Read Scottsdale Squeeze: a romantic light-hearted murder mystery (Laura Black Mysteries Book 2) for Free Online Page B

He’s cute and can sing but he gets annoying fast. I can’t stand Terry but Jackie said he was OK, as long as he didn’t talk too much.”
    “I’m about out of leads on Jackie,” I said. “I know you don’t think she would go down to Mexico by herself but something is starting to feel wrong about this. I’m thinking tomorrow I’ll drive down to Mexico and look for her there. Do you have the address of the house Jackie’s leasing?”
    “I’m not sure it has an address, at least not one I’ve ever seen,” Pam said.
    “I’m free tomorrow,” Annie said. “I go to college part-time but I don’t have a class tomorrow. I’ll go down and show you where the house is. I’m worried about Jackie and I’d like to help.”
    “Perfect,” I said and gave her my card. “Meet me at the office at nine o’clock and don’t forget your passport.”
    ~~~~
    Walking back to my car, it started to bug me I knew both Jackie and Annie from a previous assignment. It almost seemed like too much of a coincidence. I had met them both at a strip club in south Scottsdale called Jeannie’s Cabaret while I was trailing a guy named Alexander Sternwood. Since the club was only about ten minutes away, I jumped in my car and headed down Scottsdale Road to see if I could find out anything.
    ~~~~
    Jeannie’s Cabaret is at the top end of Scottsdale strip clubs. From the outside, the building appears to be an upscale restaurant or a small casino. There’s a big fountain, along with groups of royal palms, lantana, bougainvillea, and sculpted citrus trees. On the inside, it’s classy and clean, at least as far as strip clubs go.
    As I drove into the parking lot, I saw it was almost full. Pretty amazing for a Tuesday night. I drove around to the back of the club and saw a familiar blue Porsche 911 parked near the stage entrance. I drove back around to the front of the club and parked in an open space relatively near the main entrance. Standing on either side of the entrance was a huge bouncer. Each was dressed in a black coat and tie. They looked me up and down then let me in.
    It took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the low lighting as I entered the cavernous club. There was a deep red carpet on the floor, the walls were royal blue, and the ceiling was flat black. Both the walls and the ceiling were covered with hundreds of metallic silver stars. The first thing I notice about these places is the music. It is always classic rock and always played loud. As I walked in, Warrant’s song Cherry Pie was pounding throughout the club.
    The club had five stages, with the main stage attached to a long catwalk that came out from a backstage area. Near the end of the catwalk was a brass pole, currently being used by a tall skinny blonde. Each of the other stages had a woman who was dancing and swinging her hair to the beat of the music. Each stage was surrounded by men, and a surprising number of women. Many of them were holding out a dollar bill.
    I looked around and saw my friend Danica Taylor was working as a cocktail waitress. She was dressed in a scant red, white, and blue leather cowboy outfit, complete with long fringe. She was walking back to the bar with an empty drink tray in her hand. I was about ten feet from her when she noticed me walking toward her. Her face broke out in a smile that lit up her face. She squealed and ran over to give me a hug.
    I had met Danica a couple of months before when her boyfriend had turned up missing. I helped find him and eventually got him back where he belonged.
    “Danica,” I said. “It’s so great to see you. How’s everything going with you and Alex? Everything still OK?”
    “Better than OK,” she said as she held up her left hand. On the third finger was a huge sparkly diamond engagement ring.
    “Oh my God!” I said and I hugged her again.
    “I know I shouldn’t wear it in here, it cuts down on tips, but I can’t help it. Alex gave it to me last week and I don’t want to take it