Page 58 of Strip Search

“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.