Lost and Found (13 page)

“Probably, but I really don’t want to. When we were at his place, and Clay called, I kind of came to my senses for a few minutes and realized that I wasn’t cut out for a one-night stand, but I think maybe I am. At least with
Duncan
I am. I mean, if that‘s all I can have with him, then it’s better than nothing, right?”

“Jessie, maybe this is all about your hormones. Isn’t it possible that this detective finally has your motor running and all those urges you’ve been keeping leashed all these years are clouding your judgment? I mean I’ve never heard you talk like this. Ever.”

“Listen, Jamie, I appreciate your concern. I really do, but what’s wrong with me being a little impulsive for a change? You do it all the time.”

“Not all the time, thanks. But I’ve always been a free spirit. Until today, you’ve had your whole life planned down to what pair of panties you were going to where a week from Thursday. Now you’re thinking about seducing a stranger without driving yourself crazy obsessing over the consequences?” Jamie shook her head in disbelief. “It’s kind of scary to watch you go through this complete metamorphosis.” Jamie reached out and touched Jessie’s hand. “It’s not just me, you know. Clay is worried too.”

“You guys are sweet to be concerned, but there’s nothing to worry about.” Jessie rolled her eyes and patted Jamie’s hand. “I’m not going to get hurt. Really. I’m just going to enjoy whatever happens with
Duncan
. It’s not a big deal. People do this everyday.” She shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the sink, placing her cup in the bottom and turning around to face her sister.

Jamie watched her carefully, and smiled ruefully at her sister. “You’re right, people do this everyday, but you don’t. You’re not like everyone else.”

Jessie laughed. “God, Jamie, you make me sound like I need help tying my shoelaces or something. Just because I’m fairly inexperienced, doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself.”

Jamie got up and put an arm around her sister. Even though Jessie was slightly older, Jamie had always felt like it was her job to watch out for her much more sensitive twin. “You’re right. I’m overreacting. I just don’t want to see this end badly for you. Ever since Mom and Dad died, you’ve been so withdrawn. Don’t get me wrong; you were never exactly a party animal. But since they’ve been gone, you haven’t wanted to get involved with people at all. It’s just kind of a shock to see you being so assertive with someone you just met.” She pulled her sister to her and they hugged for a second, until Jessie pulled away.

“Alright, enough meaningful conversation. What I have to decide next, is what to do. Should I call him if he doesn’t call me tomorrow like he said?”

“Definitely not. You want to seem cool, don’t you?” Jamie sat back down and started rummaging through her large red handbag. She pulled out a tube of lip-gloss and began dabbing it on to her blood-red lips.

“I think it might be a bit late for that. Besides, that sounds like game playing to me.”

“Oh, God Jessie. You really are naïve, aren’t you?” Jamie put the lips gloss back in her purse and looked up at her sister who was still standing at the sink.

“Well, yeah, that is the point of all this, isn’t it?”

“Then trust me, if you want to keep this guy’s attention, then you’re going to have to keep him guessing a bit.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, not being too available. If he thinks he can have you, then he’s going to lose interest.”

“Uh, Jamie. I appreciate the advice, but that is definitely going in the wrong direction. I want to ravish him, not confuse him. Besides, he’s going to lose interest anyway. All I want is to maintain our relationship or whatever long enough to seduce him and get some experience. And hopefully get him out of his slump too. You know, he hasn’t been on a date in three years.” Jessie held up three fingers and raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

“What? And he stopped over a condom. I’m impressed. Most guys would have demanded a blow job and left at that point.”

“You are so cynical.” Jessie said in disgust. “And how do you know what point we were at anyway?”

“Well, lets see. You seem to be pretty knowledgeable about the size of his pocket rocket, and your shirt and camisole are on the floor in the entranceway. Also, you never leave your panties lying around, and those little peach beauties were sitting on top of the kitty-cat clock on your bureau. I’d guess things got pretty spicy in here tonight. Am I right?”

“Well…yeah.” Jessie blushed furiously.

“And how was it, really?”

“It was amazing. I finally understood what all the fuss was about. Honestly, I didn’t even care about the damn condom. I was that far gone. So you’re probably right. I’m obviously not thinking straight where he’s concerned. Thank God, he wasn’t as carried away as I was.”
 

“There’s the Jessie I know and love, obsessing over consequences, and doubting her actions. Don’t worry about it now, Jessie. Just make sure it never happens again.” Jamie reached into her purse and pulled out a handful of foil envelopes from the bottom. “We’ve got green, we’ve go purple. How about a blue to match his eyes?” Jamie held out a condom to Jessie and waggled it at her suggestively.

“God, where were you earlier when I needed you?”

“I was drinking tequila with Guido. He’s upset because I told him you were off the market.”

“What? Why did you tell him that? I’m not off the market.” Why was she arguing with her sister? She didn’t want to go out with the bouncer anyway.

“Not yet, but I had to tell him something. Besides, I suspected something was up, literally, when I saw the sparks flying between you and Detective Groinhold this morning.”

“You did not. And his last name is Reinhold.”

“Alright, I didn’t know for sure, but I did sense something. You know I’m a bit psychic.” Jamie gave her sister a knowing look.

“Yes, I know, you’ve been telling me that since we were kids, but I’ve never seen any evidence to support it. You just always seem to have these hindsight reports. Like when Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony separated, you told everyone that you knew it was going to happen.”

“Go ahead and mock me, but you know I’m very in touch with the psychic plain.”

“Maybe, but you’re way out of touch with reality.” Jessie took Jamie’s empty coffee cup and placed it in the sink beside her own, and then crossed her arms. “Now, this has been enlightening as usual, but I need to get some sleep. Not everyone works nights, you know.” Jessie looked meaningfully at the kitchen wall clock.

