until we know what’s up.”
It normally didn’t bother me when people took my picture while I was working. Often I got a kick out of being tagged on social media with me mixing or Atlas and I doing a thing to entertain everyone. But right now, photos weren’t my friend, so I was grateful to Ciro for that.
We briefly talked about security, and Ciro handed me a fully charged earpiece with strict instructions to charge it before I left. Shane went off to do his prep, and I went on stage to get ready for the night.
I’d just finished all the sound checks when Ciro walked in with a young, lanky guy who was holding a small box.
“Ledger,” Ciro said as he moved toward the bar with the guy. “This is a bike messenger who has a package for you. I was going to just take it for you, but it’s requiring a signature.”
I slipped my headphones off, eyes searching for Shane. I shouldn’t have been shocked to see him coming around the bar to find out what was up.
“Yeah, I’ll sign it, but I have a right to know who it’s from, don’t I?” I stood by the edge of the stage, where the bar was. The messenger looked nervous, and I imagine it was because Ciro wasn’t very welcoming.
“Um…all I have is this information card, and I don’t really know.” He was looking all around now. Everyone had come over to see what was going on.
Ciro handed the card to Max, who then handed it to me. It simply said it was from Music Fort LLC. “What’s Music Fort?” I wondered, but the messenger just shrugged. “Fine, I’ll sign.” Again, Ciro did the hand-off to Max, and he handed it to me with a pen. I quickly signed and once the messenger had the signature, he bolted.
“Open it.” Max was glaring at the package.
As I opened it, I asked Ciro if the messenger saw the person who gave it to him. “I asked. He said it was waiting for pick up at his work; his boss said a guy dropped it off and was in a rush. I’ll call his boss as soon as we see if what’s in there is worth calling over. For all we know, it’s not related.”
Ciro was right, but the second I saw the red velvet box, I knew it wasn’t professional. When I opened it, a drive was in there along with a small note. I held it up.
“You’ll be calling that boss, Ciro.” I went over to my equipment to plug the drive in.
“What’s the note say?” Shane asked.
“It’s more quotes. ‘Make-believing we’re together that I’m sheltered by your heart.’ I know this song.” I clicked play and the song, “It Must Have Been Love” started playing, but it wasn’t the Roxette version. It was a slow version. We all stood in silence and listened to the song. Not because we enjoyed it—at this point everything was a clue…was a revelation.
Chapter Nineteen
Shane
Working at Joker’s Sin had been a huge relief after working at Vick’s Tricks for so long. There I always had to look over my shoulder, worry that if I didn’t do something right, I’d get in trouble, and trouble meant blood. That fear I had in the pit of my stomach every time I walked in there—I didn’t have when I came into Joker’s Sin. Until now. I found myself looking at everyone as a suspect. I feared for Ledger to the point that I was watching him on stage more than I was doing my own job and dropped more drinks than was normal.
“Dude, take a break,” Max said, and I knew he was right. I wasn’t focused.
My break, however, consisted of watching Ledger on stage and scrutinizing every dancer up there. Was one of them working for Trinity? I sort of felt she had something to do with this. We were stuck waiting to hear from Ziggy and until then, I was on edge.
“You wouldn’t know looking at him that he’s as nervous as you are.” Sparkles came over and stood next to me. We were off to the side up in the VIP section.
“Max told you everything, I assume?”
Sparkles sipped his pink drink. “He did. I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled, and do you know what I realized?”
I broke away from intensely staring at Ledger and turned toward Sparkles, interested in his realization. “What?”
“That being all hyperaware of everybody around you isn’t always good, because I