by Lori Foster
A few minutes later, a drunk staggered out of an alley and went to the liquor store. When he tried the door and it didn’t open, he dropped to sit on the front stoop. Half a minute later, he appeared to pass out, slumped against the door.
Shortly after that, two women parked in an alley near the alteration shop. They left the car but stood outside talking a moment. One smoked while the other laughed about a story.
Loitering, smiling at the women when they looked him over, Rowdy again surveyed the tattoo parlor. So far he’d checked on five in the area.
For reasons he couldn’t pinpoint, this one felt right.
And then...bingo. A man came out, and damned if he didn’t look like one of the men who’d shown up in that shitty little hotel shortly after Alice had vacated it.
Rowdy waited to see where the man would go—and he sensed someone approaching from his left.
He turned—and instead of a direct threat, he found a woman standing there, probably in her mid-twenties, light brown, shoulder-length hair, big blue eyes.
Doing what came naturally, Rowdy checked her out.
She looked killer in super-short shorts and high-heeled strappy sandals, with a skimpy halter that barely contained her breasts. No tattoo, but a lot of earrings in one ear, and just enough makeup to look hot.
She smiled at him.
Rowdy looked her in the eye and smiled back.
“Now, don’t you look lonesome,” she purred as she touched one finger to his shoulder, trailing it down to his chest.
“Just waiting.”
“For what?”
He stared at her, saying nothing—which was exactly how he would have reacted regardless of what he was doing or why. He didn’t allow people to pry, ever, under any circumstances.
Undaunted, she gave a cute pout. “Maybe I could keep you company.”
Bold. He liked that, but in this neighborhood, he had to be careful. “You a hooker, honey?”
Playful, she swatted at him. “No, I’m not. Is that what you’re waiting for?”
“No.”
“Good. Because I work at the cigarette store.” After nodding toward the building, she again teased his chest. “But for you, I’m willing to skip a day.”
Pretending a reserve he didn’t possess, Rowdy glanced away—and damn it all, he didn’t see the man anymore. He scanned the street, the alleys...nothing.
“My goodness, you’re a big one, aren’t you?” She came closer until her body pressed to his, crowding him, making his senses go on the alert. “Wha’dya say, handsome?”
It’d be all too easy for a babe to hide a weapon. He wasn’t a fool, ever, not even for a sexy body and beautiful face.
“Sorry, honey, not today.” Hands on her upper arms, he eased her back a foot. “I’m waiting on someone.” To shore up that story, he checked his watch. “Hopefully, I haven’t been stood up.”
“A woman?”
“You are one nosy little lady, aren’t you?”
“I was just thinking that you could wait with me in the store.” Smiling, she leaned around to see his face and cajoled in a singsong voice. “It’s air-conditioned.”
“Hold up.” He used the excuse of retrieving his cell from his pocket to put even more space between them. On speed dial, he rang up Reese with the push of one button.
Reese answered on the first ring. “Rowdy.”
“Hey, dude, you coming or not?”
Not being an idiot, Reese caught on real quick. “Do you actually need me?”
“Yeah, sure. But, hell, it’s a hundred degrees here, with no shade to be found.” Rowdy smiled at the girl. “I’ve got a little sweetheart here offering to let me cool off in the...” Rowdy tipped his head at her. “Where’d you say you work, sweetheart?”
She smiled brightly. “The cigarette store.”
“Right.” Then back to Reese: “The cigarette store. You know the one, right by the...” He looked around as if he didn’t already know the name of the tattoo parlor by heart. “Killer Designz. Yeah, with a z.”
“Shit,” Reese said, understanding the silent message Rowdy conveyed. “I’m on my way.”
“All right, but make it quick. I have better stuff to do than wait around on you.” He smiled at the girl. “And she’s standing right in front of me.”
Reese didn’t find the humor in that. “Damn it, Rowdy, are you in any danger?”
“Nope.” To make sure that was true, he checked out the surrounding area again, but saw no one suspicious. “I’ll give you fifteen, and then I’m heading in with the lady. After that, you can damn well wait on me.”
Soon as he closed his phone, the little lady took his hand and started back-stepping toward the street, trying to haul him along with her.
“Not so fast, sweetheart.” Rowdy Yates did not get dragged away by women—at least, not women fully clothed and on a street corner. “Before I let you distract me too much, I need to give my buddy a few minutes to get here.”
She gave another pretty pout. “But he’s already kept you waiting, and it is hot out here.”
“True enough.” When he didn’t budge, she had to stop, too. “You should go on in. I’ll join you if I can.”
Undecided, she toyed with the end of her hair, shifted her feet, and finally opened her purse. “At least let me leave you my name and number.”
The way she said that seemed genuine enough. She looked and sounded the same as every other girl who wanted to get him horizontal. Maybe he was making a big deal out of nothing.
Then again, she was in this place, at this time, and it seemed awfully coincidental that she’d come on to him right when he wanted to follow the other guy.
