Page 33 of Strip Search

“Why? You should keep them in the cloud forever. In case of things like this.”

Miles frowned as he considered it. I tossed him the keys and we got inside the car.

“You might be right.”

“Well, that doesn’t help me now,” I said, trying not to be too dejected. “What’s in Pahrump and how long a drive is it?”

Miles squinted at the traffic and for a moment I didn’t think he was going to answer me. “It’s about an hour and a half. And they’ve got casinos and wineries.”

“Any of those places offer room and board?”

He cleared his throat. “We don’t even know if Lisa is with Zeke or Dee.”

“It looks like they’re the last people to have seen her.” I nibbled on my fingernail. “I don’t want to be running all over Nevada on a wild goose chase, though. But if Dee was scared off, it’s possible it was the same thing that scared Lisa off.”

“If that’s the case, I want to know who or what is threatening my employees,” Miles said.

“Unless you have an address in Pahrump for Dee, we’re stuck until Zeke calls his sister. If she even gives him the message.”

“She’ll give him the message. She wants a job at Dalton’s. She’s going to do whatever she can to get in the door.”

Miles sounded confident, so I chose to believe him. Pulling down the visor, I looked in the mirror. “Do you think I look trashy?”

“In a good way.”

The way he smiled made that the biggest compliment of my life.

“And you’re so very sweet, just like she said,” he continued. “I can’t wait to taste you again.”

My nipples tightened against my bra. I wanted to fling the damn thing off. I knew I should have just worn the pasties. “Where do you want to go to dinner?” I asked. “My hotel does room service.”

Miles started the car. “What hotel are you staying at?”

“The Wynn.”

He pulled out into traffic and my heart fluttered. I was going to get laid again. I squirmed in my seat. Best. Vacation. Ever.

And then my phone rang.

I gasped and fumbled for my purse. “Oh no,” I said, looking at who was calling.

“Is it Lisa?”

“Worse. It’s my mother.” I wanted to chuck the phone out the window. “I’ve got to take this, otherwise she’s going to be a real nuisance.”

“Go ahead.”

Closing my eyes, I tried to center myself. The ringing stopped.

“Looks like she gave up,” Miles said.

“Wait for it,” I muttered, and like clockwork the phone went off again. “Yes, Mom,” I said, answering it on the second ring. I thought I’d kept the aggravation out of my voice.

“How’s your sister?”

I debated how much to tell her. “I still haven’t found her.”

“Why not?”

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