Page 39 of Hard Luck (Blackstone House)

Shit.

Bella put a hand on his arm. “The guy in the car said it was a message for the boss, right? Is this Lucy’s only job? I only ask because half the people I know have a side hustle these days, and a girl in my writing group was dating thisguy who turned out to be a pimp, and— Never mind. Anyhow, you might want to check that out.”

Lieutenant Hamill didn’t look pleased at being told what to do, but he did call Perry over.

“Mr. Scott, how well do you know Ms. McCall?”

“N-n-not that well. I mean…” Perry glanced around and lowered his voice. “I prefer men, and I’d never get involved with a colleague because?—”

“I’m not talking about personal involvement. I need to know if she had another job besides her role at the Galaxy.”

“Oh, sure. She works here Monday through Friday, and on the weekends, she waits tables at the Steel Horse.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“She said the tips are better than she gets here, but there are more fights. If I could give her extra shifts, I would, but we don’t have the budget right now.”

“I see. We’re going to need copies of the recordings from your cameras.”

“I’ll give you whatever we have, but there’s no footage from this floor. The camera malfunctioned, and it’s on the list for replacement.”

“Is your camera supplier one of the payments you’re behind with?”

Probably, Cole thought. “I’ll have to check with accounts payable.”

Hamill huffed and tucked his phone into his pocket. “Mr. Gallagher, I’ll need to speak with you in the morning, but you’re free to leave for now.”

Why the abrupt finish? “Where’s the Steel Horse?”

“If you don’t know, be grateful for that.”

Cole watched alongside Bella as the lieutenant returned to his Ford Explorer and began talking on the radio. What did that mean? Calling for reinforcements? Or did he believe that this Steel Horse was somehow connected to Lucy’s accident? Bella started hobbling back to UncleMike’s Prius, and Cole hurried to support her with an arm around the waist.

“I’m not an invalid,” she grumbled, but she didn’t push him away.

“What’s the Steel Horse?” he asked, perching beside her on the hood. She leaned her crutches against the side mirror. “Do you know?”

“The Steel Horse Saloon. It’s a bar in Sunrise, and it’s owned by the Vegas chapter of the Diamondback Devils.” Bella must have recognised his blank look because she elaborated, “It’s a motorcycle club.”

“Like the Hell’s Angels?”

“Yeah, but with hotter members and more guns. And I’m speaking objectively regarding the temperature—I hear their clubhouse has a fully equipped gym.”

“How do you know about stuff like that?”

“Another girl in my writing group has a sister who married a member of the Devils. She was shitting herself when they got serious—my friend, not her sister—but it turns out he’s an asshole to everyone except his wife. He treatsherlike a queen.”

“You think they’re the type of people who would try to run down a woman in a parking garage?”

“Who knows? But the alternative is that it has something to do with you. Whydidyou hesitate talking to the detective?”

Cole blew out a breath, watching as crime scene techs took pictures of the area and a couple more cops spoke with staff.

“You remember I mentioned that guy? Jimmy? He made me nervous.”

“He threatened you?”

“Not exactly. It was more his attitude. He sat in my office as if he owned the place, and when I said I wasn’t going to hand over an obscene amount of money withoutany evidence that it was owed, he said that I’d come around to his way of thinking eventually.”

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