Strip Tease

by Karen Erickson

  “Oh, my God, what happened to you?” Janelle reached across the table, grasping Ginger’s cold hand in her own.

  “Hey, sis.” Even Ginger’s voice sounded pathetic. Janelle had never seen her sister look so bad, ever.

  “Ginger.” She didn’t know what else to say, she was so horrified.

  “I told you, I’m sick. I tried to get off the stuff. I keep doing it and it makes me feel worse and worse. I look terrible. Look at my hair.” Ginger fingered a strand of limp dirty blonde hair, then let it fall back onto her shoulder. “I see you and think ‘Wow, so that’s how I’m supposed to look’. But I don’t look anything like you. I was always considered the prettier one.”

  Despite the seriousness of the situation, Janelle wanted to roll her eyes. Leave it to Ginger to play the prettier sister card. But when she spotted the tears welling up in Ginger’s eyes, Janelle squeezed her hand in reassurance.

  Guilt consumed her. She was ready to leave and she’d been there not even five minutes. Ginger needed a safe place, needed someone take care of her.

  “You’re coming home with me. I can take care of you. I know someone who can protect you from Billy. You’ll be safe with us.” She didn’t mention the feds were looking for her. She’d leave that bit of information for Nate to share later.

  Ginger stiffened and withdrew her hand from Janelle’s grasp. “What are you talking about? Who do you know that can protect me from Billy? Because trust me, no one can protect me from him. I’m sure he already knows I’m back in town.”

  Funny, she sounded like Nate. “How could he? You didn’t contact him or anyone else that’s part of his inner circle, right?”

  Ginger gnawed on her already shredded lower lip, her gaze tearing away from Janelle’s. Doubt tripped Janelle’s heart, making it skip about three extra beats. Her throat became so dry she could hardly speak.

  “You talked to someone. Who did you see?” Anger pushed past Janelle’s fear and she glanced out the window, caught sight of Nate’s car parked in the lot.

  They needed to leave. Now.

  “I called my friend Lynne, okay? I wanted to tell her I was okay and Billy was there. He overheard her say my name.”

  A shiver slithered down Janelle’s spine. So Billy was still in the area somewhere. What were you thinking? You told me you didn’t want Billy to know you were back in town.”

  “I was lonely. I couldn’t get a hold of you last night and I had no one else to talk to.” Ginger threw her arms into the air. “Billy used to be really good to me, J. He loved me. He still loves me.”

  Janelle tried to push the messy emotions swirling within her aside. She would not feel guilty because Ginger couldn’t get a hold of her. It wasn’t her fault. But all those old feelings came tumbling forward. She hated feeling as if she was responsible for everyone’s well-being. It wasn’t right, her rational brain told her, but her guilt-filled heart wouldn’t listen.

  “Lynne came to my motel room later and we hung out for a little bit.” Ginger smiled, revealing stained teeth and Janelle knew immediately that was code for ‘doing drugs’.

  “Great, you called Lynne so she could bring you a quick fix. And you got Billy’s attention on top of it. Did you see him last night too?”

  “No!” Ginger shook her head, her stringy hair flying around her shoulders. “I swear to you, J, I didn’t see him. Only Lynne came over. I talked to him for like two seconds on the phone, but then I hung up.”

  Janelle rested her forehead in her hands and closed her eyes, trying to think. For all she knew, Billy was outside at this very moment, watching the restaurant much like Nate was. The two men might’ve even seen each other.

  “We need to go.” Janelle stood, grabbing her purse. “Now.”

  “But I already ordered breakfast, I’m starving! I want to eat first,” Ginger whined.

  “I’ll feed you something at my place. Come on.” Janelle gestured with a wave of her hand.

  “The waitress is gonna be pissed.” Ginger still hadn’t budged from her spot in the booth.

  Janelle rolled her eyes. “I’ll pay for your stupid breakfast. Come on.”

  Ginger’s gaze shifted to over Janelle’ shoulder and her eyes widened, her mouth popping open in shock. Janelle turned to find Billy Diaz himself standing behind her so close, he almost touched her. A lethal smile curved his lips and his eyes narrowed almost into slits.

  Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. God, how could she reach Nate now?

  “Well, well, lookee what we have here? The two most beautiful sisters on the planet, hanging out. Having a little family reunion?” His gaze went to Ginger, his tone dropping a notch. “Sweetheart, you don’t look so good. See what happens when you run away? I told you, I’d always take care of you.”

  “Hey, Billy.” Ginger’s voice was weak and her eyes were hazy. No doubt from fear.

  Billy sauntered past Janelle, his shoulder brushing against hers and she faltered back, fear gripping her like a vise. He slid into the booth next to Ginger and wrapped his arm around her slim shoulders, hauling her to him. “Sit down,” he told Janelle, his firm voice brooking no argument.

  She did as he bid, trying to find Nate’s car without Billy noticing.

  “He has no idea I’m here. I spotted him first. Lover boy is clueless.” Billy grinned, revealing big white teeth.

  Janelle shuddered, wishing she could call Nate, flash him a signal, anything to let him know what was happening.

  “Why’d you leave me, sweetheart? I’ve been searching for you all over the place.” Billy’s gaze was locked on Ginger’s face as he squeezed her shoulders. She winced, looking smaller than Janelle had ever seen her.

  “Don’t hurt her,” Janelle warned. No way would she let this asshole push her sister around.

  “Shut the hell up. This is none of your business.” His tone threatened and the look he shot her simmered with anger.

  “Fine, then I’ll leave.” Janelle went to slide out of the booth but Billy reached across the table and grabbed her wrist. She tried to yank away, but he squeezed so hard it felt as if he could snap her bones in two.

  “You think I’m stupid enough to let you go? So you can run to your detective lover and he calls his entire squad out to bust my ass? I don’t think so. Sit. Down.”

  Janelle glared at him, trying her best to withdraw from his grasp. But he wouldn’t let her go, only squeezed harder until she cried out in pain.

  The waitress glanced in their direction but flicked her gaze away guiltily. Janelle didn’t doubt Billy paid the poor woman off to be quiet.

  “Stop it Billy! Let her go,” Ginger pleaded, pressing a pale hand against his wide chest. The man was built like a barrel.

  He let Janelle go with a jerk of his fingers, pain radiating down her arm. She leaned against the back of the booth, clutching her hand to her chest.

  “Don’t fuck with me.” He jabbed his thick index finger in her direction, his face an ugly mask of rage. “One wrong move and I’ll shoot that asshole cop of yours in the back just like I did his partner.”

  Her eyes widened in shock at his blatant admission. “I—I can’t believe you said that.”

  He laughed, the sound of it sending a chill down her spine. “Yeah? I’ve got nothing to lose, what with the fucking DEA on my ass. Try and prove I said it anyway. You got a little recorder in your purse?” He smirked when he saw the slight shake of her head. “I didn’t think so.”

  Smug jerk. If only she did.

  She clutched at her still throbbing wrist with her other hand and glanced out the window yet again. No way could Billy sneak them out without Nate seeing.

  At least, she hoped so.

  Chapter Eleven

  Nate’s uneasiness intensified the second Janelle disappeared within the crappy little restaurant. The place was a dump, the windows dirty, the signs old and weathered. Hardly anyone was inside, which didn’t allow for being discreet. But he did what he could, parking in the far corner of the
lot.

  He swore he saw where they sat but couldn’t be sure. Dirty, bent blinds covered the windows, slanted open only a fraction to allow a trickle of light in.

  Damn, he wanted her out of there and safe back at her apartment. Or even better, his condo. They’d spent so much time together lately. He enjoyed nothing more than being with Janelle. Sleeping, talking, watching TV or making love, it didn’t matter. He just enjoyed being with her.

  But instead he sat in a parking lot doing surveillance and worried out of his mind. Over her.

  This is what you wanted, what you’ve been waiting for since A.J. was murdered. This is your chance to finally get the information you need against Billy Diaz.

  But it wasn’t his case anymore. It had all been turned over to the federal authorities. The Drug Enforcement Administration had been casing his nightclub for almost a year. At least two agents had gone deep undercover, working directly for Billy all that time, collecting enough evidence to put Diaz and his cohorts away for a long time.

