Page 10 of Endless Whispers

Mick leaned in a bit closer. "I'm looking for a good time. Something to take the sting out of my shitty night. I don’t think the booze will cut it. Know where I can find something stronger?"

The woman smirked and sipped her drink. "Maybe. But you’d need to have some cash.”

He casually scanned around and spotted her handler. A man who was locked in on the conversations of a few of the women around the bar. This one wasn’t his only captive. That numbers game would help him be able to get a few things said without being noticed.

Mick played along, acting like he was interested. "I've got the cash if you've got the fun. You actually look familiar. I think we have a friend in common."

“I’m sure we don’t.” She stiffened slightly.

As they continued their conversation, Mick kept a close eye on the woman's body language and demeanor. He couldn’t risk scaring her off. But wasting time wouldn’t work either.

“Rose,” he said, making sure the man in the corner had his eye on a different woman. “My friend just met her the other day at a gala. They had an interesting conversation. Maybe she told you about it.”

Her eyes wide then she quickly gathered herself. “I can’t talk to you. You need to go.”

“Rose must have told you we are here to help. To stop all that is going on. You have children?”

“Three,” the woman breathed out slowly. “Please, you should go.”

In the dimly lit club, with the deafening music and the swirling crowd, Mick continued their dangerous dance, determined to uncover the truth and bring down the organization that held so many innocent lives captive. He knew he was close to either getting tossed out of there on his ass, or getting some answers.

“How can I get in the building? Tell me about the security. There must be a way I can get in to see for myself what’s happening.”

“Buy,” she said, pretending to sip her drink, though her hand shook violently as she tried to bring it to her lips. “Buy big.”

“You bothering my friend?” The man who’d been eyeing him from the corner came over now. His broad shoulders and grizzled expression loomed above. Mick could probably take him, but he was sure this man was not alone.

“Your friend and I were working on a transaction. But I think maybe it’s above her paygrade. You the guy I need to talk to?”

“I wouldn’t have any idea what you’re talking about.” The man kept his eyes locked on Mick. He wasn’t dumb enough to start brokering a drug deal out here in the open. That was what the women were for. To take the heat and get in trouble if the deal was a trap.

“Right. Well let’s say, hypothetically, I had a hundred grand and was in a big rush. Where could I spend that money?”

“Why the rush?” The man was interested. The dollar amount was enough to at least keep the conversation going, even if he was wildly skeptical of Mick.

“I own a fishing charter company in Miami. A big one. And my clients require more than bait to have a good time.” Mick winked but the man still stared back blankly at him. “I’m done buying in Miami. It’s the Wild West. So I took my boat up the coast to try to find a new partnership.”

“You’re saying you’ve got a hundred grand?” He looked Mick up and down.

“And am very ready to spend it. I paid off a guy where I have my boat docked. I’ve got until he’s off his shift tonight to get what I want on my boat and pull out of here without any security bothering me. I need to make this happen and be on my way.”

“A hundred grand?”

“I’ve been to three other places tonight. No one has the balls to make the deal happen. I don’t plan to go home empty-handed. But if you’re not willing to deal, I’ll move on. Hopefully your boss doesn’t care that you let a lot of cash go.”

“How do you know I’m not the boss?” He narrowed his icy eyes.

“Bro, everyone has a boss. Maybe make a phone call. See if we can make this happen.” Mick flipped a coin between his fingers.

“Let me make a call,” the man sighed. “But if we do this, it’s on my turf. You bring the cash to a location of mine that’s secure. If you’re trying to pull something you’ll never walk out, you understand.”

“Okay, big man. We can do this wherever you want. Just as long as we do it quick and I get what I need. How’s your inventory? I want a mix of all sorts of stuff. You going to be able to hook it up?”

“Inventory isn’t an issue. I’ll be right back.” The man hustled away, shooting the woman at the bar a stern look as he stepped outside.

“What’s your name?” Mick asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

“Darlene.” Her hands shook again as she swigged from her drink.

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