Upended and balancing on one hand he rotated himself, giving everyone a topsy-turvy view, until he arched his back and lowered his feet to the stage. Standing again, he began a new tantalizing round.
Hot as he was, I tore my eyes away and scanned the crowd. According to my information, strip nights were when Scanlan was most likely to show. The dying kid had implicated him. I wanted to see his reaction to that.
So far, there was no sign of the guy. But it was early.
The lights dimmed and the music stopped momentarily. I moved to the rear of the room near the curtained alcoves.
When the lights came up again, a different dancer had taken the stage, undulating suggestively. Not nearly as attractive as the first.
I kept an eye out for Scanlan but there was still no sign of him.
"Hey, you." The voice was smoky and seductive.
I turned to see the first dancer standing next to me. We were as alone as you could be in the place and he pushed himself close to me. The fragrance of delicate cologne mixed with sweat swathed his body, filled my nostrils.
"I know you," he said. "You own StripGuyz."
"And you're one of the best dancers I've seen in a long time." I smiled.
"Beto," he said, holding out his hand.
His name was instantly familiar as the one Niko mentioned.
"Marco." I felt strength in the softness of his hand.
"How about I audition for you?"
"We have rules, Beto. Auditions are once a month."
"I mean... now." And with his chin Beto indicated the darkened rooms beyond the curtain.
"It's not the way we do things."
Beto took my hand. I didn't resist partly because I didn't want to and partly because I suspected there was something more than an audition going on.
He led me through the curtains and into one of the rooms at the back. Weak, crumbly light from a single amber bulb gave everything a dreamlike quality.
Beto gently eased me into a soft chair, then stood before me wearing only his thong.
The music filled the room through a hidden speaker and Beto began to tempt me. His gyrations and turns, his nimble moves showcased every inch of his flesh. Supple muscles layered with pink skin, emphasized his elegantly proportioned form. Running his hands over his body, he dared me to touch, taste. He moved seductively close, brushing my face with his chest. His soft flesh smelled like sex and sweat.
Every nerve in my body came to attention. The room temperature rose and I felt my breath come short.
Pulling my hands, he placed them on the firm round cheeks of his ass as he continued to swivel his hips slowly. Leaning back his head he encouraged me to taste his chest, lick his nipples.
I felt sweat slide down my forehead. My heart raced as I kissed his chest.
"You're beautiful, Beto."
"Then, hire me. Make me one of your boys." He emphasized that with a long slow motion dragging his semi-hard cock over my torso.
"We don't work like this at Bubbles," I said, my hands roaming the smoothness of his ass and legs.
Beto took my face in his hands and moved so I looked him in the eye.
"Maybe I like your way better," he said. "Maybe I am tired of this way."
He bent his face to mine and kissed me, thrusting his tongue deep into my mouth. I didn't resist. His flesh pressed against me, his mouth on mine, the fragrance of his skin combined in a hypnotic mix. My head swam.
Suddenly he pulled back.
"This can be a dangerous place, Marco." He drew his hand down my chest to my crotch and I felt myself respond again.
"You're pretty dangerous, Beto."
"Not for you. For you I am whatever you want. But there are dangers here."
My senses returned to alert status.
"A friend has told me to warn you. To take care with you."
"Who is this friend?"
"He's dead. He don't want you to die, too."
"I'm listening."
"He says to talk to Colt."
"That's all?"
"This is all he tells me, Marco."
"Is Colt here?"
"Sometimes. Often. You need to find him."
"What's he look like?"
"Like me a little. But he has something I would never have." Beto nuzzled my neck as he spoke, his tongue flicking in and out sending little electric thrills through me.
"W-what's he got that you don't?" I said holding Beto close.
"A tattoo."
"Oh?"
"A large tattoo. It runs up," Beto opened my shirt, placed his tongue just below my nipple, and licked up, up, up to my neck. "From there..." He continued licking from my neck to my cheek. "To there. A lizard. With a long tongue."
Beto covered my mouth with another passionate kiss.
