Free Kissing in Action by Camilla Chafer Page B

recognize.
    "It’s Lexi. Can you unlock the door?"
    The lock clicked and I tugged the door open. Large and Larger stood in front of me, the confusion on their faces most likely matching my own. "What are you doing in there?" asked Large.
    "I'll explain... oh, never mind. Where did they go?" I asked, looking around the empty room. No Solomon - great! But no B4U either.
    "Who?"
    "The band. Shelley, Lauren and Amelia. Where did they go?" I asked again.
    "They went out," said Large.
    "Uh-huh," said Larger.
    "Yeah, I figured. Where did they go?"
    "I don't know."
    "Did they take a bodyguard? Did they call anyone on the phone?" I asked, my heart racing.
    "They called their car service," said Large. "I think they went to a club."
    I groaned. Why on earth would three supposedly grieving women want to go to a club mid-afternoon? Especially after receiving lockdown orders directly from Joe? It didn't make any sense, but I had to admit, they were hardly cut up about their friend's untimely death. Still, like Joe said, they were supposed to be upset. They had to appear like they were upset. Going to a club would not do that, and who would they blame first if the press got hold of the remaining members of B4U?
    Me!
    "Give me the number of the car service," I demanded from the pair, waiting while Large searched slowly through his cell phone before finally producing a number. I entered it onto my keypad, holding my phone to my ear as it rang.
    "Marchmont Hotel Car Service," answered the woman on the other end of the line.
    "Hi. I'm with B4U. Is the second car here yet?" I asked, bluffing.
    "Second car?"
    "Yeah, we sent for two cars. The first car just left and we're waiting on the second."
    "I'm sorry, I don't have any record of two cars. Just the one."
    "Well, fix it," I said, imperiously, as if were an irate member of B4U. "We're in a hurry!"
    "Yes, of course, Madam. My apologies for the wait. We can have a car to you in five minutes. Shall I tell the driver to collect you from the rear service exit too?"
    "That's right; and going to the same destination, which is... oh, shoot! Where did we book it?"
    "The Blue Moon."
    "Right. Yeah. Five minutes at the rear service exit," I confirmed, dropping my forehead into my palm. They couldn't have been heading anywhere worse. "Thanks." I hung up, aware that Large and Larger were staring at me. "When Joe and Solomon come back, tell them we all stepped out and will be back soon."
    "Right," said Large as he looked around the empty room. "You and whom?"
    "B4U," I said, as I skirted around them, running for the door before they could ask me anymore questions I didn't want to answer. I had a bad feeling, and a sense of urgency to get to the club and fast before B4U did something stupid.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    The Blue Moon was pretty much the worst club I could’ve chosen to find B4U. And if it hadn't been for the two security guards, and the car service that provided the information, it would also have been the last place I looked.
    The club was a seedy-looking joint. I was pretty sure Lily once held a job there. Fortunately, she wasn't one of the "hot topless dancers" the billboard next to the door advertised, but briefly worked as a bartender. I recalled the tips were good, but the clientele were not the kind of people you'd ever take home to meet your mother.
    As I stared up at the flashing neon sign, my heart was sinking. This was a sleazy club, and why the band wanted to come here, of all places, I had no idea; but I knew it couldn't have been for anything good. As I decided what to do, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I eased it out, checking the screen. Solomon . I let it ring out, since I did not want to explain to him why the band we were supposed to be protecting had ditched me to go to a strip joint.
    I did the best thing I could under the circumstances. I called Lily.
    "Hey," she said on answering. "I'm a little busy. Can I call you back?"
    "I'll be quick," I promised. "What