Dalton snorted.
The detective slowly panned to look at him.
"Of course he was the last one to be seen with me," Dalton said. "I went home with him."
"You're Dalton Darby?"
Dalton squinted at the man before glancing at me. "If he's looking for me, shouldn't he know what I look like?"
I thought so, but maybe I was wrong.
Surprisingly, the detective's face flushed. "You look a bit different than the photograph your boss supplied us with."
"You mean I have all my clothes on."
The flush deepened. "Yes, sir."
"Fucking Brasov," Dalton grumbled. "I knew he was going to pull something like this. Didn't I tell you, Andrew? He won't fucking let me go."
"I'm sorry, sir, but can you explain that statement?" the detective asked.
Dalton huffed. "I told Brasov I was leaving the club. He refused to accept it. I'm one of the top dancers at the club, and he didn't want to let go of his little moneymaker. I told Andrew he was going to start shit, and I was right."
"He won't get away with it, Dalton." I tightened the arm I had around Dalton and pulled him into my side. I was amazed at how well he was playing his part. He was a natural, although I suppose putting on a persona and dancing naked in front of people every night meant he had to be.
"I just want him to leave me alone, Andrew," Dalton said. "I don't even want to go back to that place."
"If Mr. Brasov is harassing you," Detective Jones said, "we can help you, Mr. Darby."
That statement right there told me this detective wasn't one of the ones bought off by Brasov, which made me wonder how he got assigned to the case.
"I can handle it if the need comes up," I said. "If he doesn't leave Dalton alone, I'll file a restraining order with the courts. If he doesn't leave Dalton alone after that, I'll call you."
After I called a few other people to deal with Brasov.
"He filed a false police report when he reported that Dalton had been kidnapped," Knox said. "Would that help your case, Lancaster?"
"No, because we can't prove he didn't know Dalton hadn't been kidnapped."
"I'm afraid he's right, Mr. Knox. While he may not want Mr. Darby to quit, there's no way to prove Mr. Brasov didn't know he wasn't being kidnapped."
"Not even the security feed?"
The detective shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"I'm not sure where the cameras were, except for the one in the private lap dance area and the one in the parking lot, but nothing in them could have led anyone to thinking I was being kidnapped. Andrew was my last client of the night, and I left with him."
"You go to the club and watch your boyfriend dance?"
"Fiancé, and yes, I do " I held up Dalton's hand, the one with the ring on it before smiling at him. "He's a wonderful dancer."
Detective Jones glanced at Dalton. "You're marrying Mr. Lancaster?"
"I am," Dalton admitted.
"Did Mr. Brasov know this?"
"I have no idea. I don't tend to discuss my personal life with Mr. Brasov."
