Tough Guy: A Hero Club Novel

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “Was Lisa all right? She has a bad knee.”

  “Seemed fine to me.”

  “Do you have any idea where I could start looking for her?” Jackie said, in a small voice. “Like I said, I came all this way.”

  “Why don't you call her?” the bartender owner asked.

  “She doesn't answer or call me back.”

  “Take a hint,” the bartender said, not unkindly. “Now, would you like to sample some of our wines?”

  “No thanks,” I said and steered Jackie back to the rental car I’d sprung for. It beat waiting on a car service or taxi and I was glad for the privacy as I helped her into the passenger seat.

  She waited until I closed the door before wailing, “What do I do now?”

  “I don't know, sweetheart.”

  “She could be anywhere. Hell, for all I know, if she's no longer with Parker she could be heading back to New York.”

  “Maybe that's what happened,” I said, stroking her hair.

  “No, I'm not that lucky.”

  “She's a selfish bitch,” I said and was surprised when Jackie flinched. “What?”

  “There's got to be a reason why she keeps taking these jobs and then leaving after a few days or weeks.”

  “Perhaps she's trying to find herself,” I said sarcastically, but Jackie was nodding her head.

  “I think so too. Don't get me wrong, I think she's going about it the wrong way. But you've seen what our mother is like. I think she doesn't want to call until she's settled. My mother has a way of shitting all over new plans and dreams.”

  “She gets more and more delightful the more I hear about her.”

  “Lisa’s always accused me of being her stooge. I wish I had handled things better in the past so that she would trust me now. It kills me that she trusts Parker more than her family and I don't have a good feeling about him.”

  “That's New York Jackie talking,” I said, smiling when she looked up at me in surprise. “New York Jackie lets Lisa and her mother walk all over her.”

  “Not always,” she said defensively.

  “Las Vegas Jackie was getting more independent. Look, we're out of clues and I know you're out of patience. Let's get back to Las Vegas and get you ready for your second interview.”

  She gave me a small smile. “It seems so unimportant in the grand scheme of finding my sister.”

  “Lisa doesn't want to be found. I don't see how this changes your plans. You've done all you can. The trail is stone cold.”

  “At least her leg seems to be holding up.”

  “And she's not a prostitute or an exotic dancer. Not that there's anything wrong with either of those professions,” I said.

  Jackie nodded. “I don't know what to tell my mother.”

  “Tell her the truth. You tracked her to a winery in Carson City, but she quit that job, and no one knows where she went. If your mother wants to know more, than she can hire a private detective. You have a life to get back to.”

  “I just wish we could find this Parker person. We might have to go back to Pahrump and see if anyone knows more.”

  I did not want to go back to the brothel, but I'd cross that bridge when we came to it. “Let's just go home.”

  “Home,” Jackie huffed. “I'm not even sure where that is anymore.”

  After checking out of the motel, we headed to the chartered plane. They were able to schedule us for a return flight back to Vegas sooner than we had originally requested. As we were about to board the plane, though, Jackie stopped dead in her tracks.

  “What?”

  She was staring at a poster that was tacked up to a support pole. I went over and looked. It was advertising a new burlesque review. There was a large martini glass and a picture of Jackie's sister sitting inside it. She wore long black gloves and was hanging over the rim of the glass suggestively. Opening night was tonight.

  At seven p.m.

  “You can't,” I said.

  “I can't risk losing her again,” Jackie said. “I know she'll be performing here tonight.” She ripped down the poster and folded it into her purse. “I'm sorry. You can go back without me.”

  I pretty much had to. I had a lot of shit going down at the bar. I wanted to talk to Paulie and Ginny as soon as possible.

  “How long is the show running for?” I asked.

  “It didn't say on the poster.”

  “Call up the box office and find out.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you can damn well put yourself first for once. Let's go and get you to your audition and we can come back tomorrow.”

  Jackie bit her lip. “I can't.”

  “You can.”

  “I'm going to lose her again.”

  “Let me see that poster?”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  “Please?”

  Jackie handed it to me as if she was afraid I would tear it up. Scanning it, I pointed out a name. “Parker Templeton, producer.”

  She let out a shaky breath.

  “We found Parker. If Lisa bolts, we'll be right behind her. But I don't think she will. She's got the guy. She's got the show. Where else is she going to go?”

  “Is there a problem?” the flight attendant called from the portable stairs leading up to the plane. “We need to be wheels up in five.”

  “On our way,” I said.

  “I shouldn't,” she said.

  “You should. It's one day.”

  “I should be there for her opening night.”

  “No. She knows you’re in Nevada. If she wanted you there, she would have called.”

  “Do you think she's going to go full nude and she's embarrassed? Maybe that's why she didn't call.”

  I stared at the flyer again. “Nope, they're serving alcohol. Two-drink minimum.”

  “That sounds familiar.”

  “Wine only. From Carson City Wineries.”

  “The owner lied to us.”

  Miles shrugged. “She might not have known. Maybe Lisa worked there to find out how to get a good price out of her or was hoping for an employee discount.”

