Mia sat hunched over her phone at the poolside bar in the Eclipse Hotel. The bartender was doing a stocktake and paid her no attention. Mia was a chambermaid at The Signature Hotel next door but that catered for an older clientele that was scared off by Covid.
Buck Tanner sauntered alongside the main circular shaped pool of the Eclipse, aviator shades shining in the rays of the morning sun. A pair of legs on a bar stool caught his attention from 100 paces. Buck investigated fraud for whoever paid his fee. This time it was the owner of all six hotels along the beach here.
Mia looked up at Chad the bartender holding out a sparkling water bottle, eyebrows raised expectantly.
"Is this in the inventory or not?" Mia said.
"Natural wastage, we call it" smiled Chad.
Chad's eyes turned and his expression darkened as he concentrated into the sun.
Mia turned and sized up a full blown cowboy, boots and all walking towards the bar. An older cowboy but well defined, clean clothes and boots. Aviators that looked good, full head of hair. No stetson unfortunately she thought.
Tanner took off his glasses as he welcomed the shade of the bar and took in his surroundings. The bartender looked like he was not interested in a distraction and the hottie at the bar definitely worked there.
"Hey, I'm looking for Sid? Said Tanner.
"He's not in until around midnight." spoke Chad.
"I'm Buck Tanner, I'm working with the Diners Group. Sid is supposed to be here to meet me?"
Chad shrugged and glanced at Mia who hopped up to greet the cowboy. "Hi I'm Mia, I work at The Signature." holding out her hand.
Tanner gracefully doffs an imaginary hat and kisses Mia's fingers. "Pleased to meet you Mia. Sid manages the Signature as well right?"
Mia looked unsure and changed weight from one flip-flop to another. "Err yeah, Sid's ok. Why you asking?"
"I'm not a cop Mia but Sid's in trouble. I think a grifter or team of grifters is moving from state to state taking advantage of middle managers like Sid. The nets closing now I'm on the case."
This Buck guy still had a gentle hold of my fingers, I withdrew and took a step back, looking into his dark foreboding eyes. Hard eyes that looked right through me. "I...I gotta go Chad." Mia picked up her phone off the bar, took the bottle of water and tried to put on a smile as she slipped past Tanner as he took a seat at the bar and took out a notebook.
When Mia was out of ear shot Buck interrogated Chad for pertinent information about Mia. Address, friends, past. All he got was the room she had in the staff section. Buck headed for the room on the other side of the complex. When he was about to knock, Mia opened it wearing little black shoes, denim mini skirt and a bikini showing under a loose crop top. She was towing a suitcase. Her face fell. Buck walked her backwards into the room.
"Back it up little lady!" Hands on her left shoulder and right hip felt a firm body that didn't protest.
"Woah! You can't just barge in here like this!"
"The games up baby. You're not going anywhere." Buck helped the door close with his foot. "Go sit on the bed". Buck slapped her ass as she turned. Mia let out a squeal gave him a dirty look but only got her reflection back in the aviators.
"The Diners Group are out for blood little missy. You know who owns these hotels?"
"Look Bitch or Buddy or whatever your name is, just call the cops if you have any evidence."