Free Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright Page B

sister this week? Can’t find her anywhere?”
    A large swirl of dust exploded from Gabe, falling everywhere, even on my sneakers.
    I dragged my feet back.
    Gabe spun in Ray’s direction, cheeks turning rosy red, eyes wide open. “Do you know where she is?”
    “I’m sorry to have to tell you this.” Ray shook his head. “But your sister was killed early this week.”
    I opened my mouth in disbelief. Surely Ray could have eased into giving him the news. And saying it in front of Star? I’m not sure that was smart. I glanced at Gabe and spied him nodding his head over and over. No tears or collapse into pain. Calm covered his face.
    That’s a weird reaction. If he had been bigger and taller, I would have put him down as a suspect.
    “I figured she was dead.” Gabe combed his fingers through his thick strands. “We’re twins, so I sensed something had happened to her Monday night. I looked all over Santeria, but I never found her.”
    “Monday night was when the habbies found her,” I said.
    Star froze. The cigarette dangled between her two fingers.
    “You think Larry and Carmen killed his sister?” Star turned to me.
    “No.” I sighed. “Carmen was killed on Tuesday. I think Larry killed them both.”
    Star cursed and stamped the cigarette out on the table. I checked for Gabe’s reaction. He remained standing in front of the table, his eyes focused on something far away as if he was gazing at a ghost.
    “So we’d like to know if you and your sister blackmailed Larry,” Ray said.
    “Why do you even care about this?” Star looked from Ray to me and then back at Ray.
    “Let’s just say we’re interested parties,” Ray muttered as Roxy put our drinks on the table and walked away.
    I took a sip of the drink, picking up the pineapple slice that clutched the glass’s rim. Coconut cream mixed with the sweet taste of pineapples filled my mouth. I licked the sugary cream from my lips.
    Star brought her glass to her mouth, tilting the glass in the air and finishing it in three large gulps.
    “Gabe,” Ray said. “We need to know if you blackmailed Larry. We’re here to stop whoever is responsible for killing these girls.”
    “Why?” Star asked.
    Ray ignored her. His eyes stayed on Gabe.
    “Yeah. We blackmailed Larry. I hid in the hotel room and videotaped them having sex,” Gabe said.
    I almost choked on my drink.
    “We sent the video to his house three weeks ago.” Gabe shrugged his slim shoulders. “I figured when his wife came into the club, attacking most of the dancers, that she’d found the tape. So we started blackmailing another guy.”
    “Did you see who your sister left with on Monday?” I asked.
    “No. I had to clean the girls’ dressing rooms that night. It takes me a while.” Gabe put his hands in his jean pockets. “She usually leaves early on Mondays, since they’re slow nights—”
    “They’re both dead?” Star interrupted and looked at Ray. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes,” I said. “And you should definitely stay away from Larry.”
    “I’m protected. My daddy’s over there in the back.” Star pointed near the main stage to a massive black guy with cornrows. “In fact, I should go over there now and let him know what’s happening.”
    “Keep it between you and him,” Ray demanded, holding a finger up.
    “I’m not stupid. Anyway, my daddy only cares about me. He won’t say anything.” Star snatched her stuff off the floor and rushed away.
    “She means her pimp,” Gabe muttered and targeted Ray with his eyes. “Are you going to kill Larry?”
    “Probably,” Ray replied as we all focused on Larry.
    Two dancers straddled him, rubbing their breasts in his face. A group of male Shifters stood near Larry, throwing crumpled dollars at the women and laughing each time a dollar hit the dancers’ heads.
    “Crap,” Gabe said. “I have to go to Carmen’s place. Benji doesn’t know. He’s her son.”
    “Oh, no.” I put my hand in the air. “I kind of took