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257words
I opened the stairwell door a crack.
A stream of women in revealing clothes and high heels was running down.
If they'd left a couple of cops at the hotel entrance, they'd have smashed their annual quota for solicitation arrests.
This was a classic case of 'startling the snakes'.
Luckily, the police were here for a different reason, just collateral damage. If they'd actually been here for a sweep, with dozens of potential cases, this hotel probably wouldn't reopen.
Having Bluetooth earbuds with a mic was great.
I could hear the police questioning clearly through Leo's phone.
The female officer had probably taken the other woman to the bathroom for separate questioning.
The two male officers were with the jerk.
After checking his ID, an officer asked, "You say you're boyfriend and girlfriend. Tell me her name."
The jerk hesitated for a long time before answering.
"Trixie."
The officer almost laughed.
"Is Trixie her surname? I'm asking for her legal name."
The jerk stayed silent. Even listening in, I felt secondhand embarrassment.
All this time, and he didn't even know her real name?
And he'd given her his.
"Alright. You're coming with us."
Just then, the female officer seemed to be finished, bringing the other woman out.
The officers conferred briefly.
They were taking them to the station for further questioning.
Seeing they were about to leave, I pushed the door open.
"Officers, can I have a word with him?"
The officer saw my red eyes and waved a hand.
"Make it quick."
