Illusions (Night Roamers) Book Four (5 page)

Faye



The snow was falling heavily
as Faye pulled up to Club Nightshade in her new silver Bentley. She got out of the car and frowned down at the white powder, which was already making an impact on the parking lot. She made a mental note to call a plow service.

“Good evening, Ms. Dunbar,”
said the security guard sitting on a stool at the front entrance. It was still early – just past five-thirty, and the club was quiet.

“Good evening
, Honi,” replied Faye. “Nice weather we’re having, huh?”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me. You know the place will still be
jam-packed tonight. Snow or not, it’s the best party in town.”

“
I have to agree with you there,” she replied. “This little town wouldn’t know what to do without Club Nightshade.”

“You
got that right. Anyway, you look beautiful. As always,” he said as she stepped past him.

“Thanks,”
Faye called back as she headed down the hallway to the main floor of the club. She removed her leather trench coat, glanced down at the expensive black-laced sheath dress, and brushed off some lint.

“
Is that new, Ms. Dunbar?” asked the coat-check girl as she neared the window.

“Of course,” replied Faye
, stopping.

“
Wow, it’s gorgeous. Where did you get it?” the dark-haired girl, Julie, asked.

“
A place well beyond your checkbook. But,” she lowered her voice, “if you can round us up a couple of delicious treats for later, I’ll let you
have
this dress after tonight.”

Julie’
s face lit up. “Really?”

Her
brown eyes glittered. “Yes. Just make sure we have one of each.”

“You mean a guy and a girl?” whispered Julie.

Faye’s smile was condescending. “Yes. One with a penis and one without.”

The girl’s face turned red and she giggled. “You’re so funny, Ms. Dunbar.”

Faye turned around, rolling her eyes. The new Roamer was a total ditz, but one of her bouncers had decided to bond with her. She now worked for free, so Faye wasn’t about to complain. “I’ll be up in my office if anyone is looking for me.”

“Okay, Ms. Dunbar!” hollered Julie.
“Uh, you want me to take your coat?”

Like she’d give Julie her two-thousand dollar
coat to lose. “No, I’ll bring it up to my office.”

“Of course.”

Faye scanned the club as she walked toward the staircase. There were a couple of customers at the bar and some of the tables were already full. It was a Friday night, which meant that the place would be jam-packed by nine. Since it was her first winter in Shore Lake, she wasn’t totally sure how the snow would affect the club. She hoped that Honi was right, and the blustery weather wouldn’t hinder sales.

“Hello, Ms. Dunbar,” said
the bartender, Brian as she neared the counter. Like all of her other employees, he was also a Roamer. They were easy to control and Faye needed that to run a successful business. Nightshade was just one of four clubs she shared ownership with. The other three were in New York, San Francisco, and Vegas. 

Faye tossed her blonde hair to the side and gave him a flirty smile.
She liked Brian. He was attentive when he needed to be. “Hello, handsome.”

“Where you off to?”

“My office, of course.”

“You work too hard,” he said, leaning over the counter.

“You think so?”

“
Damn right. You should take a night off and relax.”

She brushed her bangs away from her eyes. “I only wish I could.”

“At least have a drink. Want me to send up a cocktail?” he asked, now undressing her boldly with his eyes.

She thought about their previous night together, and smiled. He wasn’t Ethan, but he knew how to please a female. “Wh
y don’t you bring it up yourself later?”

“Why wait for later?”
he asked, smiling darkly.

She threw her head back and laughed. “Brian, you’re a naughty one.
I like that.”

He lowered his voice. “You bring it out in me.”

“Is that so?” she whispered, now standing only inches away from his face.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he said. “About the other night.”

Faye licked her lips. “It was pretty nice.”

He smiled and stood up straighter as a customer approached the bar. “Listen, as soon as the other bartender shows up, I’ll bring you that drink.”

“I’ll be waiting. Without panties,” said Faye, turning away.

Brian watched her hips swing back and forth as she neared the s
taircase. “You’re evil.”

