Page 24 of Undercover Desires

“Hi,” Summer chimes in. She studies me with interest, and I wonder what she’s thinking. Probably wondering why her date took off with me the other night. Poor girl. “Did you just move in? We walk this way all the time, and I thought this place was deserted.” She gives Nanna’s house the once-over, looking horrified someone might live in it.

“Uh, yeah, I think it might have been. I’m just renting it, moved in a couple of weeks ago, cheap rent,” I tell her with a shrug, hoping my lie isn’t too obvious. It’s not ideal they know where I live, but it’s too late now. With them practically my neighbors, it was only a matter of time before we bumped into each other. If I go with the whole I’m-renting thing, hopefully it won’t bring up too many red flags.

Hazel’s eyes sweep across the overgrown garden. “You’re fixing it up? It has so much potential.” She turns to Summer. “We say it every time we walk past.”

“We do. A bit of love and hard work, and I’m sure it could be amazing,” Summer adds with a nod.

“I’m trying to clean it up a bit. Not sure how long I’ll stick around, but I figure I might as well give it a bit of love while I can.” I glance at the neglected garden, a sense of nostalgia tugging at my heart. Nanna used to take such good care of it. It was a proper cottage garden, every flower you could imagine growing behind the confines of a white picket fence. She would be rolling over in her grave seeing its current condition.

“You’re Jett’s girlfriend, right?” I ask her, hoping it might start up a conversation about the boys. Any insight she can give me could be useful.

“Yeah, that’s me. You working at the club tonight? Summer and I are heading in after work. If you are, we might catch you there.”

“I’ll be there. I’ve got a lot of shifts this week. I think they’re pretty short on staff.”

She shakes her head with a sassy smile. “That’s cause you’re super pretty and bring in the dollars.”

I can’t help but laugh at her comment. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I don’t miss the hurt in Summer's eyes. Her friend might have taken a liking to me, but she’s not so sure. “See you tonight then,” she says.

“Hazel, can you do me a favor and not mention anything to Kobe about me living in this place? I kind of told him I was in your apartment building. He drove me home and…” I stop, not sure how to finish my sentence. I know it looks bad.

“Oh honey, say no more,” she butts in. “I get it, the man’s a total manwhore. If I were you, I wouldn’t have given out my address either.” She lets out a hearty laugh, a sound filled with understanding and amusement. Makes me want to know more. “See you tonight.”

“Thanks, see you then,” I say with a wave as the two girls wander off back toward their complex. She seems nice, not who you would expect to be hanging out with one of the Rivera brothers from what I have heard about them. But she might be someone useful for me to know.

After a refreshing shower, I get dressed in suit pants and a silk blouse, preparing for my nine o’clock meeting with Detective Reader. As much as I want to roll my eyes at the man every time I see him, I’m equally determined to prove my competence in this job. I’m aware that I don’t have much to offer him yet, but having an inside track with the club could be a valuable starting point in our investigation. It’s a small step, but it’s a start. We were supposed to have our meeting on Monday and again yesterday, but he has moved it both days. I got the impression he had more pressing matters to attend to.

I stride through the double entry doors of the police station, a sense of determination driving me forward. I climb the stairsrapidly, taking them two at a time in my haste. “Morning,” I greet Caleb with a warm smile as I pass his desk. I attempt to sound more cheerful than I actually feel. I’m not looking forward to this meeting.

“Morning, Arabella.” He returns my smile, and there’s a kindness in his eyes that offers some comfort. He’s been the friendliest person I’ve encountered since arriving here. The rest of the station’s personnel seem to regard me with skepticism, making me feel like an outsider. It’s such a contrast to the station where I completed my field training, which was supportive and welcoming, unlike this apparent boys’ club.

I knock on Detective Reader’s door, and he peers up at me, his beady eyes narrowing in disapproval. He motions for me to enter the room and take a seat. The atmosphere in the room feels tense, and I prepare myself for what’s coming. Just the fact he has canceled our meetings all week and had me work from home makes me feel uneasy.

His stern expression doesn’t put me at ease as I sit down, and I sense his impatience. “Hope you’re not about to waste my time,” he warns.

“Hope not,” I reply, determined to get to the point.

“What do you have for me?” he asks.

“I got a job at Queen of Hearts,” I begin, watching as his lips twitch at the idea. He seems to like where this is going. “I’ve done two shifts there so far.”

He nods, encouraging me to continue. “And?” he prompts.

I lean forward, my voice lowered in disbelief. “Did you know that place is a sex club?”

He leans back in his chair, his expression confirming my suspicions. “You’d be the only one in town who didn’t. Half the station has a membership there.”

My jaw drops. “Are you kidding me?”

“I wish I was,” he replies somberly. “The Rivera brothers hand out those membership passes as bribes to keep control of the corrupt cops in this station.”

I slump back in my chair, realizing that my cover has just been blown.

He rubs his chin thoughtfully with his meaty fingers, studying me carefully. “Your father was a decent detective in LA. He had an outstanding reputation among the other lads who worked there.”

He says that like it’s news to me. The way he saysthe other ladslike there were only men who worked there irks me. I know for a fact they have plenty of women working on their team. I nod solemnly. “He did, yes.”

---