“How does this make any sense that Brandi and Darcy were friends and we’re just now hearing about it?” Poppy asked as they drove back to their apartments.
“It does raise a lot of questions,” he agreed. “Do you think she’s involved with Darcy’s death? She seems hard enough to commit cold-blooded murder.”
“Something doesn’t add up. Why would she convince her friend to come dance at Lit and then do nothing when her friend goes missing?”
“Maybe she was jealous?”
“Jealous enough to kill?” Poppy asked, shaking her head, not buying it. “I think we’re missing something vital here. Brandi is seemingly head over heels for Angelo, which is how Olivia said Darcy acted about Angelo, too. How could two friends fall for the same guy?”
“From my experience women can fall for the same guy all the time and it can ruin friendships. You mean to tell me you never fought with a friend over a guy?”
Poppy shook her head. “No. If a friend liked a boy or dated him, he was off-limits. It was easier that way, no drama.”
“You’re in the minority. I remember being at the center of many girl fights.”
Poppy cast him a derisive glance. “Oh, and didn’t that just feed your already monster-sized ego.”
“Hey, you didn’t know me in high school. How do you know that I wasn’t shy and nerdy?”
She laughed and he didn’t know if he should be flattered or insulted, but he grinned, anyway. “Okay, Miss Perfect, what were you like in high school aside from a paragon of virtue who always took the high road?”
“You’re mocking me,” Poppy said. “I didn’t say I was perfect. I’m just saying I didn’t chase after boys that I considered off-limits. It wasn’t so much taking the high road as taking the less complicated road. I hated girl drama and did whatever I could to avoid it.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mock you. Actually, I think you were pretty wise for a teenager. I wish I’d been as mature.”
He earned a smile for that one and he gladly took it. He liked making her smile. But soon enough they needed to return to the case.
“All right, so tonight I’m going to talk to Big Jane and see if I can’t get some background information on Darcy and Brandi. Big Jane knows everyone and everything that goes on in the club.”
“I thought you already asked Big Jane about Darcy?”
“I did but I didn’t press. She didn’t seem interested in talking about her so I dropped it, thinking there were more pressing leads to chase after.”
“Why was Big Jane reluctant to talk about Darcy?”
Poppy shrugged. “I don’t know, she just changed the subject.”
“Knowing now that Brandi and Darcy had history, doesn’t it seem odd that she wouldn’t want to talk about it?”
Poppy looked troubled. “Yes, it does. I’ll definitely dig at that when I see her.”
“You know Ramirez thinks our best bet is the Hernandez siblings, but I don’t know... Something doesn’t feel right with that angle,” Shaine said, not quite sure why he didn’t think much would turn up with that lead. “I know Ramirez wants them for El Escorpion, but my gut says we’re wasting our time with that one.”
“They have a legitimate access to a drug pipeline from China. It wouldn’t be difficult for them to acquire the raw materials. I can see how Ramirez would think that they’re good for it.”
“True,” he conceded, pulling up to the private location where they’d left Poppy’s car. Shaine put the car in Park and turned to Poppy. “Be careful out there. With Marcus gone...this operation feels more dangerous than ever before. I don’t like the feeling that maybe we’re the ones being played. If our covers have been blown, then we’re sitting ducks. I don’t like that feeling at all.”
Poppy stiffened a little. “Do you think I can’t take care of myself?”
“Stop, no. That’s not what I’m saying,” he said, putting a quick end to whatever nonsense was brewing in her head. He didn’t want a stupid misunderstanding to destroy all the good work they’d put in so far. “I’m saying, as a fellow agent and your partner...stay sharp.”
Poppy relaxed and nodded. “Sorry, I guess I’m a little oversensitive.”
“It’s all right. I know where it comes from.”
Now would’ve been an opportune time to apologize, to just let himself be vulnerable with Poppy, but he couldn’t do it. He wasn’t one to embark on useless endeavors and that’s what apologizing felt like. They weren’t going to fix what’d happened in the past, so why bother dredging it up?
“You’re a good man, Shaine Kelly,” Poppy said, smiling warmly.
A blush actually climbed his throat to heat his cheeks. “Don’t be saying that too loudly. I wouldn’t want to ruin my street cred.”
But then she reached over and brushed a sweet kiss across his lips and a surge of something tender washed over him. He wanted to hold on to that moment forever but it was gone much too soon and he was forced to watch her climb out of the car and drive away.
For a long moment he sat in his car, thinking.
Thinking about how things might’ve been.
