No Limit (Armed & Dangerous #1)(14)

Her gaze narrowed. “How do I know that?”

I quickly flipped out my badge, putting my thumb over my picture and name. “Believe me now?”

She sighed and sat back. “What can I do for you? I already told the police everything I know.”

“Yes, but you failed to give them the names of your johns.”

Swallowing hard, she choked back a sob. “Believe me, I would if I could. The kind of men I deal with aren’t just your run of the mill crowd. They’re powerful. They would run me into the ground and take everything I have. The deals we make are basically written in blood. I can’t verbally tell you the information.”

“But someone’s killing your girls. Doesn’t that make you want to do something about it?”

Her eyes blazed. “I am doing something about it. I shut down my business so none of them could get hurt. No matter what I’ve done, it hasn’t helped. My girls are still disappearing.”

“Are they accepting contracts without your knowledge?”

“That’s what I’m assuming. Some of my girls don’t mind the added risk. They want the money. I saw on the news about that young girl from Vermont who was reported missing yesterday. Do you think she’s another victim?”

“We don’t know,” Jason spoke up. “From her stats, she doesn’t exactly fit the hooker profile. She’s an elementary school teacher here to have some fun with her friends. The killer doesn’t seem to want that type, but I could be wrong. It’d be good to have some names.”

She huffed. “I told you, I can’t verbally tell you. What part of that do you not understand?”

I studied her and then caught onto her clue. “Great, then I will just list off the names we have and all you have to do is nod when you hear one who fits the bill.”

A small smile splayed across her face. “Good catch, detective. Trust me, I want to see my girls safe again. I’ll do anything I can to help, but I have to play by the rules.”

“You’re killing me, smalls,” Jason grumbled from the front. “I never would’ve thought you’d be smarter than me.”

Ronnie snorted. “She’s a female. Of course she’s smarter than you.”

I held back my laugh; especially when Jason cursed to himself.

“I’m heading back to the hotel. Let’s wrap this up,” he ordered.

Clearing my throat, I looked straight at Ronnie, even though she couldn’t see my eyes through the sunglasses. “I have a list of men we’re investigating. I’m going to say their names and all you have to do is give me a simple nod. Ready?” She nodded. “Drake Blackwell?” She blinked and reluctantly nodded. “Mark Chamberlain?” Again, she nodded. “Chazz Davies?” Lowering her head, she nodded. “I have one more . . . Will Randall.”

Chuckling, she leaned her head on the seat. “Oh, dear Lord, no. William isn’t like the scumbags he hires. He’s the last person I’d loan one of my girls out to. Believe me, they’ve asked, but he always refuses. If he didn’t, I’d castrate him.”

“Why is that?”

“We’re family. His wife is my sister.”





“I didn’t see that coming, did you?” I asked.

Shaking his head, Jason pressed the button for our floor. We didn’t want Madame Chatfield knowing we were staying at Caesar’s so we’d waited for her to leave before venturing inside. “At least it clarifies that Randall hasn’t been with any of the murdered girls. Unfortunately, he’s still friends with our suspects. That could make him guilty by association. We can’t trust any of these people.”

“I wasn’t planning on it. Hopefully, some of them will be at the casino tonight. I’m ready to get this shit over with.” I looked at my watch. “What time do you want to head down to the casino to meet Randall?”

Jason set his phone on the counter when we got inside. “Probably around ten.” Nodding, I started off toward my room. “Hey,” he called.

Stopping, I slid my hair out of my ponytail and turned around, running my hands through it. “Yeah?”

His emerald eyes met mine and he had the cutest smirk on his face. “I was thinking, maybe we could get some dinner before work tonight? There’s a restaurant in town and I kind of know the owners, or at least the owner’s husband. I’m sure they’d reserve us a good table.”

Hands on my hips, I studied him. “I’m not going on a date with you, Avery.”

He chuckled and lifted his hands in the air. “It’s a good thing it’s not a date then. I thought I’d be polite and ask you to join me. But if you don’t want to go . . .”

“No, I’ll go,” I blurted, maybe a little too excitedly. I cleared my throat and started again. “It’d be good to get something to eat. I don’t want to go out by myself.”

“Ah, so you’re going with me because you don’t want to be alone. I can’t believe I finally found a girl who could actually resist me.”

“Are you trying to tell me you can get any girl you want?” I asked incredulously. By the charming looks and devilish smile, I could believe it. I spent my whole life hating guys like him.

He shrugged. “Almost ninety-nine percent of the time. Do you think I couldn’t get you if I tried?”