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"Then who are you supposed to be in that getup?" He pointed to her clothes, the exact same outfit Holly had worn, minus the mask

"I’m Mistress Christmas"

He lowered his voice "Like hell Where is she?"

"Where is who?"

"The real Mistress Christmas"

"I am the real deal, buddy"

"But--" Nick counted to ten Where was Holly? He spied the door to the back "My mistake," he said, then sidestepped her and o back there!"

Once inside the darkened passageway, he zoo area where the strippers readied themselves A door looed

She stuht into his arht until they were nose-to-nose "Yes, I’et off stealingout on me?"

Chapter Nine

"I didn’t steal your wallet on purpose, Detective"

At her use of his title, he knew guilt flickered in his eyes

"It ended up on top of my purse and it was so dark when I left--"

"You ht?"

"I am not a thief," she huffed

"Says you But I noticed you didn’t dispute the fact you snuck out" Nick gave her a quick once-over "Why aren’t you dressed in your Mistress Christ

"I saw the woive the it’d fool ets by ace detective Nick West" Holly reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out Nick’s wallet "Take it And before you ask, no, I didn’t snoop besides seeing your badge If you hadn’t shown up here tonight to claim it, I would’ve turned it in to the police because I ah the contents Satisfied nothing was aain "I suppose Holly North isn’t even your real naht?"

Angry shouts sounded out in the lass "Dammit" Holly raced down the hallway toward the commotion

"Wait!" Jesus Leave it to the woer rather than away He chased after her

When Holly skidded to a stop he nearly crashed into her

A s of the woman Nick had spoken to earlier Beer bottles were shattered on either side of hi Or both

"Please Just one"

The woainst the ith no way to escape "I said no Let o," the man blubbered

Where the hell were the bouncers?

Nick sidestepped Holly and moved to stand behind the uy didn’t appear to hear

He really didn’t want to pull out his gun, but it looked as if he , sir Back away from the woman"

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Because I’m a cop"

"Shit" The man cranked his head around He blinked several ti his friend’s blotchy face "Rudy?"

Holly said, "You know him?"

"Unfortunately"

"B-b-but who--"

He scanned Rudy’s disheveled clothes "Are you drunk? And why in the hell are you on your knees?"

"I’ive me a lap dance," he slurred

Fury surfaced inside Nick at the thought of his drunken friend putting his hands on Holly

Rudy ignored him and pleaded with the woman, "I have money this time You can’t deny o"

Soon as Rudy loosened his grip, the woman pushed Rudy on his ass and fled behind Nick

"Stay put I’ll deal with you in a minute," Nick said harshly to Rudy He faced the woman "You okay?"