The Spy With the Silver Lining by Wendy Rosnau Read Free Book Online

an attractive woman in her early fifties.
    “Is that Balasi’s mother?”
    “It is, mon ami .” Lazie’s grin widened. “What did you say her name was?”
    “I didn’t. You sure that’s her?”
    “ Dat’s da maman. And look, she’s a spirited ange, too.”
    Pierce watched as a waitress set a martini down in front of the woman.
    Lazie put his hand over his heart. “I’m in love, mon ami. Tell me mon coeur’s name?”
    “Snap out of it, Lazie. Ruza Balasi isn’t your type.”
    “Ruza-a…” Lazie let the name hang on his silver, Southern tongue. “Ma douce amie.”
    “She’s not your love.” Pierce scanned the room looking for Casmir. “She wouldn’t leave her mother,” he muttered, thinking out loud. “No luggage. On foot. Strange city. What would she do? Oui, I know. She’d make a call to Polax.”
    The music was loud and the catcalls the stripper was getting added to the noise. Pierce glanced at the hall leading to the restrooms, thought a moment.
    He grabbed Lazie by the front of his shirt. “Get your eyes back in your head and your mind off your dick. And put your hand down. It looks like your having a heart attack.”
    “ Mais, yeah. It’s true. My heart has been attacked by Ruza-a…”
    “One of these days I’ll enlighten you about sweet Ruza Balasi, but right now this is what you’re going to do.”
    Pierce leaned close and whispered his plan into Lazie’s pierced ear.
     
    Ruza sensed a pair of eyes watching her. She shoved her dark glasses to the end of her nose and scanned the room. There, at the bar. It was the shady-looking character who needed a haircut.
    As he began to swagger over to the table, she wondered what was taking Cassie so long. She wasn’t up for conversation with a stranger. She was simply too exhausted.
    She took a gulp of her martini to fortify the upcoming confrontation.
    “ Oui, a fine-lookin’ woman, Cookie. A classy maman, who looks like she’s lived a life of experience, no?”
    “It’s true,” she answered. “I wasn’t born yesterday, so before this gets awkward, I’ll say no, thank you. Now run along.”
    “ Oui, a spirited maman. I enjoy a woman who can teach an old dog a new trick on all four.”
    Ruza lifted her glass to her lips again. “Well, Mr. Dog, you must have a hearing problem. I said, run along.”
    Instead of moving off, he chuckled. “So you like my place, do you, mon coeur? ”
    Ruza removed her glasses, momentarily forgetting about her black eye. “I have no—”
    “ Ma douce amie, you’ve been injured. Who has hurt you, my sweet? I’ll kill the bastard.”
    She arched her shapely gray eyebrows above her damaged eye. “You said you’re the owner of—” she looked toward the stage “—this cheap acting den?”
    “ Oui. The very one. Saber Lazie at your service, mon coeur. ” He pulled out a chair and sat. “I haven’t seen you here before. Have you come to my city on business or seeking pleasure?”
    “That would be my business.”
    Another chuckle. “ Oui, a spirited woman, with a snake’s bite. The man who hurt you, does he still have his legs?”
    She studied him a moment, got a whiff of his cologne, but couldn’t recognize it. It smelled familiar. That was odd.
    “All you need to know—Lazie—is that I’m not ripe for plucking. I’m waiting for my daughter. You’re sitting in her chair. As you can see, I’ve bought a drink from your lacking establishment, so I’m not loitering.”
    “Ruza-a…do you dance?”
    “How do you know my name?”
    He stood. “It’s a fittin’ name, for one so lovely. I like slender women, and memorable names. You’re a feast for a man’s eyes and his imagination.”
    His sharp eyes drifted to her chest.
    Ruza considering going for the mace in her handbag, which lay on the table. Not yet, she thought. He still hadn’t explained how he knew her name.
    She emptied her martini glass, then asked again, “Who told you my name?”
    He shrugged, checked his watch.