"Look for him, Marco. And be careful here."
Slowly, Beto peeled himself from me, making the separation sweetly painful. He stood before me again and I felt a longing to have him back. To have that warm flesh, that raw sexuality crushed against me.
"I will come for an audition," he said. "And I will play by your rules, Marco."
I blinked and in that moment he was gone. I sat alone and breathless in the dimly lit room where the memory settled like dust over me.
Stumbling my way through the darkness, I entered the bar again. I still reeled from my encounter with Beto, but I took control and got back to work.
Coolly detached, heavily muscled bouncers raked the crowd with their gaze. Their only mission, to maintain control. The crowd at Stella's wasn't as well-behaved as the guys at Bubbles. Stella's needed brutish bouncers.
I moved to where I could observe the stairs and the crowd and waited for Scanlan. If I'd judged Scanlan correctly, he'd be the kind who loved to show his insider status. To prove he knew dancers personally, maybe had even slept with them, and could command their attention. He probably spread around plenty of cash to ensure that status.
Guys of every stripe filled the audience. One short, squat man stood at the front waving cash in the air like bait to attract a wild animal. Others did the same and the kid onstage cleaned up. But he never looked as if it was the money that urged him on. He made it appear it was the men and the pure joy he received from dancing for them.
Every so often men came down the stairs and melted into the crowd. From my corner, I saw them all. It was a far cry from a cold morning stakeout sitting in my car watching some guy emerge from a bathhouse fresh from cheating on his partner. At least here I could enjoy the show.
Patience paid off, Scanlan swept down the steps eventually. I almost didn't recognize him. He carried himself with an arrogance he hadn't displayed before. He stood straighter, wore a sleazy smile, and dressed in clothes that said he had money. People greeted him deferentially, some nodding in his direction, some shaking his hand. The security guards turned toward him and nodded curtly.
People actually made a path for him to get closer to the stage. One guy, who objected was rudely shoved out of the way by others. Scanlan took his position near the stage and the crowd closed around him. I saw why he never failed to attend these nights.
The dancer, losing none of his cool, gracefully made his way to Scanlan. He gyrated his hips and thrust his crotch in Scanlan's direction, then turned his back and offered his pink bubble-butt, bending over and thrusting a hand between his legs to caress his own cheeks. Scanlan took a twenty and placed it in the crack of the dancer's ass. Squeezing the twenty between his cheeks, the dancer turned to face Scanlan again. The kid continued to gyrate and sway, he squatted down and slowly rose to his feet, then turned his back and waggled his rear, the twenty still between his cheeks. Turning to face Scanlan again, he bent forward and placed a kiss on Scanlan's lips, something he had not done for anyone else.
A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd. The music continued and the dancer moved to other customers.
Scanlan stood there, loving himself, happy others were envious of his power. He turned, and the
crowd parted again. Obviously bored for now, he headed to the bar. I moved to beat him there.
So full of himself, Scanlan didn't notice me standing there. He leaned down, one elbow on the bar, and ordered a Courvoisier. He took no notice of me, as if I were just another peasant in his domain. He didn't need to pay attention. I moved closer.
"They said you'd be here tonight."
Scanlan turned and looked at me. For a brief moment there was no recognition, then I watched his eyes grow wide with a mix of fear and anger.
"You!" He drew in his breath sharply and stood straight up. He scanned the room.
"Got a few questions I need to ask you, Scanlan."
"I've got nothing to hide and nothing to say. Get out. I won't answer questions."
"Take it easy. You got nothing to hide, then why not answer my questions? I'm just looking for information. Big cheese like you, hell, you should be able to help me, no sweat. Am I right?"
Scanlan stood there, his head panning back and forth looking for an excuse to evade me.
"How about we go into one of those private rooms and talk? Someone told me you were the one to talk to." I didn't tell him the kid had been shot and was dead.
"I don't know what you want and I don't really care. Get lost."
"Even if it's about you and Jared?"
