Page 21 of Hot Cops

He took Riley’s hand and turned to leave, but Bubbles stopped him. “You could always ask Johnny.”

“Johnny?” Riley asked.

“Johnny Sparks, Bella’s old man. If she’s run off with this friend of yours, you can be damn sure Johnny’s looking for them too. You better hope you find them first or there won’t be too many parts of your friend lefttofind.”

“Any idea where we could find this Johnny guy?” The question seemed to be pulled from Aaron’s gut and Riley could appreciate the sentiment. The idea of tracking down Bella’s pimp, especially if he was dangerous, didn’t seem like such a good idea.

“He hangs out at Jacko’s—closes it down every night, the drunk asshole. It’s a bar on the edge of town. Kind of a rough place.” Bubbles looked at Riley as she spoke and Riley appreciated the woman’s warning.

“What does he look like?” Aaron asked. “Might help us find him if we have a description.”

Bubbles laughed. “Oh,bebé. You don’t gotta worry ’bout that. You can’t miss Johnny Sparks. He thinks he’s fucking Wayne Newton. Dresses like him, looks like him, acts like him. Shame he can’t sing like him. Maybe he wouldn’t be such a loser then. Stuck with cunts like Bella.”

“Thanks for the help, Bubbles. Listen…” Riley pulled a tattered receipt and pen from her purse. “Here’s my cell number. If you see Bella again, do you mind giving me a call?”

Bubbles took the number and nodded. “I’ll call you right after I beat her silicone-infested jugs into the ground.”

“Why do you hate Bella so much?” Riley asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

“Cunt knows this block is my territory. She went into that casino and picked up your friend knowing he shoulda been my john. Then he wins that jackpot and she’s flitting all over town acting like a big shot. He was my Richard Gere.”

Riley was confused. “Richard Gere.”

“Didn’t you ever see the moviePretty Woman? Rich guy falls for the hooker. Saves her from a life on the streets by proposing.”

“Trev isn’t rich,” Riley explained. “And he’s already married. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t qualify for the Richard Gere role.”

Bubbles shrugged and then laughed. “Then maybe I’ll let Bella live, just so I can laugh at her sorry ass when she realizes her Prince Charming is a frog.”

Riley nodded.

“I’ll tell you this,” Bubbles said. “Last time Bella ran off with a guy, Johnny put a hit on him. You find your friend, you’d be smart to get him and his wife outta Vegas.”

“That’s the plan,” Riley agreed. “Thanks again, Bubbles.”

“Sure thing,chica. You ever convince your man to play at the threesome, you come find me. I’ll give you two the full-service deal for free.”

Riley glanced at Aaron, who was shaking his head.

“Free,” she said with a laugh as he wrapped his arm across her shoulders and led her back to the hotel.

“Dammit, Riley. Can I get intoyourpants first before we start exploring ways to jazz up our nonexistent sex life?”

She shrugged, not ready to let go of the joke. “I guess so. Just seems to me you don’t get an offer like that every day, sugar.”

“I’m not worried,” he assured her. “I’ve known you forever and believe me, those sex offers come your way all the time.”

She laughed. “Like when?”

“Like when Bobby Arthur offered you twelve dollars to touch your boobs in middle school.”

“Twelve bucks was a lot of money in middle school.”

“Like when Jules Rodgers came out of the closet our junior year and announced to everyone she was in love with you,” he added.

“Well, now I’ll admit that was awkward. But we’re fine now. She’s still a really good friend.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “All I’m saying is it’s not that unusual for people to offer you sex in whatever variety or form.”

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