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[ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] Only it didn t work out that way, and you got stuck eating the consequences. Literally. She was right, and they both knew it. 83 SINS OF PROFESSION Thanks for the lecture, Mom. Mind if I go get ready for my next scene? To his surprise, she smiled. At least you understand what an agent s supposed to do. Looks like you d better sign Mike as well. If John has his way, he ll be getting a lot more work. Gives me a valid excuse to be here all the time. She grimaced. Although, would it kill them to be a bit more diverse with their product? Lucas chuckled. He didn t feel better, but somehow Miranda had pulled him out of his pity party. Too much dick? And plenty more to come, if the call sheet is anything to go by. We all have crosses we must bear. She grew serious. Are you going to be okay? He shrugged, heading toward the dressing room. She followed. Depends on Mike. Whether he freaks out or becomes Magnum s next big thing? No, whether he ll ever talk to me outside a professional setting again after today. 84 SINS OF PROFESSION CHAPTER 11 Mike had never wanted a drink so badly in his life. He was the first to arrive at the bar that evening. Ted, he told the bartender, I need two shots of your strongest tequila and a pint of Yeungling. Rough day? You have no idea. He d just tossed back the second shot when Scotty hopped onto the stool beside him. Starting without me? Yes. That earned him a raised eyebrow, but she placed her order with Ted before starting her interrogation. So& big day today. I don t want to hear it. He gestured for two more shots. I was just 85 SINS OF PROFESSION No. No cute innuendo, no sly comments, no smug congratulations, nothing. And I don t want Lieutenant Logan to hear word one about it. Clear? Hear about what? a familiar voice asked from behind him. Was the man part ninja? He couldn t lie to his commanding officer. But, Jesus& Mike focused on his beer, praying for Ted to hurry up with his shots. I may have an in with Long John Fenton, which could help with our investigation. But I d rather not discuss it until I ve had a chance to explore it. Mike could feel Scotty not laughing next to him. Good work. But I thought Lucas was going to pursue that angle. Scotty s voice barely quavered. Yeah, I bet he thought so, too. Mike reached for the shot. Logan s hand covered the top of the glass. What number are you on? That will be my third, sir. No, I don t think so. Logan took it and tossed it back, giving the other shot to Scotty before handing Mike his beer. Come on. Staff meeting. If they were going to keep treating him like a kid, Mike decided he was entitled to feel petulant. But he held his tongue as he followed Scotty and Logan to the large corner booth. They had just gotten seated when Scotty waved at someone who d walked in. Miranda, we re back here. She waved back and placed her order with Ted. When she joined them, she had a pint glass of dark beer and shot glass. The shot she set in front of Mike. I think you ve 86 SINS OF PROFESSION earned it. He drank it down before Logan could cut him off again. You, Lieutenant, are very much my hero right now. Thank you. Logan studied him. Was it really that bad? Was it that bad getting off on the most exploitive sex act he d ever participated in? Was it bad having that caught on film for anyone to see? Was it bad that, God help him, he wanted to do it again to find out what Lucas could do without the constrictive rules of pornography tying his hands? He reached for his beer, ignoring the looks Scotty and Doughty were giving him and each other. Yeah, it was that bad. Bad enough to want off the case? No, he replied without hesitation. Logan nodded once. All right, then. So what have we found out so far? Doughty took up the reins. Fenton likes to surround himself with an entourage. Promising young things that he takes under his wing. Are any of the victims among his protégés? Logan asked. That s what I m going to look into, Mike said. Since I have Fenton s attention, who better to get a list from? Logan leaned back, thoughtful. It s a solid angle. Someone like Fenton will have as many enemies as admirers, and the young men closest to him would make ideal targets. Wait, are we using Mike as bait? Scotty s good humor from earlier had evaporated. No. Logan gave her a hard look. What do you mean, no? No. You had no problem with Lucas being bait. That s different! 87 SINS OF PROFESSION You re right, it is. Mike put down his beer. I m a trained police officer, able to look out for myself. I m not some& Gigolo? Logan s voice was cold. Consultant. One of you may have a badge and the other might not, Doughty cut in, her voice cool, but you re both too stubborn for your own good. Logan seemed to read more into the conversation than any of them meant to give away. What the hell happened today? Neither of the others spoke, leaving it to him. He supposed he ought to be grateful they were respecting his wishes, but that left him to do the dirty work. He took another drink, never looking away from the bottom of his glass when he said, I ended up on camera today. Rather prominently. How prominently? Fenton didn t like the blond cast for the client role, I caught his eye, and then I got blown by Lucas while he jerked off Fenton. Logan blinked once, twice. Okay, the tequila makes more sense now. You think? He was too close to the bottom of his beer. And that explains your in with Fenton. You re his new protégé. He certainly prefers Mike over Lucas. Doughty seemed to read Mike s need for camouflage and signaled to the waitress for another round of beers. Why wouldn t he? Scotty said, earning an immediate glare from Logan. Would you listen to what I ve got to say first before you get pissed at me, Logan? A server arrived with their next round of drinks. 88 SINS OF PROFESSION Once the girl left, Scotty continued, I m not disparaging Lucas. I really like the guy. Not as much as you like to look at the guy, Doughty interjected. You, hush. Doughty grinned over her glass. What I m getting at Scotty s tone was even is Lucas is too confident for someone like Fenton to trust. Mike, however, gives off an air of vulnerability and malleability that would appeal to Fenton s ego. Doughty nodded. And he hates that Lucas thinks just because he s a sex professional he can do porn. As though it were easy. He didn t seem to have any trouble, Mike said. [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |