Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [34]
Once the housekeepers were gone, the three of them hurried downstairs and began unloading the booze from Max’s car and lugging it out to the bar by the swimming pool.
‘Who’s going to make everyone drinks?’ Cookie asked, filling the outdoor fridge with bottles of beer. ‘Frankie kinda suggested we could borrow one of his bartenders. Whaddya think?’
‘So you did invite him?’ Max said, turning on her accusingly.
‘Told you I was,’ Cookie retaliated.
‘But we didn’t agree,’ Max objected. ‘Seems you’re forgetting it’s my party.’
‘Get over it,’ Cookie snapped. ‘You’re just jealous, ’cause I’m getting it an’ you’re not.’
‘That’s crap,’ Max said, although maybe she was a little bit put out that sex for Cookie seemed so uncomplicated. ‘And by the way – you stink of weed.’
‘Want some?’ Cookie offered, digging into her purse.
‘I do,’ Harry said, darting forward with an eager gleam in his eyes.
Max threw him a withering look. ‘No thanks,’ she said to Cookie. ‘And no bartender either. Everyone can help themselves. I’m dropping by the market and buying a ton of plastic glasses we can throw away later.’
Cookie yawned, feigning boredom. ‘Whatever,’ she muttered. ‘It’s your party.’
‘Okay, girls,’ Harry said, thinking it was time he butted in. ‘We’ve got work to do. Let’s get to it.’
* * *
The hostage situation worked itself out, and Leon was by Denver’s desk early in the morning. For several weeks he’d been tracking a dealer who’d been selling his wares to a local high school, and he was close to making an arrest. But they both knew it wasn’t the smalltime dealer he was out to nail, it was the supplier, so his plan was not to mirandize the guy, but get him to talk, then set him free.
Denver was in on the plan, and she fully approved. Getting the bigtime supplier into court was their ultimate goal, then after a triumphant victory, throwing him into jail where he belonged. She couldn’t wait to get in on the action.
‘What didja do last night?’ Leon wanted to know, hovering by her desk.
‘Nothing much,’ Denver replied. ‘And you?’
‘Went on a date with a Cuban girl who was into having sex in the elevator of her apartment house.’
‘Excuse me?’ Denver said, raising an eyebrow.
Leon laughed. ‘She was one of those danger freaks – y’know, let’s see if we can get ourselves caught.’
‘Lovely.’
‘I hadda say no, an’ then she blew me off.’
‘In the sexual sense?’
‘I wish,’ he said, laughing again. ‘Bitch called me chicken an’ told me to get out.’
‘Because you wouldn’t have sex with her in an elevator?’
‘You think I wanna get arrested for indecent exposure? I can see myself comin’ up in court with you prosecuting my ass.’
‘If that ever happens I’ll be gentle,’ she promised, smiling.
‘Bullshit!’
They both laughed.
‘Seriously, Denver,’ Leon said. ‘I gotta say I like workin’ with you. You’re kinda one of the boys.’
‘I am?’ she said, taking it as a compliment.
‘Yeah, all the guys think so, an’ believe me, that’s high praise.’
‘Well . . . I’m not sure what to say.’
‘You don’t hav’ta say nothin’.’
‘Then I won’t.’
Leon circled her desk. ‘Y’know, this weekend, my partner Phil an’ his wife are throwin’ a barbecue. Nothin’ fancy, but a lot of the guys are goin’, an’ I thought you might wanna tag along. Get t’know everyone.’
‘That’s so nice of you, Leon, but this weekend I’ll be in Vegas with my uh . . . boyfriend.’ She felt stupid saying the word boyfriend, but that’s exactly what Bobby was. Anyway, she needed to let Leon know she was taken, even though she was sure he already knew that.
‘Vegas, huh?’ Leon said, hiding his disappointment. ‘Now doncha go runnin’ off an’ sealin’ the deal in one of those Elvis impersonator weddin’ chapels.’
‘I promise I won’t.’
‘Then I guess I’m gonna hav’ta let you go.’
‘I have your permission, do I?’ she said, amused.
‘Yeah, Denver. Put it all on lucky seven, an’ don’t come back without a big score.’
‘Yes, sir!’
Her cell rang. It was Bobby. Leon took the hint and left.
‘Where were you last night?’ she asked. ‘I couldn’t hear a word you said.’
‘Long boring story,’ Bobby