wouldn’t have taken a child from the homes where they were employed. But the interviews had to be done, and the sooner they got started the better.
After hours talking to neighbors, weepy little girls, and irate parents, they headed back to the car. Eric stifled a growl. “It always feels like a waste of time asking questions of people who know nothing.”
Aaron said, “It’s late. I’m starving and could use a drink. What do you say?”
“I’m in,” Max said, jogging up from behind them.
He hadn’t exactly been invited, but Eric caught Aaron’s eye and shrugged. The animated young cop might distract from the fact that they had to wait for tests to come back before they could hope to save the girl.
“Fine,” Aaron said, clapping Max on the shoulder, “but you get the first round.”
“As long as I get to pick the place,” Max said.
“As long as it has food,” Eric agreed.
• • •
It was a club off the Strip called The Layer, and according to Max it was the hottest new bar in town. The outside looked like a warehouse. As they pulled in, the only tip-off that it housed a club was the line of people wrapped around the building.
“Looks like there’s a wait,” Eric said, getting out of the car. “I’d rather eat fast food than wait in that line.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get in.” Max led the way with a swagger. Eric and Aaron exchanged smirks behind his back as they followed. Max had already proved entertaining.
To one side of the door stood a woman in a black leather pantsuit holding a clipboard. On either side of her stood two extremely large men. “Obviously hired for their personality,” Eric whispered to Aaron as Max walked up to the woman who had just waved a couple more people inside.
Max placed a hand on the small of her back and whispered in her ear. After a second, she flipped her dark red hair back, looked all three men over, and smiled.
Reaching into her very low-cut blouse she removed a business card and handed it to Max with a wink.
Max nodded to her, tucked the card in his pocket, and led the way into the club.
“Do we want to know what you said to her?” Eric asked once they’d picked out a table to the right of the large dance floor.
Max grinned. “No.”
Aaron asked, “Will I have to arrest you?”
Max’s smile remained as he waved a waitress over.
“What’ll it be, boys?” The waitress seemed to be wearing a form-fitting tuxedo, but once Eric looked closer he realized it was body paint. All she really wore was a small string bikini.
They ordered a pitcher of beer and a pizza.
“Are you attached, Detective?” Max asked Eric.
“Married to the job.”
“Then here’s to open relationships,” Max toasted, and the other two lifted their beers in response.
“Vivian is understanding about the job that way,” Aaron said of his wife. “Speaking of Viv, you know you can’t leave town without coming by the house to say hello.”
“I will,” Eric said. “Even so, I can’t stay in town long. My old partner got married and is having a baby. For some reason, she wants me to be there when she delivers.”
“When is she due?”
“Two weeks. I hope we find Olivia before then.”
The three of them sat in silence for a while before Max cleared his throat. “In the spirit of open relationships,” he picked up where he’d left off, “I’ve got a game for us to play.” Max rubbed his hands together. “We take turns picking women for the other to get their numbers. Aaron, your relationship is as open as Viv will allow, so you keep score. We each have five minutes to get a phone number.”
“If we don’t get it?”
“You do a shot of whiskey,” Max replied.
Aaron let out an exaggerated “ooh.”
Max laughed. “It’s actually a good thing. The more you drink, the more you relax. The more relaxed you are, the more likely you’ll get phone numbers.” Max sipped his beer regally. “Now, who to send you after first … ”
“Her in
After hours talking to neighbors, weepy little girls, and irate parents, they headed back to the car. Eric stifled a growl. “It always feels like a waste of time asking questions of people who know nothing.”
Aaron said, “It’s late. I’m starving and could use a drink. What do you say?”
“I’m in,” Max said, jogging up from behind them.
He hadn’t exactly been invited, but Eric caught Aaron’s eye and shrugged. The animated young cop might distract from the fact that they had to wait for tests to come back before they could hope to save the girl.
“Fine,” Aaron said, clapping Max on the shoulder, “but you get the first round.”
“As long as I get to pick the place,” Max said.
“As long as it has food,” Eric agreed.
• • •
It was a club off the Strip called The Layer, and according to Max it was the hottest new bar in town. The outside looked like a warehouse. As they pulled in, the only tip-off that it housed a club was the line of people wrapped around the building.
“Looks like there’s a wait,” Eric said, getting out of the car. “I’d rather eat fast food than wait in that line.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get in.” Max led the way with a swagger. Eric and Aaron exchanged smirks behind his back as they followed. Max had already proved entertaining.
To one side of the door stood a woman in a black leather pantsuit holding a clipboard. On either side of her stood two extremely large men. “Obviously hired for their personality,” Eric whispered to Aaron as Max walked up to the woman who had just waved a couple more people inside.
Max placed a hand on the small of her back and whispered in her ear. After a second, she flipped her dark red hair back, looked all three men over, and smiled.
Reaching into her very low-cut blouse she removed a business card and handed it to Max with a wink.
Max nodded to her, tucked the card in his pocket, and led the way into the club.
“Do we want to know what you said to her?” Eric asked once they’d picked out a table to the right of the large dance floor.
Max grinned. “No.”
Aaron asked, “Will I have to arrest you?”
Max’s smile remained as he waved a waitress over.
“What’ll it be, boys?” The waitress seemed to be wearing a form-fitting tuxedo, but once Eric looked closer he realized it was body paint. All she really wore was a small string bikini.
They ordered a pitcher of beer and a pizza.
“Are you attached, Detective?” Max asked Eric.
“Married to the job.”
“Then here’s to open relationships,” Max toasted, and the other two lifted their beers in response.
“Vivian is understanding about the job that way,” Aaron said of his wife. “Speaking of Viv, you know you can’t leave town without coming by the house to say hello.”
“I will,” Eric said. “Even so, I can’t stay in town long. My old partner got married and is having a baby. For some reason, she wants me to be there when she delivers.”
“When is she due?”
“Two weeks. I hope we find Olivia before then.”
The three of them sat in silence for a while before Max cleared his throat. “In the spirit of open relationships,” he picked up where he’d left off, “I’ve got a game for us to play.” Max rubbed his hands together. “We take turns picking women for the other to get their numbers. Aaron, your relationship is as open as Viv will allow, so you keep score. We each have five minutes to get a phone number.”
“If we don’t get it?”
“You do a shot of whiskey,” Max replied.
Aaron let out an exaggerated “ooh.”
Max laughed. “It’s actually a good thing. The more you drink, the more you relax. The more relaxed you are, the more likely you’ll get phone numbers.” Max sipped his beer regally. “Now, who to send you after first … ”
“Her in
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