Chapter 46

Devlin didn't see Connie until the next afternoon. Her roommate looked barely human: her face was pasty white, her hair was straggly, and there were bags under her bloodshot eyes.

"You look like you escaped from 'Night of the Living Dead'," Devlin said. "How do you feel?"

"Like I should be sick to my stomach," Connie said. She was sitting on her bed, staring at the floor. "I take it you put me to bed."

Devlin nodded. "You were pretty much out of it." She tossed her books on her desk and sat on her bed. "How much of last night do you remember?"

"Most of it, I guess." Connie ran her fingers through her hair. "Most of it up until Alexa began feeding me glasses of wine."

"How much do you remember about that party?"

Connie grinned. "Nearly all of it. Why?"

"I was wondering what birth control method you're using," Devlin said slowly. "And what your partners' medical records looked like."

"Medical records?"

"If you have unprotected sex with someone, you put yourself at risk of any one of a number of sexually transmitted diseases."

"And you think... ?" Her pale face turned even whiter. "And I'm not on any birth control," she added in a whisper.

"Best to get things like this checked out as soon as possible," Devlin said.

"Are... are you sure they can tell this early?"

"Probably not," Devlin said with a shake of her head. "But they can do something about it."

"God..." Connie rose from her bed. "Let's go!"

They walked most of the way to the Health Clinic in silence. Finally Connie looked at Devlin. "Are you sure about the health risks?"

"Pretty sure."

"You have sex all of the time, and you don't seem worried about it."

"I have sex... what makes you think that?"

"The way you are when you come home Tuesday night. It's like you're floating on a cloud. It's just like you were when you were seeing Jeff."

Devlin closed her mouth, but slowly so she wouldn't give anything away. "I go dancing on Tuesday nights," she said at last.

Connie looked at her in disbelief. "Sure you do."

"Come with us and see."

"Us?"

"You don't think I go alone, do you?"

"What about Evan?"

Devlin laughed, putting her hand on Connie's arm. "Doug is... Doug is a friend."

Connie looked skeptical. "So you say. How do you know you won't fall for him."

"Because he's mostly gay, and he wears dresses."

Connie stopped dead in her tracks. "What?! You're kidding me!"

"He's an Associate Professor of Sociology, and the head of his department wants everybody in the department to be gay. Says it's a diversity thing."

"Oh, bullshit." Connie shook her head violently, then stopped, holding her head with both hands. "I've heard about that guy. He's a gay-militant who can't abide straight people."

"Well, yeah, he is. Have pity on the one instructor in that department who is straight. She says she won't change, either, just to make nice with him."

"And you go dancing with this... guy?"

"Doug's a good dancer, even if he does it in a dress. I don't have any worries that he'll hit on me, either." She had a sudden thought. "Why don't you come with us tomorrow night, and you can see."

"You're... are you serious? You're not serious, are you?"

"I am. You've said you like to dance, and this place is safe. Trust me, the guys there aren't interested in taking any girls home to bed."

"Um... well..." Connie's hand went to the front of her shirt. "Oh, God, I lost my inserts last night."

"That's not all you lost. When I undressed you for the shower you didn't have any underwear on."

Connie's face turned beet red. "Oh, no. I thought I put it in my purse." She opened her purse and rifled through it. "Nope, not there. I wonder what happened to them?"

Devlin thought of the guys at Emma's who stole women's underwear, and decided not to say anything. "They probably fell out," she said.

"I'm going to need new inserts," Connie said.

Devlin waved. "Don't worry about that. First, let's get you checked out." She led Connie to the Health Clinic, waited until Connie's name was called, and sent her off with the nurse, adding the assurance that "I'll be right here when you're done."

Once Connie was gone Devlin dug out her cell phone and called Doug.

"Go dancing?" he asked when she explained what was going on. "Sure. I was going to mention it to you myself."

"Why? What's up?"

"My Chairman heard a rumor that I was going to Cindy's, though he doesn't know Cindy or her husband. I need to go to that club I took you to a while back."

Devlin laughed. "Should I wear a dress? Or jeans?"

"You could wear a leotard for all I care. But a dress, or a skirt and blouse, would be fine."

"What about Cindy? We should tell her."

"I'll do that." He sighed. "Frankly, Devlin, I was getting a bit nervous. It's not that I don't mind doing it with a woman, but that's one-on-one. Cindy said something about us joining them in the main bedroom, and I'm not sure I can handle that."

"Too much opportunity?"

"I'll say," he chuckled. "Some of those guys..." He broke off. "This isn't helping my self-image, you know. Last week I looked in on them on my way back from the bathroom. I saw all of those taut male bottoms bouncing up and down and--"

"What time tomorrow night?" Devlin asked, cutting him off. She'd seen the same thing, and it was turning her on. "The usual?"

"The usual," he agreed. "I'll see you then. I'll see both of you then."

