Chapter 25
JD and I proceeded to a nearby table and waited for Rebel to finish her performance. When she was done, she fell into the guy’s lap for a moment and chit-chatted. She pulled on her lacy black bra and took his money.
At the start of the next song, she thanked him for his patronage, gave him a kiss on his cheek, then hopped up and strutted in our direction.
She plunked down in an empty seat at our table and gave us both an annoyed look.
“What do you want? That guy is a good customer, and I’ve got him on the hook right now.
I know he’s good for another hundred or two. ”
“We’ll be brief,” I said.
I showed her Wade's picture on my phone. "He was in here last night."
She smirked. "I remember him. Kinda cute. Spent a lot of money.”
"He's dead.”
Her eyes rounded. "What!?”
"What time did he leave here?”
“I don't know. We went back to the Champagne Room, and we spent about 45 minutes together.”
"Then what?”
"He left a happy man.”
"What happened in the Champagne Room?” I knew better than to ask.
With a mischievous smile, she said, "What happens in the Champagne Room stays in the Champagne Room, sugar. Why? Would you like to experience it for yourself?”
"I'm sure the experience is worth every penny.”
"And then some."
"What did you two talk about?”
"Honey, we didn't do much talking.”
"Surely you exchanged a few words.”
"Guys always talk to me about the same thing. It’s become one big mono conversation.
They're frustrated, they don't feel understood, and their girlfriends don’t give them what they need.
They're all going places, but they're just not there quite yet.
It's my job to be encouraging and supportive. Relieve any insecurities they might have so they can feel relaxed and free.”
"I'm sure you're good at what you do.”
“Ain't nobody better.”
Rebel had good reason to be confident.
"He didn’t tell you where all the money came from, did he?”
Her jaw tightened for a second. "Darling, I don't care where the money came from. I just care where it's going.” She jiggled her chest.
“We wouldn’t be talking about prostitution, would we?”
She scowled at me. “No. I don’t do that. Baby, I can get you all the way there without even touching you.”
“Bold claims.”
“I deliver.”
“What happened after your time together?”
“Like I said, he left a happy man.”
“Did he stay in the club, or did he leave the building?”
“Why would he need anyone else after me?”
I shrugged.
“He paid me and left. I went back out to find another customer."
"Do you know Vladimir?”
"Who's Vladimir?"
"From what I understand, he owns this club,” I said.
"I only deal with Dimitri. He manages the place. I don't know who his boss is.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Two weeks. I was at the Fruit before.”
“Why’d you leave?”
“Wanted to see what it was like.” Rebel smiled. “I can always go back.”
I handed her a card. "Get in touch if you remember anything else."
She glanced over her shoulder. Her former customer had found other entertainment.
Rebel frowned at me. "This little conversation has cost me business. Would you be interested in helping me make up lost wages?”