Mandy stomped on the brake, glaring at the line of cars rolling down the road, blocking her exit. “I’m tired.”
“We could go back to the Clarks’.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because ... I don’t have a camera. The only one I brought with me is in your new friend’s patrol car.” Catching a break in the traffic, Mandy hit the gas. The car lurched onto the road.
“You know what I think? I think Clark-Old-Boy is sneaking into the pool house and doing the nasty with someone in there.”
“That would be asinine. His wife could go down there at any time and catch him.”
“See? Maybe he figures she won’t because she’d think that would be stupid, fucking another woman right under her nose.”
“Just out of curiosity, where’d you catch Eric and his bimbo?”
“In the pool house.”
Oh, God.
A thought passed through Mandy’s head, but she wasn’t heartless enough to say what she was thinking aloud.
Sarah’s handcuffs rattled. “It’s worth another look. I brought pepper spray. That little beast won’t get you again. I promise.”
Mandy glanced down at her still-achy ankle. “But we don’t even have a camera. If you’re right, then what?” She looked at her friend’s eager face.
Was there anything to her theory?
She supposed it was possible.
“If we’re right, we can come back armed with everything we need to get the job done. I’ve got my cell phone as a backup camera.” Sarah produced said item and hit a button. A flash blinded Mandy. “It has a flash.”
Blinking to try to clear her vision, Mandy grumbled, “Okay. We’ll take a quick trip to the Clarks’.”
“Yeah!” Sarah pumped her fists. The handcuffs rattled again.
“Isn’t Mr. Policeman going to miss those?”
Sarah shrugged. “He said he had another set in his car. He’ll be picking them up at the end of his shift.”
That made Mandy smile.
If Sarah’s new friend kept her busy, Sarah wouldn’t want to go on any more stakeouts. That would be a very good thing.
“I don’t suppose you could convince him to give back my camera? I’ve lost too many to count lately, thanks to Zane.”
Sarah’s smile was devious. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”
Sarah sang along to the radio as they drove to the other side of town. It wasn’t quite dark enough yet, so Mandy opted to make a stop at the Chicken Shack for some fried chicken and broasted potatoes. They both used the bathroom, too. And with a little help from a squirt of liquid soap, Sarah was handcuff-free when they returned to the car. By the time they’d pulled onto the Clarks’ street, the sky was dark to the east and streaked with salmon to the west. It was another half hour before it was dark enough to risk sneaking into the Clarks’ backyard.
This time, Mandy was prepared. She had a pocketful of chicken for the beast.
They tiptoed around the house, listening for any signs of Clark or his ankle-mangling best friend. Mandy volunteered to climb the fence first. Sarah followed. Side by side, they crept toward the house first, peering in through the French doors, looking for husband and wife.
The little beast was lying on a plaid dog bed next to the door. Mrs. Clark was lounging on the couch. Mr. Clark was nowhere to be seen.
Mandy motioned toward the pool house.
Sarah nodded.
They dashed across the lawn, tiptoeing up to the building. Mandy pressed a finger to her lips. Although there didn’t seem to be any lights on inside, or suspicious sounds, she didn’t want to risk being caught.
She peered into the window next to the door.
Empty.
So much for that thought. Mandy motioned toward the front.
Time to call it a night.
Sarah nodded. Mandy started across the lawn. She got to the fence before she realized Sarah wasn’t behind her.
What now?
She whirled around.
A shadow, a large one—too big to be Sarah’s—traveled across the far end of the yard. It was headed toward the pool house. Squinting, Mandy made out Sarah’s smaller form, scurrying through the building’s door.
Oh, shit!
Mandy waited a few minutes to see if anyone else was headed out to the pool house. Sure enough, a smaller shadow bounced over the fence adjoining a neighbor’s yard. That person was also going to the pool house.
Now what?
Mandy risked a dash back to the pool house. No lights. She peered in the window, spying two forms, one male the other female, in an embrace.
Yes!
At last, she had this guy.
But dammit, she had no way to nail him. She stuffed her hands into her pockets, wishing she had a camera.
She visually searched the pool house’s open space for Sarah. No Sarah. She guessed she might be hiding in a bathroom somewhere. With no other choice, she took a position along the darkest side of the building, where she could watch for Sarah when she snuck out.
Twenty minutes later, she was still waiting.
Ten minutes after that, a muffled scream cut through the silence.
