traceable until over a year and a half ago; used to work at Club 7. She was one of Fat Sal’s girls.”
Oh fuck!
“I also found the difference in surname once in the original files you sent us. She vanished right around the time Camilla started working for us. What the hell did she do? Is she or someone else changing all her records?” I ask.
Adriano’s eyes cut to mine, and he lifts a brow.
Henry answers, “That I don’t know yet. But this was clearly done by someone extremely intelligent who wanted to confuse anyone looking for information about Camilla Guilermo.”
“Can you get me into Club 7 tonight? Two people.”
He groans. “I knew you’d ask that. It’s tricky, but I can.”
“Call me if you find out more.” I cut the call.
“And?” Adriano gets out of his seat.
“Guilermo with one ‘L’ used to work for Fat Sal until about eighteen months ago.” I also rise and pocket my phone. “Let’s have lunch, and we’re visiting the club tonight.”
“Fuck.” He mirrors my first thought and follows me. “I’ve never been there.”
“Me either.”
CHAPTER 10
Luca
Adriano and I pass the swarm of people outside the front entrance of – what is officially – Club 7.
“How is it this busy on a Monday night?” I wonder out loud.
“This club is open seven nights a week. I’ve heard it’s always busy, but I’m pretty sure that’s thanks to the area we’re going to visit and not the actual club.”
We round the corner to the other entrance, and I hold my phone up so the bouncer can scan the barcode Henry sent me to grant us access.
He takes my phone and holds the screen against his device. After handing it back, he steps aside. “Enjoy your evening, gentlemen.”
We descend two steps, and the heavy steel doors of the club open into a long, dimly lit corridor. A muffled thumping of the bass meets my ears. Andy Warhol pop art of pin-ups hang along both walls, and at the end of the corridor, we step through an archway in the wall and into a dark grey room where we are greeted by a blonde beauty in a tight black suit dress cut down low and black stilettos.
Adriano gawks at her cleavage a moment too long, but she just smiles and holds out her hand for my phone.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Her voice is raspy, adding to her sex appeal.
“Good evening.” I hand it over, and she scans the barcode on the screen.
“Mr. DeMiliano, Mr. Montesi.” She takes a bag from the floor and turns back to us with a smile. “Please hand over your weapons. They’ll be returned to you at the end of the night.”
The archway we stepped through must be the metal detector. Bending down, I get my handgun out and untie the ankle holster. Adriano removes his piece from his back waistband, and we drop them into the black bag she holds open for us. She reveals a safe behind one of the posters and secures the bag in it. Then she presses a silver button next to the door in the opposite wall, and it opens into an elevator.
She indicates for us to enter. “Have a wonderful evening.”
The elevator closes and starts its descent.
“She’s fucking hot,” Adriano remarks.
I smile because I can’t deny that.
The door opens, and we’re welcomed by another beauty in the same black attire, this time a redhead. I shoot Adriano a grin over my shoulder because fiery redheads are his weakness.
“Mr. DeMiliano, Mr. Montesi, I see it’s your first time at our club. Would you like me to show you around?”
I hold up my hand while taking in the massive round room with a huge golden chandelier hanging in the middle, dimly illuminating the room in soft yellow. “No, thanks.”
She frowns and hides it quickly, but I’m already moving forward. Jazz music drowns out the murmurs and moans of the voices of maybe a hundred people here. Set up along the entire rounded wall are beds with see-through drapes, and there’s a bar in the center of the room. Naked women and clothed men flow on the dance floor
Dean Koontz
Jerry Ahern
Susan McBride
Catherine Aird
Linda Howard
Russell Blake
Allison Hurd
Elaine Orr
Moxie North
Sean Kennedy