  “That would explain why she didn't know who Parker was. He couldn't very well admit he’d sent in a spy.” Jackie rubbed her forehead.

  I put my arm around her and hustled her toward the plane. “We'll come back tomorrow.”

  “This is getting really expensive, this back and forth. I should save the money and just stay here. It's not like I'm going to leave New York to become a showgirl.”

  Her words hit me hard, but I didn't let her see it. I needed her to get into the plane. “That's beside the point. You wanted to know if you could do it. This could be your only chance.”

  Jackie sucked in a deep breath. “You're right.”

  I let out the sigh I was holding as she entered the plane and strapped in.

  “You'll come with me tomorrow, right?” she asked as we taxied down the runway.

  “No,” I said. “I've got a bar to run.”

  “Oh,” she said in a small voice and turned to the window.

  I didn't give a shit about her selfish bitch of a sister and I had no desire to see Jackie and Lisa get into it. A part of me wanted to go for moral support and to soothe any hurt that Lisa could cause. But I needed to start distancing myself instead of deluding myself. Jackie wasn't going to leave her family or New York. Certainly not for a guy who owned a titty bar or a small part in an off-strip casino show. Who was I kidding? Jackie could dance on Broadway and fulfill her dream. I was just a vacation fling. Vacation flings didn't get involved in messy family situations.

  I looked over at Jackie to see if she wanted to talk more. But her eyes were closed.

  I guessed that was for the best.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jackie Mitchell

  I sat on my bed in the Wynn trying not to hyperventilate. My audition was still several hours away. My mind was going a mile a minute. I was worried that Lisa was going to slip away and disappear. I was hurt that Mile
s wasn't going to go back to Carson City with me tomorrow. Although I didn't really blame him. I had taken enough of his time with the wild goose chase Lisa had led us all on.

  I almost didn't answer it when my phone rang, but I saw it was Chance.

  “Howzit?” he asked.

  And suddenly I had a plan. “What are you and the boys doing tonight?”

  “Are you on the pole this evening?” he asked.

  “No,” I said. “I've actually got a callback to audition tonight for a dancing part in the Odyssey casino’s new show, Travesty.”

  “Congrats. You'll blow them all the way. I can’t wait to tell all the blokes that I knew you when.”

  Could you become a big star when you started out as a showgirl? Why not? I closed my eyes. Too much pressure. I will not puke. I will not puke.

  “You all right?”

  “Can you do me a favor? It's a big one.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Miles and I tracked Lisa down.”

  “That's great news. But you don't sound so happy. What's the bad news?”

  “Tonight is her opening night. She's the star of a burlesque show in Carson City. I can't be there because of my audition. I'm afraid she's going to rabbit, and I won’t be able to pick up her trail again.”

  “What can I do?” Chance asked.

  “It's an hour away by plane and it's about three hundred dollars round trip. I can pay your ticket. Do you think you could go to the show and talk to her afterward? She's had a crush on you forever. I know if you ask her to call me, she won't be able to refuse you.”

  “You're putting a lot of faith in a man she's never met.”

  “You were half naked on her wall for over a year. Just give her that cocky grin and she'll be putty in your hands.”

  “Give me the deets,” he said.

  I read him everything from the poster I had. “Can you come to the Wynn and I'll give you the money?”

  “Don't worry your pretty little head about it. Three hundred dollars is a steak dinner to these arseholes. They'd love to fly on a charter plane to a burlesque show. And I for one, want to see who’s the better dancer, you or Lisa.”

  “She is,” I mumbled.

  “She was,” he said. “It's your turn to shine. I want to hear all about your audition. Just remember, you've got me and Miles in your corner.”

  “Yeah, I do. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for Miles.” I owed him big. After I got home from the audition, I'd go over to Dalton's and tell him that. And convince him to go back to the Wynn with me. I gave a test bounce on the bed. Not even the slightest squeak. That was all right—there were other noises to make.

  “Chance, you're the greatest.”

  “I am, aren't I?”

  “And so modest. Thank you so much for doing this for me.” I owed Chance big too, but he was going to have to settle for a fruit basket or something.

  “Like I said, we responsible siblings have to look out for each other.”

  “True. Have fun tonight.”

  “I think we will. I'll call you after.”

  I thanked him again and hung up.

  Getting ready for the second callback was more nerve-racking than going to the first one. I had more time to plan and rehearse the number over and over again in my hotel room. I did my best thinking while I was dancing, but today my mind refused to settle down.

  If I didn’t get the job, no harm, no foul. The Zimmerman Agency would never have to know that I went instead of Lisa. If I did get the job—my feet tripped up and I used the bed to catch my fall.

  “Nice one, Jackie,” I said to myself. “Be sure to do that on stage. That will really impress them.”

  I forced myself to sit still while I finished the thought. If I did get the job, I would have to turn it down and I would have wasted the casting director’s and the producer’s time. Or I would have to reroute my entire life and move from New York to Nevada. On the plus side, I was pretty sure Miles would let me stay with him until I found a place out here. On the negative side, it was going to be expensive—even if I got someone to sublet my apartment until my lease ran out. I was almost out of the thousand dollars my mother had floated me this week, and that was earmarked for Lisa’s search and rescue anyway. It was nonsense. Ridiculous.

