Chapter 5


It was a very non descript looking cinder block building with nothing outside that would indicate to anyone what it was. There was a single, very rough looking, guy who was standing by what appeared to be the main entrance and that was nothing more grand than a bland, gray, fire door. The sight and feel of this entire set up made Danni want to go for her gun. It was only the fact that Garcia Alvarez was so thoroughly easy going about all of this that Danni kept her weapon in it’s place.

When they reached the door, the guy standing watch on it took notice of them and got off of the wall he had been leaning against. He counted the three of them like it actually took some effort and then he held up his palm with all digits extended. Garcia dug into his wallet and handed over fifteen dollars as he told his companions, “you guys can catch the next one.”

Bob Johnson was only slightly less nervous than Danni, “catch the next what?”

As they stepped in to the door they were quickly struck by the darkness, the spinning lights, and the sight of women on stage, half dressed, and dancing around poles. Danni wanted to turn around and walk right out but, she decided to grab Garcia’s arm instead. She dug in with her nails and told him, “this is a fucking titty bar!

“No,” he replied to her as he admired the view, “it’s got a little more class than that. It’s just a titty bar.” When Garcia looked away from the stages he said, “what the hell is wrong with you? I thought you were gay.”

Bob leaned past Danni and told Garcia, “you do know that Donna is going to kill me if she finds out, right?”

“Oh why don’t you grow a pair man,” Garcia shot back.

Danni dug her fingers in a little harder on Garcia’s arm, “this is embarrassing and, for the record, one final time,” her teeth gritted, “I am not gay!”

Bob’s right brow arched, “really? Are you serious?”

Danni finally let go of her captured arm and then threw her hands up in frustration, “why does everybody think that?”
After nursing his arm for a moment, Garcia answered, “don’t sweat it little sister. It’s cool with us.”

Bob gave a bit more of a substantial answer by pointing out, “well Danni, I mean nobody has ever heard you talk about dating a guy. You run around with that little pack of yours. You dress funny when…”

Danni pointed to Bob’s choice of attire, “you’re one to talk Bob. You’re the only one at the station that ever wears a tie.” Then after a second glance she noted, “and that one is ugly by the way.”

Garcia reached out and poked Bob as he said, “I don’t know man. Maybe she’s telling the truth. You didn’t see that lip locker she put on Tony.”

Danni rolled her eyes, “oh god. Did he put you up to this?”

That just sent Garcia into a defensive shrug, “don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would Tony put us up to this?” Danni only crossed her arms and gave Garcia an evil look. He blew it off, “for the record, for both of you, this is work related.”

Bob mumbled, “till Barbara finds out.”

Garcia heard him and poked him hard this time, “she’s the one who sent us here, dumbass.”

With her arms still crossed, only now in deep thought, Danni sneered and grunted, “it was nothing.”
She had half hoped that Garcia would have forgotten the conversation but, he was right on the money when he replied, “didn’t look like nothing to me.”

Bob raised a finger, “excuse me, exactly why would Barbara send us to a show bar?” Both Garcia and Danni realized what Bob was truly saying. The translation went like, “she knows my wife guys. I’m in seriously deep shit.”

That was why Danni chose to ignore Bob. She was more interested in squashing Garcia at the moment. He knew where they were going and played up his “big secret” until it was too late. Danni was also a little concerned about the other issue and that was the one she addressed, while trying to avoid eye contact with the stages, “Tony delivered, ok? I was in a rough spot and he came through for me.”

Garcia smiled and leaned closer to Danni, “as I recall sweetheart. I was there too and I didn’t even get a hug.”

Danni looked away form him and just blurted out, “oh shut up.”

It became obvious, at that point, that Garcia was done with the matter. He motioned to a corner table and said, “come on. We got work to do.” He led his little party to a table that was not only in a shadow but, had a pretty good view of the entire bar.

Danni had to comment as she squirmed, “ok, you’ve successfully embarrassed me. Can we go now?”

That drew a laugh from Garcia, “and you’re the one that’s supposed to be keeping us straight.” When he noticed the strange looks he was getting, Garcia replied, “that’s why Barbara wanted Danni along. So we wouldn’t come back late.” When it was obvious that niether of his two nervous cohorts were buying it, Garcia pointed at one of the stages with a particular dancer on it, “take a gander.”

Bob did as suggested, and showed great enthusiasm for his work. Danni was doing it but had a hand cupped over her eyes like she was blocking out the sun. Then she asked, “some reason we’re doing this.”

“Take a closer look,” Garcia said as he tried swinging his shoulders to the music.

It was Bob who saw it first. Desipte the strange colored hair, most obviously a wig, he finally managed to recognize the woman that was dancing, half dressed in a comical looking police outfit, around the pole, “that’s Leslie Tatersall?”

Suddenly Danni dropped her hand and was looking with eyes that almost popped out of her head, “you have got to be kidding me. That merchie chick from the Roby? She’s a stripper?”

“Hey, she’s got to eat like anybody else,” Garcia replied whimsically as he enjoyed the show. Then he added, “Barbara wants to see her.” It took a minute before Garcia realized that he was getting some slack jawed looks from his two companions. He shrugged, “what? She wants to talk to the girl about giving her a job. Something wrong with that?”

Danni spelled out her unbelieving attitude, “she’s a stripper, Gar.”

“Maybe,” Garcia replied. When the questioning looks would not vanish, Garcia checked the time on his phone and then easily said, “pay attention. I’m guessing it’s almost show time.”

Bob started to glance from Garcia to the stage and then back again. He barely got the question out of his mouth, “pay attention to..,” when all hell broke loose up on the stage.

There was some big guy right at the foot of the stage. He had been getting more enthused as the dance went on and it was quite clear that Leslie was encouraging him. When his hands finally would not retreat, Leslie promptly cuffed them to the pole. At first the guy seemed to like it but, when Leslie would not let him go, he got very agitated and called for help. He seemed to have a couple of friends with him. Leslie left one of them unconscious, with his face flat on the stage surface, and the other running after she released her head lock and grip on his nose.

Danni blinked. Then she rubbed her eyes in disbelief and said, “what just happened?”

Garcia chuckled, “the girl’s been working for a bounty hunter ever since her merchie gig went down. Barbara’s been having me tail her for the past couple of weeks.”

The consequences of this were quite clear to Bob. He asked Garcia just to be sure, “so Barbara doesn’t know we’re at a titty bar right now?” When Garcia nodded, Bob collapsed, “oh thank god.”