Thirty seconds later, Sarah put those running shoes of hers to the test, making record time in the hundred-yard dash. Clark came stumbling after her, his pants down around his knees. She vaulted the fence in a single bound and disappeared from sight. Clark hauled his pants up and followed, but Sarah had a solid head start on him. There was no chance he’d catch her. Mandy didn’t move, knowing Clark’s lover was somewhere close by. She held her breath and watched, eyes sharp, heart pounding. Finally, the woman scampered back in the direction from which she’d come, hopping the fence. This time, Mandy paid attention to where she went.
Into the house next door.
Aha. She could now find out a name.
Ironically, thanks to Sarah, she was going to earn that retainer Clark’s soon-to-be-rich ex-wife had paid her.
She headed back to her car, figuring Sarah would eventually meet her there. Five minutes later, Sarah was giving Mandy a blow-by-blow description of what had happened inside the pool house. Looking oh so proud, Sarah waved her phone. “And I’ve got proof! That bastard’s busted.”
“I can’t believe you pulled it off. I’ve got to hand it to you, Sarah. You’ve got nerve.”
“Thank you. Coming from you, that means a lot. So, does that mean I get the promotion?”
“I’ll have to think about that. What time is your cop off the clock?” Mandy asked, driving them back to the office. She was anxious to take a good look at the pictures on Sarah’s phone, see if she’d managed to take any quality shots.
“Midnight. Want to go have a drink?” Sarah asked as they pulled into the office parking lot. She tipped her head at the restaurant a few doors down.
“I don’t know ...”
“I’m buying. Come on. I’m in the mood to celebrate.”
“What’re you celebrating?”
“The bonus you’re going to give me when we close the Clark case.” Sarah gave Mandy a big Cheshire-cat grin and bounded out of the car.
15
M
andy groaned.
Mandy sighed.
Mandy shook her head.
If it wasn’t for the two beers she’d had, she might actually be disappointed. Mandy handed Sarah back her phone. “There isn’t a single useful shot here.”
Sarah’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Are you sure?” she slurred. Sarah’d had a lot more than two beers. “I thought I had at least one good one.”
“I’m sure. Take a look.” Mandy leaned to the right to allow Sarah to look over her shoulder at her laptop’s screen. A cloud of alcohol-laced air wafted over her.
“Oh. I guess I wasn’t holding my hand very still.” Sarah straightened. “But in my defense, it isn’t easy holding your hand perfectly still when you’re running. And it isn’t easy aiming for a target in the dark either. I was shooting blind, as they say.” Sarah waved her hand. “Doesn’t matter. We can go back tomorrow.”
“I have a feeling they won’t be going for any more midnight swims after tonight.”
“Damn.” Sarah plunked down on her butt. “That’s okay. We’ll get ’em.” She flung one knee over the other. “What time is it?”
Mandy checked the clock on her computer. “A quarter after twelve.”
“Shit. I’m late.” Sarah staggered to her feet. “Where’d I leave my purse?”
“Hold up.” Since Mandy’d had only two beers, versus Sarah’s two beers
and
three shots of tequila, she beat Sarah to the keys. “You’re in no condition to drive anywhere.”
“But I’m supposed to meet ... um ... Whatshisname at midnight.”
“You’ll have to make plans for another night.”
“No, I won’t. You can drive me home. I’ll call him.” Listing to the left, Sarah dug a slip of paper out of her purse, then poked at the numbers on her cell phone. “Hello? Hello? Is this the sexy police officer I met at Buca’s? I have your handcuffs. Wanna play?” Sarah’s face wrinkled up. “What do you mean I have the wrong number?” She poked a button, cutting off the call. “That bastard! He pretended he didn’t know who I was.”
“It’s probably for the better.” Mandy threw an arm over her drunk friend’s shoulder. “I think there’s a reason why you got tanked tonight, and it doesn’t have anything to do with celebrating the bonus I’m paying you.”
“So, you are still paying me the bonus?” Her friend turned watery, bloodshot eyes her way. “Even though the pictures sucked?” Sarah threw her arms around Mandy’s neck. “You are the best boss in the world. I love you.” She started sobbing on Mandy’s shoulder.
“I love you, too, hon.” Mandy patted her blubbering friend on the back.
Several minutes later, after she’d stopped crying, Sarah said, “You’re right. I got drunk because I was scared.”