She scrawled some info on the back of a receipt, but instead of handing it to him, she clutched it to her chest. “How do I know you’ll call?”
“Look at you.” He let his gaze linger on her impressive rack as he murmured, “I’ll call.”
That compliment had her beaming. “Better still, let’s set up something right now.” She traced a pink tongue along pinker lips. “How about...tonight?”
Fast work, but he’d play along. “All right. Sure.” No reason to make her suspicious. Not when she might have info he needed. “Where do I pick you up?”
“I’ll meet you. Is midnight too late?”
Figured it wouldn’t be that easy. “Tell me where, and I’ll be there.”
“The Drunken Dawg. You know it?”
Well, hell. Of course he knew it.
He’d just bought it.
His smile this time felt mean, but maybe she wouldn’t notice that she’d hit a nerve. “Yeah, that works.” He took the paper from her, glanced at it and shoved it in his back pocket. “Midnight, DeeDee. I’ll be there.”
Now that she’d gotten what she wanted, she turned to sashay away.
Rowdy focused first on how her shorts hugged a really nice ass, then dropped his gaze down the long length of those shapely legs.
And there it was, the fucking tattoo, not on her arm as expected, but down the back of her left calf.
Huh. So, sexy DeeDee wasn’t so enamored with him after all. At least he knew he’d found the right place.
* * *
REESE HATED LEAVING Alice on the heels of her getting that damned phone call. It left him antsy and angry, but Rowdy wouldn’t have pulled him away for anything unimportant.
On his way out the door, still shrugging into his shirt, he
dialed Logan and brought him up to speed.
Once in the car, he called up Peterson. She needed to know about Cheryl, but he also mentioned that Rowdy needed him.
“You will update me immediately after you find out what’s going on.”
“Soon as I can. Sure.” Rather than continue driving one-handed, he disconnected the call and put all his concentration on reaching Rowdy. He wore dark sunglasses and an absurd ball cap that, hopefully, would keep him from being too recognizable should he have to return to the area later.
Reese found Rowdy slumped comfortably on the curb, his back against a lamppost. Unsure how they should play it, Reese pulled up, let the car idle and waited.
Rowdy came over and got in on the passenger side. “Go right around the corner there, and then park it. Let anyone watching think that we’re doing a deal.”
“A drug deal?”
Shrugging, Rowdy said, “Why not? But we have to make it quick. Dealers and junkies don’t sit around in the dealer’s car shooting the breeze.”
Keeping the details short and sweet, Rowdy told Reese about the lights on inside Killer Designz, and the guy he recognized who’d disappeared after the woman had come on hot and heavy.
“Could be a coincidence.” But Reese didn’t like it. He eyed Rowdy and, feeling edgy for many reasons, quipped, “Maybe she just liked your smile.”
Rowdy took him seriously. “I wondered, since I do get hit on a lot.”
Looking at him over the dark sunglasses, Reese said, “Braggart.”
“Just stating a fact. Women have never...” He hesitated, shook his head. “Almost never been a problem for me.”
Rowdy’s love life was the least of his concerns at the moment. “If you don’t think it has anything to do with the case, why mention it?”
“Because she had the same type of tat as that dead girl, same as the one Alice described seeing on Cheryl.”
Reese cursed low.
“I didn’t see it until she was walking away. Instead of being on her arm, it was on her calf.”
Great. Now the sick fucks were mixing it up, putting the tats in different locations. “Wonder if there’s any significance in that. If maybe a leg tattoo has a different meaning than on the arm.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Could be for different buyers, or as a sign of what she’s carrying.”
“They could be anywhere,” Reese mused aloud. “Back of the neck, shoulder, midsection...”
“Even a tramp-stamp.”
“Small of the back, right?”
“Yeah.” Rowdy gave it some thought. “You can ink just about anything on your body.”
“But we should assume it’d be a location easily seen. It’s not like these ladies can go around naked without drawing attention.” Reese glanced toward Killer Designz. “I need to get inside there.”
Hedging, Rowdy looked out the passenger window, then turned toward Reese in a rush. “It’d be easier for me.”
Reese didn’t even bother looking at him. “Forget it.” He put the car back in gear. “Where are you parked?”
Defiance held Rowdy silent until Reese started driving forward. Hands curled into loose fists, gaze unflinching, Rowdy directed him. “Turn right, circle the block. I’m up at the other end, by the park.”
Smart, not to be too close. Without showing it, Reese waited for the arguments to start.
“You’re a cop.”
“Seriously?” Reese pretended surprise. “I’ll be damned, I think you’re right.”
“One look,” Rowdy said, not amused by the sarcasm. “That’s all it takes. Everything about you screams officer of the law.”
“I’ll manage.” Somehow. But Rowdy might have a point. Unlike Logan, who had successfully pulled the wool over Pepper’s lustful eyes, Reese wasn’t quite as anxious to try the undercover routine.
