Vegas Showgirl Murders - book2, Bob Moats [ink book reader txt] 📗

Maria. I said no problem and would call them later on.

Penny and I dressed and went down to find where the breakfast buffet was, located it and had a nice meal. We went out to the valet parking, Penny commented on it being a bit chilly out, I said April in Vegas has been known to be cold in the mornings, I said you should have packed some warm clothes. She smacked my arm. The valet brought our vehicle around and we drove out onto Tropicana Avenue and went to the address Trapper gave me for the Metro H.Q. he had worked out of. We pulled into the lot, parked, and went to the front desk. A rather large officer was manning it and politely asked the nature of our business. I asked for the first name on the list, a Captain Weber, and the officer asked what it was in regards to. I felt like telling him that was none of his business, but I cooperated, I said we were mutual friends of Will Trapper. The officer just stared, I felt uncomfortable, and then he smiled and asked what the dumb shit was up to these days. Thankfully, he knew Trapper and was a friend. I told him that he just made homicide Lieutenant and help me to get my P.I. license. I had my Glock in a box and showed it to him, saying I was doing bodyguard work and Trapper told me to check in, before I carried it. He picked up the phone and called Weber directly. He smiled and said he had two friends of a scumbag that claims to have worked here a few years back. He paused and just said, Trapper. I could hear him howl through the phone, then a door to our right flew open and a balding, overweight man came storming out.

"I hope to hell, Trapper's not planning on coming back here!" he grinned, coming up to me.

"No, Captain, he's quite happy back in Michigan," I introduced myself and then Penny.

We all shook hands, and then he studied Penny for a couple of seconds, "You that TV show woman that was stalked by the psychos back in Michigan?"

She blushed and said she was, then he looked at me. "You the guy who stopped them?"

I said I was one of them. "It was a group effort, Trapper was involved and save my life by shooting the ring leader of the killers."

"Damn, Trapper must have straightened out his act. He was a real pain in the ass when he was a rookie. He used to smuggle in hookers to the precinct and have little orgies in the back cells," he grinned wide.

"I'll have to call him on that when we get back."

"Come on into my office, and we'll talk." He led the way. We had a good talk about everything Trapper had done in his reckless youth. I had some great stories now for Buck. I explained my being there to let them know of my intentions to carry a weapon and be a bodyguard for Penny. He handed me a couple of his cards and said if I had any problems to show this and have them call him. He did have me write down the serial number of the gun, just for the record, I did. I put the gun in the holster I had on under my jacket, and relaxed. We talked a bit more about the classmate murders and Penny was really talking up a storm about it, I guess she was over it now. The Captain was enjoying our talk, and asked us to stop back and visit again. He had business to attend to and we had to get Penny to the convention center, so we all shook hands and went out. An officer in bicycle uniform stopped us, and said when we saw Trapper to tell him Marko says hey. Word spread fast.

We drove out and I swung around back to Tropicana Avenue, and headed over to Paradise Road, to where the Las Vegas Convention Center was located. On the way over I pulled out my cell phone and hit speed dial for Trapper.

He answered, "Richards, you in trouble already?"

"No, I just wanted to know if you have any hookers in your jail cells."

He was quiet for a moment, "They just had to mention that, eh?"

I said, "Weber told me a whole lot about you. I have a new respect for you now, and a whole lot to tell Buck."

"Oh, you do that and I'll never speak to you again."

"Well, I have to share something with him. Just to balance the scales. He feels less than you for the stuff he did. I'll go easy, just enough to make him happy. Oh, someone named Marko said hey," I chuckled.

"That jerk, was just that, a jerk. I pretended to like him. Did you get things settled with Weber, with your gun, I mean," he asked.

"Yeah, we're square; he seems like a decent guy."

He agreed, "Weber was a tight ass, but fair. I trusted him, you should too."

"Ok, Penny and I are going to get her checked in at the convention center, so I'll keep in touch."

He said do that and hung up.

We got to the convention center and Penny located her booth. It was a nice set-up, big picture of Penny, looking beautiful, and signs touting her accomplishments and guests on the show. There were banks of televisions all running clips from her various shows, giving a selection of different styles. I noticed a stack of pamphlets that featured the classmate murders incident and Penny's involvement, complete with forensic pictures of the killers. Must have gotten the photos from someone in the police department, Trapper may be interested in seeing one of these. Her producer saw us and came over, hugging Penny and shaking my hand.