Thinking about how stupid he must’ve been to let her go.
Thinking he’d give his left nut to go back in time so he could make the right choice this time.
But most of all, he was thinking of that kiss.
And how he wanted a million more just like it.
* * *
That night Poppy found Big Jane as she was trying to help Missy into a skintight pleather bustier.
“Good God, girl, stop with the cupcakes,” Big Jane admonished, squeezing Missy until the girl yelped. “You’ve gained a metric ton. There’s no way you’re going to fit in this thing now.”
“I’ve only gained ten pounds,” Missy said, sucking in her stomach so Big Jane could yank the enclosures closed. “See?” she said, barely able to breathe. “It still fits.”
“You’re going to pass out like a Victorian lady with her stays too tight,” Big Jane retorted, watching as Missy tottered off unevenly. She sighed. “That girl’s dancing days are numbered if she doesn’t lay off the sweets. She’s eating her feelings, poor thing.”
“Yeah, I heard Brandi say something about Missy giving a kid up for adoption?”
Big Jane nodded sadly. “Yes, but it’s better this way. Missy is a hot mess and she’s in no shape to parent a child. She made the right choice.”
“She seems like she might need some help, though,” Poppy suggested, wondering if Missy suffered from postpartum depression. “Giving up a baby must be terribly hard.”
“Yes, I’m sure it is,” Big Jane agreed but shrugged, saying, “Better to give the kid a chance at a good life than to selfishly hold on to it and drag the kid through hell.”
Poppy looked at Big Jane. “Speaking from experience?”
“I was never so lucky,” Big Jane answered wistfully. “But I always wanted kids. Just never worked out that way.”
“You would’ve been a great mom,” Poppy said, playing to Big Jane’s soft side. “You’re so maternal with all of us. I really feel safe and welcome with you around.”
“Why, thank you, honey,” Big Jane said with a bright smile. “It’s good to be needed.”
Raquel stalked out, pushed past Poppy and Big Jane and hit the stage. It was then Poppy realized that Brandi wasn’t there for a second night in a row. “Where’s Brandi?” she asked.
“Angelo said she’s still not feeling well. Poor kid. Probably caught the stomach bug going around.”
But suddenly Poppy got a queasy feeling in her gut. “Has anyone aside from Angelo checked on her?” she asked.
“No, but I’m sure Angelo is taking good care of her.”
Somehow she doubted that. Angelo was having fun while the ball and chain was otherwise occupied.
“Big Jane, did you know that Brandi and Tinsel were friends in high school before Tinsel came to dance at Lit?” Poppy decided to just put it out there and see what turned up.
At the mention of Darcy’s stage name, Big Jane stilled and, after a long moment, seemed to force a smile. “That’s right. I’d forgotten about that. Well, to be honest, she was only here for such a short time I’d almost forgotten about her.”
“Did Brandi and Tinsel have a falling-out or something?”
“If they did, it was probably over Angelo. That man seems to have a way with women. I don’t see it, personally, but then, maybe I’m past that stage in my life where I need a man to tell me what to do and when to do it.”
She was the second person who thought Brandi and Darcy had squabbled over Angelo.
But how did Darcy end up dead?
Poppy decided to leave the questions or else it might seem odd that she kept poking at the subject with more than just passing curiosity. Besides, her set was coming up and she hadn’t even applied her makeup yet.
A few moments later, she took the stage and began her usual routine. She allowed the lights to blind her so she didn’t see the leering men, and some women, as she worked her set.
The thing was, stripping at the right place was a good way to earn a lot of money, and while she hated that some girls fell into this career, not by choice but by circumstance, she found dancing to be more liberating than she would’ve imagined.
When she was on stage, she allowed herself to really become Laci Langford, the small-town Connecticut girl who wanted more than her small town could provide.
And when she managed to catch Shaine’s eye, she pretended that she was dancing only for him, instead of the throng of people throwing their cash at her.
A part of her wished she could keep her earnings, but she knew it would all go into the department logs and it would be absorbed back into the budget. She was paid well; she didn’t need her stripper money.
But it wasn’t easy parting with all that sweaty cash.
And because of that, she could understand how girls got themselves into trouble with this lifestyle. The tease of more money was always there. Private dances, escort services, hell, even flat-out prostitution were always options for the right price.
Was that the road Capri had gone down? Poppy knew the girl had done some extracurricular activities, but she hated to think that Capri had sold herself like that.
Poppy pushed thoughts of Capri away, needing to focus. Tomorrow she would check on Brandi, but for now she needed to dance.