His Dancer, His Chains novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: Daylight at the Gilded Room

I did not sleep that night.

At seven the next morning I put the phone on Rafferty's desk, screen up.

He read the message and went still.

"When?"

"Last night, at five. I don't know the number."

"Did you answer?"

"No."

"Good. Don't."

He picked the phone up and studied the photo.

His jaw tightened.

"This was taken from the back of the room," he said. "Someone was standing at the bar with a camera."

"The club doesn't allow phones on the floor."

"Then it wasn't a customer."

He set the phone down.

"Get your coat."

"I have a nine o'clock call with the Lisbon office."

"Move it."

"Rafferty, I can't just walk out."

"You can if I tell you to."

I should have been angry, but I picked up my coat.

We rode down in his car without speaking.

Daylight made the Gilded Room look smaller.

The gold door was dull, and the sign was a row of dead bulbs.

A cleaner was mopping the hall of mirrors, and he pointed us toward the back office without looking up.

The manager sat behind his ledger in the same velvet vest.

He saw me, and then he saw Rafferty, and his smile came on a half second too late.

"Mr. Gage," he said. "Always a pleasure."

"You know me."

"Everybody knows you, sir."

"Last Saturday you told me this woman's name."

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