Page 88 of Jaked

"Through Maddie? But how?"

"You know the strip club she works at?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Maybe a week ago, you called your sister from there. Right?"

I tried to think. Oh yeah. I had. I'd dashed into the club for only a minute, after giving Maddie a ride to work, inhercar no less. At the time, I'd been between cell phones, thanks to Rango. We didn't have a landline at the apartment, and Maddie's cell phone had been shut off for non-payment, so I'd been a little desperate at the time.

Okay, a lot desperate.

It was the first and only time I'd set foot in that club. But I still didn't understand what Jake was getting at. That night, I didn't even talk to my sister. All I got was her voicemail. I hadn't even left a message.

I shook my head. "But how would you know I called her?"

"I got a look at Selena's phone, checked her incoming calls."

My gaze narrowed. "How? Through your brother?"

"Yeah, right," he said. "Like he'd let me within five feet of your precious sister."

Jake was right, so I didn't bother to deny it. There had always been a lot of tension among them, but for the life of me, I couldn't understand what caused it. "Whyisthat?" I asked.

Jake gave a hard laugh. "For one thing, because he's mainstreaming."

"What do you mean?"

"Pretending to be a good boy." Jake's voice grew sarcastic. "An upstanding, law-abiding citizen. Just like your sister wants."

"Oh please," I said. "Selena knows exactly what he is."

"Sure she does," Jake said.

"Forget that," I said. "How'd you get a look at her phone?"

He shrugged. "I borrowed it."

"Oh." I didn't bother to hide my sarcasm. "Like I 'borrowed' Rango's little book of passwords?"

"No," he said. "You got caught. I didn't."

I rolled my eyes. "Goodie for you."

"And just for the record," he said, "the book's not his."

"Oh shut up," I said. "It is, too."

"Wanna bet?"

I waved away the distraction. "Forget the book. Finish your story."

Jake gave me a long look, and then continued. "So I go to the strip club–"

Ugly images flashed in my mind. Not of the girls. Of Jake. Well, Jakeandthe girls. Together. Damn it. "I bet you just hatedthat," I said.

"And," Jake continued as if I hadn't spoken, "I start asking around, throw some money here and there…"

"Don't you meantucksome money here and there?"