Faye looked back and winked.

He blew her a kiss.

Faye walked upstairs to her office, aware of Brian’
s eyes still on her before she disappeared at the top. She wished that Ethan gave her as much attention. Instead, as usual, he was obsessed over anyone who reminded him of Miranda, including Nikki. Soon, however, Nikki wouldn’t be a problem and Ethan would be hers again. She just needed more time.

Faye
opened the door to her office and sighed. “Celeste. What are you doing here?”

Celeste, who was sitting behind her desk painting the tips of her nails a dark blue, looked up. “I had to get out of th
ere. I was going crazy.”

“
I don’t care how bored you were, you need to stay hidden,” scoffed Faye. “And you should definitely stay away from the club. If Victor catches you…”

“Relax. I heard he’s on a plane back to Vegas. So, I think I should take advantage of it and enjoy myself tonight.”

“Celeste…”

She pouted. “Please….”

Faye groaned. “You’re playing with fire. I might not be able to save you again. If Victor finds out you’re still alive…”

Celeste got up and walked over to Faye. “He won’t.
Please, let me play for a while. I’ll even find us a couple of hot guys for later and we’ll devour the hell out of them. Just let me have some fun tonight. It’s been almost two weeks!”

She shook her head and smile
d in amusement. “I don’t know why I let you twist me around that little finger of yours. It just boggles my mind.”

Celeste threw
her arms around Faye. “It’s because you know that I’d do anything for you.”

Faye relaxed and ran her hand over the back of Celeste’s red curls. “
Yes. I know,” she murmured. “You’re the only one I can really trust.” And she meant it. Celeste had never faltered and had always stood behind Faye, no matter what she’d asked of her.

“I trust you with my life, too,” she whispered back. “
You’re all I have now that daddy is gone.”

“What about your brother?”

Celeste sighed. She hadn’t seen him in many years. “Martin? What about him?”

“
Do you know where he is?”

“Somewhere in Europe. He travels a lot. Daddy knew how to get ahold of him. But now that he’s gone… I have no idea.”

“Yes, your father told me he was in Italy last. We should try and find him.”

“
If he finds out that Victor murdered daddy, he’ll want revenge,” she replied, her eyes sparkling. “Don’t you think?”

Faye smiled. “I would think so. I should probably
send someone to search for him. He needs to know. It’s only right.”

Celeste hugged her again. “
Would you?”

“Of course.
I want Victor to pay for what he’s done to your father,” she replied. “Caleb served me well for many years.”

“Until that bitch, Anne, stepped into his life,” said Celeste. Her eyes hardened. “I’m just glad that she’s dead now, too.”

Faye didn’t say anything.

“I would do anything for you, Faye. You know that, don’t you?” said Celeste. “I mean, we’re like sisters.”

“We are much more than sisters,” she replied, smiling.

Celeste pulled away and stared into Faye’s eyes. “
I mean it. Besides Martin, you’re my family, and I’d die for you, Faye.”

Faye’s smile was brittle
. “Let’s just hope you never have to.”

Nikki



“Duncan’s
still not answering his phone,” I muttered, hanging mine up. “Something is wrong. I just know it.”

“
Relax. He probably doesn’t have it on him,” replied Nathan, wiping his mouth with a napkin. I’d just watched him inhale two orders of buffalo wings and a large Caesar salad, reinforcing the fact that he’d never be able to handle giving up real food. It also reminded me that I needed to feed soon. My hunger was beginning to rear its ugly head, especially when I watched him add extra wing sauce to the chicken. The rich color made my stomach growl.

I
licked my lips. “No, he definitely had it on him. I saw it.”

Nathan leaned back in the booth and frowned.
“And he was headed to Victor’s cabin?”

“Yes.
I wonder if he found mom.”

“We’d have heard by now,” replied Nathan.

“I’m sure you’re right.” I sighed. “I’m getting hungry, Nathan.”

