Page 29 of Tequila Tuesdays

“The buyer was at the bar cuddled up with Chauncey’s girlfriend.”

“Ah. What an idiot.”

“He’s a dead idiot now.” Martin coughed again. It sounded deep and raspy. “Anyway, allegedly the new supplier was Jason Ulrich.”

I sat up straight. “You think Jason is a major supplier now?”

“Ernie was more focused on his case, and the detective only had what the girlfriend overheard, so I don’t think anything came of it.”

“That’s not good.” My stomach clenched. “I need to find her. Do you know any investigators you could recommend who’d be able to track her down?”

“If the PD’s office has the budget for it, I’d use MAD Investigationsifyou can get them to take the case.”

I buried my head in my arms. “Why?” I asked myself softly.

“Harley, you there?” Martin asked.

I sat up. “Yeah, Martin. I know Damien and Zeke. I’ll see if the PD’s office will approve it. Damien and I… have a little history.”

“Oh, really? Did you used to date him or something?” he asked.

“No! Nothing like that. I may have put his nose out of joint with a volleyball one time.”

Martin started laughing. “That was you?”

“What do you mean? How didyouhear about it?”

He kept chuckling. “I heard from one of his colleagues he got hit in the face with a volleyball by this blonde Viking warrior who had a face that… Well, anyway.”

I got up and started pacing my office. “What, Martin? Tell me.”

He sighed, then coughed. “They said it, not me. Okay?”

“Said what?”

“You have a face that makes men want to… spank their meat.”

I paused and pulled the phone away from my ear for a second. “What does that—oh.”

He laughed again, then started coughing.

Some men were such pigs. “I wish you wouldn’t have told me that.”

“Hey, you asked.” He continued laughing and coughing.

I shook my head even though Martin couldn’t see me. “We’re going to pretend we never had this conversation.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice. Damien’s one of the best investigators I know. He’s smart and methodical.”

I stopped pacing. “Do you know why he’s not a detective anymore?”

“I do.” He didn’t elaborate.

“And?”

“It’s not my story to tell.” He started coughing again. “I gotta go, I can feel a coughing fit coming on, and I need to clear out some phlegm.”

“Gross. Okay, feel better soon.”

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