I nod. “This is true.”
“So what happened to bring you here now, Heather?” Seth asks.
“Well, I heard Crystal talking yesterday. She’s going to try to convince Astrid to dance tonight,” she explains. “I tried to tell her it would never happen. The way Astrid talks about you, there’s no way you’d be down for her to strip off her clothes for other men.”
My brow lowers and my nostrils flare. “Most definitely not,” I confirm.
“So Crystal said she’s going to ask her just to work in the dance club—no stripping, just dancing—and hope that gets her the bonus from Randy, because he never specified whether the new girl had to be a stripper or not, just that she had to dance.”
“Randy, the club owner who was the last person seen with the victim, Alison, when she was still alive, and then an hour later, her body was being taken out the back door,” Seth confirms.
“That’s him,” Heather replies.
“Who my sister-in-law now works for,” he adds, and she grimaces.
“She’s your sister? I’m sorry; I didn’t know. Yes. But surely she’ll say no to even that, right? You… you must be loaded, being a doctor and all.” She looks at me. “Even the temptation of a thousand bucks an hour won’t faze her… right?” she prompts hopefully, her eyes worried.
The back of my head hits the wall behind me with a thunk as I close my eyes. “A thousand dollars an hour? Just to dance and not take off her clothes? Jesus fuck, how much money is this club fucking making? And yes, she’d be tempted. She’s got it in her head that she wants to earn her own way through college. She refuses to let me pay,” I admit, and when I open my eyes and look at her, she’s nodding, her face considerate.
“I can see that. She’s got a strong head on her shoulders—at least that’s the vibe I get from her when she’s ordering us girls around and keeping us in line to get through our makeup faster. That woman busts ass and hightails it out of there so she can get home to you. But I can’t say I blame her. I mean… look at you.” She gestures up and down my frame, but her tone and expression aren’t flirtatious. If I weren’t dying inside that the love of my life is in the same building as a suspected murderer right now, then I would ponder on the fact that this stranger would most likely be a really good friend to Astrid under normal circumstances. She’s here risking her own safety to ensure Astrid’s.
“So she’s going to try to convince her to dance, and then what? If she agrees, they’ll put her on the schedule for some time next week?” I ask, already preparing the speech I’m going to give her when she gets home tonight about how I don’t want her returning to work there… ever. Not just to convince her to say no to the dancing, but as the makeup artist either.
She shakes her head. “No, without me there…” She winces. “Crystal will put the pressure on her to start tonight, I’m sure. And even as organized and sassy as your Astrid can be, I think she’d give in with the right amount of peer pressure. I mean, especially since she loves to dance anyway, and if she’s trying to pay for school, a thousand dollars in one hour could be the deciding factor that has her saying yes.”
Just then, my phone vibrates on top of the wooden desk as it comes back to life, and then another series of vibrations echo between my cell and my watch. When I lean forward, I have several texts and missed calls from Astrid.
Astrid: Soooo… question. How would you feel about me dancing (NOT STRIPPING!) for an hour tonight after I’m done with everyone’s makeup? Sort of like a go-go dancer situation in the dance club section of the club.
Astrid: A couple of the girls didn’t show up for work tonight, so they’re wanting me to fill in. Again, NOT TAKING MY CLOTHES OFF.
Astrid: Viking, need you to answer me. I really need to know if you’re not okay with this, because $1000 just to dance for an hour is really freaking hard to pass up.
Astrid: Tried calling and it went straight to voicemail. Are you on a 911 tele-appointment?
Astrid: Well, I think I’m going to do it. Just one hour. Added to the $920 I’m making off the MU jobs, that’s almost 2k in one night!
Astrid: Getting all ready to go dance! I have to leave my phone here in the dressing room, but here’s a pic of my costume so you don’t freak out. See? All covered up and it’s STAYING ON! I love you! See you soon <3