"Where is Jared? You know where he is?" Now he advanced on me. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed one of the security guys turning his head to look at us.
"I thought you could help me with that." I stood my ground. "After all it was you who beat him, right? You're the one left marks on the kid's face, right?"
I was in Scanlan's face now. He was shorter but puffed up with anger. His eyes betrayed him though, they were filled with fear.
"Get out!" He was loud. Loud enough to attract attention which was probably what he wanted.
The security goons headed over. Scanlan must have noticed because he grabbed my jacket and pulled me toward him. I pushed him off me.
"Stop! Get away!" He shouted. "Are you crazy? Keep your hands off me!" He jerked back and against the bar, pretending I'd knocked him back. In the dim lighting that's undoubtedly what people thought they saw.
"All right, break it up." A tall bouncer, sporting a blond buzz cut and a face like a weathered fence post, placed his hands on our shoulders to hold us apart.
"How about you get your hands off me?" I shrugged him off. "I'm just talkin' to the man."
"Maybe he ain't in a talkin' mood," he snapped and edged us gently away from one another. "You all right, Mr. Scanlan?"
"Get him away from me, Den."
"Time for you to leave, Mister. Show's over. Beat it."
"I'll track you down, Scanlan," I said in a low voice. "You'll talk to me one way or the other."
"Get him out of here," Scanlan ordered.
"Beat it, or I'll beat you." The blond bouncer scowled.
I slowly turned my back on them and walked casually to the stairs.
"See you around, Seamus," I called out as I climbed the steps.
The erotically charged music from the downstairs bar was obliterated by the blaring sound upstairs. Beto and the other dancers were happy memories. Reality was once again hustlers and johns searching for hook ups.
I looked around for Luke and spotted him chatting with the bartender.
"Ready to go?"
"Marco!" He turned to smile at me. "This is Rob."
The bartender, a slightly older, suave-looking man, smiled and extended his hand.
"Rob's a gamer. Loves Lifeonline and is thinking of starting his own company."
Now I knew why Luke was so engaged. Sophisticated businessman and savvy entrepreneur, Luke had a passion for online games. From a purely business angle. He was considering getting involved with the business once he'd had enough of his housecleaning venture.
Rob was called to get a drink for a customer who looked as if the last thing he needed was another drink.
"Did Rob happen to mention anything helpful? About the case?"
"He says he knows your guy Colt but hasn't seen him tonight. Says Colt's a shadowy guy. But popular."
"He give you a description?"
"Short, swarthy, shaved head. He's got piercings. One over his eyebrow and an earring. And Colt has a big tattoo. He says Colt is attractive if you like rough, thuggish, and pierced."
"I'm not looking for a date. I just have to find out what he knows. Maybe he can ID the dead kid. Did Rob say anything else?"
"He knows Scanlan because he comes in all the time but he never spends any time at the bar. So they never talk. He remembers Jared, too. Says a lot of guys here would do anything to get with Jared. Even Colt was interested. But Scanlan keeps him on a short leash. Colt made a pass anyway."
"How'd that turn out?"
"Colt and Scanlan argued. Scanlan paid a couple of goons to warn Colt off."
Rob came back to chat.
"Rob, Luke tells me you know a few things that might help."
"I keep my eyes open. You gotta watch your own back in here. Nobody's gonna do that for you."
"Colt got into it with Scanlan?"
"I wouldn't say they fought. Colt made a pass at Jared and Scanlan wasn't happy. He made sure Colt knew about it. Money always wins, especially in a place like this. A few bucks to security and they gave Colt a warning for Scanlan. Nothing rough, S&D won't have that kinda thing here. The goons made sure he knew Jared was off limits. Of course, Colt's got his own connections. He doesn't scare easy. He's just like the rest of 'em. Think they'll live forever. It's not gonna end good. You can take that to the bank."
"So Colt keeps hitting on Jared."
"Not so's you'd notice. But I've caught 'em out of the corner of my eye. Edging their way back to those booths. Talking together. Never when Scanlan's around, of course."