We were at Ruth’s Diner, where we’d agreed to meet
Duncan after the funeral. It was now almost six, and he still hadn’t shown.

“You said you could eat vegetables. Why not order a salad?” he asked.

“It just doesn’t sound good,” I replied. Nothing sounded good. All I could really digest without throwing up was nuts and greens. It was irritating. “And it’s not like I can have any dressing on it. I don’t care who you are, salad without dressing is disgusting.”

“Sucks to be you,” he teased, holding a forkful of salad drenched in Caesar dressing.

I grunted. “Thanks.”

I watched him devour
the rest of his food and was relieved when he was finally finished.

Nathan picked up his strawberry milkshake.
“Okay then. Let’s go,” he said before guzzling it down.

“I should go alone,” I said, lowering my voice. “I can fly there. Be discreet.”

“Oh, hell no. I don’t need you missing, too. We’ll go together. Don’t try and argue about it either.”

I groaned inwardly
. He was so stubborn. “Okay. Let’s get moving then.”

As Nathan paid his
tab, Marilyn walked into the restaurant. She was Rosie’s cousin and owned half of the diner. I’d met her in the restaurant a couple of times before Rosie had been murdered by Faye. Rosie’s body had never been recovered, and I still wasn’t even sure what had happened to it. After Duncan and I had returned to the cabin, there had been no sign of it anywhere.  

“Wow, it’s
really coming down out there,” she said, stomping the snow off of her boots. She was short, rail-thin, and feisty. She reminded me a lot of Rosie, although she wore her bleached blonde hair in a bun and hardly wore any makeup. She turned to me and smiled. “Oh, hey there, Nikki.”

“Hi.”

Her eyes softened and she stepped closer, touching
my shoulder. “Honey, I’m so sorry about your mother.”

I
nodded. “Thanks. I’m sorry about Rosie, too. Have they found out anything?”

She shook he
r head. “No. The FBI is involved with the case, now. Hopefully they’ll come up with something.” She let out a ragged sigh. “I almost want to sell this place and move. There have been far too many deaths in this town. Even that good sheriff, Caleb, gave up on it and moved to Vegas, I hear.”

“Yeah.
That’s what I heard too,” I replied, forcing a smile.

“What are you goin
g to do now that your mom’s… passed on?” she asked.

“Probably move
,” I said. “Now that mom is gone, there’s really nothing holding us here.”

“
It’s probably for the best. If you ask me, it’s just not safe here,” she replied, lowering her voice. “Especially for young women. That’s why you should never go anywhere alone, Nikki. Fortunately,” she nodded toward Nathan, “you have a strong brother to help protect you.”

“I agree,”
I murmured back, trying to keep a straight face. If she only knew.

She studied my face and then frowned
. “Nikki, are you okay? You look a little gaunt.”

“
My appetite isn’t what it used to be.”

She sighe
d “I don’t blame you. Food must be the last thing on your mind right now.”

“
You could say that,” I replied, although I glimpsed an old man drinking a tall glass of tomato juice and my mouth watered.  

“Hi, Marilyn
,” said Nathan, now standing next to us. He popped a mint into his mouth and grinned. “Long time no see.”

“I know. We’ve
missed seeing you in here, Nathan. I’m definitely going to have to shut these doors if you two move away. You and your healthy appetite have certainly kept this place going,” she teased. “You were Rosie’s favorite customer.”

His face fell. “Rosie.
Man, I miss her. Have they found out anything yet?”

She told him what she’d told me.

Scratching the five o’clock shadow along his chin, he shook his head sadly. “It’s a shame. She was such a nice woman. Always friendly and putting up with Nikki’s whining.”

I elbowed him in the ribs. “Funny.”

He smirked. “Wasn’t trying to be funny.”

“
Oh, you two… Did you both get enough to eat?” asked Marilyn.

“
Actually, I think he just ordered half of your menu.”

She smiled. “
Only half?”

“Yeah,”
he replied, patting his stomach. “I’ve got to watch my girlish figure.”

