Private Dick Casefile 01 - Lily White Rose Red

lost between them. Margie made fun of Tina till she was off the rails.”
    “So why was a classy dish like that working in a club like this?”
    “Maybe you’d better have a little chat with Mr. Martin,” Jazz said, grabbing my arm tighter than was comfortable.
    I knew I couldn’t break away without causing a ruckus. Besides, it was inevitable that I would have to talk to Mr. Big, so I said, “Lead me to him.”
    He snorted with bemusement.
    Brains over brawn, right? I knew I could handle myself whatever came up.

    Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
    83

    He dragged me down the corridor, maybe a little faster than I would have chosen to stroll. Trying to collect my thoughts, I did my best to keep up. He opened a door, and Mr. Martin looked up from the paperwork on his desk. He was on the phone.
    “All right. I understand. I’ll get back to you.” He put the phone down and leaned back in his chair, looking amused and untouchable.
    Not that I didn’t want to touch him, dig? But like he would never give me the time of day. He wasn’t interested in me, just waiting to hear why Jazz had dragged me in there.
    Jazz dropped my arm, and I resisted the urge to rub it. The feeling started to return to my hand when Jazz said, “Caught this little fish poking around, looking for some answers.”
    “What makes you think you can just march in here and expect anyone to talk to you?” Mr. Martin demanded. There was a little tremor to his lips, like he was trying not to laugh.
    “Talk to yourself, and I’ll listen,” I said.
    His lips curled in a grin, and his dimples dug into his cheeks.
    I don’t like being regarded as the evening’s entertainment. I don’t know why people don’t take me seriously sometimes. I mean, yeah, I may be wiry, but I’m smart. The urge rose up inside me, a dark urge. I wanted to wipe that condescending smirk off his face. I wanted to master him and force him to his knees in front of me. An unwelcome little voice inside me acknowledged that after I did that, I wanted him to master me.
    I became aware that I was staring at him with my mouth open, breathing hard. I shut it with a snap and snarled, “Why did you hire Marguerite Saint-Ville—to work here ?” Mr. Martin and his honcho exchanged meaningful glances.
    “Better get back onstage and make some noise,” he muttered ominously, and Jazz nodded, leaving the room and shutting the door softly behind him. I could hear his footsteps diminishing in the distance. In the tense silence I heard the piano start up in the distance and the honeyed tones of Miss Tina as she started to sing. I wondered how much noise Mr. Big thought he needed to cover up. Not that I was scared or anything.

    84

    CATT FORD

    “Something wrong with the joint?” Mr. Big asked as he stood up and started walking toward me.
    I felt at a distinct disadvantage with him, but I held my ground.
    “She was a dame. This place is packed with men who don’t have much interest in dames. And she left this behind.” I opened my hand and showed him the Lambda on the silver disc.
    He glanced down, and his mouth was grim as he met my eyes again, but there was a warmth in his eyes. I was beginning to wonder if he had fallen for the Saint-Ville dame too. That would have been a mood-killer for me.
    “Where’d you find that?” He made a quick movement, as if to snatch it from me.
    I closed my hand over it and took a step back. “Does it matter? I found it.”
    He prowled toward me, and suddenly I became aware that the tux was showcasing a very muscular and fit frame. He wasn’t as tall as Jazz, but he was bigger than me, and unless I found a way to take control, he might snatch the evidence from me.
    I stuffed it into an inside pocket and retreated while I taunted him.
    “It led me right to your door.”
    “You had to know what that symbol meant to be able to find this place,” he growled. “Most men don’t know what it means.” The faint emphasis on the word “men” was meant as an insult, but I was on the scent now. Time enough to be offended later; he had something to hide, and he’d just revealed that to me.
    “Most men don’t run clubs like this,” I tossed back.
    He gave a sharp bark of laughter. “You think this is my only club? It’s just a business to me; I’ve got three others. Maybe you’ve heard of Topaz downtown?”
    “Yeah, I heard it mentioned in passing.” I hope my disappointment didn’t show on my face as we