Page 6 of Twisted Lies 3
“What the hell?” I murmured with a heavy feeling in my stomach.
My heartbeat raced as I rushed around the empty house. “What in the world is going on?” I jogged upstairs. It was empty too. “I can’t believe this.” I felt a fluttering in my belly as I ran back downstairs.
There was nothing to see here. I secured the alarm and door before stomping down the stairs.
A flood of adrenaline still tingled through my body as I slid into the convertible.
Jade’s eyebrows furrowed and then released. “So, no Tabitha?”
“Nope. She cleaned out her house. It’s as if she never existed.”
“Shit.” Jade peeled away. Then she drove onto Flatbush Avenue, racing toward the Manhattan Bridge. “I don’t get it.”
I threw up my hands. “Welcome to my world.”
I really didn’t understand what was going on. The whole ride back from Brooklyn into Manhattan was a blur of chaotic questions.Where is Tabitha? Why did she abruptly pull up roots? Is she dead?
It seemed Jade’s mind was also racing. Suddenly, she murmured, “This shit is crazy as hell, even for dragon lady Tabitha.”
I arched a brow. “You think? Just a couple weeks ago, we were at the McKay Club, laughing and drinking. Now her brownstone is cleared out, with no trace of her.” I undid my ponytail and shook out my hair. “I need a drink.” Slipping off my sneakers, I pulled my stilettos from my designer leather backpack before putting them on.
“I second that. Our favorite place?”
“You know it.” I swiped on lip gloss while staring out at the New York City night traffic as we whizzed through the city.
It didn’t take long for us to arrive at our favorite Tribeca dinner place. Jade relinquished the convertible to the overeager valet. We took a few quick steps toward the inconspicuous doorman, who opened the creepy-looking black door, allowing Jade and me to step into the trendy speakeasy.
At the entrance, the willowy hostess with large breasts on display approached us with a huge smile. “Hello, ladies. Welcome back. Please come this way.” Using her high-pitched voice, she directed us to follow.
Jade and I were escorted through a private entrance into the retro-styled, closet-sized monochrome space. It was bat cave-level murky, barely letting us see the waiters and waitresses, but that was the point. It wasn’t a place to be seen or to see.
We paraded past the banquettes and small tables in the L-shaped portion of the room and private booths, and we went right up to the dark and narrow bar. It possessed the same caliber and quality that came with a five-star restaurant, without the fussiness of a dining room. We loved hanging out at the bar and eating small portions we could share, making it more of a communal meal with a casual vibe. Besides, it was the best seat in the house because it was within arm’s reach of the bartender.
Settling down, I was determined to make the best of the evening, and I focused on enjoying a well-deserved girls’ night out.
Jade’s eyes widened with interest when a lanky bartender with floppy curls and a disarming smile edged close to us. “Well, look what we have here,” Jade remarked while sinking down onto a chair. “A new bartender.”
He beamed at us. “Ladies, how may I serve you?”
“Let me see . . .” Jade twirled her jet-black hair, smiling coyly at him. “How about—”
I elbowed her in the side, hard. “Really?”
“What?” Her eyes widened playfully. “He asked, and I have needs. Lots of wicked, dirty needs.” She displayed a wide grin.
I rolled my eyes heavenward before glancing at the red-faced but interested bartender. “Two shots of vodka,” I responded.
He chuckled before roaming away, and he returned minutes later with two small silver cups, placing them before us. “You two look like you’re up to trouble tonight. What’s the celebration?” he inquired.
I nodded toward Jade. “Troublemaker is off to New Zealand on a movie shoot.”
“Wow. Congrats.” He blinked rapidly and then stared openly at Jade. “What would you lovely ladies like for your next round?”
There were no cocktail menus. It was a simple process. We’d let the bartender know what type of alcohol and flavors we longed for, and then he would return with his creations.
Jade’s tongue darted out to touch her lips. “Surprise us,” she drawled.
He got a little flustered, not unusual for most men in Jade’s presence. “Got it,” he stammered before plodding away.