“I kind of figured that out.”
“I haven’t been with another man in four years. I mean, I haven’t had actual intercourse without Eric being there with me. I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I can start over with someone else. Someone new.” She dragged the back of her hand across her tear-smudged face.
“You need to give yourself some time.” Mandy steered Sarah toward the door, figuring it was past time to get her home. Better to do it now, while Sarah was upright and moving. Once she crashed, it would be impossible to get her anywhere. Especially since Sarah outweighed her by at least thirty pounds.
Sarah wobbled outside with Mandy, using her for support. They made it to Mandy’s car. Mandy held Sarah upright with one hand while opening the car door with the other. After she had Sarah inside, she rounded the car and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Love sucks. Yeah, yeah,” Sarah sang.
“I think it’s ‘Love Stinks,’ ” Mandy corrected, starting the car.
“That it does.” Sarah’s head flopped back. “Whatever you do, don’t ever fall in love. Men are good for only one thing—and it sure the hell isn’t commitment.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“What happened to the fancy restaurants? This place is beyond creepy,” Sarah grumbled the next evening as she trotted across the trash-strewn parking lot toward the dilapidated building. Granted, after Sarah had made such a mess of things last night, Mandy had sworn that she’d never take Sarah along again. But when it had come time to head out tonight, Mandy couldn’t stomach the thought of going alone.
The truth was, whenever she was by herself, especially in a quiet place, she still kept thinking about Zane. Even now, after almost a week, she couldn’t stop wondering what had happened. His non-excuse had been confusing, frustrating. But because they’d been no more than casual lovers, she hadn’t felt like she could demand a better explanation.
With the exception of last night—she’d crashed the minute her head had hit the pillow—she’d had a horrible time falling asleep.
“Hey, you know this job isn’t all five-star restaurants,” Mandy said, stepping over a used condom lying in a puddle.
Sarah shook her hands like a little girl seeing her first earthworm. “Ew! I think we might catch something just by walking into the place.”
Highly amused by Sarah’s squeamishness, Mandy pointed out, “You wanted to be a PI... .”
“Yeah.”
“You know what kinds of places I’ve had to go into before.”
“Sure, but it’s different now.” Sarah tiptoed around an overturned cup.
“How’s that?”
“Because now I’m going into these places, too.”
“Would you rather go back to answering the phones?”
Sarah stopped walking. “Can you give me a few minutes to think about it?”
“No. Let’s go. Whether you like it or not, you’re with me now. We’re going in.” Realizing Sarah had fallen behind, Mandy waved over her shoulder. “Come on, this place isn’t so bad.”
“This place is worse than bad. I mean, look at it.” Sarah swept an arm in a wide arc.
Mandy could agree it was probably the most disgusting dump she’d ever laid eyes on. But this was her job. This was what had to be done.
“Why would a guy like Nickerson bring a girl here? He has money. And he’s already proven he doesn’t mind spending it.”
“Maybe his wife tightened the purse strings.”
“She’d have to pull them so tight he couldn’t squeeze more than a handful of pennies. Shit, it would probably be better to just go park somewhere and have sex in his car.”
“Maybe she’s been checking his car, too.”
“The poor bastard.” Sarah shook her head. “Having to resort to
this?
”
Mandy halted midstep. “Tell me you’re not feeling sorry for him.”
“Well...”
“Sarah. What did I tell you was the number-one rule?” She continued up to the building’s front entrance.
Behind her, Sarah recited, “ ‘Just do the job. Don’t take sides. Don’t get emotionally involved.’ But I’m not getting emotionally involved. I’m just ... disturbed.”
“Get undisturbed.” Mandy covered her hand with her sleeve, grasped the motel office’s door handle, and pulled, holding it open for Sarah. “Ladies first.”
Sarah shuffled inside, hanging back by the door.
Mandy strolled up to the counter, smiling at the dark-complexioned man behind the safety glass.
Please tell me he speaks English.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“You and girlfriend want room?” he asked in broken English.
“Oh, no—”
“She not girlfriend?”
“No. We’re here—”
The clerk’s eyes narrowed. “Friend want date?”
“No. I’m sure she doesn’t ‘want date.’ ”
“Too bad.” The man frowned. “What you want?”
“We’re looking for someone who just checked in.”
“Sorry. Don’t know him.” The man backed away from the counter.
