Marcelo let Chanel go and went back to where he was standing.
She cleared her throat. “I just don’t understand why Romeo would come out here to mess with prostitutes. Why not go to one of Dima’s clubs in the North?”
Marcelo smirked at me. “Because Romeo probably didn’t want to get spied on by Dimitri’s people.”
I ignored him and scanned the room. “Still, there must’ve been a reason Romeo traveled ten minutes outside of Paradise to come here. Who was he meeting?”
“Let’s hope that answer holds the key.” Lei placed his hands in his trench’s pockets.
“I’ll get the cops on this.” I gestured for Viktor—my number one.
He came over. “Yes, boss.”
“Who called us about the body?”
“The brothel owner—Nicolette.” Viktor pointed to the doorway.
There, several women peeked in. Sexy lingerie covered their curvy bodies—red silk and white lace, pink ostrich feathers and purple velvet.
In the center, a woman gazed our way with a worried expression.
Viktor called her over.
Nicolette walked over to us.
I eyed her. “When did Romeo get here?”
“Yesterday afternoon, he always has lunch in the dining area and then he goes upstairs for his afternoon special.”
“Which is?”
Nicolette looked away. “Two of his favorites—Candy and Simon. He always enjoyed a man and a woman.”
Chanel parted her lips in shock. Marcelo and I exchanged glances. Lei didn’t appear surprised at all.
“Alright.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “So, he’s been dead since yesterday?”
“I think so.” Nicolette couldn’t even look at the body. “The maids found him this evening.”
More than twenty-four hours passed. How did she not know a dead man was in the room?
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Bring Candy and Simon to me. I want to question them.”
Nicolette widened her eyes. “They didn’t do this.”
I walked over. She inched back. I stopped in front of her. “Where. Are. They?”
Nicolette’s bottom lip quivered. “I-I can’t find them.”
That’s a convenient coincidence.
When most lied, they faced their palms away from who they were lying to. It was an unconscious sign that they were holding back information.
When a person lied they also used gestures with their hands after they spoke as opposed to during or before a conversation. The brain did many strange things. When the person lied, the brain wondered if the listener believed them, causing a normal gesture to occur after a statement, instead of before.
I checked her hands. She had her palms facing away.
I watched her hands once more. “Do you have any idea where they could be?”
“There’s been talk that they’ve left town.” She twisted her palms. “I wish I knew something, but I can’t find them.”
The hands flickered again.
Lies.
Many theories came to mind. The madam probably found Romeo last night, got the prostitutes out of town, and waited for them to be far enough before calling us. That was fine with me. A good madam protected her people.
But did the prostitutes kill and dress up Romeo? That didn’t seem to fit.
Chanel walked over. “What do you mean you can’t find them?”
Nicolette inched back some more. “Last I heard, they left in the middle of the night.”
I glared. “Find them and fast. Until then, this brothel is closed. You may be out of the North’s domain, but not away from my control.”
That statement triggered feminine chatter in the hallway. A closed brothel meant no money for anybody. Surely, that would be motivation enough for someone to come forward with information.
Nicolette bobbed her head. “I’ll find them.”
“Hurry.”
Minutes later, the police showed up. Many were officers on the Syndicate’s payroll. Chanel’s husband, Pedro arrived later, smelling of women and alcohol.
“Holy shit!” A dark laugh left Pedro. “Who knew Romeo liked to wear women’s clothing?”
That started a hushed argument between Chanel and him as she tried to get her husband out of there.
Next, Leo arrived, dressed in a modest, blue robe.
At least he’s still wearing the colors of the East.
When I was a kid, I would love to witness him enter. He hated guns, choosing to only sell them. Instead, he kept a long double-edged sword.
Today, the gold cross around his neck served as his only weapon.
Leo walked over to us. And for that one moment, the sadness and darkness around us disappeared. He brought the calm.
With a disapproving gaze, he looked at all of us. “Children, how long will we do this? How long will we bury the people that we love?”
Lei closed his trench coat and left. His men in blue left with him.
Watching his son leave, Leo’s forehead wrinkled. “Perhaps, I should save my preaching for the pulpit.”
“That’s okay, Leo.” Chanel sniffled. “I think prayer is just what we need.”
That sounds boring.
Leo held out his hands. Marcelo took the right one. Chanel took the left and held out her hand for me.
“I’d rather not.” I headed off.
Leo called back, “We’ll pray for you, Dima.”
“Great.” I continued forward.
Viktor walked on my side.