Gabe did stand then. He held his hand out. "I will. I hope you find the guy soon, before any more loss of life."
"Your lips, God's ears, and all that." Carlyle shook Gabe's hand. "Be careful out there, Mr. Swicord."
"You too, Detective Inspector." Gabe left the precinct and headed outside to hail a taxi to take him to his day job.
Chapter Fourteen
"One cannot be a lover by force."
Turkish Proverb
The week seemed interminable to Olga. Each day dragged as if it were a week. She didn't think Friday would ever come. She spoke to Gabe several times a day during the work day but not much in the evenings since he was spinning records at the club. At least that was what he called it. She knew he was really choosing CDs to play but laughed along with him as he used the old term for what deejays did back in the disco era.
Finally, it was the last day of work for the week. She packed an overnight bag with enough clothes to get her through the weekend in case Gabe invited her to stay at his place. She giggled as she folded a pair of jeans. Of course he'd ask her to stay. They were both so eager to be together again, Olga didn't know how they'd make it through the evening while he worked. She knew she couldn't wait to get her hands on him and hoped he was of the same mind.
She zipped the bag and tossed the double straps over her shoulder. She left for work hoping the day would fly by.
Sadly, the day seemed to drag. She'd always thought that the busier she was, the faster the day went but this day was the exception to the rule. She worked on a few things, tinkered with the schematics again on a new project, and kept glancing up at the clock on the wall. She swore that someone was pushing the hands backwards.
Finally, five-thirty arrived. Olga tugged her lab coat off as she made her way toward the locker room. A hand on her shoulder delayed her progress. With a deep sigh, she turned. "Yeah?"
"What's going on with you? You're running out of here like you robbed a bank," Gina said.
"I have a date."
"Ooh, brilliant. Anyone I know?" Gina practically skipped along beside Olga.
"Maybe, but I don't want to jinx it so let's don't talk about it, okay?"
"I can't believe you finally decide to see someone and won't fill me in on the guy. When will you give me the scoop?" Gina pushed the door open and they went into the locker room.
"Maybe Monday. Depending on how the weekend goes." Olga spun the dial on the combination lock.
"Ooh, a weekend? Not just a date for tonight, but for the whole weekend? This is getting more interesting by the second. Are you going on a bender, then?"
Olga stashed her lab coat and grabbed her overnight bag. She shut the locker door and reengaged the lock. As she turned to go, she said, "See you Monday, Gina."
"Blimey, girl, you aren't any fun. I want details."
Olga ignored Gina and kept walking. She knew if she gave out any information at all, especially if she told her friend about the fact that she'd already spent the night with her celebrity date, she'd never get away. It would be a long time before she could make good on her escape from her friend and she'd miss out on some of her precious time with Gabe.
At the street, Olga decided to hail a cab since it was really the time of day that she hated to get into the tube system. It would take longer and cost more, but she wanted to be settled and calm when she saw Gabe again. She usually arrived home from work a bit frazzled when she got off the train.
She slid into the cab and leaned forward. "I'm going to Retro Disco. It's across from Waterloo Station."
"Yeah, I got it. Been there." The cabbie pulled out into traffic.
The closer they got to the club, the more nervous Olga got. She tapped her foot on the floorboard of the cab. Annoyed at the sound she was making, she tried to hold her leg still.
"You scared of something back there?" the cabbie asked over his shoulder.
"Not really. I'm meeting a friend and am anxious about it."
"You better get your lipstick fixed. We'll be pulling up in a few minutes."
Olga pulled out her compact and flipped it open. She laughed at her reflection. "My lipstick is fine."
The cab screeched to a stop. "It at least kept your mind off your nerves until we got here, right?" The cabbie turned with his hand out for the fare.
She paid him and gave him a bit extra in his tip for his friendliness. One thing about the London drivers was that they invariably were nice and kind.
She climbed out of the car and tugged her bag out across the seat. Standing on the curb as he drove away, Olga looked up at the building. Unsure of where to enter since they didn't open for another hour or so, she stood for a moment.
She pulled out her phone and poked in Gabe's number. When he answered, she said, "I'm outside. How do I get in?"
"If you're facing the front, turn right and go around the corner. There's a big steel door. I'll meet you there."
"See you in a second."
"Can't wait." He disconnected the call.
Olga moved as fast as she could and still maintain her decorum. Her gut clenched in anticipation. She was amazed at how eager she was to see this man. Never before in her life had she wanted to see someone more. Well, maybe once. But that wasn't a man.
The door opened right as she got to it. Gabe poked his head out. His grin huge, he said, "Welcome to my pad."
"Yours? I thought it belonged to that Jacob guy." She stepped inside the building as she stood aside to let her in.
As soon as she was inside, he pulled her into his arms. He kissed the side of her neck. "I've missed you. You smell lovely."
She put her hand on the back of his head. "You don't smell so bad yourself, handsome."
"Come let me show you the booth. I have a couple of salads back there. We can eat in privacy before opening." He let go of her and took her hand to lead her toward the control booth.
