Page 53 of Strip Search

“Did you find Lisa?” I asked, wishing there were a way I could inject the caffeine directly into my veins. But that made me think of Miles and that horrid scene at Dalton’s.

“Not a trace, but I think that might be a good thing.”

“I’m heading up there today to see if I can get a lead on where she went. Miles was going to come with me for moral support.” I looked up at Darcy hopefully. “I don’t suppose you want to tag along.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. We’re going to throw axes and joust.”

“Sounds like a great time.”

“I’m in it for the turkey legs the size of dinner platters.”

The food came quickly, and I was dunking a thick steak fry into a puddle of ketchup when Darcy said, “So tell me about Miles.”

I quickly stuffed the fry in my mouth to give me time to compose myself while I chewed. “I went to Dalton’s and caught him making a drug deal.”

“That doesn’t sound like Miles,” Darcy said. “He’s clean and hates the stuff. At least he did in ‘Straya.”

“People change,” I said, drowning my sorrows in the iced coffee.

“Tell me exactly what you saw.” Darcy attacked his burger like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.

“Miles and some other guy were leaving his office. The other guy was carrying some baggies. I saw pills and weed. He told Miles to call him if he got more of the good stuff.”

“What was Miles doing?”

“He was on the phone. I heard him say something along the lines that he had to grovel to someone.”

“I can see why you thought a drug deal was going down, but there could be another explanation,” Darcy said. “What did he say happened?”

“I don’t know. I ran out of there.”

“Has he called?”

“Yeah.” I looked into my purse.

“You owe it to him to hear him out.”

“Why?” I said. I didn’t want him to lie, and worse I didn’t want to believe some half-ass story because I still wanted the bastard.

“In all of the time I’ve known Miles, he’s never dated an exotic dancer. And I’ve seen them throw themselves at him.”

That didn’t surprise me.

“I’ve also never seen him come to personally escort a dancer who wasn’t in trouble out of a VIP room, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say I think you’ve gotten under his skin in a good way. And the way you’re feeling makes me think you’re in the same boat.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

“He’s a good bloke. Give him a chance to explain what you saw. If you still want me to knock him around after, I’ll give it a go.”

“That won’t be necessary.” I pulled out my phone. Three missed calls and two texts.

Where are you? Why did you leave?andCall me.

I showed them to Darcy.

“He’s a man of few words. Put the poor bastard out of his misery. Tell him you’ll be over after we’ve finished lunch.” He checked his phone. “Can you drop me off at the Rio first though? The boys are hitting the tables and I’m feeling lucky.”

Chapter Fifteen