"Penny, we have good vibes from two networks interested in your show, nothing definite yet, but good, and the convention hasn't even started yet. Lots of done deals go on even before the show, so keep your head up." He waved to someone down the aisle, excused himself and went to schmooze.

We sat down on a couple of chairs at her booth and relaxed a bit. I looked at all the decorations and props and asked her what she thought of it all. She was impressed with the work they put into it. I asked how she felt about going nationwide with her show. She said it would be a big responsibility having to entertain people across the country, trying to please everyone from small towns in Maine, to big cities like this one. She wondered if she could pull it of. I said I had every faith in her abilities to pull it off. I was at most of her shows since she returned to work and I could see the usefulness of the information and discussions from her guests and the entertainment of it all. She was a great host, had personality and humor. She was easy going with the big stars that appeared on her show and asked well thought out questions; she would do well just in Metro Detroit or across the country. Her Producer came back by and said the CW network had just approached him about the show; they wanted to see the stats and numbers on the ratings in our market. He was really happy and scooted off.

I smiled at my girl and said things were looking up. The convention officially started at noon, so we had time to go back to get Penny dressed appropriately and back to play star. We had a quick brunch before heading back to the center; I called Buck and Deacon to see if they were playing nice. They were exploring Neonopolis up in the Fremont Street Experience, with Maria leading the charge. I said I hoped they wouldn't break anything and told them I'd call them later when the convention ended for the day. When I told Penny what our little family was up to, she smiled.

The show started and I sat off to one side where I could watch Penny doing her thing. She smiled and shook hands and signed autographs for just about everyone who came by. Around 5 p.m. I was getting hungry and asked Penny if she needed food. She said a hot dog or something simple would be nice, didn't want to overstuff herself during the show. I ambled off and found the food court and got us a couple of hotdogs and Pepsi's then back. She ate when she could, her booth was popular.

While I sat there watching Penny, around 7 p.m., my cell phone rang, from the caller ID, it was Buck.

I answered, Buck sounded distressed. "Jimmy, got a problem. Maria took the night off to be with us, and just now got called back. It seems the girl who took her place for tonight's show was found murdered. Deacon is having fits thinking it could have been her."


*

Chapter Four


I told Penny about Buck's call; she said she knew my becoming a P.I. would attract murder. I had to smile even though the situation was grim. Penny told me to go see if Deacon is all right, she would get a cab back to the hotel. I said I didn't want to leave her, but she insisted I go help our friends. She said she would be all right. I kissed her cheek and went to the car. I called Buck and asked where they were, he said at Maria's house for now, but just getting ready to go to the Tropicana Hotel. I asked where the murder happened and he said in the backstage dressing room. Maria's substitute was there, along with a friend, getting Maria's costumes ready for her to wear tonight. There was an energy drink can in Maria's locker and the sub decided she was going to drink it. The can was tampered with and poisoned. That's why Deacon thinks it was aimed at Maria. I told Buck I'd meet them there and hung up.

I arrived and parked along the side and went in. I liked the Tropicana; it still had the old Vegas feel to it. The casino still had lots of wood and gaudy wallpaper to make one feel like you were back when Bugsy Siegel still roamed Vegas. I had worked there a couple of times, doing my magic pitch for the small magic booth that sat out near the entrance. I went in and headed to the showroom, I flashed my investigator's I.D., hoping the usher didn't get a good look at it. I asked to where the dressing rooms were, he gave me directions. I went through a small maze, into the room, and there was a bit of confusion going on, performers getting ready and showgirls flying feathers around. Off to the side I saw Deacon and Buck talking to some guy in a tailored suit. I approached and listened.

"Officer DeAngelo, I understand your concern for your sister, but we will be watching her carefully now, you can relax." The strange man was saying.

Buck saw me and came over. I asked, "Who's the suit?"

Buck smiled and said, "Hotel security. You'd think with all the cameras in this place, they'd have some play back on who put the poisoned drink in Maria's locker."

"They can't have cameras in a dressing area, it's some law. Women don't