Tough Guy: A Hero Club Novel by Jamie Schmidt (the reading list .TXT) 📗

had steak and eggs and a side of hash browns. I was considering going up and getting an omelet when Jackie's phone rang.

“I don't recognize the number,” she said, “But it could be Lisa.”

“You better take it. I'm going up for round two. Do you want something?”

“Chocolate croissant.”

I nodded and left to fill my plate. When I got back, our coffees had been refilled, but Jackie had her head in her hands.

“Did something happen?” I asked as a wave of alarm when through me.

She lifted her head. Her eyes were brimming over with tears. I snatched her hand and rubbed it. Then I noticed she was grinning like a fool.

“Travesty called me back. They narrowed down to five people and I'm one of the five.”

“That's fantastic. When do they want to see you?”

“Tonight. Apparently, one of the backers is flying in and wants a say in the casting. It's at seven p.m. We should be back by then, right?”

“Plenty of time. But we should finish up here so we're there when the winery opens.”

“Good idea.” Jackie got up to leave, but I tugged her down.

“We've got time to finish your coffee and chocolate croissant.”

“Right,” she said. “I'm still reeling. I never thought I'd make it this far. They actually called me back. Thank goodness I was able to sub in my information for Lisa's. That way Zimmerman never has to know.”

“Unless you get the job.”

Jackie shook her head. “I can't think about that now. One step at a time. If I start making plans, and it doesn't happen, I'll be crushed.”

I felt a flicker of satisfaction that she was considering taking the job. I wouldn't push now, but I was going to make it very easy for her to say yes to staying in Las Vegas with me.

“It will be good to see Lisa and talk to her,” Jackie said, cupping her coffee mug in her hands.

“Are you sure she'll want to see you?”

“Probably not,” Jackie said. “But ask me if I give a fuck.”

That's my girl.

The drive out to the winery was uneventful and we were the first ones in for the tour. Jackie immediately went into the bar area and I followed. It was a tourist trap, with wine barrel tables and fussy chairs. I wasn't much for wine. I just wanted this over as quickly as possible so Jackie could concentrate on her second audition.

“Is Lisa Mitchell working today?” Jackie asked one of the bartenders, who had a set of wine glasses in front of her and several open bottles.

“No, she quit last week.”

“What?”

The woman flinched at Jackie's vehemence.

“Sorry,” Jackie apologized. “It's just that I've come all the way from New York to see her and she mentioned that she was working here.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Lisa. She's only interested in one person, herself.”

Jackie opened her mouth to argue, but then switched gears. “Parker isn't here is he?”

“Parker who?”

“Her boyfriend?”

“I didn't know she had a boyfriend,” the bartender said. “But maybe that's why she left without giving notice. She seemed the type to let a man call the shots for her.”

I could see Jackie's shoulders slumping and I stepped in closer for moral support.

“You don't happen to know where she went or why she left?” Jackie asked, slinging an arm around me. I gave her a quick hug.

“She said she got a new job, but she didn't tell us where.”

Jackie sighed and dug into her handbag for her card. “I'm her sister. Is there any way you can give me the address she put down on her application? I need to find her. Our mother is terribly worried about her.”

“I'm sorry. I can't.”

“What about the owner or the manager?”

“I am the owner.”

“I can prove that I'm her sister.”

“I can't divulge personal information. I could get in trouble.”

“She's right,” I said, when Jackie would have protested more. I’d bent the rules and it was only because Grier owed me a few favors that he did the background check on Jackie that made me comfortable giving out Lisa's address.

“Was Lisa all right? She has a bad knee.”

“Seemed fine to me.”

“Do you have any idea where I could start looking for her?” Jackie said, in a small voice. “Like I said, I came all this way.”

“Why don't you call her?” the bartender owner asked.

“She doesn't answer or call me back.”

“Take a hint,” the bartender said, not unkindly. “Now, would you like to sample some of our wines?”

“No thanks,” I said and steered Jackie back to the rental car I’d sprung for. It beat waiting on a car service or taxi and I was glad for the privacy as I helped her into the passenger seat.

She waited until I closed the door before wailing, “What do I do now?”

“I don't know, sweetheart.”

“She could be anywhere. Hell, for all I know, if she's no longer with Parker she could be heading back to New York.”

“Maybe that's what happened,” I said, stroking her hair.

“No, I'm not that lucky.”

“She's a selfish bitch,” I said and was surprised when Jackie flinched. “What?”

“There's got to be a reason why she keeps taking these jobs and then leaving after a few days or weeks.”

“Perhaps she's trying to find herself,” I said sarcastically, but Jackie was nodding her head.

“I think so too. Don't get me wrong, I think she's going about it the wrong way. But you've seen what our mother is like. I think she doesn't want to call until she's settled. My mother has a way of shitting all over new plans and dreams.”

“She gets more and more delightful the more I hear about her.”

“Lisa’s always accused me of being her stooge. I wish I had handled things better in the past so that she would trust me now. It kills me that she trusts Parker more than her family and I don't have a good feeling about him.”

“That's New York Jackie talking,” I said, smiling when she looked up at me in surprise. “New York Jackie lets Lisa and her mother walk all over her.”

“Not