Warmest regards,
Ruby
P.S. Every night when those pond frogs croak, I imagine setting the whole place on fire. You’re an expert. What’s the best way to do it?
Ruby got one thing right. Paris is good at making fires.
This time, she takes the letter into the kitchen and turns on the gas stove. She touches the corner of the paper to the blue flame and watches it ignite, the fire eating through her mother’s words in seconds.
Her first demand was one million. Then it was three million. Now it’s ten million. Ten million dollars. It was ridiculous, except it wasn’t. Ruby has nothing to lose by asking. And Paris has everything to lose if she doesn’t figure out what to do about this, and soon.
Just before the letter can singe her fingers, she drops it into the sink, where it burns until all that’s left are a few tiny bits of charred paper.
If she’d given herself more time to think about it nineteen years ago, she might have handled Mae differently, come up with a different plan, chosen a different path.
But sometimes the only way to start over is to burn it all down.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Joey.”
Nobody at the Cherry called Joey by her real name, and the music was so loud, she assumed she’d misheard. Other than Cherry, Chaz, and Mae, most people here didn’t even know what her real name was.
“Joey,” the voice said again, floating in the darkness of the hallway. “Joey, over here.”
She definitely heard it that time, and turned to find Mae’s boyfriend leaning against the wall near the dressing room. She’d just finished her stage routine and needed to pee again before heading up to VIP for her bachelor party request. Champagne Room possibilities, big money night.
“Vinny,” Joey said in surprise. “You’re not allowed to be back here. Staff only.”
“Shhhh. I snuck in, don’t tell anyone.” Vinny gave her a boyish smile.
Joey walked closer to him so she could hear him better, marveling once again at how difficult it was to equate him with the gangster she knew him to be. He was just so little, and in her five-inch heels, she towered over him.
“I’m looking for my girl,” Vinny said. “I peeked in the dressing room, but I didn’t see her. Any idea where she might be?”
“She didn’t show up for work tonight,” Joey said. “Cherry’s not too happy. You don’t know where she is, either?”
“I’ve been calling and leaving messages, but she hasn’t called me back. I’m starting to wonder if maybe she dumped me and forgot to tell me.” Vinny smiled again, which seemed out of place, considering what he just said. “You don’t know if she’s seeing anyone else, do you?”
“Of course not,” Joey said immediately. His smile was making her nervous. “She loves you, Vinny. But now you got me worried. Should we call someone?”
“Who would we call?” Vinny asked. “You know she’s got no family.”
His hand brushed her arm, and it was all Joey could do not to jerk away. His smile wasn’t just making her uncomfortable—it was starting to scare her. She was familiar with that smile; she’d seen it too many times.
It was the smile monsters wore when they were pretending they weren’t monsters.
“Maybe you can help me, Joey,” Vinny said. “I gave Mae something of mine to hold on to a few days ago, and I really need it back. Like, tonight. Can you think of any place she might have stashed it?”
“I’m sorry, I have no idea.” Joey glanced around, hoping someone she knew was nearby, but they were alone in the dark hallway. “Um, I should really get back to work, or Cherry will be pissed.”
“Of course. Sorry to bother you on such a busy night.” Vinny turned away, but before she could exhale, he spun back around, as if something had just occurred to him. “Oh, hey. I know you said she’s not seeing anyone else, but you wouldn’t be lying to me, would you, Joey? I don’t really like it when people lie to me. I know you girls talk.” That smile again.
She did her best to smile back. “Vinny, I promise. Mae would never cheat on you. I know how much she loves you.”
But the truth was, Joey knew no such thing. Like most girls their age, Mae was either gushing about her boyfriend, or bitching about him. The difference was, Vinny was capable of extreme violence. Joey had not fully understood that until right this moment. Every part of her body was on high alert. This conversation needed to end, and fast.
“You know what, maybe we should call someone,” Joey said. “The police, maybe. We could file one of those missing persons reports?”