Shadowhawk was stunned to learn that the murder and robbery of the Schiffs was connected to her vandalized home. It all came back to the elusive woman who was stalking her. They decided she would be the one to phone Billings.
After all, the case was about her. She ended the call and addressed Thomas. “He’s tied up right now, but thinks it’s a good idea to go to the bar and see if she shows up.”
“It is a long shot, no reason to waste his time.”
“I wanted to extend the invitation just the same and let him know what we had in mind.”
“It was a good call. Where are we going?”
“The Executive Suite. It’s on PCH in Long Beach.”
“Am I all right the way I’m dressed?”
“Sure, but I’m going to go change. Be right back.”
Shadowhawk went into the locker room and removed her white button down shirt before she put her vest back on. She pulled out her braid and finger combed it, then put on some clear lip gloss. She checked her reflection, front and back, before joining Thomas where he still sat on his computer.
He looked up. “So, this is your chick magnet outfit?”
“It’s babe magnet, and close. I usually pair it with tight jeans that show off my ass, but this will have to do.”
“Your butt looks fine in those slacks.”
“My ass is exceptional.” She slapped it to make her point. “These pleated pants are loose so the perps don’t get too excited.”
He chuckled. “Good idea. They can be quite unruly. I’d hate to see how crazy they got if they had a look at your exceptional ass.”
“Damn straight. It could get ugly.”
They were heading out the door. “Let’s take my truck. She obviously knows it.” That gave her an idea. Once she found her vehicle, she pulled out her penlight. She dropped to the ground, rolled on her back and inched her way under the truck.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“All this time we assumed she was following me, but what if she put a…there you are you little sucker.” She shimmied out and stood.
“Let me guess, she put a tracking device on your vehicle?”
“Yup, and I’m keeping it there. For now.” She brushed off her backside.
“That should ensure she shows up tonight.”
“Exactamundo.”
When they stepped into the club the place was pretty empty. It was only a little after eight. They found a couple of seats at the bar. Thomas sat facing the door. She faced the bar, positioning herself in front of the low stacked glasses so she could use the mirror to watch anyone coming up behind her.
Thomas leaned in. “It sure is loud in here.”
“This is nothing. The joint doesn’t really get hopping until ten o’clock.”
Shadowhawk greeted the women she knew, but kept her butt on the seat. She drank a club soda with lime so it looked like a gin and tonic. Thomas nursed a beer.
After a couple of hours, he leaned in. “You’re right. This place is packed.”
She spoke into his ear. “I expected her to show by now. The night she doused me with that drink, it was around nine o’clock.”
“Don’t get discouraged, she knows where you are. I have a feeling she’s going to show.”
A guy came up and put his arm around Thomas. “Hello, gorgeous.”
Thomas shot her a look of panic. “I’m sorry–”
“No need to apologize, honey. Some of us have it and some don’t.” The guy was a raging queen, there was no way anyone would not know he was gay.
Shadowhawk laughed, which earned her a scathing look from Thomas.
“What I meant to say is, I’m married,” Thomas said.
“That’s okay, sweetheart, I won’t tell if you don’t.” He winked.
“To a woman.”
“Well I didn’t think it was to a goat, handsome.”
Truly perplexed, Thomas stared at her.
She decided he’d had enough, Thomas was always careful not to hurt someone’s feelings. “Buzz off, he’s with me.”
The guy looked confused. “Well pardon the hell out of me.” Then he disappeared into the crowd.
“I thought this was a lesbian bar,” Thomas said.
“Primarily, but gays hang out here too.”
“You said you had gaydar, radar that told you when someone was gay. How come that guy didn’t know I was straight?”
“Some men are gay, but married to women. It’s usually because they were raised in a strict religious household and don’t want to admit it even to themselves. Some guys just want to take a walk on the wild side, and others are bisexual.”
He gave her a constipated look. “Well, shit.”
She stood. “I’ve got to hit the head.”
“Make it quick. I don’t think I want to be left alone in this place.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve got your big boy pants on. You can handle it. I’ll be as quick as I can, but there’s always a line.” She squeezed his shoulder. “Defend my stool with your life.”
He grinned. “Should I use my gun?”
“You may need to. Some of these bitches can be ruthless.”
He gave her his best death stare and put his hand on the seat. “You can count on me.”
She slapped his back. “Good man.”
The line appeared endless. She wished she hadn’t waited so long. She glanced back and noticed Thomas was surrounded. The cockroaches had descended. One of his most enduring qualities was that he didn’t know just how good looking he was.
She was never attracted to him sexually, but when they’d first met, she couldn’t stop staring at him. The attention he received from the opposite sex made him uncomfortable, but he was always polite.
The door to the men’s room opened and a guy walked past. She decided to take her chances with the diseased cesspool. Men were so disgusting. She opened the door and stuck her head in, it was vacant, so she entered.
In the stall she put copious amounts of toilet paper down on the seat and still felt it wasn’t enough, so she copped a squat. When she was finished, she used her foot to flush and opened the door.