Olga trailed behind him. She glanced around the place. It sure looked different in the harsh overhead lights without the glitter balls and dance floor being the only sources of illumination. It was a little like what she imagined a television set might look if no one was there to make the on-screen magic happen.
"Come into my lair," Gabe opened the door to the booth and Olga entered.
"It sure is small in here. It doesn't look this little from the outside."
In response, Gabe slid his hand down her arm and took her small overnight bag from her hand. He sat it on the floor. His hand trailed back up her leg and under her skirt. He bunched the fabric in his fist and used his other arm to tug her close to his chest. He growled, then said, "It's big enough for this." He captured her mouth with his and his tongue slid past her teeth.
Olga returned the kiss. She placed her hands on his cheeks and relished the feel of his tongue against her own. She wasn't quite sure the room was big enough for where she wanted this kiss to go but she also, in some dim corner of her brain, knew that there really couldn't be such an adventure with all the other employees in the building and the soon-to-arrive customers.
Almost as soon as the thought flitted through her mind, a knock at the door interrupted their kiss. Gabe sighed.
"Hey, Gabe. It's almost time to start. You going to be ready to roll at opening time?"
"Yeah. I think we've got about thirty minutes yet." Gabe reached around Olga to open the door. "This is my friend, Olga, Jacob. We're going to eat a little dinner in here and then we'll be ready to roll out the music."
"Nice to meet you." Jacob held his hand out to Olga. She shook it and he added, "You must be pretty special. Gabe guards this territory like it's a sovereign kingdom."
"Maybe it's time my kingdom had a queen."
Olga's heart leapt at Gabe's words. Did he really mean anything by the comment? No. It was way too soon to be thinking about double meanings in casual comments.
"Be sure you're set at seven," Jacob said.
"I will, but we both know nothing gets really going until at least nine."
Gabe shut the door. If Olga didn't know better, she'd think Gabe could see as well as she could the way he slammed the door right in Jacob's face.
"That was kind of harsh, wasn't it?" Olga asked.
"No. It wasn't. The man knows I'm always professional. I've made him a lot of money since I started spinning here and he has the gall to come in here and question my dedication and whether I'll be ready to do my job?" Gabe paced in the small space.
"I don't think that was it at all. I think he was curious about me being in here and didn't really have anything to say to give him an excuse to ask what was going on. I think he respects you."
"I'm not so sure you're right about that but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt because you think I should."
"I'm not trying to tell you what to think." Olga placed her hand on Gabe's back and rubbed it. "Let's forget him and eat our salads."
*****
The club opened on time and Gabe was right. Not much activity occurred on the dance floor until around nine-thirty.
Olga sat at a table close to the wall but near the booth where Gabe worked. He took a couple of breaks in the early part of the evening to speak with her but, for the most part, she was on her own. She had a few drinks but was determined not to get drunk since she wanted be to fully alert when it was finally time to be alone with Gabriel at his flat.
She almost choked on her margarita when Gina came bounding up to her table with a man and woman who looked familiar.
"What're you doing here, Olga?" Gina asked. "I thought you had a hot date and here you are all alone." Gina indicated the empty table with a sweep of her hand.
"My date is otherwise occupied at the moment."
"Ah. He's in the loo?" Gina laughed as she pulled out a stool and plopped down on it. She pointed to the other seats. "Sit, Kathryn. Simon. We'll call a waiter over." She turned to the others. "You remember Olga from Marisol's party, right, Kathryn?"
"Sadly, I do. And I remember running into her on the street when Simon and I were off to order flowers for the funeral."
"I can't believe you talked me into coming here tonight. I can't stand that this was the last place that Marisol was before she died," Simon put his head in his hands.
Olga was afraid the man was going to cry. He looked so sad that she wondered for a moment if he'd been the intended groom. She was put straight by Kathryn's next comment.
Kathryn tapped her brother on the shoulder. "You need to stop all this mooning around. We all know you loved Marisol -- hell, even she knew it -- but she chose Nathan instead of you. It was time to move on even before she died since there was never going to be anything between you except for friendship. Look around you. There are probably three hundred women in this place. Pick one and ask her to dance."
"You're really not a very nice person, are you, sister dear?" Simon scowled at his sibling.
Kathryn opened her mouth to respond but before she could utter a sound, the waiter came over and interrupted them. After he'd taken their orders, Gina said to Simon, "Let's go dance, mate. It'll be a few minutes before we get served and I like this song." She got off her stool, came around to his side and tugged him off his own seat.
Simon followed Gina to the dance floor. Another man made his way to their table and asked Kathryn to dance. Olga cringed when the man first arrived at the table, a little apprehensive that it was she that he was going to ask. It was the man, Scott, from the week before, the man with the roving hands.
When he asked Kathryn to dance instead of her, Olga initially was relieved but then wondered what was wrong with her. It seemed as if no one would be asking her to dance this evening. Yes, she was actually here with Gabe, but the other men in the place didn't know that.
She was tempted to lift her arms to see if she'd somehow developed a bad odor but, before she could, a tap at her shoulder startled her. She turned to her left. Gabriel stood beside her. "Want to dance?"