  Nate’s mission was finished. Billy would do time as he’d always wanted. If Nate worked it right, he’d be able to get Ginger out of doing jail time in trade for her testimony. If the agents gathered enough evidence though, they might not need her...

  He couldn’t think about that now. How much it would devastate Janelle to see her sister thrown in prison.

  The fear in his gut hadn’t subsided and she’d been inside only five minutes. Grabbing his phone, he called his sergeant and requested minimal backup at the restaurant location immediately. He didn’t want a heavy brigade coming in. Noticing a parking lot across the street thickly surrounded by trees, he requested everyone to wait there.

  His sergeant agreed, didn’t ask questions. Then Nat called Greg and told him to get his ass down there stat.

  Now he waited.

  Scanning the parking lot, his gaze wandered to the street, catching a glimpse of a gold Mercedes parked close by. He swore the car hadn’t been there moments before.

  Senses on high alert, Nate climbed out of his car, walking along the edge of the parking lot so he wouldn’t be easily spotted. As he grew closer to the street, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Something told him Billy Diaz drove this car.

  Grabbing his phone, he called into dispatch and listed the license plate number, asking the dispatcher to do a search. He walked around the car, peering inside, but there was nothing personal or telling lying about. The back windows were tinted so darkly he couldn’t make out anything at all.

  The license plate came back under someone else’s name but that didn’t matter. He knew the vehicle had something to do with Billy. His instincts were rarely wrong. Which meant Billy was most likely inside the restaurant with Ginger and Janelle. Just the thought of that monster close to Janelle made him sick to his stomach.

  “I want a change to my initial request, send more backup. A SWAT team, whatever it takes. I believe we may have a hostage situation at the following location,” he barked into the phone, rattling off the address once more before he hung up.

  His gun still rested in the back of his jeans and he felt for it, gripping it discreetly. Slowly he approached the restaurant, sidling along the fence that surrounded the parking lot and headed toward his car. No one was outside and he was thankful the place was in the middle of an industrial area on a Sunday morning.

  The restaurant sat high on its foundation, the windows even higher than normal and he went to the north side wall, his head barely reaching the bottom of the windowsill. Standing on tiptoe, he peered inside and scanned the room quickly.

  He spotted her to his left in the very last booth. Janelle sat across from Ginger and Billy, cradling her hand. Her expression pinched, as if she were in pain.

  Fury filled him. That asshole must’ve hurt her, which meant he would pay.

  Dearly.

  Feeling completely useless, Nate dropped to his feet. He couldn’t risk going inside. Running into the restaurant with guns a blazin’ would only set Billy off, make him do something rash.

  So Nate would sit and wait. Sweat it out until his back up came and they could seriously get it on.

  Turning, he slumped against the wall of the restaurant, smacking his fist against it. Frustration mounted and he wished he could save Janelle himself.

  But all he could do was wait.

  * * * *

  Janelle couldn’t help it. Her gaze kept wandering to the window to check on Nate’s car. Only minutes had ticked by, but it felt like hours. Did Nate realize what was going on? Had he called for help? Would he come into the restaurant and confront Billy?

  She didn’t want him to do it alone. Considering the crazed look in Billy’s eyes, the irrational way he behaved, she was afraid he might do something stupid. Like shoot Nate.

  God, she hoped Nate wouldn’t risk it. She wanted him safe. She wanted him alive.

  Funny, how she was being ignored. Billy only had eyes for Ginger and Janelle knew Nate was right. Ginger was Billy’s weakness, the only thing he seemed concerned with. It was as if he didn’t see her hallowed face, her lackluster gaze and messy hair. His golden eyes shone with overflowing emotion. He continued to stroke the top of her head, his fingers gentle, Ginger staring at him much the same way.

  Were these two in love? Could the cold-hearted criminal really care for her sister?

  “Listen,” Janelle started, drawing the lovebirds’ attention. They both watched her, Billy irritated by her interruption. “It’s clear you two don’t want me here, so why don’t I leave? I’ll sneak out the back. No one will see me and I won’t bother you two again, I promise. Whenever Ginger is ready to contact me, she can. But until then, I’ll leave her alone.”