“Wait. You haven’t even seen a picture yet.”
“No matter,” the guy sneered. “But maybe I remember if friend go on date. With me.”
“Are you kidding me?” Sarah spat.
“Not happening,” Mandy said, shoving a ten-dollar bill through the opening in the smudged barrier between her and the disgusting, horny clerk. “How about a date with Hamilton?”
“No, thanks.” The clerk took the money.
“Do you like threesomes? How about two more Hamiltons to sweeten the deal?” This time Mandy just waved the bills in front of the man’s face.
The man’s lips pinched.
Mandy shoved the bills back in her wallet. “Your loss. You could’ve had a threesome... .” She looped her elbow through Sarah’s and walked her outside.
“That got us nowhere,” Sarah said, grimacing.
“It rarely does. But that doesn’t stop me from trying.” Mandy led Sarah back to the car. They took their respective places, she behind the steering wheel, Sarah in the passenger’s seat.
“What now?” Sarah asked.
“We’ll drive around back, find Nickerson’s car, and do things the hard way.”
A cluster of young, threatening men walked by. Pants hanging off their asses. Hats backward. They leered. Sarah scowled. “Are you sure this is safe?”
“It isn’t. But I have my gun.”
“That’s fine and dandy for you. I don’t have a gun.”
“And you won’t carry one until you learn to use one safely.”
“What are you trying to say? It wasn’t my fault I shot that guy in the ass last year. He stepped in the way
after
I pulled the trigger.”
“You shouldn’t have been pulling the trigger at all. Not in
a store.
”
Sarah smacked her arms across her chest. “Yeah, well, he shouldn’t have had ammunition in the gun, either. Who keeps a loaded gun in a shop? Isn’t that like the first rule of gun sales?”
“That, I will agree with. It shouldn’t have been loaded. But still, the first thing you learn about gun safety is never to point a gun at anyone unless you’re prepared to shoot.”
“Consider that lesson learned.”
They cruised around the dumpy single-story, U-shaped building until they located Nickerson’s car, parked behind a line of overflowing Dumpsters at the far end of the lot.
“I’m guessing he’s in one of these back units.” Glad each motel room had its own entry outside, exactly like the Red Roof Inn, Mandy parked around the corner from the south-facing wing of the building. She grabbed a camera and shoved her gun into the waist of her pants before getting out of the car. “Stay close to me. God only knows what we’ll run into back here.” Trying not to be too obvious, Mandy strolled along the front of the west-facing units, peering through gaping curtains. She saw a lot more than she would have cared to, on more than one occasion, but she didn’t see Nickerson.
When she reached the south end of the building, she glanced over her shoulder, looking for Sarah, who had stopped a few units back. She was gaping like a landed fish.
“Pssst!” Mandy waved a hand.
Sarah turned widened eyes toward Mandy.
“Come on.” Mandy motioned with a hand. “You need to stay with me.”
Sarah jogged over to her, whispering. “Did you see what I did?”
“I did.”
“That’s ... disturbing.” Sarah wasn’t exaggerating. There’d been a dog in that room. A big Doberman. And from what Mandy had seen, it wasn’t there for security purposes. “I need to disinfect my eyes—and my brain—after seeing that. Isn’t that animal cruelty?”
“From the looks of the man who was being serviced by the dog, maybe.”
Sarah gagged.
Mandy practically gagged, too. “We don’t have time to worry about any potential animal abuse right now. We need to catch Nickerson in the act. Help me check these rooms.”
Peering in a hazy window, Sarah asked, “Are we going to bust the door down when we find them?”
“Not if we can avoid it.”
They made it to the end of the south-facing wing of the motel without seeing any more bestiality. That was a good thing. But they didn’t find Nickerson either.
“That is his car. He’s here somewhere.” Sighing, Mandy headed toward the corner. “You’d think he’d take one of those units in the back, where he’d be less likely to be found.”
“Unless he doesn’t care, or doesn’t expect to be found.”
Mandy halted.
Sarah bumped into her from behind.
Mandy did a one-eighty, pushing Sarah back around the corner.
“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked, stumbling.
“Those guys we saw earlier are huddled in front of one of the units. And I think I saw a gun.”
“Where?” Sarah poked her head around the corner.
Mandy yanked on her arm.
Sarah didn’t budge.
Mandy took a peek, too.