Stolen Lives by Jassy Mackenzie

Author:Jassy Mackenzie [Mackenzie, Jassy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: RSA
ISBN: 9781569479094
Publisher: Soho Crime
Published: 2011-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

27

“I think there’s something wrong with me,” David said, when she returned. He was sitting in solitary splendour, glancing from time to time in the direction of the Ladies’ room.

“Why?”

“Nobody’s come near me since you left. Nobody’s even looked in my direction. The dancers are draping themselves over all the other customers like wet rags.”

“What about the waitress?” Jade asked. “Did you ask her if she was legal?”

“She hasn’t been back. Not even to find out if I want another drink.” He indicated his empty glass. “I don’t want a drink, I want to get the bloody bill. And I can’t get the bloody bill if nobody will look at me.”

“More strip-club etiquette, I should imagine.” Jade drained her water. “If a man arrives with a woman, do not pay him any attention while she is absent from the table, or you will get your eyes gouged out when she returns.” She waved a hand to summon the waitress.

Jade scrabbled in her wallet for cash while David produced his police id and asked the young woman if she was working here legally.

“Oh, yes,” she replied, smiling. “I have lived here for seven years now. I am a South African citizen. Nobody gets employed here unless they have a valid South African identity, or else a proper work permit. You are welcome to check with our admin office.”

She waved a hand in the general direction of the exit door.

“Right, then.” Pre-empting Jade’s attempts to pay, David slid a twenty-rand note and a handful of silver into the leather folder that the waitress had brought. “Are we finished here?”

As they left, Jade saw the waitress quickly prepare the table for the small group of men waiting at the bar. The place was packed full now, loud and pumping. They walked back down the corridor, past the bouncer at the door, and headed for the car.

“Did you get any useful information?” David asked.

“There don’t seem to be any dodgy extramural activities going on at all. The girls were very clear about that, and I believe them. Everything is above board, just like you thought.”

Jade waited for David to unlock the passenger door for her. He’d explained earlier that this unmarked had a problem with the central locking and that the passenger door wouldn’t open from the inside.

As he fumbled with the key in the lock, she heard the light tap of footsteps behind them and a voice called out, “Jade?”

Surprised, she turned to see Ebony, the black dancer, coming across the car park. She’d changed out of her skimpy red outfit into fleecy tracksuit bottoms and a white tank top. She had a gym bag slung over her shoulder and was dangling a bunch of car keys in her hand.

“I’ve had an idea about your sister.”

“Your sis— oof.” David’s surprised interjection was cut short by Jade elbowing him in the stomach.

“Thanks for coming to find me,” Jade said. Away from the other two dancers, Ebony seemed friendlier.

“Actually I’m on my way home,” she explained.

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