Page 88 of Dare to Dance
“I’ll need her cell number,” I said.
Ruby started for the door. “I’m going to check her apartment.”
“Ruby,” Tommy called. “You may not believe this, but I am sorry. I was serious when I told you that you would be good at fighting.” Sincerity weaved through his tone.
She gave Tommy a cursory glance before she rushed out.
I bobbed my head. “Cell number.”
He wrote it down on scrap paper.
I snatched the crumbled paper. “I’m not sure you helped us, but thanks for apologizing to her.” Then I ran out, down the hall, past Pete, who had a satisfied grin on his face, out the main entrance, and right into the hands of Detective Rayburn, who was holding Ruby’s arm as she hung her head.
I stopped cold, confusion clouding my brain for a brief second until I remembered Pete’s threat with the cops, hence the satisfaction written all over his ugly mug. “Mark, what are you doing here?” Detective Mark Rayburn wasn’t a beat-cop. He didn’t respond to disturbance calls.
Mark was decked out in his normal plain-clothes uniform of jeans and a shirt. His gun was strapped to his holster, which peeked out from underneath his leather jacket. “I heard your name on the radio. I figured I would respond. What’s going on?”
Ruby flicked her disheveled head toward the bakery with a pained expression on her face.
“I never formally introduced you to my girl, Ruby,” I said as I nodded at her.
Mark released her. “I remember her from the gym that night.”
She sprinted down to the bakery then vanished into the entry beside the store.
Mark motioned to chase her.
I blocked his way. “She’s not going far.”
“I know we’re friends, dude, but I’m a cop first. So get out of my way.”
I held up my hands. “Hear me out.” I plastered on a pleading look, at least I hoped I did.
“You got one minute,” he said.
As we walked to Alex’s apartment, I filled him in on the entire situation, leaving nothing out.
“I’m sorry, man,” Mark said as we climbed the stairs. “Let’s see what’s going on in the apartment. Then I’ll make a few phone calls.”
27
Ruby
Iwasout of breath after climbing the steps two at a time, my lungs and thighs burning. I knew Alex worked for Trent, but as a madam? The hairs rose on the back of my neck. She’d lured Norma and me into her den. The pieces were falling together. Alex was quick to give us the key to her apartment. She had different styles and sizes of clothes in her closet.She outfits the women.Tommy’s words skipped through me. She probably had called Trent after she’d given us the key to her apartment. That was why he’d been sitting in Tommy’s office that day. He’d wanted to survey the next two pieces of meat.
What didn’t make sense was the way Alex hadn’t wanted Norma and me to work for Trent. Maybe that had all been an act on her part so Norma and I would believe her.
I banged on the door. “Alex. Alex, are you in there?” Norma had given me her key before I left for the Berkshires. Unfortunately, the key was in my bag at Kross’s apartment.
I turned the doorknob. A click sounded, then I gently pushed.Whoa!My pulse raced as I entered. “Alex?”
The living room and kitchen were empty. I slinked into the bedroom. The bed was made, and the air smelled stale. If Alex had been there recently, the air would’ve been laced with her flowery perfume. I checked the bathroom. All her toiletries and makeup were gone. I ran into the bedroom and slid open the closet door. That too was empty.
I sat down on the bed. Norma and I had been played big time. Or at least, I had. I was the one who had fallen into Tommy’s trap then Trent’s. Norma had kept trying to convince me not to fight. I screamed, but it came out as more of a long, low growl.
I didn’t hear Kross or Detective Rayburn come in.
Kross tugged me into his arms. “We’ll find Raven.”
