Page 23 of Strip Search

“I hope you’re right.” Jackie wiped her hands on her skirt. “Dee said just to come in and ask for her.”

“Don’t be nervous.” I gave her a quick hug. “I’m here. Whatever we find out, we’ll handle it together.”

She buried her face in my chest and gripped me tightly. “I’ve never had someone say that to me. I’ve always had to handle Lisa’s bullshit on my own. I can’t tell you what it means that you’re here with me.”

Leaning in to whisper in her ear, I gave her earlobe a quick nibble. “Besides, you might enjoy yourself.”

“I’m not expensing a grand in a whorehouse. I’m pushing the limit to what my mother is going to reimburse me for, as it is.” With a deep breath, she pushed away. “Okay, let’s find out what fuckery my sister has got herself into now.”

“That’s the spirit.”

I rang the doorbell and slung my arm around her. “Don’t leave my side.”

“You can bet your sweet ass I won’t.”

The madam opened the door. She had platinum blond hair that was pulled back into a severe bun. She was dressed in a conservative suit and her welcoming smile faded when she saw Jackie. “Couples night out?” she asked.

“Dee told us to come by,” Jackie said, holding on to me for dear life.

The madam’s face brightened a bit and she stepped away from the door. “Come in then. I’ll check her availability.”

I think Jackie would have rather waited on the doorstep, but I ushered her inside. In the parlor area women in various state of undress draped themselves over men or burgundy red velvet couches. Jackie was the only nonworking girl there.

A woman dressed up like an angel came up to us and smiled. “Are you looking for a party?”

“We’re here for Dee,” I said when Jackie just gawked.

“I’m Angelique.” She trailed a finger down my shirt.

“If you change your mind, I’ll be in the bar.

” She gestured behind her. In the bar was a wide-screen television playing a porno.

There were men with women on their laps.

Others were playing pool, and some were drinking and staring at the movie intently.

“This is super awkward,” Jackie said.

The bell rang again, and I pulled Jackie away from the door.

“Let’s sit down.” I picked one of the couches that faced away from the bar and hauled her on my lap.

She settled in with a dazed expression on her face.

Leaning in, she whispered in my ear, “Do they think we’re going to have a threesome with Dee? ”

“Yes. And I’m pretty sure we’re going to have to pay for Dee’s time.”

“That bitch,” Jackie gasped. “I figured we’d talk to her between shifts.”

“It doesn’t look that way. Let me negotiate.”

“Don’t let her screw us.” Jackie snorted when she realized what she’d said.

The madam had let in a group of men in cowboy hats and boots, wearing rodeo shirts.

She pressed a buzzer and the unattached women lined up.

More girls came from the back rooms. They were dressed in everything from lingerie to black latex to fetish costumes.

The cowboys each picked a girl and went off with them down various hallways. The other ones worked the room.

Angelique circled back around to us, her wings dragging on the floor and dropping white feathers.

“I think she’s molting,” Jackie muttered in my ear.

“Dee’s going to be about another fifteen minutes. I could warm you up if you want. We could have a lot of fun.”

“Can we talk?” Jackie said.

“Oh honey, I’m a great listener. Why don’t we go to my room and see if we can come to an arrangement?”

Jackie looked at me and I shrugged. “It’s your money.”

“I like an independent woman.” Angelique smiled and led us out of the parlor.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” I muttered to her.

“It’s just like the VIP room. We’re going to get hustled for drinks and I’m going to get some information.”

“Okay.” I was either the luckiest guy in the world or the biggest idiot for letting her do this.

Angelique didn’t bring us into her bedroom, like I’d thought she would.

It was more of a waiting room with couches and a thick shag rug.

There was a coffee table with various plastic wrapped sex toys.

Jackie sat next to me on the couch while Angelique sank to the floor at our feet.

She handed Jackie a laminated menu and I glanced over.

I hid a grin when I saw that it was a list of services and prices.

Jackie gently set it on the table and said, “How much to just ask some questions?”

“A hundred dollars for fifteen minutes. Just talk. No touching.”

“Deal,” Jackie said and went to shake her hand. “Oh right, no touching.” Pulling her arm back, she dug into her purse and handed Angelique a hundred-dollar bill.

“Thank you. I’ll be right back. Can I get you something to drink?”

“A Diet Coke?” Jackie asked.

“Nothing for me.” I needed to keep my wits about me.

“Where’s she going?” Jackie asked.

“To log in the money.”