  And yet I felt giddy and happy like a kid on Christmas Eve.

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” I told myself.

  But what if? a little voice in my head insisted. Why not?

  Miles Carvello

  Leonidas showed up with a couple of his soldiers that night. I couldn’t risk them seeing Jackie, so I sent her a quick text telling her not to come to Dalton’s tonight, but that I’d love to see her later if she wanted company. I was trying to get in as much time as I could before she left.

  “They’re looking to talk to you, boss,” Highway said over the headset. “You want me to send them back to your office?”

  “No, set them up with a round of beers on the house. I’ll be right there.”

  I called Grier and left him a message to get his ass over here as fast as he could because I had Leonidas and the Rivs in the bar tonight, along with Ginny and Paulie, the patsy dishwasher. Among all of them, there might be something actionable. I just wanted Jackie far away from the action.

  Walking out into the club, I saw Ginny was giving Leonidas a lap dance while the other three goons looked on. “Yellow alert,” I muttered into my headset and the security team went to their positions. I hoped this was a peaceful visit, but I had a feeling it wasn’t.

  Taking a chair from a nearby table, I brought it over to Leonidas’s table and positioned it so my back was to the stage. Kikki, who had just walked out to the pole, glared at me, but I ignored her. These guys wouldn’t be throwing tips.

  “You wanted to see me?” I said to Leonidas while Ginny writhed all over him.

  “That’s good enough, sweetheart.” Leonidas gave Ginny’s ass a sharp slap.

  Ginny met my eyes. I raised my eyebrow. Did she want me to do something about it? She gave a slight shake of her head.

  “Keep your hands to yourself,” I said mildly instead of throwing him out.

  “Ginny doesn’t mind? Do you?”

  “No, Leo. Not with you,” she simpered and swayed away on her five-inch stilettos.

  “Don’t touch my dancers,” I said again, just in case he was going to try that shit with any of the others.

  “Relax. I didn’t come here to cause problems.”

  “That’s good. Why are you here then?” I nodded as the waitress handed me my club soda and lime. I did a double take. It was Zeke’s sister. Liu must have hired her when I wasn’t here. I’d have to make sure everything was in order with payroll. Or maybe I could let my people do their jobs. It was tough to let go of all of the responsibility, but I was getting there.

  “We heard about your problem the other night with the gas leak.”

  “It was a prank.”

  “A costly one.”

  I grunted.

  “We could stop things like that from happening.”

  “I told you two years ago I wasn’t interested in protection.” I eyed the other three gang members. One of them blanched and looked away. He was probably one of the ones I’d sent to the hospital.

  “And you don’t need it. Your reputation precedes you. But the utility companies don’t give a damn if you’re Europe’s hottest floor man. We could have gotten you back in business within the hour.”

  I had to consciously unclench my jaw. “That would have been helpful.” I was being shaken down, and this time it was because Leonidas had bribed people in public works. There wasn’t much I could do about that. “How much is this insurance going to cost me?”

  “Ten grand a month,” Leonidas said pleasantly.

  “Go fuck yourself,” I said in the same tone.

  The three goons went to stand up, but Leonidas waved them to sit back down again. “I actually like you, Miles. I liked your u
ncle too. No one here wants to see Dalton’s go the way Uncle Johnny’s did.”

  I saw Grier sit down at a nearby table and pay Ginny to give him a lap dance. He was close enough to hear the conversation and Ginny dancing on him was a good cover.

  “That kind of cash would impact my profits enough that I’d close within a year. I don’t have that many gas leaks called in to warrant paying the Rivs protection money.” I didn’t raise my voice, but I hoped Grier was getting this anyway.

  “These pranks have a way of escalating,” Leonidas said. “How did the fire start in Uncle Johnny’s Gentlemen’s Club?”

  “It was faulty wiring,” one of his goons said.

  “I heard it wasn’t up to code,” another said.

  “How’s your wiring looking?” Leonidas asked with an air of innocence.

  I was going to kill him. I had a moment to consider leaping across the table and banging that smug smile into the floor. The other three would be on my unprotected back with knives. I couldn’t count on Grier to break cover and help me. A quick glance around the room told me that my security team would be a few seconds too late.

  “Are you saying the Rivs could have stopped Uncle Johnny’s from burning down?”

  A shadow crossed Leonidas’ face. “You’re doubting my word?”

  “I’m considering your offer. Did you give my uncle the same deal?”

  “We weren’t operating this street back then.”

  I hadn’t thought so.

  “Trouble,” Highway said in my ear. I looked up and Jackie was coming straight for us. Shit. I didn’t want her to be any part of this.

  “Who was?” I said casually. “That information would be worth more to me than greasing bureaucrats.”

  I saw Mav step in front of Jackie and escort her back to the dressing room. One less thing to worry about.

  “Five thousand up front and I’ll give you the names of the people responsible.”

  “How do I know you’d give me the right people?”

  Leonidas gave a nasty laugh. “They’re trying to reclaim old territory. The Rivs aren’t going to give it to them.”