Plots and Ploys

Chapter 3

"Oh my gosh. She's like half naked!! Put some clothes on!!" Katie cried.

Gabrielle just chuckled. "Play it cool, Katie. That's normal here. She's a stripper," she said leading Katie through the crowd.

"Okay I get it, but why did we have to get dressed up? And how come you get to wear pants while I'm stuck in a skirt," Katie whined.

"To blend in, and just be glad you're not that girl," Gabrielle replied pointing to one of the skimpy dressed pole dancers. Katie just cringed as they made their way to the back of the club.

"Why are we coming back here? Aren't these the private lounges?"

They made there way down the dim light hallway to the very last private room. "Yes, its rumoured that the Barbarian boss likes to use the kings room during his visits," Gabrielle explained opening the door. "So I reserved it for this evening." She opened the door to reveal a room decorated in red and gold. A giant red velvet halfmoon couch took up most of the room with a pole front and center.

Katie's mouth hung open. "This looks expensive! How did you even afford this?"

Gabrielle chuckled. "Its a case. So I put it on the department's account."

"Of course you did," Katie sighed. "So are we just gonna look around for clues or something?"

Gabrielle casually made her way to the couch and laid down. "Nope. I also called in a possible witness."

"You did what?"

Just then the door opened revealing a lady in a small red dress. "Hello~...oh you're new," said the lady.

"So you're used to the same customers?" Gabrielle asked as the red dressed lady made her way to "center stage". "Oh and we didn't come for a show," she added motioning the lady to sit down.

"Oh?" the lady replied. "Then why are you here?"

"We're actually detectives on a case," Katea explained.

"We would like to ask you some questions," Gabrielle continued. "Others pay for your services, but we paid for information. Starting with your name."

"They call me Little Miss."

Gabrielle chuckled and then gave her a serious look. "You're real name," she said sternly.

"Mia... Mia Lee."

Gabrielle smiled approvingly before continuing. "You said you have regular costumers... who might they be?"

"Mostly high class business men who have grown bored of their marital status," Mia scoffed in reply.

"And?"

"I'm not supposed to say....."

"We're with the police," Gabrielle warned.

Mia shifted in her chair. "If I told you they'd come after me," she mumbled.

"He'll be in jail in a few days, and until then... I guess you can come with us," Gabrielle replied. Mia shot her a look that completely confused Katie. "You'd be safe with us."

"Safe?" Mia replied, seeming to question Gabrielle's reasoning more than her actual safety.

"Yes. Now tell us," Gabrielle ordered.

"The Boss."