Jackie nodded and within five minutes Angelique was back with a Diet Coke. Jackie gulped about half of it down. “Thanks,” she said. “Do you know Lisa Mitchell? She might be going by the name Broadway. She was bartending here a few weeks ago.” Out came Lisa’s headshot.

“Oh yeah, I remember her. She got pissed off that she wasn’t making what she thought she should in tips. Cheri tossed her out on her ass after a week.”

“Who’s Cheri?”

“She’s the madam and no she won’t talk with you. She’s too busy.”

“Do you know where Lisa went?”

Angelique shook her head. “I couldn’t tell you.”

I wondered if that was couldn’t or wouldn’t. I kept my mouth shut for now. Angelique didn’t ask why we were so interested in Lisa. Either she didn’t care, or she knew Dee was going to spill the beans anyway so the information was not a secret.

“Did she have a boyfriend?” I asked. “Or a guy who would visit her regularly?”

“Parker,” Angelique said. “He dropped her off and picked her up. We tried to get him to stay awhile, but he wasn’t interested. Kind of like you.” She pouted at me.

“Sorry,” I said.

“Your loss.”

“I’m sure it is.” I tried to be polite, but I got jabbed in the ribs again. I narrowed my eyes at Jackie. There was definitely going to be some payback.

“Anyway,” Jackie said, clearing her throat. “Did you catch Parker’s last name?”

“No.” Angelique flicked her eyes to the clock.

“What did he look like?” Jackie spoke faster.

“He was tall, handsome in a silver fox way. He dressed nice. You could tell he had money.”

“Did she seem afraid of him?”

“No, she was more afraid of losing him.”

Cocking her head, Jackie said, “What do you mean?”

“She was super possessive and jealous. On her breaks she would call to check up on him.”

“How did he treat her?”

“Protective, maybe even overprotective.”

“How?” Jackie leaned forward.

“He was careful around her, like she was made of glass. He’d put his arm around her when she left with him after her shift and he made it a point to walk her to the door at the start of the shift.”

“Did she ever talk about him?”

“Yeah, just that he was going to make her a star. As soon as he got his show going.”

Jackie zeroed in on that like a target. “What kind of show?”

“Some dance review. Between you and me, I think he was stringing her along. You know the type. ‘Stick with me kid, and I’ll take you away from all this.’” Her lips twisted in a sneer and she rolled her eyes.

“I bet she was financing that show and that’s why she got her panties in a bunch about the tips. You’ve got time for one more question.”

“Did Lisa ever . . . Did she . . .” Jackie couldn’t say it.

“Did she join you guys in the lineup and hustle for blow jobs and quick fucks?” I filled in.

Angelique burst out laughing and wouldn’t stop. Two girls poked their heads into the waiting room to see what was going on. She waved them off.

“I think that’s a no,” I said. Jackie sagged against me in relief.

“Thanks for that,” Angelique wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Damn it. I’m going to have to redo my eyeliner.

No. Lisa slung drinks. She was stone-faced and never smiled.

She was so unfriendly that if she hadn’t been fired over the bullshit about her tips, Cheri was going to put her in the back doing laundry and working in the kitchen where she didn’t scare the clients.

” Angelique got up. “Dee should be wrapping it up by now. I’ll send her in to get you.

Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She blew us a kiss.

“Thank you. You’ve been really helpful,” Jackie said.

“I aim to please.” Angelique sashayed out.

“That should put your mind at ease,” I said when we were alone.

Jackie pressed her palms to her flushed face. “It all seems so stupid now that I thought Lisa would become a prostitute. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You were trying to follow her thought patterns and since she’s still ditching your calls, you had to take some wild guesses.”

“She’s had us all worried. I hope this Parker guy isn’t stringing her along. But I guess she’s living with him. Maybe Dee will have more information.”

“Come here,” I said and hauled her back onto my lap. “We’re getting close to finding your sister.”

Jackie wrapped her arms around my neck. “I can’t wait for this to be over so I can spend some more time with you.”

I grinned. “I was hoping you felt the same way I did.” I actually wanted her longer than this vacation would last. “And who knows, if you get the showgirl job . . .”

“Shh,” she said, pressing her fingers to my mouth. “You’ll jinx it.”

I kissed her fingers. “So what do you think of your first brothel?”

Glancing around the room, she shrugged. “It’s not very sexy or romantic.”

“To be fair, you’re not their demographic.”

She was quiet for a full minute, so I knew something was up. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” I asked.

“Was the woman your uncle rented for you pretty?”

We were heading into the danger zone, I could sense it. “I honestly don’t remember, but I’m sure she was.”

“Why didn’t you ever come back?”