A Dance with Danger
As Lucy and I headed towards the L.A streets, my phone was constantly ringing. Neither Logan or Calos were picking up and it was really starting to scare me. Now, usually I wouldn't think much of it. They both have jobs and are busy with their own lives. But since there is a serial kidnapper after us, the endless amount of ringing in my ear was nerve racking.
Voicemail after voicemail rushed through my ear. It was either the ridiculously happy "Hola amigos! You've reached Carlos! I can't get to the phone right now, but please leave your message for me after the tone!", or the monotone "Hey, Logan here. I'm busy at the moment, so I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I got some lives to save. See ya.". They started blending together, leading to:
"Hola, you've reached Carlos, Logan here. I can't get to the phone but I'm busy at the moment. I got some lives to save. Message me after the tone! See ya."
My heart was palpitating with anxiety. But during my panic, the one phase the letter said bashed into my head like a brick.
"Stab or Slice Through?"
What did that mean? My guess was either Kendall was getting stabbed or he was going to slice deep gashes in his skin. They are both horrible options, but sadly it made me curious. Couldn't this mysterious figure just flat out stab him without my input? There's no "Hey, how about releasing my friend and turning yourself in!", so I don't have the best options to save my bandmate.
"Hey," Lucy's voice sliced through my thoughts. "Are you ok? Don't tell me you're making a decision."
I shoot daggers at her. "You think I would actually harm my bandmates? That's ridiculous! I'm trying to piece together what that note was concluding!"
She keeps giving me these curious looks. "Why do you keep calling them your "bandmates"? I thought they were your best friends.".
"Can't we focus on the bigger picture at the moment?!" I snapped at her. My face was turning red hot. "My bandmates are in huge trouble, Kendall might be dead, and Carlos or Logan will end up there next! This is not the time to be asking me why I call my friends bandmates!"
She went quiet after my heated explosion. I did as well. Usually I'm a pretty level headed person, but when my…. Friends…. Are in danger, things change. I'm sure most people would be like that.
After many turns and painstakingly waiting on the back of a motorcycle, we finally head through L.A to Club Rocque. Surprisingly, it wasn't too far away from Lucy's place, only being about 5 blocks out. It was squished between two bleak looking buildings, with Club Rocque lighting up the street. A huge line piled out the door, with huge bodyguards blocking the entrance.
"How are we going to get in there without being seen?" I asked. "We're not exactly unrecognizable people. Especially you."
Lucy looked directly into my hazel eyes, forming a smirk with her lips. "I have a plan, Diamond. We'll be in before you know it."
She grabbed my arm and led me towards the bouncers, her hair swaying back and forth. I had no idea what she was planning, but it brought me back to when we were dating. Her face squealed with excitement when we were going to a new place. Her eyes lit up and did a little dance while we waited to get in, every single time. It always puts a smile on my face, no matter the situation.
I love that she hasn't changed much.
We made it to the front of the line when my phone started to buzz. My hands shook as I reached for my phone. Was it Carlos? Logan? Maybe even Kendall?
"H-Hello," I stuttered. "J-James Diamond, Private Investigator."
"James?" a woman's voice on the other end moved swiftly into my ear. "What are you doing?"
Lucy looked at me strangely as if I was speaking gibberish.
"Mom." I sighed. This was the worst time to call. "What is it?"
I heard some noise in the background, trying to figure out where she was. "Guess what? I'm heading to L.A for a business trip! I'll get to see you!"
"Oh, that's great." I lied. I think everyone knows why this is the worst time for my mother to visit me. "How long will you be staying?"
"Oh, only a couple days." She answered, loud noises flooded the background. "I should be boarding my plane soon. I should be there by tomorrow. We should take some time to chat while I'm here."
I could only nod and agree with my mom. I've always had a hard time telling my mom no. It's been that way since I was little. Even with a dangerous situation like this, I couldn't put myself to say "Stay home, Mom. It's for your own safety.".
"Alright mom," I concluded our conversation. "I gotta go now. I'll talk to you tomorrow.". I quickly hung up, sweating profusely.
