Page 34 of Strip Search

“She’s not answering her cell and she moved out of her apartment about three weeks ago. She also quit her job around that time.”

“Well, where is she?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out. I’m asking her friends and the people she worked with.”

“She’s probably auditioning for a production down there. You should hit all the talent scouts. Maybe you’re being replaced.”

She didnotjust say that.

My mother continued on, oblivious that she’d fired an arrow into my gut. “Get a newspaper and find out who’s hiring for a lead dancer.”

“No one uses paper anymore.” That was the most scathing thing I could come up with.

“I’m sure now that she’s no longer bartending . . .”

Stripping, I corrected mentally.

“It’s only a matter of time before she calls in to tell us that she’s booked a new gig. Really, Jackie, you should have hustled more for your sister.”

“Give me the phone,” Miles said, reaching for it.

No, I mouthed at him and scooted away so he couldn’t take it from me. “Well, I’m glad you’re not worried. I guess I’ll go back to New York.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“I’m sorry, I’m going to dare to do whatever I want.” That wasn’t much better, but at least this time my attitude got through to her and her tone switched from strident to cajoling.

“Jackie, your sister isn’t good with contracts or numbers. She needs you to stop people from taking advantage of her. Find her before she signs away all of her rights. Lisa is an artist. All she wants to do is dance. She doesn’t care about the mundane things like we do.”

“I’m losing cell service,” I lied. “Gotta go. I’ll call you when I hear something.” I hung up. I wanted to turn it off, but I didn’t dare in case Lisa or someone who knew where she was called. I stared at it with trepidation. A few minutes clicked past, but Mom didn’t call back. Sighing, I tossed the phone back into my purse.

“If you don’t mind me saying so, your mom’s a bitch.”

“And if I do mind?” I didn’t, and it actually felt good to have someone take my side against my mother instead of trying to explain her behavior away.

“Then I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but your mom’s a bitch.”

“Third time is the charm.”

“She’s a fucking bitch.”

“Thanks for that.” I wrapped my arms around his and laid my head against his shoulder.

“I’m sensing the room service mood has been broken,” Miles said.

“A little bit, yeah.”

“Dee lived with her mother. If you’re not all mothered out, we could try there and see if we get lucky before getting lucky.”

I kissed his arm because that coaxed a small smile out of me. “That sounds like a good idea.”

“Has she always been like this?”

I nodded. “Sometimes she’s worse. Usually I can ignore her. I’ve had to grow a thick skin when it comes to her blatant favoritism of Lisa. Sometimes though,” I said. “She still makes me feel like crying.”

“If she was in my club, I’d toss her out on her ass.”

“I think I’d pay money to see that.”

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