Page 51 of Strip Search

“To get heat taken off of them. Because Paulie pissed them off. There’s a whole host of reasons.” He pocketed the pistol.

I watched as Grier compared the two sets of drugs.

“This shit is real. I’ll see if I can trace them back to a known batch.” Leaning back in his chair. “You shouldn’t have fired Ginny.”

“I wasn’t thinking. I was pissed.”

“Is there any way she’d come back?”

I made a face. “Maybe if I kissed her ass and begged.”

“Do it.”

“Why?”

“Because she’ll behave for a few weeks and then get right back into it. And then I’ll send a frat boy of my own choosing to buy from her and we’ll see if she’ll make a deal.”

“You can pick her up right now based on this stuff, right? I caught her in the act. That’s possession and intent to sell right there.”

Grier held up a hand. “Settle down, Columbo. It’s not that easy. It would be your word against hers. You didn’t actually see money exchange hands, did you?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Did you get the little frat asshole’s name and number?”

“No.”

“Then a competent lawyer would argue that the drugs were his and she’d walk.”

“Fuck.” I rubbed my hand over my face.

“Get Ginny back here and we can try again.” Grier got up to leave. I walked him to the door. Scrolling through my phone, I hoped I had deleted Ginny’s number so I wouldn’t have to call her. Unfortunately, I wasn’t that organized.

Opening the door for him, I said, “I’ll give her a call and grovel.”

“Do that. And if you get any more like this,” he shook the baggies, “give me a call. Oh, excuse me, Miss.”

I looked up from dialing Ginny and saw Jackie standing there, stunned as Grier moved around her and went back into club.

“How did it go?” I asked.

She turned on her heel and stormed away.

“Jackie, wait!”

Ginny took that moment to answer the phone. “I knew you’d call.”

Fuck. I wanted to go after Jackie, but I needed to get on Ginny’s good side first. “Yeah, look. I’m sorry. I was a dick that night. If you still want a job, you got it.”That ought to be enough, right?

“Just like that?”

“Don’t break my balls.” I watched as Jackie stormed past Grier and out of the club. Fuck.

“I don’t want to work Sundays. I want prime time Friday and Saturday.”

“Fine,” I bit out, telling myself I was doing this so Grier would share information with me.

“And I want to negotiate your percentage,” she said.