No More Tears In The End

After the waitress went to get our drinks, Rain turned back to me. “You find your shooters yet?”

“Not yet. But I heard from some of her friends that she liked to hangout here.” I took out the picture. “I got a picture of her,” I said and handed Rain the picture. I was anxious to see the expression on her face and the look in her eye when she saw Zakiya’s picture, but there was none.

“Never seen her before. You show that to anybody else here, maybe one of the waitresses seen her here.”

“I did but nobody recognized her,” I lied.

“I ain’t surprised. A lotta people come through here every night.”

“It was a shot in the dark.”

“You were just lookin’ for an excuse to come see me, that’s all.”

“That’s one way of lookin’ at it.” The waitress came back with our drinks and disappeared quickly. “I was hopin’ that you would show me around your spot, maybe play a couple of hands of poker.” I needed to have a look around for computers. That would give me a better idea of who had access to them. I don’t remember seeing one in JR’s office, but I wasn’t actually looking for one that night. I knew there had to be at least one.

I told Rain that I wanted to play poker because Black said he wouldn’t mind takin’ over JR’s gambling operation.

“Not a problem,” Rain said and stood up. I followed her, watching how her wide hips swung in the mini as she showed me around the club.

We had been all through the club and I hadn’t seen a single computer anywhere. Then we went in the back. Rain showed me the dressing rooms for the entertainment and the door to gambling room.

“We’ll go down there in a minute.”

The next door we came to was locked, so Rain knocked. “That door always locked?” I asked.

“Most of the time. This is Miles office.”

“That’s your brother, right?”

“Right.” A woman came to the door. “I’m not interrupting, am I?” Rain asked and walked by the woman.

“How are you doin’?” I said to the woman and followed Rain in.

There was a computer on the desk.

“What’s up, Miles? There’s somebody I want you to meet.” Miles stood up and came from behind his desk.

“I’m Miles Robinson,” he said and extended his hand. By that time the woman who opened the door was standing next to Miles. “And this is my wife, Lakeda.”

“Nick Simmons.”

Miles looked impressed. “It’s good to meet you. Heard a lot about you.”

“I was about to take Nick downstairs, but I wanted to introduce y’all before I went down there. You know how you like to run outta here. I’m surprised you’re still here,” Rain said and turned to leave. “Oh, by the way,” she turned to me. “Show them the picture, Nick.”

“Y’all ever see this girl up in here?” Rain asked as I handed Miles the picture. He looked at the picture and handed it back to me.

“No, I haven’t.”

“I didn’t think you would. Just thought I’d ask,” Rain said and headed for the door.

I looked at Miles and then at Lakeda.

“You comin’?” Rain said.

“Nice meeting you both.”

Chapter 24