Lucy was sweet talking to the bouncer, leading her fingers to walk up the guy's chest. My face was getting hot. I didn't know if it was because of the phone call or that my ex-girlfriend was playing with a man to get in.
"You know," I overheard her say. "It would be real nice if you just let us… slip by. If you do… there will be more where that came from."
The bouncer's face was slanting his eyes down. He shoved her hair out of her face with his hand going towards her chest.
"What are you doing?" I jumped in angrily. "What the hell are you doing with her!"
Lucy glared at me and the bouncer's face went from amused to ugly real fast. I was sure how tough he was, but I was ready to fight.
"Hey!" Lucy broke up the tension. "Rob, this is James. He's really protective of me. He doesn't know our deal. Can you please let us go through?"
Rob laid off me and gestured towards the red velvet rope. He muttered something under his breath, but I couldn't make out what he said. What I could make out was something having to do with me and "out of the picture".
Well, I feel very safe here.
Lucy and I made our way inside of Club Rocque. It was insanely huge compared to the rundown building outside as it made it seem. There was plush, red velvet everywhere you turned, with a hint of solid gold on every accessory. The dance floor was regal and filled with men and women dancing in only ways I have seen in romantic fantasies. Even though you would think that everyone would be dressed in ball-length gowns and 3 piece suits, the guests looked like they were going to any other nightclub in L.A. Crop tops, Mini skirts, high heels, and glow in the dark T-shirts contrasted the formal vibe Club Rocque was going for. It was such a weird anomaly, I thought for a second we were in the wrong club.
The bar was like every other wooden item in Club Rocque, red velvet and gold. I ordered a cocktail while Lucy went for a mixed drink.
"What exactly is you and Rob's deal?" I blurt out. She was caught off guard, yet not surprised.
"I have my ways Diamond." She explained. "But you almost ruined it. If I wasn't there, we wouldn't be here. In fact, you probably would have been dead!"
"I understand that you deal with detective business all the time." I sighed, sipping some of my drink. "But the way he was looking at you was something more than a deal. It rubbed me the wrong way and I thought that he was going to hurt you."
She gazed towards the blaring lights from the dance floor. "He wouldn't do that to me."
"How do you know?!" I yelled. "Something was going to happen Lucy! He was gonna take you around the back and hurt you!"
"Let's take this to the dance floor!" She screamed at me. I was a little confused, but didn't have time to say no.
It was a tango. A tango of Eros. Two lovers at war, ending up in each other's arms in the end. How poetic.
Lucy was a good dancer, but I didn't realize how swift at a tango she was. We kept in step, angrily gazing into each other's eyes.
"Why do you care so much about me, Diamond?" She questioned harshly. "We were together once, it didn't work out, and now we are working together. You should be spitting on my shame instead of trying to protect me."
I went in to dip her. "I care because you're still a friend to me. I don't leave my friends because of a petty disagreement."
"Then why don't you consider your bandmates "friends'' then?" She asked once again. "They've been your friends for years and all of a sudden you break up with them. You seem like a hypocrite."
I spin her again, seeing the others disappear from the dance floor.
"Something happened." I revealed. "We fought about it. We haven't spoken since. That's all I have to say. Happy now?"
She wasn't satisfied, with her hands wrapping around my neck. She went in for another dip, but this time I was the one going down.
"I know you hide secrets, Jamie." She tells me seductively. "Secrets you're scared to reveal. For some reason you're closed off about everything."
"I've told you stuff." I cut her off. "Things I only tell my closest friends."
We spin in a sequence, synchronized. It felt like stars were swirling around us, galaxies forming from our movement.
"But not everything, Jamie!" She yells. "You refused to tell me about your private life! Your dad, your mom, your friends…."
"Carlos…." I gasped. Lucy stares at me strangely.
"You've told me about Carlos. What do-"
The song ends with us close together, breathing heavily. We gazed into each other's eyes.
"I just saw Carlos by the bar!" I exclaim. "We gotta get to him!"
We awkwardly wave at the newly formed crowd around us and race towards the bar.