“Hotel room, huh?”
“Yeah, sorry. I went back to that room later, but she’d already checked out.”
In too many ways, it all felt like a setup. “Can you describe her?”
“Medium height, big boobs, nice legs. She wore a shit-ton of makeup and had her hair in some tight little bun thing on top of her head.” Leese shrugged. “I’d have paid closer attention if I’d known she was going to grill me on you. Gotta say, she took me by surprise with it, then practically shoved me out the door.”
“Did you meet her at Rowdy’s?” The once shady bar was now a favorite hangout since Rowdy had bought and renovated it. He kept the place clean but laid-back, offered decent food, drinks, dancing and billiards. All in all, a comfortable ambiance.
“Sorry, no. I hit up this place nearer to my apartment. I’d only been there a few minutes when she hit on me, so we weren’t there long.”
“Would the bartender know her?”
Leese shook his head. “Already asked around and no one did.” Uncomfortable, he shifted. “It’s not really the kind of place where you can grill people without causing some suspicion. I’d only been there a few times.”
Curious, Stack asked, “Why’d you go there last night?”
Leese pinched the bridge of his nose, then sent a hand through his hair. “Personal shit, okay? Nothing important.”
Stack understood that. Leese was newer to the group. He’d been a mediocre fighter when Denver invited him to the rec center. But since then, he’d shown real potential. He had a lot of natural talent that only needed to be challenged and refined. Soon, Stack thought, Leese could be a real contender.
The front door opened and closed, and the sound of dogs thundering toward the kitchen made Stack smile. He turned, saw Maggie hit the kitchen floor and slide on wet paws, and then Norwood did the same. Their snow-covered feet sent them skating across the tile. Stack jumped up, as did Leese, and they’d just about contained the dogs when Vanity stepped in. She’d removed her boots, so she didn’t slip, and to Stack’s surprise, she seemed unconcerned with the wet tracks the dogs left everywhere.
“I hope you guys left me some coffee.” On her way to the pot she chafed her hands. “I think it’s getting colder instead of warmer, and it started snowing again.” She poured a mug of coffee with one hand and reached for paper towels with the other. Whipping off several, she handed them to Stack.
He shared a bemused look with Leese, then cleaned the dogs’ paws before soaking up the melted snow mess. Somehow the more Vanity did, the more energy she had.
Leese cleared his throat. “Another thing before I go.”
From his kneeling position on the floor, Stack asked, “Yeah?”
“Some reporter called the rec center looking for you.” He glanced at Vanity. “He wants to interview you both about a car fire you helped with.”
Stack barely restrained his groan. He had no interest in an interview, but until he knew Vanity’s feeling on it, he kept his opinion to himself.
Done cleaning the dogs, he stood and threw away the paper towels, then refilled their food dishes. At least Norwood and Maggie looked tired from their snow play. They grabbed a few bites of chow before collapsing near a ray of sunshine coming through a window.
Smiling at the exhausted “huff” Norwood gave as he half rested on Maggie, Stack went to Vanity. She had hat hair, a red nose and a wary expression. “Coffee helping?”
“Yes.” Both hands curled around the mug, she sipped again.
“So, what do you think?”
“Shoveling snow is hard but fun. The cold is great, until it seeps into the bones. Overall, it’s pretty cool.”
Stack grinned at her. “You know that’s not what I meant.” He ruffled her hair, loosening it up from the smashed-hat look. “Your nose is as red as a cherry.”
“Is it cute?”
He and Leese both said, “Yes,” at the same time.
Stack resisted the urge to tell Leese to shut it.
Taking the coffee from her, Stack set it aside and pulled Vanity up against his chest. “You can steal some of my heat.”
“Thank you.” She burrowed in. “Is there a way to dodge reporters without being rude?”
Relieved, Stack hugged her. “Sure.” Looking over her shoulder to Leese, he asked, “Mind giving him a statement for us?”
Zipping up his jacket in preparation to go, Leese said, “No problem.”
“Just say we’re glad we were there to help out. Neither of us was injured, and we’re thrilled the others weren’t either. If the reporter has more specific questions, tell him I can give him a call—from the rec center number. Just find out what day and time is convenient for him.”