But given that they were so short-staffed right now, he might not have a choice.
“That’s me,” Rowdy said, nodding at a beat-up truck.
Reese pulled up alongside Rowdy’s ride. No one paid any attention, not with the park filled with kids and young moms, people with their pets, joggers and walkers. “How is it you have a damned different vehicle every other day?”
“I rotate when I don’t want anyone to tag me.” He didn’t exit Reese’s car. “So, what are you going to do?”
It might not be routine, but he decided Rowdy had a right to know. “Cheryl called Alice.”
Other than the pinching of his brows, Rowdy showed no discernible reaction. “She’s okay?”
“Alice or Cheryl?”
He slashed a hand through the air. “I’m assuming you have Alice well in hand.”
Reese stared at him.
“Keeping her safe, I mean.” Rowdy rubbed his face with both hands. “Jesus, don’t tell Alice I phrased it like that.”
In many ways, Rowdy’s rapport with Alice resembled the relationship he had with his sister—full of platonic concern, caring, protectiveness.
And good thing, since Reese’s heretofore unknown jealous streak shone bright around Alice. “For now at least, Cheryl is alive. She wanted to meet Alice.”
“No fucking way.”
Not that Rowdy had a vote in the decisions, but... “You took the words right out of my mouth.” Reese pulled down his sunglasses. “Cheryl called the extra cell Alice had, and she used the code Alice set up, claiming her life was peachy.”
“You can’t let her—”
“Absolutely not.” Pushing the sunglasses to the top of his head, Reese rubbed his unshaven jaw. “Alice asked if she could make it tomorrow instead of tonight, and Cheryl said she’d call back.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.” Reese saw a small group of women eyeing them. Two of the women had kids with them. The other three were whispering and laughing about...something.
“They’re just flirting,” Rowdy said. “Ignore them.”
So, even though he hadn’t looked, Rowdy knew they were there? Talk about situational awareness....
“Alice is probably going nuts worrying about Cheryl right now. Damn, man, I’m sorry I pulled you away.”
Alice had promised to let him know immediately if she got another call, and other than taking Cash out, she wouldn’t budge from the apartment. “You did the right thing.”
“I don’t know about that. Holding back was not my first choice.”
Reese turned to him with a frown.
Holding up a hand, Rowdy stalled his objections. “You said you wanted it by the book, so I’m trying.” Bracing that hand on the dash, Rowdy turned to fully face him. Tensed muscles showed along his arm, his shoulder. “But now you have to do the right thing, too.”
Reese narrowed his eyes.
“You have to let me check out Killer Designz.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
NEEDING SOME AIR, Reese got out of the car and walked toward Rowdy’s beat-up truck. Was it stolen? No, he didn’t think so. Put to the test, Rowdy was certainly capable of boosting a ride, but he’d only do so if necessary to keep his sister—or probably any innocent—safe.
This wasn’t one of those times.
When Rowdy joined him, Reese said, “How many vehicles do you have?”
“Five. I told Pepper to pick one to drive.” Hands in his back pockets, he gave a small grin. “Logan looked ready to blow a gasket.”
“You weren’t offended?”
“That he loves my sister enough to feel territorial? No.”
Good attitude. “He doesn’t want to change the dynamics of your relationship. He just wants Pepper to have a better life.”
Rowdy laughed. “Save the pep talk, Reese. Logan doesn’t need your help, and I don’t need you to explain things to me.”
Two women walked by, cutting close to them, full of sly looks, their hips rolling in an attention-grabbing sway.
Rowdy smiled at them, said, “Ladies,” and then dismissed them. “So, tell me, Reese. You going to make the smart move here?”
Before he could answer, a dark-haired woman lifted her cell phone and took a pic of them. Rowdy looked her way, and she blew him a kiss. Her girlfriend giggled behind her.
Rowdy just winked.
“Un-fucking-believable.”
With a lift of his shoulder, Rowdy discounted the attention. “Focus, Reese. You need to let me hit up that tattoo place. The assholes inside have already seen me in the area, so they won’t think I made a special trip to check them out. And even if they’re suspicious, they won’t be after I meet with the chick tonight—”
“Not happening.”
“—at my own damn bar.”
After soaking that in, Reese strolled over to stand in the shade. Cash would probably like this place. He saw other people with dogs, some of them chasing Frisbees. “So you bought it?”
“Yup.” Rowdy sat on the front bumper of the truck and continued to check out the flirting women. “There are drugs at the bar already.”
“Most bars.” Did he dare let Rowdy walk into danger?
“Yeah,” Rowdy agreed, “but Avery says it’s a big problem there.”
“Avery?” That got Reese’s attention.
Rowdy turned away. “She’ll be the new bartender.”
Since when did Rowdy Yates avoid eye contact? “A woman as bartender?”
“Your sexism is showing.”
That was so ludicrous that Reese laughed. “Who is she?”