She laughed.
“Oh, Nathan. There is nothing girlish about you.”

“You sure about that?” he said, running a hand through his sandy
brown hair. “If this grows any longer, I’m going to have to start listening to heavy metal and join a motorcycle gang.”

I snorted. “Right, hipster. You’d fit right in.”

“I’m not a hipster,” he protested.

“Don’t let him fool you,”
I said to Marilyn, smirking. “He’s a hipster. I saw him trying on a beanie a few weeks ago.”

“Whatever,” replied Nathan, shaking his head. “You’re a beanie.”

Marilyn smiled. “So, where have you two been the last month?”

“Uh, we were on vacation. In Vegas,” replied my brother.

“For that long?” she asked.
“Normally most people go for a weekend.”

“No,” I said. “
We were in Key West for part of the time. With Duncan, while our parents rekindled their… marriage.”

We’d decided to tell everyone that our parents had gotten back together in Vegas. So there wouldn’t be too many questions. Nobody else really knew of mom and Caleb’s relationship, which made our story more believable.

“Oh. I see,” she said, looking a bit perplexed. “Well, looks like you made it back here, and just in time for the snow.”

Nathan glanced out the window. “Lucky us.”

“What about school?” she asked. “You going to finish or leave town, like Nikki was saying?”

“Um, we’re going to do that online school thing,” I said quickly.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Online? Really?”

“Can’t
go back to the school here in town. I mean, we’re so behind right now,” said Nathan, backing me up. “That we’ve decided to check out that K12 school program.”

“What is that?”

“It’s where you can take online classes for high school,” I replied.
“And still earn your diploma.”

“Wow, you can even do that now, huh
?” she said. “That’s incredible.”

“It’s crazy what you can do online these days,” replied Nathan.

“Well, it sounds like a great concept. Especially in your circumstance,” she said.

I grinned. “Exactly. Thank goodness for the
Internet.”

She nodded and then changed the subject.
“Your stepdad seems like a nice enough guy; I met him a few days ago.”

“He’s a
regular peach,” said Nathan, dryly.

Marilyn
chuckled. “He seemed friendly, at least. Anyway, Victor said that if you two ever stopped in, I was to add your bill to his tab. I suppose you already paid, though, huh?”

“Yep,” said Nathan.
“But that’s okay. We can pay for our own food.”

I raised
my eyebrows. “Seriously, he offered to do that?”

“He sure did
. Surprised?”

“Nothing surprise
s me about Victor,” said Nathan.

She grinned and shook her head. “So, I take it you won’t be living with him?”

“No. We were never very close.”

“That’s a shame,” replied Marilyn. “
Well, anyway, I’m so sorry again for your loss. If either of you ever need someone to talk to, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks, Marilyn
,” said Nathan.

I smiled.
“Yes, thank you.”

She put her hand on my shoulder. “Look, Nikki, if
you are ever interested in coming back to work here, there will always be an open spot for you. I hope you know that.”

Her kindness lifted my spirits.
“Thanks, Marilyn. I appreciate it.”

She
removed her hand and turned to Nathan. “Before I forget – have you heard from Sonny at all?”

Nathan looked at me and then he cleared his throat
. “Not us, but I believe Duncan may know where he is. The marina is closed for the season and all the boats are winterized and in storage.”

“
Oh. Do you know anything about Randy Fitz’s boat?” she asked. “He was in here complaining a couple of weeks ago. Said he’d been calling and leaving Sonny messages, but not getting any calls back.”

Nathan
scowled. “Randy actually complained to
you
about it?”

She put her hands on her hips.
“Not just to me, to everyone. He was three sheets to the wind, and spouting off a bunch of crap about Sonny to everyone in the diner, one night, after the bar closed. Anyway, I haven’t seen him around since. Was probably pretty embarrassed the next day, I reckon.”

“
Duncan and I did end up replacing the prop on his boat about a week ago. It had been on backorder. Anyway, he has his boat back, so he shouldn’t be complaining anymore.”