Page 26 of Wild Temple
I tried to pay for the drinks, but he wouldn't take the money.
We said our goodbyes and stepped out onto the sidewalk, the amber sun plunging toward the horizon. We started the trek back toward the Bamboo Lofts, weaving through tourists who were just setting out for the evening to catch dinner and hit clubs later.
We'd all worked up a bit of an appetite and figured we ought to get some food in our bellies. JD and I planned on hitting the bars and clubs in the evening, hoping to bump into the two kidnappers or someone who knew them. If they were operating out of this area, someone would recognize them.
I looked at my watch. In a few hours from now, the sketch artist would be on shift at the department. Hopefully, with a phone call or videoconference, we could hammer out a sketch of the perps.
We grabbed dinner at Gecko and started with the firecracker shrimp—grilled shrimp with a chili-lime sauce. It was a breezy, upscale place with a view of the ocean and a large outdoor terrace. A great place to kick back in the evening with a cocktail and a meal.
I ordered the pad thai, and Jack went with the volcano burger. Brooke opted for the braised pork ribs with coconut curry and sticky rice. We filled our bellies, tossed around theories, and made plans of action. At this point, we were just stabbing in the dark, hoping to blindly stumble across a lead.
After dinner, we staggered back to the hotel and caught a quick power nap before hitting the bars. I figured Nomad would be as good a place as any to start the hunt. But Bayu would have to be pretty stupid to go back there.
15
Pretty people mixed and mingled. Music thumped through speakers, and scantily clad girls undulated to the beat. It was a meat market for twenty-somethings.
Not a bad place to be.
The club was sleek and elegant, with a touch of island charm. Skimpy cocktail dresses and high-heel shoes. Toned, tanned bodies. The air smelled of whiskey, perfume, and coconut. Tech bros did their best to woo the ladies. Of course, a slew of local men tried to pick up the hotties as well. A never-ending smorgasbord of fresh offerings.
JD and I ambled up to the bar with Brooke and ordered a drink. Her blue eyes scanned the club, looking for Bayu or Pete. By that time, I had gotten a sketch of the assailants from one of the artists at the Coconut Key Sheriff's Department. I displayed the images to the bartender.
He was a tall, athletic American with sandy-blond hair, a sharp jaw, and blue eyes. The pay in the service industryaround here was barely enough to scrape by on. I figured he might own the bar.
He had the physique of a college quarterback and didn’t look like he was too many years past graduation. The jock gave a quick glance at the sketch, then shrugged. "I don't know. I see hundreds of guys in here like that every day. Why are you interested?”
I flashed my badge. “I’m looking for two missing girls.”
I gave him the names of the two gentlemen we were looking for, but that didn't help much either—they were so common.
I showed him a picture of Isabella.
The bartender’s eyes squinted. "Yeah, I remember her. She was in about a week ago. Good looking," he said, wincing at what could have been.
I had talked to a different bartender here the night before who didn't remember seeing Isabella.
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"Like I said, it was a week ago. She was sitting right there." He pointed to the end of the bar. "Guys were hitting on her all night. I’m not going to lie. I threw my hat in the ring.”
It was understandable. Isabella had an irresistible quality—sexy, smart, dangerous.
"She didn’t seem like the typical bimbo that comes in here,” the bartender said. “I told her to watch herself. One of the guys that was talking to her is a real scumbag. I've seen him drop shit into people's drinks. I’ve kicked him out. And I tellthe door guys to keep him out of here, but he keeps getting in. That shit is bad for business.”
"I'd say. Is this your place?”
“Yeah,” he said with a nod.
“I’m Tyson.”
“Josh,” he replied, offering a hand.
We shook, and I introduced him to JD and Brooke.
“Do you know the guy's name?" I asked. “The creep.”
Josh shook his head. "Sorry. I don't. But if you hang out here long enough, I'm sure he'll show up. Might want to talk to one of the door guys. They could probably tell you more than I can.”