Devlin returned to the waiting room. Taking out a textbook, she made herself comfortable. In a way she wouldn't be sorry if she didn't go back to Cindy's. Part of it was Vijay and Rani. She knew she should trust Cindy to deal with the matter, but she wasn't sure if Vijay would take 'No' for an answer. Her Wednesday classes were taking more and more time to prepare, and any particular itch she might have was going to be more than satisfied with Danny.

She had one additional thought before she dove back into her reading assignment. If somebody was following her, what would they make of her going dancing with a guy who wore a dress? It would be a lot better than if they followed her to Cindy's.

Cindy appeared about an hour later. She was grimacing and looking at the floor.

"What did they say?" Devlin asked as she put her book away and got up.

"Well, I didn't have any weird disease, that's the good news."

"What's the bad news?"

"My flow is going to start tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? I thought it wasn't due for at least a week."

"The nurse gave me a couple of high-dosage birth control pills. It'll start my flow, and I won't be pregnant."

"Are you now?"

"She wasn't sure. She said it was too soon to tell, but this would make sure I wasn't."

Devlin picked up her things. "Are you going to start using birth control?"

"I'd better," Connie said. "I'm supposed to come back tomorrow and talk to the doctor. The nurse didn't make any recommendations, but I was thinking of using a birth control pill."

"Talk to the doctor before you make a decision," Devlin said. "There are pros and cons for every method, but the doctor will help you decide which one is best for you."

Connie nodded. "Yeah, that's what I read in the magazines. What am I going to tell my mother? I haven't figured that out just yet."

"Why does she have to know?"

"Because she'll find out. You don't know her, Devlin. I go home every other weekend, and she goes through my purse and luggage every time."

"She doesn't have to find out," Devlin said. She wondered what Danny would tell her to do. "You need to find some place she won't look."

"I can't think of one. And if she gets the idea that I'm hiding something, she'll go over everything with a fine-tooth comb."

"Mention that to the doctor. I have a friend who uses an implant. Maybe that's what you'll need."

"Maybe," Connie said. "At least I wouldn't have to think about it every day."

"Talk to your doctor," Devlin repeated as they got to the front door of the dorms. "He'll help you find what works for you."

The next night Doug showed up wearing leather pants and an open-front shirt. He gave Devlin a slight shake of his head to say there wouldn't be a dress tonight. Devlin pulled Connie along with her. By the time they got back to the dorm Connie was exhausted.

"That place was great," she said as Doug drove off. "I've never danced so much in my life."

Devlin gave her roommate a dreamy smile. "Lot's of good-looking guys there, too. And nobody was hitting on us or trying to feel up my tits. You don't know how happy that makes me." She saw a car pulling away; in the darkness she couldn't see what it looked like. But it had Illinois plates, and she got part of the number.

"I wish I could have that problem," Connie said as she opened the front door. "But I'm not going to have it at that place."

Devlin stopped in the lobby long enough to jot down what she could remember of the license plate. She'd call Denise O'Connor the first thing in the morning and give it to her.

"Enjoy that," Devlin said. "I know you don't think that's a blessing, but believe me, it is."

"And you go there every week?"

"Not every week. There are some other places Doug knows, and we go there from time to time."

Connie nodded. "And you look just like you did on those overnights with Jeff. I'm sorry I thought otherwise."

"Don't think anything of it," Devlin said. She pushed the button for the elevator. It was after 11, no later than it would have been if they'd gone to Cindy's. She liked the idea of going dancing, even if it meant taking Connie along.

#

She mentioned it to Danny when they finished. She was lying on the bed and he was stroking her body, especially her breasts.

"Giving people something to see," he said. "That lulls them a bit."

"Only a bit?"

"A good investigator is never lulled into a routine."

"If you say so. By the way, are you suggesting you're up for a third time? I can if you're interested, but do you have the time?"

He smiled. "No, I was just enjoying the feel of your breasts." His hand slid down between her legs. She shifted slightly to make it easier. "Just like what I feel down here."

"It's wet and messy and needs cleaning up." She looked over his shoulder. They were in a loft apartment, and the bathroom was behind him. "If you give me a chance to clean up..."

"I kind of like it wet and creamy."

"Well, true, you always have." She shifted her weight. His fingers were rubbing her clit, and she was definitely getting turned on. His dick was still soft, but maybe something could come of this.

"Just how do you... oh, that feels good... just how are you working things out with this place?"

"A friend of mine owns it. He uses it in the evening when he has to stay in town overnight."

"And he... um... he won't mind the bedspread smells of us?" She swallowed. She was definitely getting warmer down there. And from the look on Danny's face, that was deliberate.

"I thought we would store it in the closet." He bent over and sucked her nipples, sending a warm shiver through her.

"And he knows what you're using this place for?" She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him a little closer to her.

"He suspects. Frankly I think he uses this place for the same thing."