She was washing her hands when the door opened. She glanced in the mirror and noticed a big burly guy standing behind her.
“Sorry, I’ll be out of here in a second.”
He didn’t say anything, just glared.
She grabbed a few paper towels. “Whatever, dude.” He was so close she could feel the heat from his body. She did a 180 and came face to face with the barrel of a revolver. “Whoa.”
Her heartbeat ratcheted up threefold while her hands went out about waist level so she could grab her piece if need be. “Whatever has your panties in a twist, I’m sure we can work it out.”
His expression didn’t change.
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret. I’m a law enforcement officer. If you hurt me, my friends will hunt you down to the ends of the earth.”
“Take out your gun, slowly, and put it on the floor,” he said in a deep baritone.
“Okay, okay, just take it easy with that thing.” The room was suddenly unbearably hot. She felt a trickle of sweat drip between her shoulder blades. The music from the club pulsated through the walls, the bass a constant boom, boom, boom.
If Goliath here did shoot her, no one would hear it. He’d simply slip into the crowd while she bled out on this repulsive floor.
Shadowhawk inched her jacket aside so he could see the holster. With her thumb and index finger, she lifted the gun. When it was free from the holster, she bent at the waist and eased it down toward the floor.
The bathroom door flew open so hard it hit the wall with a crash. Boisterous women laughing and carrying on piled into the room. Goliath’s head turned toward them and Shadowhawk took advantage of the distraction.
She flipped her gun so her hand was on the trigger and shot Goliath in the foot before he had a chance to react. The echo of the gunshot reverberating off the tile walls mixed with the screams of the women.
The cacophony was deafening. Goliath’s face contorted and he mouthed the words ‘Mother fucker’, but she only knew this by reading his lips. Her ears were ringing.
She kicked the gun out of his hand, and kneed him in the nuts. He doubled over and she pushed him the rest of the way to the floor before she sat on his back and pulled his hands behind him. She clenched his thumbs in one hand while she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and typed the number two and hit send.
Just when she thought her partner wouldn’t answer, the ringing stopped. She couldn’t hear if he’d said anything, so she spoke instead. “Can I see you in the men’s room, please?”
A crowd had gathered at the door. Her hearing was beginning to come back because she could hear Thomas saying excuse me, over and over again until he finally appeared.
“I’m bleeding to death, I need to go to the hospital,” Goliath complained.
Thomas crossed his arms. “What did you do to piss her off?”
“Nothing. She’s crazy, man.”
“She is that. I’d do what she says if I were you.” Thomas addressed Shadowhawk. “In what way did he offend you?”
“The asshole pointed a gun at me.” She pulled his thumbs up.
“Ow!” Goliath yelled.
“Now why would he do such a thing?” Thomas asked.
She shrugged. “I guess he doesn’t like women using the men’s room.”
Thomas nodded. “Ah, he’s the sensitive type.” He focused on Goliath. “You didn’t want to whip it out in front of a girl, huh?”
“He must have a tiny pecker,” she said.
“Probably didn’t want the guys out there to hear that. It might make it pretty hard to find a hook-up for the night.”
“I ain’t no homo!” Goliath shouted.
“Then what are you doing in a gay bar?” Thomas asked.
“I came for her.” Goliath bucked his head toward Shadowhawk.
“Then you’re shit outta luck, dude. I am a homo,” Shadowhawk stated.
“You do realize his face is smashed into a pee-stained floor at the base of a urinal?” Thomas asked Shadowhawk.
“Better him than me.”
“I’d have to agree with you there. How can I help?” Thomas offered.
She tilted her head to the side like she was thinking. “I guess we should call an ambulance. I must have hit an artery, his foot’s bleeding like a stuck pig.”
“Somebody help me!” Goliath shouted.
Shadowhawk continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “I’d hate for him to die. The paperwork’s a bitch, the IA investigation, yada yada yada.”
“Yeah. It is a real inconvenience. I’ll make the call.”
“You guys are goddammed lunatics.” She pulled up on his thumbs again. “Ow!”
“It’s not nice to call people names,” Shadowhawk explained. “Somebody call the cops,” Goliath yelled.
“We are the cops!” the detectives shouted in unison.
“Look, assfuck, I think you should keep your mouth shut. I’m already irritated. These are my favorite work pants and now they’re ruined.”
“I’d listen to her, pal, you do not want to see her get mad. It’s not a pretty picture, believe me.” Thomas addressed Shadowhawk. “Anything else I can do for you?”
“Now that you mention it, I’m getting a cramp in my leg. I’ve been straddling this Mac truck for way too long. Behind the seat in my truck, you’ll find a bag with zip ties and evidence bags for that lovely .347 Magnum over there.”
“He must not be a very good shot to bring a cannon like that into such a small room.”
“Even so, the fuckturd probably would have missed.”
“I’m glad we didn’t have to find out. Can I get you anything else?” Thomas asked.
She pretended to think about it. “No. That oughta do it.”
“I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Not planning on it.”