“You worked at the club where Connor Franco was shot?” Trevor asked, his voice sharp with surprise.
Sarah nodded silently.
“Who? Connor Franco?” Sienna looked confused. Then, a memory clicked. She recalled her mother gossiping on the phone with friends. “Oh! I remember Mom saying the bride’s father was shot on Sunday night.” She turned to Sarah, her eyes wide. “That was your workplace?”
“What happened that night? What do you remember?” Report Man leaned in, pen poised over his notebook.
“I was there… in the room, serving them,” Sarah whispered, her voice trembling. “Then I heard the noise. I ran out with the others to see what was happening. A crowd had gathered around the restroom door. Someone shouted that Mr. Franco had been shot. My boss was nearby, frantically making calls while the rest of the staff scrambled. Everything was chaos. I was so scared.”
“Easy,” Lady News said gently, placing a hand near Sarah’s. “Recall it slowly. Don’t panic.”
The warmth of the Salon and the hot meal were finally starting to affect Sarah. Feeling flushed, she peeled off the luxury navy down jacket. “That’s all I remember. The ambulance and police came, asked us questions, and let us go. The next morning, my manager told me the club was closed until further notice. They still haven’t paid me for that night,” she added, a flash of anger crossing her face.
“Who’s the manager? Tell me,” Sienna snapped, her protective streak flaring up. “I’ll tell my dad. He’ll handle them.”
“I just wish they’d reopen,” Sarah sighed. “The pay was good. It beats selling lighters in the freezing cold.”
Trevor studied her. “Did you actually like working there? Besides the money… did you enjoy it?”
Sarah hesitated. Her hand went instinctively to her wrist, covering it. She shook her head.
“Please,” Sienna scoffed, as if the answer were obvious. “Who actually likes working?”
“Did you notice anything strange?” Report Man pressed. “Franco was shot in a restroom alone. No one saw the killer. Doesn’t that seem odd?”
Sarah thought for a long moment. “I heard people talking. No one saw a thing. The bodyguard heard the shot and ran to the door immediately, but the killer had vanished.”
“Did you see anyone suspicious?” Spion asked, his eyes narrow.
Sarah paused to think, eventually shaking her head. “I don’t think I saw the killer. That night, it was just the bosses, mine was there, too, and Judy, the dealer, in the gaming room. In the lounge, it was mostly their staff: bodyguards and servants. They were just passing the time, chatting or playing cards, when Lily and I went into the room to serve. After the shooting, we all huddled in the lounge together… Oh, wait. I saw a puppy.”
“A puppy?” Report Man paused, his pen hovering. “A little dog?”
Sarah nodded. “A yellow puppy. It’s been hanging around the club a lot lately, though no one knows who it belongs to. That day, I saw it while I was serving drinks. And right after the shooting, as I ran out, I saw it bolt out of the lounge.”
“A puppy,” Spion mused, leaning back. “Hardly a suspect. A dog can’t exactly pull a trigger or set a trap.”
“Forget the puppy and the shooting for a second,” Sienna interrupted, turning to Sarah. “I’m thirsty. Do you want a tonic?”
“I think I’ve had enough. I’m full,” Sarah replied.
“Nonsense, they’re paying,” Sienna said, shooting a look at Trevor. “Two tonic waters. Or better yet, two Gin and Tonics.”
“No alcohol,” Spion corrected firmly.
Sienna rolled her eyes, then leaned back and grinned.
Sarah managed a small, weary smile. For the first time all night, she seemed to relax, leaning back into the plush upholstery just as Sienna had.
“I’ll order the tonics; I could use one myself,” Lady News said, “Does anyone else need—” As she leaned forward, the light hit Sarah’s neck at a certain angle, she caught a glimpse of angry red welts on Sarah’s skin. “Sarah… your neck. What happened to your neck?”
Sarah flinched, pulling her hair forward to hide the dark red marks. Her panicked movement revealed similar bruising on her wrists.
“And your wrists too,” Sienna whispered, her voice losing its edge.
Sarah’s eyes darted around the table, her breath hitching. The trauma was suddenly visible.
“Sarah,” Lady News said, her voice dropping to a soft, motherly tone. “Would you like to come to the restroom with me for a moment?”
Sarah lowered her head, trembling. Lady News caught Sienna’s eye. “Sienna, come. Let’s have a girls’ talk.”
“Sarah, if you need help, we can talk where it’s private,” Sienna added with genuine concern.
After a long, agonizing silence, Sarah finally stood up. The three of them disappeared toward the back of the Salon.
The three men sat in grim silence, eating fries quietly. Ten minutes passed, then fifteen. Finally, the women returned. Each held a glass of tonic water, but their faces were stony.
“It’s darker and more disgusting than I imagined,” Lady News said as they sat back down. “Sienna’s driver is on his way to pick them up.”
The next twenty minutes were spent in heavy silence. When the car arrived in the front yard, the team escorted the girls out. They watched as the nanny, looking relieved but weary, helped the girls into the back seat.
As the car pulled away into the night, Lady News turned to the men, her face pale with rage.
“She wasn’t just serving drinks,” Lady News said, her voice trembling. “She and other girls—minors—were forced into ‘hostess’ roles. They were made to wear revealing clothes to please the guests, subjected to whipping and humiliation. She admitted those marks were from Connor Franco and his associates.”
“Those bastards,” Report Man hissed through clenched teeth.
“What can we do for them?” Trevor asked, looking at the empty street.
“I’ve asked Sienna to talk to her father to see what pressure he can apply,” Lady News replied. “I told Sarah I’d get her a lawyer, but she’s hesitant. She’s desperate for the money they pay her. She said she’d think about it.”
“I’m going to keep digging,” Report Man declared. “I want every piece of filth Franco ever touched.”
“Style sent an email a few minutes ago,” Spion said, checking his glowing phone screen. “It’s about Franco’s family in the Netherlands.”
Lady News let out a long, exhausted sigh. “I’ll look at it tomorrow morning. Right now, I’ll call my driver, go home and try to sleep.”