a silver cross dangling from a small ring.
Mingus found himself resisting the urge to touch her a second time. But he really wanted to touch her again. He lifted his eyes to hers and their gazes locked and held. Something between them shifted, feeling tangible and sweet like orange blossom honey. He had no doubts that if he were to be so bold she’d welcome his advances, wanting him as much as he found himself wanting her.
He crossed his arms over his chest and shoved his hands beneath his armpits. “Tell me about the tattoo on your upper thigh. The one that was in the pictures with David Locklear.”
That tattoo was of a stack of intricately detailed books. The top book was open, the center pages fluttering away like winged birds. Beneath the image was the George Santayana quote “To know your future you must know your past.”
“I got it done about a year ago. There’s a tattoo artist down off Randolph Street, near Fulton Market named Omar Ramos. He’s not my usual person but she wasn’t available and recommended him.”
“Omar Ramos from Lighthouse Tattoo and Piercings?”
“Yes,” she said as her eyes widened. “You know him?”
“No, but I think we’re about to become acquainted.” He shifted once again, clasping his hands together as he rested his elbows against his thighs. “And your fifth tattoo?”
Joanna suddenly became tight-lipped, her eyes shifting from side to side in deliberation. There was a lengthy pause as she seemed to debate her response. He gestured with his head, still waiting for her to answer.
She took a breath and then responded. “That tattoo is for selective eyes only.”
“Excuse me?”
Tempted by the Badge Page 8
