Bare (Miss Demeanor Series Book 2) (2 page)

Chapter Two

“Careful with that one,” Shay said and startled her brother. She couldn’t believe how much she’d collected in four years, even after she’d sold most of her furniture. She wouldn’t need a houseful in her new apartment.

“This must be Grandma’s china in here,” her brother teased as he reached down for the box.

“My guns.”

Her brother rolled his eyes and laughed. “Figures. No wonder you can’t get a date.”

“Ha, ha, Ray the comedian. Everybody here is either married, in a relationship or old.”

“So you’re moving to Seattle for a man.”

Shay knew Ray loved to torment as most brothers did.

“I’m moving for a career, not for a man.” She made her point with her arms crossed. Silently she hoped that Seattle offered more choice than Connell.

One last walk through the house confirmed everything was either in her car or on the moving truck. She spoke briefly with the movers before they left and then turned to her brother.

“Thanks for all your help, Ray.”

He hugged her. “I’m gonna miss ya, sis. Don’t forget about us.”

Shay smiled and promised with a nod, then handed her keys to the proud new owner of the little blue house with white shutters.

“I know you and Lisa will be happy here.”

Shay had one more stop—an emotional one, she knew—to say goodbye to her mom.

June, the owner of the art studio next to the agency, walked out her door carrying a tray full of champagne glasses. “Congratulations ladies.” She joined Shay and her friends to watch the new sign placed between the two arched, mullioned windows. The black rectangular sign enriched with gold leaf raised letters read: Miss Demeanor Private Detective Agency.

“Thanks June, this is so sweet of you.”

Shay accepted a glass along with her friends and they toasted. She silently laughed at June’s expression when she mentioned she’d met Cory. Shay knew it probably wouldn’t be the last expression she noticed when introducing their new receptionist and administrative assistant. Cory’s attire could be taken as a little eccentric but this was Seattle and anything was in style. Besides her plaid short skirts, black tights and bright colorful tops, Cory’s short black hair streaked with bright blue would grab anyone’s attention.

****

Renee Mills noticed the new private detective agency sign when she left the art gallery. She’d taken up painting again when Beth left for college. Her daughter always came first over the years, from dance classes to soccer games and the many activities in between. Renee didn’t mind. In fact she loved every minute she spent with her daughter.

She dabbled here and there over the years when she had the chance to hide in the space her husband built for her above the garage. The large picture windows he installed provided a clear view of the outside scenery as well as allowed sunlight to penetrate throughout. The small casement windows on either side allowed for ventilation. A spectacular view of Seattle’s skyline inspired her painting.

Renee missed him dearly. A heart attack took her husband from her too soon last Christmas. Her daughter cut off ties with her mother just months after her father’s sudden death. Beth hadn’t returned Renee’s calls since she’d met Rick. She’d finished her business degree but decided against law school, Renee discovered through the mother of a friend of Beth’s. It saddened her that her daughter had thrown her future career away for a man, who was no good for her.

Empty seats in the reception area made her wonder if they were open for business. She’d never thought about a private detective until she noticed the sign. Renee hoped they could help. She was desperate to save her daughter.

“Good morning. Welcome to Miss Demeanor Private Detective Agency. I’m Cory. How may I assist you today?”

Renee had been admiring the painting on the wall and the voice startled her. She turned to discover a young woman with a perky smile and shocking blue, streaked hair.

“Good morning. I’m Renee Mills. Is the agency open? It appears quiet”—Renee moved her head in a one-eighty degree turn—“and empty.”

“Yes, we are open. The new owners have just taken over. Would you like to speak with one of our private detectives?”

Renee nodded, still unsure but hopeful. She’d give anything to help her daughter, though she knew she had no say in her daughter’s life anymore. At twenty-two, Beth was a legal adult.

She followed Cory behind the wall in the reception area. The main room beyond reception impressed Renee with its spacious layout. Beyond four desks she noticed a glass wall with a large room comprised of an antique cherry table and leather chairs. Cory opened the brushed bronze door and motioned for Renee to have a seat in the conference room.

