Cupcake Overload (Cupcakes 2)

“Oh, no, I’m sorry. Can I get a pale pink, or maybe a lavender?”

“A lavender would look great. Put your feet in and let them soak, and I’ll go grab it for you.”

“Thanks, Clarice,” I said, groaning as my feet hit the hot water. I leaned back and closed my eyes, reveling in the moment.

I woke up when I felt fists pounding on my calves.

“I fell asleep,” I said groggily, stating the obvious.

“It happens all the time,” Clarice said with a smile as she continued to work my legs over.

God, it feels wonderful. When was the last time I’d been pampered?

“Hey, Clarice,” I began, shaking off the fog and getting to the task at hand. “I was hoping to talk to you about Samantha.”

Clarice paused, and her face filled with sadness.

“Poor, Sammy,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it … She never would have been involved with any of that shit if it weren’t for her scumbag brother.”

My ears perked up.

“What shit was she involved with?” I prodded gently.

Clarice looked around, and when she was sure no one was paying attention, she leaned in slightly and lowered her voice.

“Tony, her dumbass brother, got into some shit a few years back. Star

ted doing drugs, so she pulled him out, got him help. Cleaned him up. Then, about a year ago, she finds out he’s betting horses.”

“How’s she find out?”

“She got called to the hospital ‘cause Tony’d gotten the shit kicked out of him. He was in to the bookies for a lot of dough, and they knew he couldn’t pay up. Sammy helped him again, gave him money, money she didn’t have to give, and let him crash with her. He got a job, and she thought things were looking up, until she found out they weren’t. He’d been lying to her the whole time. He never gave Dale, the bookie, his money; instead he’d bet it and won. When he didn’t turn over the winnings, things started to get ugly again, and he disappeared.”

“Tony did?”

“Yeah, for a while, but just like a dirty penny, he always turns up eventually. I told Sammy to cut him loose, but he’s the only family she’s got, and if there’s one thing Sammy had in spades, it’s loyalty.”

“Did she talk with the bookie? What was she contacting the MC for?”

This time Clarice shrugged.

“I don’t know. I know she talked to the bookie, but she wouldn’t tell me what went down. Didn’t want me involved. She said she needed help, that she wouldn’t be able to handle her brother’s mess on her own. We were out drinking a few nights before she died, and when she saw some of the bikers come in, she thought maybe one of them could help.” Clarice shrugged again and said, “That’s the last time I saw her alive.”

“Do you know where I can find Dale?”

“No, but I’m sure that ratfink Tony does, if you can find him.”

“I talked to Tony already, and he didn’t say a word about the bookie or his involvement in this whole thing.”

“Probably trying to save his own ass,” Clarice said with disgust. “But he knows … You should try him again.”

“Thanks, I will,” I replied, then let her finish what she was doing and got out of there, deciding to talk with Tony again before hitting The Coffee Bean.

I was waiting in the alley behind the bagel shop when Tony rounded the corner, looking as greasy and unkept as before.

“Hey, Tony,” I called as I pushed of the wall, watching as his shifty eyes caught sight of me.

“Hey,” he replied warily, then pointed at the back door. “I’m late.”