I zoomed by several cars, maneuvering through traffic. So anxious, I didn’t put on the radio. The only music was the hum of the engine, the booming of my heart, and the rapid cadence of the wheels on the road.
“Make a right onto Edge Street,” West said. “It’s the third intersection.”
I spotted the sign for exit 25B.
West spoke again, “Okay. Now, he’s slowing down.”
I sped up. “We must be close to his destination.”
“He’s turning into an alley.” West sighed. “I’m going past him so it doesn’t look suspect. Where are you Griff?”
“I’m behind him. Should I go after him?”
Don’t fucking lose him.
I gritted my teeth and zipped past a diesel truck, almost sideswiping his front as I jumped in front of him and swerved into the exit.
“I looked that way when I passed. The alley doesn’t look like it will let out on the other side.” West’s connection cracked. “I’m parking near the opening. We can’t go that way. He’ll know we’re following him.”
Griff came on. “I see you. I parked on the other side, West. Several cars down from you.”
I sped down Temptation Boulevard and searched for Edge Street. “But do you see the kid?”
“Naw,” West reported.
I was ready to explode, but I held in my rage.
“The alley is definitely a dead end.” Griff’s voice came in. “I’m not seeing any other ways out. Should I not park and keep riding through the neighborhood?”
“Yeah. Do that, Griff.” I made a right on Edge Street. “I’m here, West. What am I looking for?”
“The alley is next to a strip club,” Griff said. “That could be a good sign. Maybe, Phoenix works here.”
She better not be stripping. That body is mine. No one else can see it.
“The sign says, Destiny’s Strip club,” West said. “No parking in the front of it. You’ll have to go to the pay-by-the hour hotel across from it.”
Frowning, I noticed a large building with a white brick and black glass exterior. Its neon sign resembled a woman’s eye.
In the center of the eye, the sign read, “Destiny’s. $2 Beers. Private rooms upstairs.”
The black windows of the club were opaque, blocking the view of what was going on inside. A small crowd of smokers were gathered several feet from the door.
“I see the club and alley.” I parked in front of the shitbag hotel across the street, close to the alley’s opening. “West, do me a favor and ride around too. I want to make sure we didn’t lose the kid.”
I rolled down the window and checked all sides—left, right, behind, and in front of me.
Phoenix, are you close? Could this be the clue that I needed?
I shut off the truck’s lights.
West zoomed by me on his bike.
Squinting, I could make out some of the alley, but not much. It had narrow walls and no lighting.
Seconds later, the kid appeared at the front of the alley.
Eager, I sat up. “Guys, I see him. He must’ve parked somewhere deep in the alley, so no one would take his bike.”
“Do you want us back over there?” West asked.
I watched the kid go to the front door and open it. A big bouncer stepped out and glared at him as if pissed that the kid was there.
“Cain?” West said. “Did you hear me?”
“Park wherever you are.” I leaned forward. “Let’s see where this goes.”
The kid handed a card to the bouncer. Not amused, the bouncer didn’t even check the card. The kid pulled out the stack of money I’d given him earlier and waved it in front of the bouncer.
Raising his hands, the bouncer stepped forward as if he were about to wring the kid’s neck.
What’s going on?
The kid backed up, put the money in his jacket, and said several things.
Frowning, the bouncer pointed to the alley.
The kid nodded.
Then, the bouncer disappeared into the club.
The kid walked over to the alley’s opening and waited.
Fuck. Phoenix does work here. Or. . .maybe her friend does.
But that didn’t make sense. Phoenix had told me a story about her friend and her meeting. It seemed like the friend wasn’t a super fan of stripping, although she saw it as a viable way to make money.
I continued to watch, hoping that this was all going somewhere.
The kid pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and put his back to the club’s entrance. In fact, he kept his view on the alley as if worried about his bike.
A minute later, the door opened and my heart exploded.
Phoenix!
She stepped out, wearing a black and silver gown. The silver caught the light like a mirror and reflected it back, so that the fabric shimmered like a lake at dawn. Sharp, curvy lines of silver flowed over her body, wrapping her in beauty. Even from here, I could make out her full breasts and plunging neckline. The dress was exquisite.