“May I offer you a beverage? We have coffee, tea and water.”

Cory stood by the antique curly maple buffet. With the exception of the antique table and buffet, the remainder of the office furniture seemed modern and inexpensive. Renee wondered if the new owners were young and inexperienced, but she was desperate to get her daughter back.

“Water is fine, thank you.”

Renee watched Cory kneel down to the small refrigerator nestled inside a buffet door. She politely thanked the girl and nodded when Cory announced one of her detectives had returned. Renee watched her saunter into the main area. She noticed another young woman enter the area of the four desks. She appeared older than Cory but not by much. Her long dark brown hair tied in a high ponytail, bounced behind her. The young woman was more professionally dressed than Cory. Renee took notice of the pressed white cotton shirt beneath a navy blazer. A matching skirt rested just above her knees. She stood a few inches taller than Renee with the three-inch heels she wore. Renee observed the caramel highlights when the young woman stood under the lighting. A hand reached out with a pleasant smile.

“Hello, I’m Shay Brooks, one of the partners here at Miss Demeanor. How may I help you today Ms. Mills?”

Renee was impressed Cory had given her name to the detective. Her first shocked opinion of the eccentric Cory quickly changed. Her caring nature and professionalism changed her mind about the girl.

“I need your help to save my daughter.”

“Please have a seat, Ms. Mills.” Shay took a seat across from her. “Is your daughter in danger? How old is she?”

“Twenty-two, and yes, she’s in danger.” Renee began to tell Beth’s story and Shay listened until she heard Renee state she’d lost all contact since her daughter met Rick.

“Is Rick her boyfriend?” Shay enquired with such concern in her eyes, it touched Renee’s heart. She knew she’d made the right choice to ask for help. She needed someone who cared.

“Yes, I suppose he is. Beth hasn’t introduced me to him. From what I’ve heard, he’s in his forties. He owns that high-end strip club called
Bare
. I’ve heard it’s a cover for drugs. It must be. Beth had everything going for her until he got her hooked on drugs. Since he came into her life, she’s dropped out of college and from what I gather, is stripping. Can you help me save her?”

Chapter Three

Shay returned to her desk after Renee left. She promised to call her as soon as she spoke with her partners. Her heart went out to the woman. Renee seemed so worried about her daughter. Shay looked up when she caught a glance of a Hawaiian shirt. She knew in an instant her partners Maile Kuhiwinui and Cassie Holmes had returned. They had run out to pick up a few office supplies and lunch.

Maile always sported aloha shirts and wore her long dark hair in a loose bun. Her petite build and youthful looks surprised anyone she told her age of thirty-three.

Cassie came from Arizona. At the age of thirty-one she’d also been fed up and frustrated in climbing the ranks. The tall, tanned blonde, had become Shay’s running partner. They spoke about joining a local gym together once they settled in with the agency.

“Cory mentioned we have a potential client.”

Maile set down the bags she carried. Cassie handed Shay a deli sandwich as Cory joined them with bottles of water.

“We do. I’m waiting for River to return and then I’ll fill you all in while we eat.” Shay took a bite and moaned in delight. “You were right, Cory, this is a damn-good-sandwich.” Laughter spread around the table. Shay knew they remembered Cory’s exact words when she suggested the deli. Cory, alone, had already brought excitement to Shay’s new world with her eccentric looks and choice of words. She said it the way she saw it. Shay liked that about Cory.

“What’s all the laughter about?”

River Nightingale returned and grabbed the last unopened sandwich. She was often mistaken for a teenager at only four and a half feet tall. But the thirty-year-old pixie-sized blonde could handle herself. Shay referred to her as ‘small but mighty.’ She wasn’t a woman you wanted to mess with.

“Shay’s having an orgasmic experience with that
damn-good-sandwich
.”

Cassie’s remark brought about more laughter.

“Well, it has been some time, a little sad that a sandwich is providing pleasure.”