"I was under the impression Jared never came in here without Scanlan."
"That's the way it used to be. But I seen the kid in here a few times on his own. That's when he was talking to Colt. Coupl'a times he was with Colt and another guy, tall dude, hat and lapels up coverin' his face. Never could see that face. But they all seemed friendly."
"No idea who the other guy is?"
"Could be one of Colt's connections. Colt and the other guy were in here once without Jared. Went into one of the back rooms and stayed there a while. Coulda just been sex for all I know."
"Other than that you don't know the guy?"
"Like I said, never saw his face. I don't know if I ever saw him before. Lotta guys in and outta here. They all blend after a while."
"Didn't you tell me one night Scanlan talked to that tall guy, too?" Luke said.
"Well, sorta. Damned if I know what was goin' on that night. The tall guy looked like he was avoidin' Scanlan. Kept turning away from him. Never really talked to him."
"Jared started coming in on his own after that night?"
"Yeah. That's when he and Colt started talkin' real tight. Damned if I know what goes on here half the time. There's too many come in here for me to remember everything."
"Scanlan never knew Jared was talking with Colt?" Luke asked.
"Who knows?" Rob answered. "Colt didn't seem worried. You ask me, Jared wanted Colt as much as Colt wanted Jared. Go figure."
Go figure is right. I had to wonder if Scanlan used Jared and Colt for his own purposes. Especially since he knew Colt wanted Jared.
I left Rob a nice tip.
"Wanna head over to Bubbles with me, Luke? Unless you've got to get home."
"I'm all yours, Marco. I haven't been to Bubbles in a while." He started for the door. "Did Rob help any?"
"Maybe." I pushed the door open and we were out on the sidewalk. "But Scanlan won't let me get close and Jared is missing. It's a dead end."
"What about this guy Colt?"
"I'll have to come back to Stella's, now that I know what he looks like. But, Jared's the key. I've gotta find him. I'm probably not be the only one looking
for him. The sooner I find him the better."
The sidewalk was empty. The lights illuminating Stella's sputtered and buzzed. And I had one of those odd feelings.
"What about the documents? Did you guys get anything out of them?"
"Names. Places. Stuff we can spin ideas from. And I've got a guy, ha! Not just a guy. He's a monsignor. I've got him looking over the documents for us. He's the Cardinal's right hand man. We'll see what he comes up with."
"He won't find anything. I'd bet on it. If he's so close to the top, why would he want to get his church in trouble?"
"Oh, ye of little faith," I joked. "Maybe I was drawn in by the Monsignor's hot exterior. Maybe he was captivated by my charming personality. I think he knows a lot. He just might see something in those documents and feel compelled to tell, just for the sake of the truth."
"Yeah. Sure. Hellooooo? He's a priest. And not just a priest. A highly placed priest."
"Maybe he'll help me to connect some of the dots. And Colt can connect a few more and then..."
Before I could finish, a bedraggled young guy stepped out of the shadows of a doorway and stood in front of us.
I instinctively pushed Luke behind me and stood face to face with the stranger. He was average height and thin, a light-skinned black guy whose drooping eyelids gave him a vaguely threatening, drugged-up appearance.
"Hey," he said, his voice thick. "Saw you guys inside and..."
"Not interested, pal," I snapped and hoped he'd get the hint.
"Hey, man, it's not like that..."
"What's it like then?" I said. Though the guy appeared harmless, I wasn't taking chances.
"I hear you're lookin' for Colt." He waited.
"You know Colt?"
"I know where to find him."
"And how much is this gonna cost me?" I knew what his game was. But I had no other leads on Colt.
"A hundred bucks," he stared with those dull, half-closed eyes. "Cheap. If you really wanna find the dude."
"How do I know you're on the level?"
"You don't, man. You ain't never heard'a trust?"
"Yeah, I have. Have you?" I paused. "What if I told you to give me the information and you just trust me for the cash?"
"I say, fuck you, dude." He turned to go.
Murder on Camac Page 31