Ceremony in Death (In Death #5)(32)

She shook her head. There was something under that mix, something metallic. “Blood. Fresh blood.”

He’d caught it as well. That broody underlayer. “In a place like this, they put it in the air vents for mood enhancement.”

“Charming.”

They stepped off onto the second level. Here, rather than tables and chairs, there were floor pillows and thick rugs where patrons could lounge as they sipped their brew of choice. Those on the prowl leaned on the ornate chrome rail, scoping, Eve imagined, for a likely partner to lure into one of the privacy rooms.

There were a dozen such rooms on this level, all with heavy black doors bearing chrome plaques with such names as Perdition, Leviathan, and — more direct, in Eve’s opinion — Hell and Damnation.

She could too easily imagine the personality type who would find such invitations seductive.

As she watched, a man whose eyes were glazed with liquor began to slurp his way up his companion’s legs. His hand snuck under her crotch-skimming skirt as she giggled. Technically, she could have busted them both for engaging in a sexual act in public.

“What would be the point?” Roarke commented, reading her perfectly. His voice was mild. Anyone taking a casual glance would have seen a man faintly bored with the ambiance. But he was braced to attack or defend, whichever became necessary. “You’ve got more interesting things to do than toss a horny couple from Queens in lockup.”

That wasn’t really the point, Eve thought as the man tugged apart the self-stick fly on his baggy blue trousers. “How do you know they’re from Queens?”

Before he could answer, a young, attractive man with a flowing mane of blond hair and bare, gleaming shoulders, hunkered down beside the busy couple. Whatever he said had the woman giggling again then grabbing him into a sloppy kiss.

“Why don’t you come, too?” she demanded in an unmistakable accent. “We could have ourselves a manage and twas.”

Eve lifted a brow at the borough massacre of the French term, and at the easy skill with which the bouncer disengaged himself and led the staggering couple off.

“Queens,” Roarke said, smug. “Definitely. And that was smoothly done.” He inclined his head as the couple was taken through a narrow door. “They’d add the price of the privacy room to the tab, and no harm done.” There was a scream of female laughter as the bouncer came back out and secured the door. “Everyone’s happy.”

“Queens might not be in the morning. The cost of a privacy room in a place like this has to hurt. Then again…” She scanned the crowd. Ages varied from the very young — many of whom she was sure had gained entrance with forged ID — to the very mature. But from the wardrobe and jewelry, the tone of faces and bodies that slyly hinted at salon enhancements, the clientele was solidly upper middle-class.

“Money doesn’t look to be a problem here. I’ve spotted at least five high-credit licensed companions.”

“My count was more like ten.”

She quirked a brow. “Twelve bouncers with low-grade palm zappers.”

“On that count, we agree.” He slipped an arm around her waist and walked to the rail. Below, the dance floor was packed, bodies rubbing suggestively against bodies. Wild laughter bounced off the mirrored walls and shot upward.

The band was into their performance mode. The two female vocalists were being bound to dangling silver chains with leather straps. The music pounded, heavy on the drums. The dancers surged forward, closing in, as eager as a mob at a lynching. Audience participation was realized as a man was brought forward and accepted the invitation to strip the women out of their flimsy robes. Beneath, they were naked but for glittery stars over ni**les and pubes.

The crowd began to chant and howl as he coated them with thick oil, and they writhed and screamed and begged for mercy.

“That’s skirting the line,” Eve muttered.

“Performance art.” Roarke watched the man scourge the first vocalist with a velvet cat ‘o nine tails. “Still within the law.”

“A simulation of debasement encourages the real thing.” She set her teeth as a band member began to lightly slap the second vocalist as their voices soared in fervent duet. “We’re supposed to be beyond this kind of female exploitation. But we’re not. We never are. What are they looking for?”

“Thrills. Of the cheaper and meaner variety.” His hand soothed the base of her back. She knew what it was to be bound, to be abused. There was nothing artful and nothing entertaining about it. “There’s no need to watch this, Eve.”

“What makes them do it?” she wondered. “What makes a woman let herself be used that way, in simulation or in reality? Why doesn’t she kick his balls into his throat?”

“She’s not you.” He kissed her on the brow and firmly turned her away.

The railing was thick with people, now straining to see the show.

As they took a quick tour of the top floor, a woman in a sheer black gown glided up to them. “Welcome to The Master’s Level. Do you have a reservation?”

Enough was enough, Eve thought. She flipped out her badge. “I’m not interested in what you’re selling here.”

“Fine food and wine,” the hostess said after only a quick hitch at the sight of police identification. “You’ll find we’re completely within code here, Lieutenant. However, if you wish to speak with the owner — “