Part 6 (1/2)

That'd been when the pinhead had got p.i.s.sed. The guy had started talking conspiracy, rival gangs and infiltration. Dave had just rolled his eyes. It was all too much paranoid drama for his blood.

It hadn't been until the pinhead had sicced his goon on one of Dave's computers, beating it into a pile of plastic and metal, that Dave had gotten scared.

It seemed that even though Dave had been a loyal employee for the past six months, although he'd followed their instructions, he'd worked his fingers sore hacking enough numbers to meet their dirty needs, the mix-up was all his his fault. And while Dave was willing to take the blame-especially since the goon had still been hefting the baseball bat he'd whacked the computer with-the pinhead wasn't willing to let him off the hook. fault. And while Dave was willing to take the blame-especially since the goon had still been hefting the baseball bat he'd whacked the computer with-the pinhead wasn't willing to let him off the hook.

Probably because Dave had gambled away a good portion of the first installment Du Bing Li Du Bing Li had fronted. Not that he'd told them that, or apparently that it would have mattered. They wanted the chip. The original, not a copy, not a new batch of names. It had to be that one. had fronted. Not that he'd told them that, or apparently that it would have mattered. They wanted the chip. The original, not a copy, not a new batch of names. It had to be that one.

As proof of Dave's desire to live.

Here he was, Mr. Nice Guy, doing them a favor by offering up the goods. Dave knew the value of the info he'd hacked. Full ident.i.ties. Names, addresses, social security numbers, mothers' maiden names. The works. All those tidy little tidbits of information a savvy group such as Du Bing Li Du Bing Li could use. could use.

Dave was a smart man. He knew Du Bing Li Du Bing Li was tied to was tied to Wo s.h.i.+ng Wo, Wo s.h.i.+ng Wo, and the word on the street was they were looking to start transporting their human cargo into the good ole U.S. of A. For that, a computer chip of cleanly hacked IDs was a goldmine. and the word on the street was they were looking to start transporting their human cargo into the good ole U.S. of A. For that, a computer chip of cleanly hacked IDs was a goldmine.

Now he had to get it back from some club tramp, or lose his a.s.s.

”Move, dude.”

Dave waited until the refrigerator-sized bouncer was past him before he sneered and gave him the finger.

He swiped his forehead again and stepped into the club. d.a.m.ned flas.h.i.+ng lights made it hard to see, so he squinted, looking for the woman.

He could barely remember what she looked like. Hot, sure. But the details? Jeez, all women looked alike from the neck up; he never paid much attention.

Finally, he spotted a blonde who seemed familiar. She had been here that night. He was sure, because he remembered thinking that in the animal-print thing she'd been wearing, she'd looked exactly like one of the p.o.r.n queens he idolized. She wasn't the woman he was looking for, but maybe she could help him find her.

He timed it right, waiting until she and the woman she was with waved to the waitress for drink refills. Then he sauntered over, hand on his wallet ready to make an impression.

”Ladies, how ya doin'?”

”We're out of your league, dude. Get lost,” the blonde said, with barely a glance his way.

The other one, a redhead with a nice rack, gave him a sympathetic look and little shrug. It was that shrug, the dainty apology of it, that made Dave look again.

She was gorgeous. It wasn't just the sweet curve of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressing against her dress or the way her hair curled down her back, inspiring one of his favorite fantasies. It was the polished, moneyed look of her. Dave was an expert at recognizing money and what it could do for a person. Which was why he'd dedicated his life to ama.s.sing as much of it as he could.

A man such as himself could definitely appreciate the silky richness of a woman like this one.

”Don't underestimate me,” he told the blonde. ”There's a lot more to me than meets the eye.”

The blonde snorted.

Normally, that kind of c.r.a.p would send him back to the safety of his computer and his agreeable online ladies. But d.a.m.ned if he'd be brushed off when he'd found his dream woman. Especially when his a.s.s was on the line, too.

”You might be overestimating yourself if you think you could handle either of us, dude.” This time, the blonde actually turned to face him. Davey recognized the look in her eyes, the combination of pity and disinterest.

Davey fought off his natural instinct to run away. He needed the chip. To get the chip, he needed to find out who that woman was, and once he did, find a way to get to her. He was sure she'd been with these women that night. Which meant they might know her name and address. And hopefully, they meant enough to her to be bait if necessary.