"I..." Whatever she'd been going to say was lost as he pressed harder, and a warm wave swept through her. "Ah... good. H-harder."

He kissed her other breast, gradually working up her body to that sensitive place at the hollow of her neck. She closed her eyes, holding him in place. His fingers were pressing harder. She drew up around him, trying to pull his hand deeper.

It was like a long breath before a sneeze, deeper, higher, more and more in the moment until everything let loose in a sudden rush.

"Oh..." She relaxed back on the bed, everything flowing away from her in a gentle sigh. "Um, you are so good at that."

He leaned over and kissed her. "Thank you."

She felt his length. "Are you sure... ?"

"No," he said sadly, "there isn't time. I'll have to take a rain check."

"I didn't look," she said after a bit. "Is there room in the shower for two?"

"That's why I think he has women up here. Shall we go see?"

The shower was big enough for two, and Devlin thought of giving Danny a blow-job as a thank-you for what he'd done for her on the bed. In the end she didn't, but only because it would have meant getting her hair wet.

Devlin stopped in the snack room on her way downstairs-- Danny suggested strongly that she take the stairs--and bought an apple from the vending machine. This room was only accessible with the key everyone renting space here was issued and had been part of the reason Danny had chosen this place. Anyone following her would be stopped at the door. She could leave by the stairs in the back, also accessible only with a key, and be on her way.

She ate while cleaning up her last few orders. Satisfied with her lunch hour, more than satisfied in one regard, she stuffed her inventory sheets in a folder and headed for the Athletic Club.

She was nearly there when Denise O'Connor honked and waved. "Want a lift?" she called, rolling down her window.

"I have a class in a few minutes," Devlin replied.

"Hop in anyway, I'll make sure you make it."

Reluctantly Devlin did so. "What's up? I don't have time for lunch."

"I ran that partial plate you gave me the other day," Denise said as she pulled into traffic. "I had to wade through a few hundred registrations, but I found one I thought was curious. It's a dark green Chevy registered to a Patricia Osborne. She's a PI who normally works on the north side of Chicago for a law firm that specializes in custody and divorce."

"Do you think that's why she's here?"

"Do you think the Cubs will win the World Series?" Denise laughed. "Sorry, that was a rhetorical question. I think she's here checking up on you."

"Why? What did I do?"

"We've had this conversation before." Denise stared at a passing truck. "Whatever it is, somebody's invested some serious bucks in her. She isn't cheap."

"She can look all she wants. Unless somebody's upset because I sold her the wrong sized bra, there's nothing there."

"And I can't touch her without probable cause. All she's doing is watching, and she's staying far enough away that a court probably won't consider this stalking. Just to be sure, though, I ran this case past my boss. He had me follow you for a couple of days."

"He did? And what did you find out?"

"That you went to a dance bar named 'Boy Toy' Tuesday night. You went with a member of the faculty and a gal who looks like your roommate."

"Connie is."

"I kind of thought so. There's a rumor that the professor you went with is gay."

"Doug is... confused. He doesn't know if he likes men or women."

"He also wears a dress from time to time."

"I don't think that's illegal in this state."

Denise smiled. "Devlin's got an edge to her tongue today. No, it's not illegal, though there are some people who might get bent out of shape about a professor doing it. The bartender reported you didn't drink any alcohol, just iced tea, and you spent most of the evening dancing."

"It's one of the few places I know where the guys won't hit on me. I kind of like that."

"God, that's true!" Denise laughed. "They probably don't want you there."

"Actually they do," Devlin said. "I've sold a lot of bras and inserts there."

"You... what? Inserts?"

"In the last week I sold 35 sets at $15.00 each. My profit was $6.50 on each pair."

"Thirty-five? I didn't know there were that many guys around here who owned a dress."

"Tuesday night Connie and I got bombarded with questions on make-up and accessories. We escaped to the dance floor to get away from them."

Denise shook her head. "I would have loved to have seen that."

"You would have enjoyed it." Devlin motioned toward the curb. "You can let me out here, this is as close to my softball class as you can get from this side of town."

"I thought you were going to drop off some papers?"

"I'll do that after class. I was just completing my monthly inventory of sales material."

Denise nodded. "I'll talk to you in a couple of days. By then I should have some more information. And maybe I'll even drop Patricia a friendly word."

"You don't have to."

"Yes, I do," Denise said, the smile slipping from her lips. "I'm the Law in this town. If she's following you, if she's been hired by Jack Roget, then I think the judge will want to know about it. You've done nothing wrong, but you're being stalked by somebody. I want to know who, and I want to know why."

"And I just want it to end," Devlin said. She glanced at her watch. "I've got to run, otherwise I'll be late for class."

When she was safely in the locker room she drew a deep breath. She liked Denise, she liked that she was looking out for her, but ideally she'd like the cop to just leave her alone. But there wasn't any way she could say that. At least Denise hadn't sensed that she'd been with Danny. That would only throw fuel on the fire.