“Not at all.”
“Me, either,” I agreed.
Phoenix seemed to be on the same page because he had a lot less patience with Lewis. “This will go a lot better for you if you’ll save me the trouble of asking questions and just tell me whatever bullshit story you’ve concocted.”
Lewis tilted his head to the side like he was confused. “Um, I was going to tell the truth. Am I not supposed to?”
Phoenix sighed and gestured for him to go on. “Fine. Tell us ‘the truth.’”
“Well, um, I think this is a big misunderstanding. See, I, um, okay, there are ads for houses for sale with certain wording so you know it’s an ad for something else. You meet at one place and go to a new location. Then you say the specific phrase. I was confused about the other guy being there, but when Daphneanswered the phrase with the correct wording, I thought maybe he was just her pimp or bodyguard or something.”
“Wait. What?” Phoenix said, which is exactly what I was thinking.
“She said the words, so I thought it was okay.”
“Yeah, I got that part. But what exactly was the ad for?”
Lewis shifted uncomfortably. “Uh, sex.”
I jumped to my feet, but Ink yanked me back to my seat.
“You thought Daphne was a prostitute?”
“Yes. I’ve never had a problem like this before.”
“What was the phrase and corresponding answer?”
“I said, ‘I’d like to see what the master suite has to offer,’ and she said, ‘I’m sure you’ll be pleased with it.’”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I bellowed. “That’s a normal response. Anyone could’ve said that.”
Phoenix turned and glared at me. “Sit. Down.”
Raising my hands in front of me, I dropped back into my chair. “Sorry, Prez.”
Phoenix turned back to Lewis. “What he said.”
“Yes, but there was the ad. The phrase is just an extra precaution. It’s also used as the signal to get things going.”
“You’re telling me prostitutes are using real estate ads to solicit business?” Phoenix asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
Phoenix turned back and made eye contact with Byte, who immediately started typing. “Okay, fine, let’s say that’s true. How does Leah fit into this?”
“I hired her to participate,” he said.
“I see,” Phoenix said. “And the car accident?”
“Some dude hit us. When he came over to check on us, I told him we were being kidnapped. He helped us out of the car and offered to drive us somewhere safe.”
“Where did he take you?”
“Some run-down hotel. Before you ask, I don’t know the name of it.”
“Of course you don’t,” I mumbled so that only Ink and I could hear.
“I think that’s all for now,” Phoenix said and nodded to Shaker, who promptly removed Lewis from the room.