  The pleading light in Ginger’s eyes said it all. Her sister didn’t want her to leave and again, Janelle was consumed with guilt.

  Billy laughed, the uproarious sound filling the empty restaurant and catching the waitress’s attention yet again. This time the woman continued to watch. “Yeah right, like I’d let you walk out of here. Nice try.”

  Janelle sighed, desperate to steady her frayed nerves. “You only want Ginger. I’m a nuisance, so let me go. Please.”

  “I’ll let you go when I’m good and ready. And there’s no way I’m sending you out to that cop.” Billy’s mouth twisted on the last word. “I know exactly what he is to you. You two have been fucking for weeks. Don’t look so shocked. I know all your dirty little secrets.”

  His words made her skin crawl, her blood turned to ice. Had he really been spying on them?

  “I’m sure you’re a hot little number in the sack. I can see why he’d keep you around, though he’s only using you. He wants Ginger so he can get to me. He doesn’t really want you.” Billy squeezed Ginger’s shoulder. “The second he gets what he wants, he’ll dump you.”

  Anger filled Janelle, replacing the fear. He only said that to upset her and it worked. He’d pushed all her buttons.

  And hit exactly upon her fears.

  “You’re a lying sack of shit,” she declared boldly.

  Billy scowled, his eyes narrowed. They were such an unusual color, the gold shade reminding Janelle of a tiger, but Billy’s eyes were cold. Menacing. “Watch it, bitch. Say one more word to piss me off and I won’t be held responsible for what I do to you.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you’re used to it, since you haven’t been held responsible for anything you’ve ever done.” Janelle swallowed, saw the ire flaring in his eyes. She should shut up, but the man infuriated her.

  He wasn’t worth the dirt on the bottom of her shoe. And this criminal was in love with her sister. He didn’t look like he ever wanted to let Ginger go, and that was scary. Beyond scary.

  “Janelle, be quiet,” Ginger said, her voice low, her eyes full of sorrow. “Don’t make him angry. You won’t like him when he’s angry.”

  That sounded like a line straight out of a movie. But she knew her sister was right. The guy meant business. He was a murderer. He wou
ldn’t have any problem “taking care” of her if she didn’t shut up.

  “He has nothing to lose now, Ginger. Did he tell you the DEA is after him? They’ve built a strong case.” Janelle curled her lips when she noticed Billy’s pissed off glare. “He’ll end up in prison for a long time when they catch him.”

  “Yeah, well so will Ginger, they’ve got almost as much on her as they do me,” he said, immediately looking contrite when he heard Ginger’s horrified gasp. “It’s okay, baby. As long as you stick with me, we’ll be all right.”

  “Is it true?” Ginger stared at Janelle, her eyes huge, wild. “The DEA? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Janelle pressed her lips together. “I can help you with all of this. Trust me.”

  “You can’t trust her. When has she ever been there for you, huh? She doesn’t care about you, baby. Not like I do,” Billy crooned low in Ginger’s ear.

  “Don’t believe him,” Janelle whispered, her voice a low hiss. “Please, Ginger.”

  Ginger looked between the both of them, gave a loud sniff. “I don’t know who to believe.”

  Oh, God. Janelle glanced out the window. Please, Nate, hurry. I need you.

  “Hey, there’s a bunch of cops outside.” The waitress stood up straight, peering out the front windows. “What the hell is going on?”

  Busting through the double doors, the cook scurried out of the kitchen, a worried expression on his narrow rat-like face. “Hell, I bet we’re getting busted!”

  Janelle wanted to scream in frustration. The restaurant was full of criminal activity too?

  Billy exhaled sharply and Janelle wouldn’t have been surprised if fire accompanied it, he appeared that enraged. “Now your detective boyfriend has called out his buddies. He leaves me no choice.”

  Reaching into the dark brown suede jacket he wore, he withdrew a handgun, aiming it right at Ginger’s forehead, the muzzle pressed against her skin. A loud gasp sounded and Janelle realized it came from her.