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“I remember that. But I thought that was only temporary,” Carmen said, and Jada just looked at her like she should have known better.
“We are talking about Mr. Black here,” Jada said.
“Yeah.”
“You see Victor is still with me.”
“Jada, let me tell you the man is fine. Tall, sexy chocolate brown skin, and he has these deep penetrating eyes,” Carmen said.
“I know.”
“You know? What do you mean, you know?”
“I met him.”
“So you knew I still had one and you didn’t tell me?”
Jada tipped her head to one side and smiled. “I met him outside a diner one night.”
“He was there?”
“I imagine he is always there, Carmen.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. But that means …”
“That he’s here somewhere now. Yes, Carmen, yes it does.”
“Wow,” was all Carmen could say and thought for a minute about what always there meant and how she felt about it. Since he saved my life, I guess I appreciate it.
“Since it’s obvious that you’re in investigator mode, I’m going to assume that we’re not going to Paris.”
“Yes we are, Jada West. You and I are going to Paris. Just give me a day or two.”
“Uh, huh,” Jada said and thought about her promise not to leave the country. “A day or two it is. Well the very least you can do is buy me a drink,” Jada said. “I need to make a stop at J.R.’s, but after that, you’re buying.”
“I kinda gotta make a stop too,” she told Jada.
Jada looked at Carmen. “Since you’re in investigator mode, I think it’s prudent that I ask where you need to stop.”
“A place called Enzo’s Palace.”
“Enzo’s Palace? What possible reason would you have to go to that dump?”
“You know the place?”
“I used to be in that industry. Dancers drift from club to club, so I’ve known women who’ve danced there at one time or another.”
“Well, then, that makes you the perfect travel companion for the night.”
When the ladies arrived at Enzo’s Palace, Carmen promised that she was just going to have a look around to see if she saw Simpson. She needed to know about the flash drive he had given her and the significance of it.
While Carmen went off in search of Simpson, Jada sat down at a table to wait. Not knowing how long Carmen would be, she sent Nesmith to the bar to get her a drink. While he was gone, a man was passing by the table, but stopped when he saw Jada sitting there.
“Damn, you a fine ass mutha fucka. You dance here?”
“No.”
The man laughed. “Then you must be here to watch like me,” he said, and sat down next to Jada and tried to talk. This was truly the last thing she needed to deal with, a rude drunk. Jada simply ignored him at first, but he persisted.