Part 20 (1/2)

The man downed the drink and set the gla.s.s on the nightstand on top of the money, making sure Heather saw the cash. Then he put his hands on her waist. ”Are we good to go?”

”What a douche,” Jack said. ”Good to go, who says that?”

”Someone who pays by the hour.”

Heather looked seductively toward the two-way mirror.

”You look beautiful as always, Amber. You may begin,” a deep male voice said. ”And fella, no kissing.”

* 155 *

Chase tweaked the audio settings. Dario's voice was coming in hot because it was being picked up both on the bug she'd placed in the watcher's room and a speaker in the bedroom.

Heather nodded and started to unb.u.t.ton the john's s.h.i.+rt. Chase clenched her fist till her knuckles turned white.

”What would you like tonight?” Heather asked. The client was about to answer when she placed her finger on his mouth and looked toward the mirror again.

”I want him to slowly remove your lovely dress,” the disembodied voice instructed her.

Heather turned to expose her back to the john. He slowly unzipped her and lowered the straps of her dress, then kissed her shoulder and slid his hands around to the front of Heather's body.

Chase quickly lowered her head in search of her cup. ”I need more coffee.” She threw the empty cup across the van.

”I suppose you could suck it off your pants,” Jack replied, never looking away from the monitor.

”Turn around and let him remove your garment,” Dario said.

Chase looked back at the monitor. Heather turned, now facing the camera, with the guy behind her. The john pulled the dress off her shoulders and down her body. Beneath, she wore a sheer, lace-trimmed black thong and matching bra. As she stepped out of the dress, the man ogled Heather's body, his arousal evident. Heather continued to stare at the mirror with a look of desire.

”I think the guy's about to have a coronary,” Jack said.

”Take off his s.h.i.+rt and trousers, Amber,” Dario said.

Heather turned toward her customer with a practiced smile, one Chase had seen on call girls many times before. After she removed his s.h.i.+rt, she unbuckled his belt and knelt to slowly pull down his pants.

”Reindeer boxers? Really, dude?” Jack laughed.

Chase threw the headphones on the console and stood up. ”I don't need to see this. Besides it's not like we can see the mystery man.”

”Why do I have to watch?” Jack asked.

”I thought you enjoyed p.o.r.n.”

”I can't say p.o.r.n is on my mind when I'd rather be doing everything possible to get my girl back. Besides, the magic's gone once you get to know them. Don't you think?”

* 156 *

”Then don't watch,” Chase almost pleaded.

”Okay, relax. I won't.” Jack sounded concerned. ”You all right?”

”We both know how the movie ends. I doubt anything enlightening will take place while they...whatever.” Chase couldn't bring herself to say it.

Jack turned off the cam in Heather's room but kept her headphones on. ”I'm keeping the audio just in case something comes up. I mean-”

”I know what you mean.” Chase sat back down and looked at the other camera views. She checked her watch.

”Another forty-five minutes,” Jack said.

Chase ran her fingers through her hair. ”At least we're getting Dario's voice recorded.”

”That's for sure. The guy won't stop talking.” Jack listened for another couple of minutes. ”He's d.a.m.n...verbal about what he wants.”

”I bet.” Chase tried to sound nonchalant while she fought the urge to leave the van and pace up and down the street.

Jack leaned back in her chair, hands supporting her head. Her expression was neutral as she listened in and glanced occasionally at what the other cameras were picking up.

Chase was glad she didn't have to hear or see Heather, but she couldn't help stealing glances at Jack now and then. Chase cringed when Jack lifted one eyebrow. ”Is something wrong?”

”Nothing wrong.” Jack tried to sound disinterested. ”Just the usual stuff.”

”Are you sure?”

”He's not hurting her, if that's what you're worried about.”

”To each her own.”

”What's that?” Jack looked at her.

Chase sighed. ”I said I'm not worried. It's her life. If this is how she chooses to live it, then so be it.”

”You don't need to feign indifference for my sake.”

”I'm not.”

* 157 *

”Could have fooled me.” Jack sounded sincere. ”Bet you never viewed them as real people before.”

”I've always treated them with respect.”

”What's different about this one?”

”I'm not sure. Something's just not right about her doing this.”

”She seems d.a.m.n proficient at it.”

”She's miserable about having to sell herself. I can see the fear in her eyes. She's terrified someone will make her. She can't trust that anyone might be interested in anything but s.e.x with her.”

”Aren't they all?” Jack asked.