Page 69 of The Lost Bones
Nick handed her an earpiece. “I need you to keep talking to me, Mack. If you don’t, I’m going in and I don’t care what happens to the case.”
His hair was disheveled from constantly running his hand through it. The dashboard was littered with unused cigarettes he had chewed on on the drive over.
She put the earpiece in and they did a quick check to make sure it worked. “I also have my gun on me.” She raised the hem of her jeans to show the Glock tucked in her sock. “We’re good.”
She got out of the car and marched toward the house. It was cordoned by a low wall, to keep animals away. She hoisted herself over and landed on her feet. Her heart sped up. Feeling like a thief, she tiptoed to the back of the house, constantly looking around.
“Mack?” Nick’s voice sounded in her ear. “Are you in?”
“I’m round the back. I don’t see anyone,” she murmured.
She searched for a window she could crack open before realizing the back door was unlocked.
“Can you see the van?” Nick asked.
“There was no logo on it. I’ll have to get to the front to get a plate number.”
“Don’t risk it!” he cried. “It’s probably just catering.”
Mackenzie opened the door carefully, just enough for her to slide through. Inside, the lighting was dim, like she was in the VIP area of a nightclub. “I’m in.”
She tiptoed down a narrow hallway that pulsed to the beat of some music. “Sounds like a party.”
“Maybe Hamilton was telling the truth,” Nick said.
A woman walked by the end of the hallway. Goosebumps dotted Mackenzie’s arms as she followed her. The music grew louder. There were no paintings or pictures on the walls. The contrast was jarring—how opulent the house was from the outside, and how sparse inside. It was obvious that there was zero focus on the aesthetics. As if nobody had bothered.
The feel of the Glock against her ankle was reassuring as she trod carefully. When she reached the door where the woman had disappeared, she pressed herself against the wall. The music blared more loudly now, the vibrations making her skin thrum. Mixed with the music she heard voices and laughter.
“Mack? What’s going on?” Nick asked impatiently.
“It sounds like a party. Let me get a visual so that I can see who I recognize.” With bated breath, she slowly arched her neck and peeked round the door to see what was on the other side.
It was a large room furnished with white couches. Some men were sitting, some were lying on them, and a few were standing around. They all had drinks in their hands.
They were surrounded by young women dressed in lacy white lingerie like it was a uniform. They were all shapes and colors. Scantily dressed and beautiful, they mingled with the men. Refilling their drinks. Laughing at their not-so-funny jokes. Stroking chests and hair. Whispering in ears. Kissing.
“Oh my God,” Mackenzie whispered.
“What? What is it?”
“It’s like a sex club. There’s a group of women in lingerie serving the men.”
“What the hell? Do you see Hamilton?”
Her gaze scanned the room and she finally spotted Hamilton sitting in an armchair. One woman sat on top of him, kissing his neck, while he kissed another. His eyes were glazed, his skin flushed pink. It was obvious that he was drunk. Grinning, he stood and led the two women up some stairs with a swing in his step.
“Oh yeah. He’s gross.”
There was nothing sensual about the interactions. It was apparent that old, powerful men were just on a quest to feel more powerful. And the women’s brains were shut down, performing their tasks like robots. Anger bubbled hot in her veins. She was witnessing exploitation.
“Don’t do anything, Mack,” Nick said, like he could hear her thoughts. “Now’s not the time. It won’t help.”
“Prostitution is illegal in Washington, Nick.”
“But you’re trespassing. And I’m pretty sure they can argue that it’s not prostitution, because technically you haven’t witnessed exchange of money for sex.”
She hated that he was right. But when she watched Rathbone’s chief of staff take a shot and then rest his head against a woman’s chest as if she was nursing him, she wanted to punch him in the face. It was evident that the women weren’t into it at all.
