Part 15 (1/2)
Melody moved away. ”Then you should be ashamed of yourself, Sarah. Keith is going to ruin your life. How many times do I have to say it?” She went to the front door.
”Where are you going, Mel?” Sarah exhaled.
”I can't stay here another minute with him around. I hope you two have a nice night.” She opened the door.
”Melody, where are you going?” Sarah ran to the door.
”Let her go.” Keith sat on the couch. He turned around. ”I really do want to be your friend, Mel. I hope you realize that before it's too late.”
”You're something else, Keith. I wish I knew how to lie as well as you do.”
He scoffed. ”See, Sarah? What good is it to be nice to her when she's gonna hate me no matter what?” He stood. ”Melody, what in the h.e.l.l do I have to do for you to accept me?”
”Leave.” She glared. ”And never come back. That's the only way I can accept you, Keith.”
”Well, I guess we just have to learn to be civil because I'm not going anywhere.” He held his waist.
Sarah took Melody's hand. ”Melody, he's trying to make an effort. Please do the same.”
”I honestly don't know if I can, Sarah.” She kissed Sarah's cheek. ”I'm going to Craig's if you need me.” She left.
Chapter Eight.
”Let me handle this.” Steven held the door of the Flamingo open for Brianna later that night.
”Why should you handle this when we're on a case together?” She walked inside. She felt she could at least get to the bar without b.u.mping into someone. She'd made a terrible a.s.sumption. The Flamingo seemed to live up to its reputation of being wild and popular. Groups of people crowded the floors. Beautiful, busty ladies of all nationalities stood on a stage twisting to Prince's ”1999.” Brianna could barely hear it for the men howling.
Steven clapped to the music. For someone who claimed he didn't frequent the place he sure seemed comfortable.
”I know you're uncomfortable, right?” Steven yelled over the music. Brianna watched a big-busted blonde swing her thong-covered behind in twelve different directions. ”That's why I said you should let me handle this, you know?” Steven winked at a topless waitress. She offered him and Brianna drinks. They quickly announced that they were on duty.
”Well...” Brianna shouted over the music. ”This is some kind of place!” A group of rowdy men b.u.mped into her. One winked on his way to a d.i.n.ky table in the corner. ”Doesn't look like much! I mean, the bar itself, you know?”
”Nah, it's a dump!” Steven snapped his fingers to the music. ”But the people don't come here for the bar itself, know what I mean, Bree?” He winked. ”Like I said...” He twirled to the music. ”You should let me handle this if it bothers you, you know?” A big-busted redhead ripped off a leather bra. She threw it toward the bar. The men howled. A man wrapped the sweaty garment around his face.
”Steven, I don't know why you think I can't handle this!” Brianna moved for people to pa.s.s. ”I've been in strip bars before.”
”Oh really?” He grinned. ”Care to elaborate?”
She grinned. ”Maybe later if we have the time. We need to get to work and get the h.e.l.l out of here. My ears are beginning to pop.” Brianna scoped the place. ”I can't imagine any of these people being too cooperative with the cops. Can you, Steven?” A man slapped another man on the head with a beer bottle. They rolled around on the floor laughing.
”h.e.l.l no!” Steven laughed. ”But that's what I love about being a cop the most, Bree. Making folks cooperate!”
They went to the bar. Steven quickly made himself at home on a center stool.
”You sure you don't come to this place often?” Brianna sneered.
”No, I mean, I've been here before but a long time ago.”
Brianna grinned. ”Uh-huh.”
A man scooted beside her. ”Can I buy a beautiful lady a drink tonight?” He winked at her.
She rolled her eyes. ”Sure, if you can find one that will let you buy her a drink tonight.” The man moved to another lady at the end of the bar.
”Ouch.” Steven grinned. ”Glad I didn't ask to buy you a drink.”
She laughed. ”That's why I hate bars. A woman can't be in one for two seconds without some creep hitting on her.”
”He only asked to buy you a drink, Bree.”
”Yeah, but we both know he wants more.” She turned to see the man laughing it up with the woman at the bar. ”I guess she'll be the one to give it to him.” Brianna grinned.
The flabby bartender turned around. Sweat dribbled from his bald head. All the men sweated. Brianna wondered if the cause had been the lights, or the naked girls. ”Hey, Detective Kemp!” the bartender guffawed. ”How you doing, Steve?”
”Uh...” Steven looked at Brianna. She crossed her arms. ”How you doing, Tim?”
”Fine, man!” The bartender slapped Steven's arm. ”The usual?”
”Usual?” Brianna gaped.
”Uh.” Steven straightened his collar. ”No, I'm on duty tonight, Tim.”
”Ah, what a shame. Some of the girls will be disappointed. Especially Suns.h.i.+ne.” Tim pointed to the busty blonde dancing at the end of the stage. She waved at Steven.
”You know she's got a big case for you, Steve.” Tim cackled.
”Really? Seems interesting.” Brianna sat down.
”Uh...” Steven grinned. ”He's just playing, you know?”
Brianna smiled at Tim. ”He was just telling me he never hardly comes in here, but that doesn't seem to be the case.”
”He used to come in here all the time! Right, Steve?” Tim laughed. ”He started a couple of years back. See, he had this b.i.t.c.hy girlfriend he used to complain about. Said he'd come here to get some peace.” Tim chuckled. ”I think the lady's name was 'Brenda' or...no 'Brianna'! That's right, huh, Steve? According to him, she was a real b.i.t.c.h.”
Steven groaned.
”Oh?” Brianna ogled Steven. ”Well, if he thought she was a b.i.t.c.h back then, I'm sure it doesn't compare to what she'll be from now on.”
”I'll bet.” Steven sighed.
”Well, it's nice to meet you, Tim.” Brianna held out her hand.
Tim kissed it. ”Always nice to meet such a lovely woman, too, ma'am. I didn't catch your name.”
”Detective Brianna Morris.” She looked at Steven. He turned away.