Page 16 of Fearless Encounter
“Wait until you hear her,” Brooke said. “She’s been singing since she was a kid. Kind of like me with the pastries, only she’s much more talented—and famous. She started playing guitar at the age of ten, and by fourteen, she was singing blues. Bonnie Raitt is her role model.”
“Is she older or younger than you?”
“Only two years older, and you’ll see the resemblance,” Brooke said. “When we were younger, people often thought we were twins.”
“Her name is Dumas?”
“Yes, although she’s really a Montgomery,” Brooke said. “Genevieve Dumas is her stage name. It was the last name of her first husband, and she kept it.”
“First husband?”
Brooke shrugged. “She’s had two failed marriages. I think it’s different in show business. She has to keep such late hours. Plus, some guys can’t take her fame. I guess they feel competitive.” She sighed. “But she still dates. No doubt husband number three is on the horizon.”
At Hotel Monteleone, Gabriel struggled to find parking but finally managed. It was a bit of a hike but the best he could do. Inside the hotel, he followed Brooke to the Carousel Lounge. It was still early for the entertainment, but menus were provided for food and drink. Despite the two appetizers at Jasper’s, he still had an appetite. “Care to share the potstickers?”
“That sounds great,” Brooke said. “And a bottle of wine? We’ll be here a while.”
They sat at a table with a decent view of the stage. Beyond the tables was the bar in the shape of a carousel, brightly lit with a ring of lights above. While eating, Brooke chatted about the restaurant, orders she had to fill, and new creations she planned to try. It appeared that her mind wasn’t on her situation. It was good to see her enjoying herself.
The noise level was high even before the entertainment. Music played over speakers, mostly drowned out by the customers talking and laughing. One table was especially loud,but no one seemed unusually interested in Brooke. Yet Gabriel stayed vigilant. It was a habit that was hard to break. In his career, it didn’t pay to take chances.
It was a pleasure being with Brooke. He was growing to like that a bit too much. He’d miss her when she left, but he had no claim on her. She asked more about his work, and he told her a few PI stories—the ones he could share. She seemed very interested and persuaded him to tell more. He had plenty and found himself talking more than he normally did, finding Brooke easy to talk to.
Later, they ordered beef sliders and were just starting to eat when the lights went up on stage. The band came out, arranging themselves at the drums, bass, and guitars. Then Genevieve bounced onto the stage, full of life. Instantly, Gabriel saw the resemblance. She was about the same height and build as her sister, with similar features. But her dark hair was cut shorter and styled in waves. Her stage costume wasn’t a sparkling evening gown, just jeans with a red blazer over a white top. The blazer had rows of shiny silver buttons, and she wore rows of silver necklaces and earrings to match.
The audience seemed to respond to her right away. Gabriel suspected that many in attendance had seen her perform before. She talked to the audience for a moment, warming them up, then launched into her first song. Her voice was deep and powerful, making it hard to imagine that such a strong sound came from a petite woman. But she had incredible range, and the emotion in the song was moving. Gabriel didn’t listen to blues much but had a feeling that he’d be listening to her more.
Between songs, Brooke whispered in his ear. “She rocks your soul, doesn’t she?”
“I’m already a fan.”
Genevieve filled the room with her amazing sound, song after song. When she announced a break, the lights lowered, then she walked through the room to her sister. Brooke gave her a big hug. “You were great! As always.”
When Genevieve sat at the table, she removed the red blazer. She had a lovely cascade of small roses tattooed down her right shoulder and arm. When introduced, she smiled at Gabriel. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m glad to see that my sister is going out.”
“About that…” Brooke leaned closer. “I came tonight to see your performance, but also to tell you something.” Hitting the highlights, she told her sister about what she’d witnessed and explained Gabriel’s presence.
Genevieve put her hand over her sister’s. “That sounds dreadful.” Then she looked at Gabriel. “Oh, well, maybe you two will still hit it off.”
When Gabriel shifted in his seat, Brooke said, “She’s kidding.”
“But seriously,” Genevieve said, “I’m glad you have protection. What are you going to do?”
Brooke looked at Gabriel. “I’m working on it,” he said.
Genevieve frowned. “Can I help?”
“Maybe you can,” Gabriel said. “I assume you observe a lot, being out in the clubs at night. Just keep your ears open.”
“Sure, I’ll listen,” Genevieve said. “If I hear anything that may be useful, I’ll let you know.”
Chapter 5
Deep in thought on Monday morning, Gabriel rode the elevator up to his office. There were many loose ends regarding Brooke’s situation, and he racked his brain for a way to crack the case open. But until a missing person report was filed, there was no case. When he entered the office, Amalie smiled. With her blue eyes and blonde hair, she looked so much like her mom. For a while, looking at his daughter had been a constant reminder of the loss of his wife.
It was now a pleasure to see her at the desk, tapping on her keyboard. She was barely nineteen but mature for her age. Her competence was admirable, and Gabriel was pleased to have her on the team. The natural talent she had with social media and other current technologies was an asset.
“Hey, Dad,” she said, still looking at the computer screen.