”Let me buy you ladies drinks and I'll show you how wrong you are.” Dave pulled out his wallet and, hiding a grimace, handed the waitress enough to cover the drinks she'd just delivered. ”I'll bet women as hot as the two of you are used to all the studs. .h.i.tting on you. Bunch of egocentric, selfish guys, all out for whatever they can get off you.”

”Obviously any guy can hit. Who we let connect is what counts.”

”Sure, sure. You're hot, you're in the driver's seat. But what I'm saying is, you ladies, hot as you are, have to get sick of the users around here. Me, I'm all about what I can do for you.”

”Nice try, and points for creativity.” The blonde rolled her eyes at him in obvious dismissal. ”But, no thanks.”

Davey ignored the blonde's disinterest. It was the redhead's reaction that sent the surge of triumph through him. Her slight nod and the droop of her mouth screamed ”Score.”

The gorgeous rich girl was the key. Antic.i.p.ation swirled through him at the idea of working on her to get the information he needed.

Like a hawk focused on its prey, he s.h.i.+fted his weight just a bit. Enough to face her, but not enough to scare her off.

Her soft blue gaze met his, sending Cupid's arrow straight through his heart. He skimmed his gaze over her, taking in the designer clothes, flash of sparkles at her ears and pricey cosmetics. The only thing that turned him on more than a gorgeous woman with a C cup was one who came wrapped in wealth.

Unfortunately, as he did whenever he was faced with a fantasy woman, his tongue tied itself in knots and he lost the ability to think coherently.

Dave quelled the panicky feeling in his belly and tried to get his brain to work. He needed that chip. To get it, he needed the name of their friend. That wasn't gonna happen unless one of them trusted him. Since his body screamed out for the hot redhead, he'd focus on her. After all, the blonde scared him.

Dave put on his most trustworthy face and hid his fists in his pockets. Sucking in a deep breath, he almost choked on the mix of perfumes, BO and booze in the air. He ignored it and pasted a big smile on his face.

”Your friend's loss is your gain,” he said to the redhead. Davey looked at her gla.s.s, almost empty, and hid a wince. She sure drank fast. Dammit, he might have to fork out more dough than he'd wanted. ”Let me buy you a couple more drinks and tell you how well I'd treat you if you were my lady.”

Three drinks, two painful dances and countless barbs from the blonde later, Davey was pretty happy with his progress. He had his hand on the redhead's-Bea's-a.s.s. He'd got a buzz going and lost some of the edgy nerves that had dogged him since the pinhead had slammed down his door. Now to get that name.

”You ladies look familiar. Have you been in any commercials or print work I'd recognize?” he asked.

Bea's eyes lit up and she did a sweet little wiggle that sent her chest swaying. Before she could reply, though, the blonde gave a mean little laugh.

”Oh, please,” sneered Suzi. ”You're already feeling her up. Can't you do any better than that cheesy pickup line?”

”No, no. I've been on the cover of California Girl, California Girl,” Bea said with a glare at her friend. ”He probably recognized me.”

Davey didn't even recognize the magazine. But he grinned anyway and nodded.

”Of course, of course. I knew it. I've seen you recently, though. Maybe in person? Do you come in here a lot?”

”Actually,” Bea said, giving him a long, slightly wasted look, ”you look familiar, too.”

”Gag me,” Suzi murmured.

Davey had to force himself not to take her up on the offer. Instead, he offered her a sneer and his shoulder. She just laughed.

”I was in last Sat.u.r.day scoping out talent. I'm a photographer,” he told Bea, who's eyes sparked with excitement. ”Maybe you were here then?”

”Sat.u.r.day?” the blonde said with a shrug. ”Maybe. We hit a lot of clubs.”

Bea narrowed her eyes, then nodded. ”We were were here Sat.u.r.day. That was Audra's party. Remember, Suzi?” here Sat.u.r.day. That was Audra's party. Remember, Suzi?”

”Oh, yeah, I remember.” Suzi giggled, the softest sound he'd heard from her. A self-professed expert at reading people, Dave wondered at the affection and regret in the blonde's eyes. ”She hit on that geeky loser and he ran like a scared little girl, remember Bea?”