Death on a Short Leash Read Online Free Page B

Henny’s?”
    â€œYes. Henny and Bernie insist I stay with them.”
    â€œGood. Now before you go, please give Maggie a list of the people who would know Johanna—friends, family, boyfriends, the people at the animal hospital. Anyone you can think of.”
    â€œI’ve never heard of Pandora’s,” Maggie said as soon as the two women had left, “but apparently you have. Where is it?”
    â€œEast Hastings,” he answered.
    â€œOh, you mean it’s a strip joint?”
    â€œYup. A hard-core strip joint.”
    â€¢ • •
    â€œWHAT ARE YOU HAVING? ” Nat asked as he sat scanning the menu in Monty’s Seafood Restaurant.
    â€œI’m going all-out and having the fish and chips.” She closed the menu. “I can’t believe that a quiet, reserved girl from a good family like that is actually a stripper!”
    â€œWell, let’s not jump to conclusions. She might be working behind the bar or waitressing.” Nat gave an exaggerated sigh. “So it is my sad and unpleasant duty to visit Pandora’s to find out.”
    â€œNot without me, you don’t,” Maggie asserted.
    â€œYou can’t go there, Maggie!”
    â€œIt’s okay. I’ll change into something more suitable for a strip joint. What do you suggest?”
    â€œYou’re not going,” Nat said firmly. “And that’s that.”
    Maggie smiled up at the waiter hovering over them. “I’ll have the fish and chips, please.”
    â€¢ • •
    IT WAS AFTER NINE when they arrived at the club entrance, where they were greeted by a burly man who demanded to know if they were members. Nat passed over some folded money, and they were let into the dimly lit interior. Maggie realized that it didn’t matter at all what she had chosen to wear, as all eyes were riveted on a small stage, where a red-headed girl, wearing only black fishnet stockings, a black garter belt and tassels on her nipples, was reclining on a chaise longue. As Maggie stared, the girl leaned forward and slowly began peeling off her stockings, to the accompaniment of thumping, whistles and catcalls.
    Maggie and Nat followed the scantily dressed, high-heeled waitress to a back table, where, after seating them, the girl bent low over Nat’s shoulder, almost filling his ear with her left breast, which was struggling to get out of the strapless bodice. Nat ordered a beer for himself and a gin and tonic for Maggie, and they waited until the girl had returned with their drinks before he pulled out Johanna’s photograph. “Do you recognize her?” he asked.
    â€œYou a cop?”
    â€œNo. We’re just trying to find her.”
    â€œI’ve only been here a couple of weeks. Better ask him up there.” She pointed to the stage. “He’s the manager.”
    â€œGive our Irish colleen a big hand,” the man boomed over the mike, “and welcome Mademoiselle Linnette from Gai Paree!”
    â€œCould you ask him to give us a few minutes?” Nat said, handing the waitress a fiver and one of his cards.
    They sat through Mademoiselle Linnette’s routine and then Gretel from Hamburg and then an act that brought on the most appreciative noise of the evening. “Pretty Paula with her Pouting Pigeons” walked onto the stage with a dove on each shoulder and immediately struck a pose. Maggie couldn’t take her eyes off the girl, who stood absolutely still while the two doves pecked at the ribbons on her shoulders until they had untied them. The doves flew into the air while the stripper’s sheer camisole floated gently to the ground, exposing two well-shaped breasts (with tassels, naturally). The doves then flew down to the girl’s hands, which rested on her hips, and pecked at the ties holding up the flimsy skirt. This, accompanied by more whistles and catcalls, floated down to join the camisole on the stage, leaving Pretty