Jamie got up and walked to the entranceway. As she reached the door, she looked down and saw something white on one of the black tiles. She bent down, giving Jessie a shocking view of her bottom, and picked up a piece of what she thought was white paper. “Here Jess, this was on the floor by the door.”

“What is it?” Jessie said, coming over to inspect it.

“A picture of some blond girl.” Jamie said, holding it out to Jessie.

“Oh? It must have fallen out of
Duncan
’s coat earlier.” Jessie flushed again thinking of the circumstances that had lead to
Duncan
’s coat on the floor. “That’s Theresa,” she said, pointing to the girl’s pretty face.

“That’s Theresa? Really?” Jamie studied the photo in Jamie’s hand for a second.

“Why? You sound surprised.”

“Well, I’m not absolutely sure, but she kind of looks like this girl who started working at the club a few weeks ago. She calls herself Terry-Lynne, and she has a manager and everything. A real scumbag named Diego Saverez.”

“Are you sure? Look closely.” Jessie handed the photo back to her sister and turned on the overhead light.

“I’m not sure, Jessie. There’s definitely a resemblance, but the girl at the club has longer hair and wears way more makeup. She could be the girl in the photo’s older sister I suppose.”

“Do you know where this Terri-Lynne lives?” Jessie asked frantically, grabbing hold of Jamie’s arm.

“No clue, but I think she lives with Savares. He watches her every second. He’s done this with a lot of girls. Brings them into the business, and then eventually they disappear.”

“What do you mean, they disappear?”

“I mean, they go on the road, or they get involved in drugs, or worse.”

“What’s worse?”

“Well, lets put it this way: for some girls, it’s a fine line between lap-dancing and hooking.”

“Oh my God.
Duncan
’s little sister is involved with a pimp. This is terrible. I should call
Duncan
.” Jessie reached for the white phone on the wall before she realized that she didn’t even have
Duncan
’s number here. She’d left his card at the store for Clay when she’d left that afternoon. She set the phone back down in its cradle and looked at Jamie, panic in her eyes.

“Jessie, calm down.” Jamie reached out a soothing hand, and rubbed Jessie’s shoulder. “We don’t even know if it’s really her. I think Terri-Lynne works tomorrow night. Why don’t you wait and tell him in the morning. He probably needs his sleep, and he won’t be able to do anything until tomorrow night anyway.”

“But what if this Diego character is hurting her? What if he’s doing something to her right now?”

“It’s three-thirty in the morning, Jess. Even scumbags are asleep right now. Besides, she doesn’t look like she’s being abused. I swear. He has to get her hooked on the lifestyle first, and that takes some real seduction. The abuse comes much later.”

“Jamie, it scares the hell out of me that you know anything about this.” Jessie sat down and stared at her sister morosely.

“Relax, Jess, girls don’t get into trouble at my club very often, but it does happen. It’s the nature of the business, what can I say?” She shrugged her shoulders and leaned against the sink casually.

“You can say that you’re going to quit and join a nunnery instead.” Jessie said, perfectly serious.

“Not bloody likely,” Jamie said with a snort. “I’m gonna go, Jess. Are you sure you’re alright?” There was genuine concern in her voice as she said this. She loved her sister more than anything, and she couldn’t stand to see her so upset. She sincerely hoped that
Duncan
was worth all this drama.

“Yeah, it’s just been such an exciting day.” Jessie rubbed her eyes and gave a little yawn.

“Well, wait until tomorrow when Detective Big Dick comes to the club to identify little Terri-Lynne. Guido’s got a bit of a crush on the girl. He’s not going to like it one bit if your Honey takes her away from the club.” Jamie opened the door and looked back at Jessie, wiggling the fingers of one pale hand in farewell.

“Sounds like Guido is a bit fickle.” Jessie said, getting up to lock the door behind Jamie. “Good night, Jay. Thanks for coming over and harassing me.”

“My pleasure. Hey, at least you’ll have an excuse to call him now.”

“I just wish it was better news.”

“It’s going to work out, Jess. I promise. Remember, who’s the psychic one?”

“You are. Take a cab, alright?”

“It’s only four blocks.”

“Take a cab anyway.”

“Alright, Alright. Call me after you talk to him, okay?”

“Yeah, I will. Bye.” Jessie locked the door and leaned against it, wondering exactly how she was going to tell
Duncan
that his little sister might be working as an exotic dancer.

Chapter
11

The roses were mostly cream, but they had a shadow of peach at the base of each delicate petal.
 

The delivery boy had arrived with them minutes after Jessie had opened the store at 10:15. She’d been late, and frantic to get the cash register set up when the plump, red-headed young man had set them down on the cashier’s desk in front of her. At first, she’d thought they were a mistake, but the long white box had been addressed to her at Forgotten Treasures.

The card was also addressed to her in a masculine scrawling hand. It read:

Jessie,

What have you done to me? I spent twenty minutes this morning trying to find roses that were as perfect as you. I didn’t succeed, but these were close. (Notice how they match those pale orange under things you had on last night.)

Thinking of You,

D.

Jessie had never received flowers before. Had never even conceived of someone sending some to her. She thought romantic gestures like that were for cheating husbands and prom dates. She’d been cynical about roses especially. Thought they were corny and somewhat unoriginal. At least that’s what she thought until she’d held the long-stemmed bouquet in her arms and had buried her nose in the soft petals to inhale their sweet scent. Then roses were magical, and she finally understood why they were so overused for anniversaries and apologies.
 

Jessie was so touched by
Duncan
’s thoughtful act that she actually felt tears well up in her eyes. Who would have thought that someone as tough looking as the detective would take time out to try and make her feel special? It was completely crazy. Macho guys like him didn’t send roses after one almost-date, did they? Apparently they did.