Danger Close by James Sumner (classic novels for teens txt) 📕

drink and turned to face her. She was already looking at him, smiling. Her red lips formed a seductive grin. She was not much shorter than he was and had a slim figure. She was toned from head to toe, with hints of muscle definition beneath her outfit.

Collins ran an approving eye over her. The leather skirt rested halfway up her shapely thighs. A thin, black T-shirt clung to her torso beneath an open jacket.

“You were pretty impressive back there,” she said smoothly.

Collins shrugged. “Just doing what I had to. I gotta say, ya looking pretty impressive yaself right now. I’m Ray.”

The woman smiled. “Hi, Ray. Fancy buying me a drink and sitting with me a while? I have a table at the back where we can have some privacy.”

He thought for a moment. He was just about to leave…

“How can I say no to an offer like that?” he said. “What are ya drinking?”

“Vodka. Neat.”

“A real drink! Nice.”

She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Don’t keep me waiting, Ray.”

Then she turned and walked away to her table. Collins watched her go, admiring the view. When he looked back at the bar, the bartender was standing before him, smiling, holding two drinks: a neat vodka with ice and two fingers of Jack Daniels. He placed them on the bar.

Collins frowned. “How did ya… oh, wait. Is she… ya know… is she working here?”

He knew from experience that it wasn’t uncommon for hookers to frequent such places, given what most of the clientele did for a living.

The bartender shook his head. “Not to my knowledge, son. But she comes in here every now and then. That’s her drink.”

“Right. So, does she… ah… does she do this a lot?”

“Actually, you’re the first person she’s voluntarily spoken to. Last person that tried charming her was on the business end of a glass bottle. Most folks in here who know better tend to give her a wide berth. You’re a lucky boy.”

Collins picked up the drinks and raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Aye… sounds like it.”

He headed over to her table, which he realized was the one he noticed earlier. She must have been the one person not paying attention to his excitement before.

It was a small table against the back wall with just two chairs facing each other. He set her drink down in front of her and took a seat opposite. She smiled.

“Thank you,” she said.

“My pleasure,” he replied.

“I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“Ah, I used to come around a lot, back in the day. Been out of the game a long time.”

She nodded. “Is that how you knew Mama? From ‘back in the day?’”

He smiled. “Aye, she was a grand lady. Had a ton of respect for her.”

“Did you say you had heard someone had killed her?” She took a sip of her drink. “That’s crazy. I mean, it’s Mama, right?”

“Aye, she was a legend, all right. How did ya know her? Do ya… ya know… work around here too?”

She smiled coyly. “A girl’s gotta have some secrets, Ray.”

He felt her foot brush against his leg beneath the table. He smiled and sipped his drink.

“I look forward to getting to know some of them,” he said.

“Maybe you will. If you’re lucky.”

“Well, I reckon I’m about due some luck.”

She frowned. “How come?”

He waved the question away. “Ah, just had a rough few days is all.” He held up his glass. “Hence…”

“Oh, well, that won’t do at all. A handsome man like you should be relaxed and happy.” She leaned forward and traced her nails down his forearm. “Wanna get out of here?”

Collins smiled. “Like ya wouldn’t believe, love. Let me just visit the gents’ and I’ll be right with ya.”

“Take your time, Ray. I’m not going anywhere. At least, not without you.”

“Goddamn…” he muttered as he got to his feet and headed for the restroom.

He pushed open the door and checked the stalls to make sure he was alone. It was cold and dark. The floor was stained, and the odor of piss hung in the air. He wrinkled his nose and grimaced as he reached for his phone. He called Julie, but it wouldn’t connect because there was no reception in there.

Cursing to himself, he quickly typed a message saying he was following up a lead and would catch up with her in the morning. He hit send, knowing it would go through once he was back within range of the cell service. He put the phone away, splashed some water on his face in a nearby sink, checked his reflection and his breath, then headed back outside.

“I’m ready when you are, love,” he said as he approached the table.

The woman got to her feet. Collins watched her toned legs as she picked up a small purse from the table and straightened her jacket. As she did, Collins caught sight of a tattoo on the side of her neck.

“Hey, I see ya got a bit of ink there,” he said approvingly.

She turned to face him and smiled. She shrugged the jacket off, then pulled at the neck of her T-shirt to reveal her bare shoulder and the tattoo in its entirety.

He leaned in to get a closer look in the low light. “Is that a butterfly? That’s real nice work. Looks new.”

“Thanks,” she said, shrugging her clothes back into place. “Had it about five years.”

“It looks great. Nothing sexier than a tattoo on a woman.”

He smiled cheekily. She grinned back and winked.

“Ready to see if I have any more?” she asked.

“Do Protestants hate Catholics? Lead the way, love.”

She took his hand and led him through the bar toward the door. A few of the men cast a disapproving glance at Collins, which he noticed and assumed was jealousy.

Understandable.

As they walked past the bar, Collins nodded to the bartender, who gave a gentle salute in return.

They headed outside and set off walking along 42nd Street, into the shadows of the bridge above. Collins held out his arm, offering it to his companion