Grave Consequences by Aimée Thurlo Page B

fight had ended, then took a step back, now nearly shoulder to chin with Gordon.
    â€œGo inside and clean yourselves up,” Mike ordered, and the two damaged bouncers both reached for the handle. It was locked.
    Mike chuckled, reached into his pocket, then brought out a ring of keys. “Leave it unlocked for me,” he said, tossing the keys. Fernando made the grab, and a few seconds later, Mike, Charlie, and Gordon were alone, facing the alley.
    â€œSomething tells me you two aren’t here looking for a job, and I’ve never run into you before, I’d have remembered. What do you want?” Mike asked, keeping his hand near the butt of his pistol.
    â€œWe’re looking for a young woman you’d worked with in the past, a gal in the same profession as the ladies getting your upstairs clients in the mood.”
    â€œA good-looking Indian girl, maybe?” Mike asked, looking at Charlie closely. “Hey, the girls who work here come and go on their own. If your sister or girlfriend…”
    â€œNaw, I’m not here to rescue anyone from their sinful ways, I’m just trying to locate Lola Tso. Have you seen her lately?”
    â€œAh, Lola, good-looking, young, and a hard worker. We parted company about two and a half years ago, maybe three. Said she had enough money saved up to enroll in community college. Hated to see her go, but I had a big enough stable at the time to keep the money coming in. Why are you looking for her?”
    â€œShe’s got some people on her trail, violent people, and we need to find her first. She’s keeping a low profile right now, but she’s made a couple of costly mistakes. We were thinking she might have come around here looking for protection.”
    â€œHow do I know you’re not the ones out to hurt Lola?”
    â€œIf we were, your goons would be dead or dying and we’d be conducting whatever painful act was necessary to make you talk,” Gordon said. “You’re lucky we’re the good guys, trust me.”
    â€œUnfortunately, you’re going to have to take me at my word. I haven’t seen Lola for almost two years, and if she’s still a hooker, it isn’t for me or anyone I know. And I’d know.”
    Charlie brought out his pocket notebook and a pen and wrote a number down on a piece of paper. He tore it out and handed it to Mike.
    â€œIf you hear from Lola, or get some intel, either call this number or have her do it. This is important. The police are looking for Lola too. The quicker they find her, the easier it’ll be for any of her former employers to remain anonymous,” Charlie explained. “Assuming she’s still alive.”
    â€œI get that,” Mike replied. “I like Lola and I’ll do what I can to keep her safe. I take care of my people.”
    â€œThen we’re done.” Charlie nodded to Gordon, and they walked away, into the parking lot. There was no more reason to stay and chat with the pimp.
    â€œThink he was lying?” Gordon asked as they reached the front of the building and walked toward Charlie’s Dodge.
    â€œNah, Mike’s a tool, but he seems smart enough not to make any enemies who could come back and cause trouble. Meg didn’t particularly like the guy, but she respects that he takes care of his own. That’s a good thing.”
    â€œWhose phone number did you give to Slick?” Gordon asked.
    â€œThe one for my old burner phone. Remind me to take it out of the drawer and recharge it. I doubt we’ll hear from Mike again, but who knows? Instead of helping out he might decide to retaliate, and right now, we can’t afford any more trouble for FOB Pawn.”
    â€œSo what’s next?”
    Charlie thought about it as they climbed into his car. “If we go by Lola’s apartment, the officer watching the place might see us. And if she had shown up, we’d have already received a call, probably, from