Shay winked at them and bit into the sandwich again. She knew they all enjoyed the same pleasure as they ate without another word spoken. Shay finished first and reached for a napkin.

“A potential client, Mrs. Renee Mills, stopped by and wants us to save her daughter.”

Shay figured an abrupt start would entice the ladies to take the case.

“Save her? Is she missing?” River placed her sandwich back on her plate. Maile and Cassie sat waiting patiently for Shay to continue.

“Beth Mills isn’t missing. She’s twenty-two, and was a straight-A student at the University of Washington. Her mother lost contact with her when she started seeing this Rick guy. Beth dropped out of college. Her mom believes Rick has her hooked on drugs and stripping at a club called
Bare
.” Shay passed around Beth’s picture Renee had given her.

“And her mom wants us to save her from Rick? Rick, who? Does anyone know about this club Shay mentioned?”

Maile reached for her tablet when everyone shrugged.

“Beth is an adult. We can’t tell her what to do,” Cassie added to the conversation while Maile Googled for a club in Seattle called
Bare
.

“Her mom can’t tell her either. Beth won’t return her calls. Renee is sick with worry. She swears this isn’t like her daughter. She never rebelled as a teenager and had been focused on nothing else but becoming a lawyer. Renee believes it’s the drugs and Rick that have steered her away from her life’s goals.” Shay knew she’d reach their hearts with the emotional tones she used.

“But what exactly does she want us to do? Bust the place for drugs, have Rick jailed and then whisk her daughter away to rehab?”

River’s questions were the same ones Shay first thought when she met Renee.

“Renee isn’t sure what she wants us to do. She’s just lost and desperate to save her daughter from a world of drugs.”

Maile interrupted the conversation with her findings.

“B.A.R.E. is an acronym for
B
usiness
A
ssociates
R
eserved
E
stablishment. From the pictures I found, it appears to be somewhat of a gentleman’s club like you’d find in England.”

Maile looked up from the computer.

“You know those high-end clubs for men only?” She read from her tablet that the annual membership fee was five-thousand dollars after the initial twenty-five thousand initiation fee, and an invitation.

“So it’s
only
for the wealthy?” Cassie piped up with sarcasm in her tone.

Maile nodded in agreement and continued reading. “The wealthy and the famous; New York has a few of them too. It says here that Richard Newark is the club’s owner. Must be our ‘Rick’ in question, and a very striking man he is.” Maile turned the tablet so everyone could view his picture.

Shay agreed he must be Beth’s new interest. “Renee mentioned he was in his forties. She also called it a strip club. It doesn’t appear to be one.”

Maile turned the tablet back and brought up another article she’d found about the club. She read aloud that the club was believed to include an escort service, but it had yet to be proven. Some believed the thirty rooms within were used for private massages and pole dances. “Guess that’s the reason for the acronym.” Maile snorted and continued, “It says the owner strongly made it clear that it was a private club for elite business associates.”

“And possibly one with a hidden drug operation. What do you think ladies? It sounds like Beth Mills could use our help. Should we make our mark in town and bust Seattle’s secret drug operation?” Shay asked.

Everyone around the table agreed the case enticed them and they’d like to investigate the place. River asked Maile to continue her research on the club.

“So, we’re taking the case?”

Shay excitedly did a drum roll on the table with her fingers. She looked at the blank expressions around the table. “What? I’m excited. We have a client. The first client I interviewed. Let me have some glory.”

“You’ll get glory, sweetie. You are the only one of us who waitressed in college. Guess who’s going undercover as a waitress at Bare?”

River laughed when the corners of Shay’s smile dropped.

She wondered what she’d gotten herself into and then it hit her.

“I have no connections to get a job there. Do I just knock on the door and apply?”

River stood. “Yes you do have connections. Uncle Mike. I’ll call him now to see if he can help.”

Shay sunk lower in her chair.
This is it, my first undercover assignment.
She returned to her desk and confidently placed the call to Renee Mills as promised.