Vegas Showgirl Murders - book2 - Bob Moats (important of reading books TXT) 📗

want their private parts shown on YouTube," I answered.

"Dumb, these women parade their boobies around every night, but don't want them to be seen online," he smirked.

"Same law that says no cameras in restrooms too, you wouldn't want your dick on some video."

"Hey, I'm proud of my dick," he grinned.

Deacon left the man and came over to us. Deacon was still a cop even though he was now on medical leave, which is why the suit called him officer.

"These people are idiots. When the vic started to convulse from the drink, her friend called security, but she was dead by the time they got there. They called in Metro, and Metro did a cursory investigation, and then removed the body, but hotel security is being tight lipped about all of it," Deacon was fuming.

I told him I knew someone in Metro now, who may help us. I was thinking of Weber.

"I grilled Maria as to why anyone would want to harm her. She has no idea who," Deacon said.

"We'll wait till after the show and we can all sit down and do some thinking. We can go back to the suite at the MGM Grand; you've got to see this place," I grinned.

Deacon smiled a bit, and then looked worried again. I called Penny and told her what was going on and to expect guests in our room, she said that was fine with her, she needed better company anyway, and then she quickly hung up before I could protest. We went out of the dressing area, stood at the back of the showroom, just as the show started. One usher came up and asked if we had seats, Deacon pulled out his badge and said we were investigating. The usher accepted that and toddled off. Deacon grinned at me and said it's nice having a badge, I agreed.

We watched the show and after it ended, we went out to where we arranged to meet with Maria. Buck and I babbled about enjoying the chorus line of boobs, Deacon just told us to shut up. After a while Maria popped up and we departed the Tropicana. The MGM Grand was just across the road from us, so the trip didn't take long.

We all piled into the elevator and up to the floor, Penny opened the door just as we got to it. I said she shouldn't open so quickly until she knew who it was. She laughed and said she could hear Buck's distinctive voice and knew it was us. Everyone came in to the main area of the room, amazed at the beauty of it all, and the great view of the strip. Buck said he wasn't leaving when he saw the whirlpool spa. I told him to stay out of it.

I called room service and asked for a twelve pack of Milwaukee's Best beer, a couple of bottles of some decent wine and a two liter bottle of Diet Sprite. They had it up in record time. I popped open a beer as Penny joined me; we offered wine or beer for our guests. Buck took the whole bottle of Sprite and sat back. Penny said to me it was like we were having a little party. Unfortunately, it was time to talk murder.

"Maria, explain to me the dressing room set-up and procedure for the girl's getting ready for a show," I directed the question to her.

"Well, the whole place is empty during the day, anyone could slip in unnoticed. The lockers aren't locked up because management doesn't want them to be, I guess to be able to look for drugs, or something. That energy drink wasn't mine, I don't drink that crap. I make my own energy drinks from good stuff. The girl in the next locker to me drinks that brand, her name's Lori Davis," she looked to Deacon and continued, "I told the police, and Deacon, that maybe the killer put the can in the wrong locker. We all come in an hour before a show to get ready and it would be then that Lori would gulp down her drink."

"Tonight, did Lori say anything to you about the murder? Did you say anything to her?"

"Lori wasn't scheduled to work tonight; we take turns for nights off, so we don't have come in every night."

"Do you know how to reach Lori?" I asked. She said she had phone numbers of all the girls, just in case she couldn't come in. I continued, "Did you call the girl who was murdered, to fill in for you?"

"I called Lori, since she was off tonight, she said she had a date and would call someone else, I guess it was the murdered girl. I haven't talked to Lori yet."

"Why was the girl in your locker?" I asked.

"We have different shows and different costumes, she needed mine for the show tonight, and we all share as needed. I guess she saw the energy drink and figured since she was doing me a favor, she would drink it."

"I think we really need to talk to Lori now, this sounds like she may be involved," I asked Maria. "Can you call her for me?"

