“Oh, you like? I’m going to a 3UG show tonight. It’s at Hell’s Rock. In fact…” Her voice trails and she bats her lashes. “I was sort of hoping you could give me a ride.” Disappointment floods me. She’s being nice because she wants a ride. To see Trent. How fucking awesome.

“What’s in it for me?”

She rolls her eyes, huffs and crosses her arms under her chest. I glance over several times, drawn to her amplified cleavage. Seriously, she can’t go out like this.

“Fine. If you want to be like that I’ll just call a cab. And just so you know, I get my car back tomorrow. I won’t need your help anymore.”

“Yeah, I remember.” This bothers me. And the fact it bothers me pisses me off further. Tomorrow she’ll have her car back and soon she’ll be back in her apartment. Things will go back to the way they were. Three weeks ago that sounded like an answer to my prayers. Ring. Ring. The shrill sound of my phone interrupts my thoughts. Blocked number.

“Beltran.”

“Hey, Collier here. You have anything pressing going on tonight?” My eyes flick to Kate. She’s back to ignoring me, tapping away at her phone screen. I’m planning on tailing her father tonight. Most afternoons he’s at Eddy’s in some private room I can’t seem to get an invite to, no matter how hard I flirt with the strippers or bartenders. Honestly, it’s not a priority, the few calls I’ve had with her mom to discuss the case have left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Nope. Just following another middle-aged screw up, but that can wait. What do you need?”

“I need you to get to Eddy’s, the stripper joint I had you case last time.”

“I remember. When do you want me there?”

“I needed you there thirty minutes ago.” I can hear the tension in his voice. Detective Collier isn’t one for conveying emotion, or much of anything other than orders for that matter.

“I can be there in fifteen.” I maneuver my way into the middle lane for a change of direction.

“Ramirez, one of our undercovers will meet you at the bar, he’s the guy with the pansy ass diamond earring. He needs a fictional friend to get into the back. You’ll need to pretend you’re brothers from another mother. You good with that?”

“Yes, sir. Just sit and look pretty, let him take the lead?”

“This is why I hired you. No need to have a tea party about all the damn details. You ever thought of joining the force?”

“Sometimes. But then I think about how easy my life is right now.” I chuckle.

“Yeah. All this damn paperwork. You made the better choice.” He grumbles into the phone before the line goes dead.

“Bad news, Catwoman.”

“Catwoman?” She shakes her ponytail, brows knit with confusion.

“I’m pretending those are cat ears and not devil’s horns. Had a thing for her in my teenage years. In fact, if you spray paint them black I’m sure you could re-purpose that little getup for a Halloween costume. It’ll be a nice DYI project, you can even Pinterest it.”

“First off, that you even know about Pinterest makes me question your manhood. And are we talking Halle Berry Catwoman or Michelle Pfeiffer? Never mind. That doesn’t matter. What’s the bad news?”

“We need to make a little pit stop.”

“Look if you don’t want to take me, it’s fine. I’ll call someone else.”

“No. It’s not going to take that long. I just have to make a stop for Scottsdale PD. Just chill in the cab for a few minutes. Retouch your makeup or whatever it is you girls do, and I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Why can’t I come with? Why do I have to stay in the truck?” I turn the corner and Eddy’s comes into view.

“Jeez Army, breaking for a lap dance?”

“Look. I’ll be back soon. Keys are in the ignition, so lock the doors when I get out, okay?”

“Whatever you say.” She says sweetly with a fake smile.

“Stay here. Don’t leave this truck. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”

“I’m not a child—”

“I mean it, Kate. So help me. You leave this vehicle and there’ll be consequences.”

“Don’t want me interrupting your precious time in the champagne room?”

I blow out a breath. Looking upward, I pray for patience. I need the patience of a saint when she’s like this. I reach for the door handle.

“Next time you need a stripper just let me know. I have friends who can bring those services into the comfort of your own home.”

“Damn it, Kate!”

“Okay, okay. Learn to take a joke. I’ll wait here. But you won’t be too long? I want to see the band play.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get you to your precious date.” Hopping from the cab, I slam the door with more force than necessary.

I stomp through the doors of Eddy’s, pay my cover, and head straight for the bar. I can’t think about Kate right now. I need to focus on the job. I spot Ramirez at the bar. The strobe lights above glint off the large diamond stud in his ear.

“Hey, man. Good to see you!” I clap Ramirez on the back and he flashes me a smile.

“Good to see you, bro. It’s been a long time. Wanna beer?” He nods to the brunette working the bar when I agree. “Ready to head back?” He assesses my reaction and I give a curt nod.

“I’m ready for anything.”

My answer must appease because his smile widens and he nods. “Well, then, let’s go. Time to play with the big ballers.” I swear I hear the bartender amend, “saggy balls” as we hop off the stools. I don’t know what we’re in for, but I already like this guy.

TRENT ROCK GOD: WHERE YOU at babe? We’re on in ten.

This is ridiculous. I’ve been waiting in Jon’s truck for almost twenty minutes. No word from him and now I’m officially late. Fuck that. Maybe I’ll just drive off in his truck and leave him stranded at this trashy club. No. That’s too harsh, even for me.

That leaves me one option: I’m going in. I teeter out of the truck in my five-inch heeled boots and wobble my way through the gravel lot to the door. When I open it loud bass music greets my ears and a skinhead bouncer assesses my arrival.

“Thank God you’re here!” He nods, smiles, and I try to place how he must know me. “You’re late. Doesn’t matter. This way.” He yells toward the bar as he walks, “Chris! Cover the door!” Shit. What do I do here? He obviously mistakes me for someone else. Or maybe Jon knows me well enough to realize I wouldn’t wait in the car all night.

Bouncer dude notices I’m not in tow and raises his brows. “You coming?” Better follow the big guy. I pick up my pace to keep in line with giant.

“Where’s your whip?” Huh? My whip? Uh oh, maybe this guy isn’t taking me to Jon. Crap, crap, crap. Do I go along or bail? Hell, it’s just a strip club and it’s not like I’m going to accidentally tear off all my clothes. Besides, I’m kind of curious what it is Jon’s doing here, and I’ve got an inkling he’s where meathead is leading. I’ve acted before, I can pull this off.

“Watch yourself, mister or I’ll have to pull it out.” I flash a seductive smile and he gives me a strange look I can’t decipher. We stop at a large metal door. He scrutinizes my body, nods approval and knocks.

“It’s Frankie. Entertainment’s here,” he calls inside. A moment later the door opens a few inches. A shorter middle-age man with black hair slicked into a man bun stands at the opening. He looks me up and down before he nods. The door opens wide enough for me to pass and Frankie turns to go. Oh shit, Kate, what have you gotten yourself into now? A deep unease settles in my gut, but I’m committed to whatever the hell it is these people think I’m here for. Maybe I’ll be able to help Jon. Discover some undercover shit.

I pull my shoulders back, my head held high. I follow man bun into the dimly light room. It’s large. Cigar smoke fills my nostrils and wafts around what few lights are in place. I glance about, taking in the surroundings. Three poker tables are set up in the center seated with older men, probably in their fifties or sixties, playing card games. Impressive stacks of cash fill the tables.