Page 68 of D for Dead

‘It was your fault.’

‘You needed quicker reactions.’

‘My reactions are just fine.’ He grinned at her, remembering. ‘That bar still there?’

‘You mean the Blue Moose? Yeah, though I haven’t been there in years. I mostly drink at Mahoney’s these days.’ Rebecca screwed up her nose. ‘Bourbon’s not so good, but it’s the local cop hangout.’

‘I was thinking we should go visit the Velvet Lounge. Our cocktail serving mystery writer is working tonight. Peterson is with her, but wouldn’t hurt to have extra eyes in the bar.’

‘Okay.’

‘Okay, yes?’

Angell narrowed her eyes. ‘Okay, I’m considering your suggestion.’

Joel glanced at his watch. ‘Well consider faster. If we’re gonna go we need to leave pretty sharpish.’ He glanced at her sweats. ‘And you’re gonna need to change first. I’m not walking in with you looking like a bag lady.’ He grinned when her eyes flashed angrily. ‘Maybe you can wear the red number you had on the other night.’

The red number that had hugged her curves in all the right places.

The red number she had worn for Alan.

Angell smiled tightly. ‘I’ll go put on my jeans.’

Joel cleared away the pizza box and plates while he waited.

So Alan the douche got the red dress and he got jeans. Go figure.

The jeans did look good on her he had to admit when she emerged ten minutes later. They hugged her ass and fitted to her curves like glue. Yeah, the jeans were good. And whatever perfume she was wearing, that smelt good too.

She looked a little distracted, as she emptied the contents of her purse onto the couch.

‘What’s up?’

‘I can’t find my ring.’

‘So? You don’t normally wear a ring.’

‘Not for work. It’s one my folks gave me. My mom will kill me if I’ve lost it.’

Joel glanced at his watch. It was getting late.

‘You want to stay here and hunt for it now? We need to get going, Angell.’

‘Okay.’ She snapped her purse shut, gave him a tight smile. ‘I’ll look for it tomorrow.’

* * *

Nadine sipped a large Martini while she waited for Troy to finish getting ready.

She was restless after the day’s events; still couldn’t believe he had let Amy Gallaty into her house. And to then have that bonehead officer try to arrest her. Troy owed her big time. She had talked him into buying her dinner. A new Vietnamese restaurant had opened in town and by some kind of miracle they had managed to secure a last-minute reservation. Nadine would have pho and a nice bottle of wine on Troy.

He had suggested they then take in a movie. There was a remake of The Italian Job playing he wanted to see.

Nadine had smiled, but remained non-committal. She was still seething about earlier and had her own plans in mind. The Velvet Lounge was only a block away from the movie theatre. Maybe she would get her own back on Amy and pay her a surprise visit.

* * *

Jake opted for Natalie’s party, showering and throwing on clean jeans and a shirt before digging out a bottle of Jameson’s he had lying around in a cupboard.