She said she would, and I handed her my cell phone. Maria checked her address book and dialed the number. She sat for a while and said there was no answer. She remembered Lori saying she had a date tonight and probably was still out. I said we would call on her in the morning. I told Deacon that I didn't think this was aimed at Maria, knowing she would have never drank from the energy drink can. The closeness of Lori's locker, who does drink that brand, sort of suggests someone was trying to get to her. He had to agree, but said he wasn't letting his guard down.

We just sat and relaxed for a while longer, then our guests left for the night.

Penny was totally wiped out by the long day, and greeting people. I insisted she go to bed, since she had to do it all again tomorrow. She thanked me for not wanting sex with her tonight, kissed me and went off to bed. I thought about the sex part, but just opened another beer, and sat in a chair that faced out over the strip. I loved the site of it all, flashing and flowing. I could just barely see the volcano at the Mirage, as it spewed its watery flames up, impressing all who stood by to watch.

I started to think about the trip out here and all that happened since. I couldn't believe I was back in Las Vegas, now with a wonderful woman who made my heart and a few other things work better. I really didn't know what it was about me that Penny found interesting or desirable. I had charm, granted, but my body was not in the best shape and I wasn't all that handsome. OK, I had a weird sense of humor which we shared, and I made her laugh frequently. Women, when asked, always say they want a man with a good sense of humor; no one ever says they want a serious, reserved guy. I guess we need humor in our lives to survive. I had a happy outlook on life; I tried not to let things bother me, although most bad things did bother me. I just sucked it up realizing that some things just can't be changed. But I was sure as hell going to change things I can. With my new profession as a private dick, I would go after those things that bad people don't want changed and change them for the better. I thought about the murder of an innocent girl, I had to change that for the better. I put my head back, and then I drifted off, asleep in the chair.

I was suddenly blinded by a light, realizing it was morning and I was still in the chair. The light was from the sun reflected off the glass from the Monte Carlo Hotel, across the street, hitting our window. I got up feeling a lot stiff from sitting all night and looked at my watch. It was just now 7:45 and Penny had about two hours to be at the convention center. I went into the bedroom, dropping the clothes I wore all yesterday, and snuggled into bed with my girl. She stretched and without turning towards me, said, "Good morning, Eric. You stud muffin," I whispered in her ear, "Do you have a death wish?" She turned and kissed my lips and reached down between my legs and groped me.

"Good to see these are still here." She kissed me again and then jumped up and straddled me. She was naked, which surprised me. She said she waited most of the night for me, but she guessed I decided the chair was a better place than with her. She was my breakfast in bed, and with no crumbs. We rolled around in the sheets and had most of them off the bed before we finished. Lying still, she looked me in the eyes, and said that was better than pancakes. She jumped up and ran out to the main room and I could hear the whirlpool spa turning on. I jumped up and joined her. We had breakfast again in the tub.

We were dressed and had about an hour to go; I asked if she would miss me if I went off to investigate. She said she'd enjoy the solitude. I did say I was going to ask Buck to stay with her, and guard her body, she said that idea was fine with her.

I called Buck and asked him for the favor, he said he'd be happy to guard Penny. I didn't tell him that the day was going to be really boring sitting around watching people, but I figured he'd find that out for himself.

Penny and I grabbed a real bite of breakfast at the buffet, and then headed to valet. We tooled out of the MGM Grand and went to get Buck. I said to Deacon that I would be back and we could do some snooping, he said he'd be ready. I noticed he had his service pistol tucked into his belt, still worrying about the situation. I drove Penny and Buck to the convention center and dropped them off. I felt sorry for Buck; he was in for a long day. I got back to Maria's and went in the house after Deacon opened the door for me. I told Maria I thought we should go see Lori rather than call on the phone, we could get more accomplished that way. She got the address from her address book and wrote it down, and then we went down the strip again to Flamingo Road and headed over to Rancho Drive to where Lori lived. I had gotten the location of her house from my Palm and we drove into the drive. There was a car in front of us; Maria said she didn't know what kind of car Lori drove, so we assumed it was hers. The three of us went up to the front door, and I knocked. We waited a bit, and then I knocked again. No answer. I went to the front window and looked in, I stood up and turned to Deacon and said, I think we should call Metro. He came over and looked in the window; a woman was laying in the front room in a pool of