up outside. It doesn’t matter to me because wherever Gloria is, the sun will be shining.” Quinton slung an arm around Nathan. “What about you two? Any big plans?”
“Oh, you know, your run-of-the-mill Valentine’s Day activity,” Nathan replied sotto voce as he buttered a piece of cornbread. “We’re meeting Edward Crosby at Club Satin, where Cooper’s going to play in a pool tournament and then attempt to buy heroin from a dangerous drug dealer. After that, the three of us will try to stay alive long enough to discover Miguel Ramos’s connection to said drug dealer.”
Jake, who was about to take a bite of cornbread, dropped the square back onto his plate. “Hold the phone! Three of you ain’t gonna stand a chance! Don’t you think a plumber with a pipe in his back pocket might come in handy?” He gesticulated at Quinton and Bryant. “These two can’t blend in with a rougher crowd, but I can.”
“And I could be your ears,” Savannah said, clearly not happy over being excluded.
“You can’t hear yourself think over what passes for music in that kind of joint. And even though you couldn’t see what was goin’ on in there, it’s no place for a lady.” Jake looked appalled by the idea. “I don’t know a thing about this adult club personally,” he added for Savannah’s benefit, “but you’re not goin’ within miles of its pink front door. This is a mean, dirty club filled with mean, dirty people.” He squeezed Cooper’s forearm. “You’re made from tough fiber, my friend. I just pray this turns out like you want it to. This is a mighty big risk you’re takin’.”
“Have you read the paper lately? There are so many bad things happening in our city,” Cooper answered with quiet passion. “I can’t just sit around when there’s a chance I can stop someone else from being hurt.”
Quinton looked abashed. “I wish I’d been more helpful. I placed several calls to Double A Auto to try and discover something fishy about Miguel’s employment history, but no one would believe I was with the IRS. As such a terrible actor, I don’t think I’d be any good to you in that club.”
“Me, either, my friend.” Bryant slapped Nathan on the back. “I’d be right by your side, but my face is too famous and I’ve got a date with Jane that includes playing Pictionary with two kids.”
Nathan grinned. “We’ll be okay. Just send any extra guardian angels you run into our way.” He brushed cornbread crumbs from his hands and picked up a clean paintbrush. “I think I’ll start by painting a pizza slice. I know it’s not the pinnacle of nutrition, but I’ve never met a kid who didn’t like a slice of cheese pizza.”
“Pepperoni’s better,” Cooper playfully countered. “If I could choose my last meal, it would be pepperoni pizza.”
“Don’t talk about last meals,” Nathan whispered. “I want mine to be manlier than a cupcake shaped like penguin!”
13
“. . . Sodom and Gomorrah and
the surrounding towns gave themselves
up to sexual immorality and perversion.
They serve as an example of those who
suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
Jude 1:7 (NIV)
Because Cooper had planned on the ice storm’s arrival, she’d brought two changes of clothes with her. One to wear to Club Satin, as well as a pair of dress slacks, underwear, and a twin set to wear to Hope Street the next morning. A second, smaller case held a custom cue for use in the pool tournament. She and Nathan had agreed the night before that it made more sense for Cooper to drive straight to his house after their day of painting and then sleep over at the conclusion of their late-night adventure.
They spent what was left of the afternoon snuggled up on the sofa as the fire crackled in the grate. Afterward, they ate a quiet dinner and then tried to while away two hours watching When Harry Met Sally.
“I cannot focus on this movie,” Nathan said as he returned to the living room with a bowl of popcorn. “I never thought it would take so long for ten o’clock to arrive.”
“I can’t relax, either.” Cooper ate a few handfuls of popcorn but her stomach was too unsettled for much more. She passed the bowl back to Nathan. “Come on, let’s go upstairs and figure out what you’re going to wear.”
He touched his blue and white checked button-down and frowned. “What’s wrong with this?”
“Not seedy enough,” Cooper commented and turned the television off. Upstairs, she searched