Last Shot (Dev Haskell - Private Investigator, Book 6) (7 page)

“There’s no mention of any of that in the case file or the court transcripts.
Christ, the guy is Mr. Civic Responsibility,” Aaron said.

“Yeah
, I know.”

“She have any proof?”

“She told me he had a tattoo,” I said.

Aaron shook his head. “Hell, you know as well as I do that could just be something she picked up at the water cooler. Even if it’s true
, it doesn’t prove anything. I don’t recall any mention of her ever bringing any of this up when she was being interviewed or on trial. You’d think at some point it would have crossed the defense’s mind to at least mention it.”

I nodded my head, agreeing with Aaron. “I didn’t read anything that suggested she brought it up. But she did know about the tattoo.”

“A tattoo…
Jesus Christ just about everyone has one. Even if she guessed she’s got about a seventy-five percent chance of being right. And it doesn’t prove a damn thing. Tell you the truth, it sounds like she got the advice of some jailhouse lawyer while she was in for six years stewing about this Driscoll,” Aaron said shaking his head. “No, I don’t like it. I can’t quite see it.”

“I didn’t say he did anything, Aaron
, other than to take her to bed.”

“I don’t like that either
based on what we know of the guy. Like I said, he’s Mr. Civic Responsibility. I just don’t see it.

“Yeah, I know. Look
, thanks…sorry if I pissed you off earlier. I…”

“You didn’t piss me off, you just tried to pull an end run and I don’t like tha
t, that’s all. Still friends?” He laughed.

“Yeah, and I suppose it
’s my turn to buy.”

“It will be, but not tonight
. I’m jammed. See you later.”

I didn’t feel like
going home. I didn’t feel like sitting at The Spot. To be honest, I was feeling kind of down. I phoned Heidi.

“Hello?” she answered
with a question, like she was amazed her phone rang.

“Hi
, Heidi, you sound like you’re surprised someone would bother to call you.”

“Oh
, hi, Dev,” she said. Her tone didn’t hide her disappointment.

“You doing anything tonight?” I had hoped to get together with her, but if she was
going to be in one of her downer moods, I would just as soon stay away.

“No
, nothing, I guess.”

I was picking up the signs and none of them were good.

“Just thought I’d call and see if you wanted to go to a movie. There’s a new sequel out, Car Chase Four. I’m thinking of going.” Heidi hated guy movies and hated car chases even more.

“Oh
, I don’t know. Where is it playing?”

“A little place out in
St. Paul Park.” She wasn’t a fan of that side of town.

“Oh.”

“But I’d have to swing by now. The thing starts in about thirty-five minutes.” She hated to be rushed, so I was banking on getting credit for at least asking and she could continue her private session of the blues.

“I think I might just give it a miss,” she said and then let loose with a sigh.

This was where I was supposed to ask was anything wrong. Then, when she said ‘no’ I was supposed to ask three or four more times until she eventually came out with it. Once the cause came to light, I could show up with a favorite takeout dinner and a couple bottles of wine to the tune of about eighty bucks. Then, at the end of the night, she’d tell me it was time to go home because she just wasn’t in the mood. I had a better idea.

Chapter Thirteen

“Hi, what can I
get you?”

The
bartender, a brunette about forty-five, looked to have been around the block a few times. The music coming from the stage area was just loud enough that she had to raise her voice so I could hear what she said.

“Better give me a Summit Extra Pale,”
I half yelled.

She was back
with my beer in about two minutes and I slipped her a ten. I was the only guy at the bar. The music was loud, the light was dim and the carpet was a sleazy leopard skin pattern. The other customers were placing their orders with cocktail waitresses half dressed in a sort of black lingerie kind of uniform. Nasty’s patrons, all male, were mostly seated at tables, hunkered down in their own private world. The exception being the guys along the edge of the stage with dollar bills folded in front of them, watching the strippers. The girls would give them that little extra bit of attention, maybe a couple of winks and a smile then blow them a kiss before they bent down and picked up the cash.

“Anything els
e?” she asked, sliding four ones across the bar, my change. She seemed a little surprised I hadn’t turned to watch the entertainment.

“
Keep the change,” I said, thinking six bucks for an eight-ounce beer, Jesus. “Actually, maybe there is one thing. I’m checking something for a friend, trying to get some information. Maybe you can help me?”

“A friend?
Yeah, sure you are, Pal. Look, company policy, we don’t give out the names or phone numbers of the girls. We sure as hell don’t give out addresses and we don’t deliver notes. That just about cover any information you’re looking for?”

I was
suddenly thinking I might have been better off bringing dinner over to Heidi.

“No, that’s not what I want…”

“We don’t have pictures or videos of them and we don’t sell their thongs either. And, no, we don’t allow you to photograph on the premises. All the girls here are private contractors. If you can get one of ‘em to talk to you when they come around, whatever you line up is between them and you. Got it?”

“Hey
, calm down, will you? I just wanted a beer and some information on a friend of mine who used to work here.”

“Sure you do. I
f she’s such a good friend, why don’t you just give her a call?” she asked, then crossed her arms, leaned back and glared.

I was
usually a polite guy, but I’d just about had it with the attitude.

“Believe me
, I’d love to give her a call, love to hear her voice. But see a couple a days ago some asshole put two slugs in her head.”

“You
knew Desi?”

