Standing in the Shadows (McClouds & Friends #2)(91)

Sean seized a jelly doughnut, saluted the waitress with it, and took a huge bite. "Miles insisted on coming along, once I told him my strategy. He's got that hero mentality, just like you, Con."

Connor looked up from leafing through the rap sheet, smiled thinly, and jerked his chin for Sean to continue.

"So we took off on an all-night odyssey of squalid roadhouse dives, fueled by Miles's trusty flask of super-caffeinated Jolt Cola. We finally hit pay dirt when we got to the Rock Bottom Roadhouse, where we met LuAnn. Ah, the beautiful, strawberry blonde LuAnn."

"She's not as hot as Cindy," Miles said.

"Do we want to hear this, Sean?" Connor asked.

"Trust me, there's a thru-line. Turns out that LuAnn the barmaid knows Billy Vega by reputation. She used to dance in a club near Lynnwood. She told us that Billy comes across as a big-shot agent, but she knows girls who were recruited by him who spit on the ground at the mention of his name. So Miles and I abandoned the roadhouses and ventured out bravely into the wild world of the Seattle titty bars."

Erin covered her face with her hands. "Oh, God."

"Watch it, Sean," Connor said. "This is not for your entertainment."

Sean's smile faded. "I never thought that it was." He reached out and tapped Erin's wrist gently with his finger. "Hey. Sorry. I'm kind of wired right now, but I promise, I'm taking this thing dead serious. No matter what bullshit comes out of my mouth. OK?"

"Thanks." She gave him a wan smile. "I appreciate your help."

Connor grabbed a maple bar, eyed it with deep suspicion, and took a bite. "So that's why you've got that wild glitter in your eye," he said. "You always bounce off the walls when you're short on sleep."

"Sleep? How are we supposed to sleep if that scum-sucking piece of shit is with Cindy?" Miles asked the table at large. "I haven't slept in a month."

Sean slapped him on the back. Miles sputtered his coffee over the table. "Attaboy, Miles. You would not believe this man's concentration. We went to seven clubs full of naked dancing girls, and he might as well have been cruising the Christian Science Reading Room."

"They weren't as cute as Cindy," Miles repeated.

Sean shook his head. "He's a human laser beam," he said. "It's not normal. But anyhow, Miles and I cruised and schmoozed, nursed a few beers, and ingratiated ourselves with some of the young ladies present. Evidently Billy Vega is pretty well-known and generally disliked by the dancers. I passed my card around and let it be known that I was really, really interested in finding Billy Vega, and I would be glad to pass a real generous tip to anybody kind enough to find me a current address for him, or give me a call if he should show up in the club. Which reminds me. I have to make a trip to the bank machine. The slush fund's been blown on gasoline and beer."

"I'll cover it," Erin and Miles said in unison.

They looked at each other and smiled. It occurred to her that Miles might actually have the potential to be attractive, in a wan, offbeat, undernourished sort of way. There was something sweet and unguarded about his face when he smiled. Like a vulnerable vampire.

"We'll work those details out later," Connor said.

"So what next?" Erin asked.

Sean ran his fingers through his spiky hair, and for an instant she saw a flash of weariness on his face. "Miles and I might drop by my condo, freshen up. I could use a shower. I hate stinking of smoke. This isn't the best hour to cruise girlie bars anyhow, so we should take advantage of the lull. Then we'll just head straight back into the fray."

"I want to keep looking," Miles announced.

"You could use a shower, too, buddy," Sean informed him. "You don't want your hair to look like that when we find Cindy."

Miles lifted a hand to his snarled, stringy dark mane. "What's wrong with my hair?"

Sean buried his face in his hands. "Why is it my karma to be the frustrated image guru for losers like you guys? Why don't you all just go buy a Men's Health magazine and learn how to groom yourselves?"

"I've got to get back to the gym," Davy said. "I've got to teach a karate and a kung fu class, and something tells me I'm going to be teaching your kickboxing class tonight, Sean. Again."

"Hey, that's what you get for being a responsible businessman and pillar of the community," Sean said. "You poor bastard."

"You're going to make up every class you miss," Davy warned. "I'll make you teach Tai Chi on Sunday mornings if you don't watch it."

Sean shuddered with distaste. "I hate Tai Chi. Too damn slow."

"It's good for you," Davy said. "It makes you concentrate."

"I concentrate just fine, in my own way," Sean snapped.

Connor signaled for the check. "We have to get going. Let me know if you get any calls from your dancing girls."

"Call me, too," Davy said. "I hate missing the fun."

"Where are you two heading?" Sean asked.

"Erin's mom's house," Connor said.

That announcement elicited a shocked, wide-eyed silence from both brothers. Davy's eyebrows climbed. "Whoa. That's quick work."