Page 3 of Unchained
CHAPTER TWO
The placed smelled of sweat, booze and cigars. Half naked women walked around serving men who slapped them on the asses and made crude remarks. It wasn’t a strip club, but the shitty music, cheap women, and stench made it seem like one.
Under the watchful eyes of several customers, I made my way toward the back corner of the bar, where it was both dark and empty. A redhead was the first to address me.
“You don’t really fit in here,” she said. She skillfully held a small tray in one hand and had the other hand on her cocked hip. “What will you have before these assholes start giving you a hard time.”
“Whiskey is fine. And none of the cheap shit.”
She wrote something on a napkin and placed the napkin on my table. She then walked away. The napkin had the name Carlie written across the middle, and beneath the name was a phone number. I stuffed the napkin in my pocket and let my eyes fall on her ass as she stood ta the bar.
Despite losing Suzanne, I was still a man and still had needs. Maybe I had moved on a little, but I didn’t see myself ever loving another woman the way I loved Suzanne.
The redhead returned with two shots of whiskey and placed the glasses on my table. “You’re that D.A.”
“Guilty.”
She looked around and then took a seat across from me, her back to the rest of the club. “You never found your wife.”
“Never,” I said.
“I go on break in thirty minutes.” She motioned to the right. “That exit leads to the alley behind the club. Meet me outside.” She started to leave, but I grabbed her arm.
“Do you know something about her disappearance?”
“Maybe, but people are watching us, and I don’t wanna get fired. I need this job.” I let go of her arm. “Meet me outside on my break.”
When she left the table, I downed the two shots and studied the room. Someone in the club, other than Carlie, had the answers I was looking for.
“I heard you’re not the D.A. anymore.”
I looked up at the short man, his combover not doing a very good job of covering his bald spot. “And you are?”
“Reno Arroyo. You put me away four years ago.”
“Apparently, I didn’t do a piss poor job if you’re standing here in front of me again.”
“You trying to be funny?”
I looked up at the guy. “No, I’m sitting here trying to have a drink and enjoy this shitty scenery.”
He moved his jacket aside so I could see the gun in his waistband. Foolish little man. “I say we step out back.” He nodded at the same exit Carlie had told me to use moments earlier.
“You think shooting me is going to make things right? If I prosecuted you back then, it was because you were guilty. Now move your ass along.”
“Reno, go sit your ass down somewhere.” Carlie nudged the man away and placed two more shots on the table. The man glared at her but left. “You shouldn’t have come here, Deacon. Most of the men in this room hate you, and most of the women want to fuck you. Every man in this room is carrying a gun.” She shook her head. “You’re not, are you?”
“Not right now.” I noticed four men in the far opposite corner staring at me. “Someone in here knows what happened to my wife. I think you know that.” I grabbed her arm and pulled her down next to me.
“You’re hurting me.”
“Not yet, but I will.” I dropped my hand between her legs and cupped her thigh. “Why did you ask me to meet you out back?”
“I can’t.”
“You can, and you will.” I squeezed tighter, and she squirmed.
“See the four men staring at you? They paid me to spike the two drinks I just brought you.”
