HIS OTHER LIFE by Ava Strong

Author:Ava Strong [Strong, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

At six-thirty p.m., Stella and Carrie approached the club’s front door. This time, Stella noted, the basement parking was unlocked, and the booth was lit. Treasures was open for business. She felt hopeful about what its interior would reveal, and that this visit would progress the case.

She’d bought a scarf on the way out of the hotel, because her neck was reddened and bruised, and had a raw graze where the rough cord had bitten in. The fabric rubbed painfully against the open wound, but it was better than having a visible injury. That would be a show of weakness right now.

Stella glanced back at the small white unmarked they were now using. The red-haired detective had suggested they should take over the car he’d been driving. He’d offered to take their unmarked back to Greenwich police department and lock it in the basement parking, where they could collect it in a day or two. That was good, because if the assassin had been following their car, they had now broken the link. The detectives were still working in the hotel room, but Stella doubted they would find any forensic evidence from such a professional killer.

She and Carrie had checked out of the hotel. If they worked late again, it would be safer to check in somewhere completely different. If the case wasn’t solved, they would have to do that. But she hoped that they would find the answers here.

Walking up to Treasures’ ornate entrance door, Stella tried the handle. It swung open and she stepped into a small, plush lobby.

A red-shaded standard lamp in the corner cast a ruddy glow. Just inside the door stood a doorman who she guessed doubled as a bouncer in the case of any trouble. Wearing a smart black suit, he was tough looking, shaven-headed, and solidly built.

When he saw them, his face darkened into suspicion, and he stepped immediately toward them.

Beyond him, Stella saw a young woman wearing immaculate make-up and a glittering evening gown. Tawny hair cascaded over her shoulders. She was standing behind the mahogany counter at the far end of the lobby and she, too, was looking anxiously in their direction.

“Evening,” the doorman said tersely, moving to stand in front of them. Stella guessed he’d pegged them as wives, who’d somehow followed their husbands here wanting to find out more. She didn’t think a wife had any chance of getting further into this place, or finding out more, so it was with some satisfaction that she showed her badge as Carrie spoke.

“FBI,” Carrie said. “We’re gathering information on a murder. We need to interview some of your staff.”

The doorman did a classic double take, looking alarmed. This was clearly an unprecedented situation. He pressed his lips together, not wanting to let them in, but realizing he was unable to stop them.

He glanced at the receptionist who gave a small, reluctant shrug.

“I’ll call the manager,” she said.

At that moment, the entrance door opened again, and two men walked in. One wore a gray suit; the other wore chinos with a smart jacket.

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