Page 18 of Trigger

“What?”I said, snapping back to reality.

“ChiefBibb would never authorize it,” Carter replied as we entered a strip clubcalled Allure.

“Right,”I murmured, remembering my previous suggestion that we enter the barundercover. The police badges always made everyone so tight-lipped.

“I’mDetective Thorsen, and this is Detective Carter,” I said to the girl behind thebar, flashing my badge. “Do you perhaps know this woman?”

“Ilove your accent,” she said, ignoring the photo I showed her. “Are you French?”

“Canyou answer the question, please?” Carter cut in, sounding annoyed.

“Idon’t know her,” she replied, popping her gum. “But I’m new here.”

“I’mnot.”

At thesound of another voice, we all looked up, only to find ourselves faced with avagina. Candy, the stripper whose name we learned afterward, was more thancooperative.

“Idon’t know her either, sorry to say,” Candy said, peering at the photo. “But Iwould like to know you.”

Shesmiled at Carter, who gave her one of his glares.

“He’staken, sweetheart,” I said, slipping a bill into her stocking. “Here’s a littledonation from Mayor Dick.”

Carterlooked at me in confusion. “Mayor who?”

“Thebastard who set me up,” I grumbled. “The mayor of New Mesa, Boggs. He’s thereason I ended up in this shithole.”

“Wait.Is it really true that you—?”

Iraised my hands in surrender. “It was consensual. And she was way overeighteen.”

“Whoare you?” Carter said, shaking his head in disbelief. “And how dumb can yoube?”

“Yes,who are you?” Candy repeated, shaking her boobs at me. “And are you single?”

Igrinned. “Single, morally corrupt, and STD-free.”

“Check,check, and check,” she said merrily. “Where do I sign?”

“Nowhere,”Carter snapped. “Get lost.”

“Youdidn’t have to be rude,” I scolded him after she left.

“Thenstop flirting on the job.”

Iwaved my hand dismissively. “I always flirt. Men, women, even grumpy partners.Flirting is innocent fun.”

“Excuseme, do you know this woman?” Carter asked a half-naked server dressed in shortshorts passing by us.

“Maybe,”he said, glancing at the photo. “Why do you ask?”

“We’renosy,” I replied. “Spill it out.”

“Shewas here the other night. Caused a fight. Bob threw her out, along with the guywho was with her.”

“Bob?”

“Yeah.He works as a bouncer here.”

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