“I had breakfast with her that morning. I’m a private investigator and I’m trying to find out whatever I can. She told me she’d just started tending bar
here, pulling a couple of weekend shifts. She was busting her ass over at Karla’s Karwash during the week. I thought she was getting everything back together, and then someone shot her,” I said. I took a card out of my pocket and pushed it across the bar.

She took a moment to read my card, turned it over probably to look for a message
or to see if she’d won a prize. I wasn’t sure which.

“Okay
, ask away,” she yelled just as the music stopped. A couple of heads turned to look at us, but everyone stayed seated. A male voice suddenly came over the sound system.

“That’s one of our favorites, Misty. Give a round of applause to the gorgeous and talented Misty.”

Naked Misty was down on all fours, picking up dollar bills from the stage. She seemed to ignore the two guys applauding. She stood up, collected the red lingerie she’d tossed in the corner and walked off. A thin smattering of applause and a shrill whistle followed her off stage.

“I don’t know where to start. Anything you can tell me, anything she may have said
could help. Was there ever an incident or maybe an altercation? Maybe something that stands out?”

“Well…”

“And now let’s welcome back the popular Brandi,” the male voice said as a brunette in a cowboy hat, boots and a very small thong pranced on stage riding a hobby horse. Some non-descript music began to blare from a static-filled speaker and I had to lean across the bar so I could listen to what she was saying.

“She didn’t seem to have any trouble here, at least that
I know of. She was a pretty careful girl. Didn’t really stand for no guys chatting her up, ya know.”

I nodded like I knew.

“Yeah, she was a good little worker, too. Got some nice tips. Far as I can tell she never had no problems here. Girls all seemed to like her, I guess.”

I nodded again then asked, “Did
anyone ever come in to see her? She ever leave with anyone?”

She shook her head
. “Na, nobody come in here lookin’ for her, ever. Far as leaving with someone…If she picked someone up they must a got together outside, off the premises like.”

I nodded again.
“She ever tell you anything about her situation?”

“H
er situation? Honey, we all been nailed a couple of times. Comes with the territory. Me, I got popped with an assault charge a few years back, couple three solicitation charges. They reduced the last one down to just loitering with intent, dumb bastards. I guess old Desi was in the big leagues. She pulled some heavy duty time, ‘bout five or six years’ worth, I think. Not the bullshit county stuff I done. But she never talked none about it. Least ways as far as I know.”

I nodded and couldn’t think of anything else to ask.

“You find the bastard, you bring em down here. Me and the girls will deal with him. He’ll be able to hit all them high notes by the time we get done.” She sort of gave a little cackle that quickly barked into a heavy cough.

I nodded
then asked, “She ever mention someone named Gas?”

“Ga
s? Like what ya put in your car? Naw, that don’t ring no bell. Gas? No, sorry, can’t help.” She shook her head.

“Thanks, you’ve actually been a big help,” I lied. “Hang onto my card and if anything pops into
your head please give me a call, okay?”

She nodded
and read my card again.

“You mind if I ask some of the other girls?” I motioned up at the stage and toward a couple of girls giving lap dances out in the crowd.

“I got no problem with it, long as you behave. Just like everyone else keep your hands to yourself and no pictures.”

“I think I can handle
that,” I said.

“And it might cost you,
honey. Time is money to ‘em, ya know.”

I set my beer on a table close to the bar and sat down. The tables on either side of me were unoccupied. A black girl with burgundy hair walked over before I’d taken a sip.

“Looking for some personal enjoyment?” she asked. Her left hand rested on her hip. Her hips were cocked at an angle and she looked like she was getting ready to read me the riot act for not having my homework done.

“Join me?” I motioned to an empty chair.

“I’m working for a living here. You gonna appreciate me, baby?”

I pulled out a twenty and set it on the table.
She sat down in a nano-second, flashing her long fake burgundy eyelashes at me once she stuffed the bill in the side of her thong.

“
I’m Moana. What’d you have in mind, Sugar?” she said and fluttered her eye lashes again as she ran her tongue back and forth over her bottom lip.

“Maybe
just some information,” I said then watched the walls go up and the freeze set in.

“You a cop? I’m u
p to date with my parole office. You don’t need to come in here bothering me at my place of business.”

“That’s not it,” I said, and grabbed
for her wrist as she stood up.

“Don’t you go putting your damn hands on me,
Mr. Police,” she shouted.

I let go just as a large figure drifted alongside me. “Sir
, we have a no touching policy. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“I’m aware of your policy.
I was merely attempting to explain…”

“This Mother says he’s a cop, Benny.”

“No, I didn’t say that I…”

“Said he was gonna lock me up again
if I didn’t treat him right,” she yelled loudly enough so that most of the audience turned around toward us, ignoring Brandi and her hobby horse galloping across the stage. Everyone seemed to be focused on giant Benny and me. They were all probably hoping he’d pick me up and toss me through the blacked out window.

“Sir?”

There was no point in arguing. I simply nodded, stood up and headed toward the door. Benny shadowed me all the way.

“See you
, Sucker,” Moana yelled, then cocked her hips, crossed her arms and glared.

The bartender shook her head and watched me as I made for the door.

“Probably be a good idea we don’t see your ass for about a month,” Benny called to me as I made my way across the parking lot to my car.

“Not to worry
,” I called back.

Chapter Fourteen

“
Talk about a collection
of unhappy campers. I don’t think I’ll be darkening their door for a while,” I said to Louie.