"Can you do that?"
"I thought you knew I could dance. You saw me last week in my studio, didn't you?"
"Very funny. I know you can dance. I didn't know if you were allowed to on the job, wise guy."
"I can do what I want. What's Rhys going to do? Fire me?"
"Good point." Olga slid off her stool and took Gabe by the hand. "Did you pick this song just for me?"
"I did. Do you like it?" He led her to the dance floor as the song continued.
On the floor, Gabe pulled her into his arms. He hummed the Orleans tune as it played. "I want to be your partner," he sang along once in a while.
Olga whispered in his ear. "I can't wait for you to get off so we can be alone. You're making me crazy holding me like this because I can't kiss you."
"You could kiss me if you want."
"Nope. I don't want to share this with anyone yet. I want to hold our relationship close to my heart for now. Just for me and you."
She could feel his smile against her cheek when he said, "So, we have a relationship?"
"I'd like to think so."
The song ended and the next one began. They moved to step off the floor. Gina came up with Simon in her wake. "Come on, Gabe, dance with me now while Olga dances with Simon."
"Okay. I have one more in me, then I have to get back to the booth." Gabe held his hand out to Gina.
Gina squealed and dragged Gabe up to the floor. Olga shrugged and addressed Simon, "I know you're not really in the mood to be here, but if you want to dance, I'm in."
"Let's do it. I'd rather be up here than listening to my sister berating me and I see she's on her way back to the table. Let's stay up here a couple of songs. You know, long enough for her to find someone else to dance with or pick on." Simon smiled as he said the words, but Olga could tell he really wanted to grimace instead. It was clear to her that he wanted to be anywhere but at Retro Disco.
They danced for several songs and listened to Gabe's patter between the records. In the middle of the fourth song, a commotion on the dance floor caught Olga's attention. She stopped moving and turned toward the sound.
Several of the men from the curry night at Weatherspoons had leapt onto the dance floor and were harassing some of the female dancers. They pinched the women on their breasts, kissed them and swatted a few on their rears.
Jacob Rhys and three security guards followed the men onto the floor once the screams of the women attracted their attention. The guards struggled with the men as they tried to restore order. The music stopped.
Gabe's voice carried over the crowd. "Everyone find a seat. I've called the authorities and they're on the way. If you all remain calm, we'll have things back on track in a few moments."
Olga led Simon back to the table where Gina sat with Kathryn and the Scott guy. They took their seats. Olga drank deeply of her now watered down margarita. She watched the security team as they corralled the men from the pub dinner the week before.
After she swallowed, Olga said, "I'm confused."
"About what?" Scott asked.
"In America, these guys would be considered a gang and they would never have been allowed to cause such chaos. They would've been stopped at the door."
"Yeah, right," Scott snorted. "What about all those rap guy posses in New York who shoot into clubs all the time? You're living in some kind of dream world if you think this wouldn't happen in your sacred country."
"I didn't say it would never happen. What I meant was that when there is known gang activity, the authorities try to keep tabs on them to prevent this kind of thing."
Law enforcement streamed into the club. They took control of the men from the security guards and order was restored.
As they escorted the men out, Gabe came back on the microphone. "Okay, everyone, excitement's over. Back to good times." The next record he played was the song by the same name.
"I'm going to the ladies room." Olga stood.
"Scared to finish that conversation?" Scott sneered.<
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"Hardly." Olga pivoted on her heel and headed toward the ladies room.
Before she got there, Gina grabbed her by the upper arm. "Why did you let that guy get to you? He's a jerk. Ignore him."
"That's why I walked away from the conversation."
"What was?"
"I wanted to get away from him before I smacked him. So, this is my way of ignoring him."
"What if he's still at the table when you get back?" Gina followed Olga into the loo.
"Then I won't go back. There're a lot of tables in the place."
"Good plan." Gina pushed the closest stall door open. "May as well go while I'm here."
"My mother always said to use the facilities whenever you get the opportunity." Olga laughed as she entered a stall herself.
Chapter Fifteen
"Anger is a short madness."
English Proverb
Olga came out of the ladies room with Gina right behind her. Startled to see Gabriel and the man from the week before standing nose to nose in front of the door, she backed up into Gina.
"Hey," Gina grunted at the impact.
"Shh. Gabe's out there in an argument with some guy named Martin."
"Blimey, come on. We aren't going to hide in here all night." Gina shoved Olga out of the way. Olga staggered out of the bathroom and directly into Martin.
He grabbed her to keep her from falling. "Sorry, ma'am." Once she was steady on her feet, she moved a step away.
Gabe lifted his head. "Olga?"
"Yeah. It's me. I'm here." Olga touched his shoulder.
"I'm almost ready to call it a night. Are you?"
"Closing time isn't for another hour or two."
"I find that the company here is such that I don't want to stay." Gabe took her by the elbow and steered her away from the man. Gina followed in their wake.
When they were close to the booth, Gabe said, "I'm going to get my gear and your bag. Are you ready to go?"
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