Page 26 of Strip Search

M iles Carvello

My phone was ringing. I let it go to voice mail.

Jackie was zonked out over my chest and I was spent from the wild lovemaking.

When it rang again, I knew it was trouble.

Carefully easing out from under her, I grabbed my phone and took it into the bathroom and closed the door.

I wasn't surprised that it was Highway calling.

I was surprised that it was only two in the morning. Seemed like it should be later.

“What, for fuck's sake?” I said.

“Ginny's here.”

“She's late.”

“Thought you’d like to know.”

“Keep an eye on her.” I had told Highway that I’d changed my mind about Ginny and decided to give her a second chance.

It made him suspicious because I never gave anyone a second chance.

“Was that all?” I wanted to get back to Jackie and feel her lithe body against me. I was starting to get my second wind.

“Paulie's back too.”

“Shit.” I wanted to talk to him about the bullshit drugs and the gun.

“Do you want me to have a few words with him?”

“No. Don't scare him off. Zeke's not there too, is he?”

“No.”

“Does Paulie seem frantic, like there was something missing from his locker?”

“Not that I heard.”

“Check around.”

“We got a thief?”

“I don't know what we got. How's security looking?”

“A few drunks. One guy tried licking Raven.”

I winced. “Was there anything left of him by the time you got there?”

“Plenty, and I learned a few new Russian curse words.”

“It's good to have a hobby. Has anyone approached Ginny for anything other than a lap dance?”

“Nope.”

“If she goes back into the dressing room with someone, let it happen.”

“Are you getting a cut of the action now? Is that why she's back?” Highway's tone was flat with disapproval.

“No, but trust me on this. I've got it covered.”

“How long are you going to be playing house in Carson City?”

“I'll be back tomorrow before prime time. Don't get your panties in a bunch.”

“I go commando.”

“And I needed to know that why?”

“Something sweet to think about before drifting off to sleep.”

I shook my head. “I'm going to bed. Don't call me unless the club is on fire or you run into something you can't handle. Everything else can wait until tomorrow night.”

“You got it, boss.”

I turned my phone off for the first time in two years. Dalton's could get along without me for a day. I hoped.

The next morning I convinced Jackie to take a shower with me. I loved the feel of her soapy breasts in my hands. And she loved rubbing my cock, slicked up with the same slippery suds.

“I'm going to come in your hands.” I lifted my mouth from hers to tell her.

“Yes,” she breathed, arching into me. “You are.”

“I don't want to stop fondling these to flick you into an orgasm.”

“I'm a little sore this morning,” she admitted, ducking her head shyly.

“Sorry about that.”

“No, I enjoyed it.” Jackie rubbed me harder.

Closing my eyes, I enjoyed her hard caress. “Why don't you give me a lap dance on my face then?”

“Not until you shave.” She gasped when I slammed both hands onto the wall to keep my balance.

I came all over her soapy hands and let the hot spray of the shower rinse us clean.

“I'll go shave.” I kissed her again.

“You're going to drown me.” She laughed.

Staggering out of the shower, I thought it was funny that I was a little weak in the knees. I must be getting old if marathon sex was slowing me down. I toweled off and wrapped it around my waist. I had just finished shaving when Jackie stepped out of the shower.

“You all right?” I asked as she steadied herself on my shoulder. “I was about to send out a search party.

Jackie wrapped her arms around me and laid a cheek against my back. “Just enjoying a long hot shower. I'm usually in the office and have had several client meetings by now.” She yawned. “Let's go hit a buffet or something. I could eat my shoes, I'm so hungry.”

“We can go to the Carson City Casino. They've got an all-you-can-eat spread that I hear is pretty decent.”

“I guess I have to get dressed,” she said grumpily.

“We could get room service,” I suggested. “Unless you're still sore.”

“I should be okay by lunch.” She reached around and untucked my towel.

“I'm sorry I was so rough,” I said, feeling a little guilty.

Jackie poked her head from around my body and smiled at me in the mirror. “It's not you. I'm not used to all this dancing and fucking. But I'm getting there.”

“Good.”

The breakfast buffet was a work of art. I had steak and eggs and a side of hash browns. I was considering going up and getting an omelet when Jackie's phone rang.

“I don't recognize the number,” she said, “But it could be Lisa.”

“You better take it. I'm going up for round two. Do you want something?”

“Chocolate croissant.”

I nodded and left to fill my plate. When I got back, our coffees had been refilled, but Jackie had her head in her hands.

“Did something happen?” I asked as a wave of alarm when through me.

She lifted her head. Her eyes were brimming over with tears. I snatched her hand and rubbed it. Then I noticed she was grinning like a fool.

“ Travesty called me back. They narrowed down to five people and I'm one of the five.”

“That's fantastic. When do they want to see you?”

“Tonight. Apparently, one of the backers is flying in and wants a say in the casting. It's at seven p.m. We should be back by then, right?”

“Plenty of time. But we should finish up here so we're there when the winery opens.”

“Good idea.” Jackie got up to leave, but I tugged her down.

“We've got time to finish your coffee and chocolate croissant.”

“Right,” she said. “I'm still reeling. I never thought I'd make it this far. They actually called me back. Thank goodness I was able to sub in my information for Lisa's. That way Zimmerman never has to know.”

“Unless you get the job.”

Jackie shook her head. “I can't think about that now. One step at a time. If I start making plans, and it doesn't happen, I'll be crushed.”

I felt a flicker of satisfaction that she was considering taking the job. I wouldn't push now, but I was going to make it very easy for her to say yes to staying in Las Vegas with me.

“It will be good to see Lisa and talk to her,” Jackie said, cupping her coffee mug in her hands.

“Are you sure she'll want to see you?”

“Probably not,” Jackie said. “But ask me if I give a fuck.”

That's my girl .

The drive out to the winery was uneventful and we were the first ones in for the tour.

Jackie immediately went into the bar area and I followed.

It was a tourist trap, with wine barrel tables and fussy chairs.

I wasn't much for wine. I just wanted this over as quickly as possible so Jackie could concentrate on her second audition.

“Is Lisa Mitchell working today?” Jackie asked one of the bartenders, who had a set of wine glasses in front of her and several open bottles.

“No, she quit last week.”

“What?”

The woman flinched at Jackie's vehemence.

“Sorry,” Jackie apologized. “It's just that I've come all the way from New York to see her and she mentioned that she was working here.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Lisa. She's only interested in one person, herself.”

Jackie opened her mouth to argue, but then switched gears. “Parker isn't here is he?”

“Parker who?”

“Her boyfriend?”

“I didn't know she had a boyfriend,” the bartender said. “But maybe that's why she left without giving notice. She seemed the type to let a man call the shots for her.”

I could see Jackie's shoulders slumping and I stepped in closer for moral support.

“You don't happen to know where she went or why she left?” Jackie asked, slinging an arm around me. I gave her a quick hug.

“She said she got a new job, but she didn't tell us where.”

Jackie sighed and dug into her handbag for her card. “I'm her sister. Is there any way you can give me the address she put down on her application? I need to find her. Our mother is terribly worried about her.”

“I'm sorry. I can't.”

“What about the owner or the manager?”

“I am the owner.”

“I can prove that I'm her sister.”

“I can't divulge personal information. I could get in trouble.”

“She's right,” I said, when Jackie would have protested more. I’d bent the rules and it was only because Grier owed me a few favors that he did the background check on Jackie that made me comfortable giving out Lisa's address.

“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.”