Page 31 of Strip Search

He left the Strip and drove for a few miles. The city looked empty without all the bright lights and the bustle. “We’re going into a rough neighborhood. Stay close and if things go down, run to the car and lock yourself in.” He parked outside an apartment complex. After we got out of the Mustang, he locked it and tossed me the keys. “I mean it.”

“I’m not a hero,” I said. In fact, I was getting a little sleepy. I’d definitely have coffee with dinner. I didn’t want to waste a moment doing something as mundane as sleeping.

“Good.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what we’re going to find. I don’t know if Zeke is providing your sister room and board or if it’s something more sinister. But no matter what happens, we’re going to get her through this.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

Zeke’s apartment building didn’t have a security lock or, if it did, it wasn’t working. Miles opened the door for me, but made me wait for him to go down the hallway first. Glancing down at his phone, he said, “Third floor. I don’t trust that elevator. Let’s take the stairs.”

Padding up the metal staircase behind Miles, I resisted the urge to touch him. I wanted to lay my forehead on his wide back and let him be strong for me. My mind played havoc on my emotions as I pictured Lisa in trouble behind these closed doors.Angry voices spilled out into the hallways in several different languages. The smell of cooking cabbage and burnt bacon assaulted my nostrils.

Please let her be all right.

Miles stopped outside a door and stood to the side of the peephole. He banged on the door and waited. It flung open and a woman carrying a small child on her hip peeked out.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I’m looking for Zeke.”

A shadow of fear passed over her face. “He’s not here.”

“Where is he?”

“He went up to Pahrump.”

“Why?” Miles drawled out.

“To chase a girl.”

My breath caught in my throat. “Was it this girl?” I pushed by Miles to show the woman a picture of my sister.

“No,” the woman said. “She was a blonde, somebody he worked with.”

“Dee,” Miles said quietly.

“Yeah, that’s her. Look, my brother makes bad choices. He thinks with his little head.” She set the toddler down. “Go play,” she said to the child, who scampered inside. She stepped outside into the hallway with us and closed the door. “Does he owe you money?”

“No,” Miles said. “I’m his boss from Dalton’s.”

Her eyes grew wide. “Are you hiring?”

“Yes,” he said.

“I’m not like my brother. I’m always on time and I’m loyal to the job.”

“What do you do?” he asked.

“I cook. I clean. I can do anything.”

“Go see Liu at the club tomorrow. If he likes you, you’re hired.”

“Thank you,” she said, making a quick sign of the cross. “I don’t know if my brother is coming back. It depends on this woman. So you probably shouldn’t hold his job for him.”

“Do you know why Dee left for Pahrump?” Miles asked.

“Zeke said the girl had friends up there. He and she used to go up there a lot and stay the night. Then she decided to stay up there and not come back. Zeke got scared.”

“Scared? Of what?” I asked.

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