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

what he saw me go through with Lisa, Miles should have known how much that type of blow-off would hurt me.

I called Dalton’s that night and spoke to someone. They said Miles was busy and that he’d call me back. Yeah, I was busy too. Busy kicking myself for letting a vacation fling get serious. I had to remember it like I did my twenty-first birthday party. We had a great time. We had great sex. And now it was over and that was okay.

New York in January really sucked. It was even worse when we were expecting another snowstorm and my body was wishing I was back in the desert. But instead of lounging on a rooftop bar after being thoroughly sexed, I was at my desk at the Zimmerman Agency. After my long flight, I passed out and slept straight through until my alarm woke me up. There was no way I was going to spend the day moping around my apartment all alone. I took a quick shower and grabbed a bagel from a street vendor as my breakfast. It was damn cold, but at least the food was good.

My mother called almost before I’d finished my first cup of coffee. At least she had waited that long. “Did you find her?” was the first thing out of her mouth.

“Yes. She’s alive and well and producing a show in Carson City.”

“Producing?” my mother squealed. “What type of show?”

“It’s a vaudeville dance show,” I hedged. That was close enough. “She’s been utterly swamped these past few weeks trying to get backers and with the day-to-day management of putting together the event. That’s why she hasn’t had time to return our calls.” I hated covering for Lisa. But I knew this was what my mother wanted to hear. “I wasn’t there for opening night, but I was able to see the show. It was wonderful.”

And it was. I had been proud of Lisa. We had underestimated her. She’d found a way to dance without hurting her knee. She’d found a boyfriend who was kind and supportive. I rubbed the stabbing pain in the center of my chest. I told myself it was heartburn from drinking my coffee.

“I completely understand. It all makes sense.”

“I took pictures. I’ll send them over later.” They were highly edited and showed Lisa in front of the theater, strategically covering the poster.

My mother let out a long sigh. “I’m so glad she’s a producer.”

“You’re welcome,” I said. “I’ll send over my expenses for reimbursement later once I get settled. I’m in the office today.”

“You’re back in New York?”

“No reason to stay,” I said, trying not to sound like Eeyore.

“Just give me the bottom line. No sense in going through all that paperwork.”

My eyebrows raised. She was in a good mood. I decided to elaborate to head off any uncomfortable questions. “Lisa’s living in Carson City, Nevada in order to be closer to where the theater is.”

“I can’t wait to talk to her.”

“She might not be able to call back. Remember, she’s still recovering from her surgeries.” That was a total lie, but it was one my mother would accept, and it would buy Lisa some time to figure out when and how much she was going to tell Mom. “She’s burning the candle at both ends. She spends all her free time sleeping when she’s not working on the show.”

Another call was coming through. It was a Las Vegas number.

“Mom, I’ve got to take another call.”

“Wait,” she said. “I want to hear all about the show.”

“I can’t right now. I’m working. I’ll call you later.” After all, I didn’t have a show to do. All I had waiting for me at home was a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, which I would have for dessert after I scarfed down some pizza. I had missed the taste of New York pizza.

By the time I switched over, the call went to voice mail. It hadn’t been Miles’s number or Chance’s. Whoever it was, was leaving a long message. It was hellishly early in Las Vegas, but I dialed Chance’s number anyway hoping he knew what was going on.

“Are you okay, luv?” he asked, sounding like he had just risen from the dead.

“I’m so sorry for calling so early.” He must have known Miles had dumped me. “I’m doing all right. I’m a little sad and everything seems so bleak, but I’ll manage. I just wanted to call and let you know that everything went really well with me and Lisa. I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye in person.”

“Why is that? Dalton’s may be gone, but we can meet up at the Drag Queen Diner. Bring Miles. I’ve got a proposition for him.”

“What do you mean Dalton’s is gone?” I sat up straight in my chair.

“The fire. It’s completely gutted.”

“Fire?” I shrieked.

A few people poked their heads into my office, but I waved them frantically away.

“Shit, I thought you knew. Aren’t you with Miles?”

“Chance, I’m in New York. I haven’t spoken to Miles since Saturday morning. Is he all right? Was he inside the bar when it caught on fire?” I held my hand on my stomach, trying not to throw up. Miles had warned me that it was dangerous for me to be in the club, but I never thought that it was also dangerous for him.

“Get this. He was in jail at the time.”

“Jail?”

“He assaulted a gang leader and the gang leader pressed charges. Miles couldn’t get a bail bondsman because they’re all in the gang’s back pocket. Highway managed to haul someone out of bed on Sunday to bail Miles out, but by then it was too late. There’s nothing but slag and wreckage.”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“I don’t think so. I haven’t spoken to him. I only got the skinny because I saw Mav at Caesar’s last night.”

“That fire was set.” I banged my fist on the desk. “It was arson.”

“I think so too.”

“Where’s Miles?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I thought he was with