Michelle looked outraged. “If the bastard has an MO that people know about why hasn’t he been fired?”
“People are afraid to speak up. Face it, most folks are here because they’re messed up, vulnerable. They’re not in the best position to defend themselves against assholes like that.”
“I’d love a few minutes alone with the guy. His face would be even uglier than it is now.”
“That would be hard to do,” Sandy replied.
Michelle wheeled Sandy into her room and saw the large bouquet of flowers on the nightstand. “You have a secret admirer?” she asked.
“Don’t all women?” Sandy fingered a rose petal. “Speaking of admirers, who was that tall, gorgeous man I saw you talking to when you first got here?”
“Sean King. We’re partners.”
“Partners? So no ring yet?”
“No, we’re partners in a detective agency.”
“You’re a detective?”
“And ex–Secret Service.”
“I wouldn’t have pegged you for being a fed.”
“Why, are we supposed to have a certain look?”
“No. But I’m usually pretty good at telling the goodies from the baddies.”
“You’ve had a lot of experience with both?”
“Let’s just say I’ve had lots of experience period.” She patted Michelle’s hand. “So this Sean King and you? Anything happening outside of work?”
“Now you sound like my shrink.”
“Is he as good inside as he looks on the outside?”
“Even better actually.”
“Then honey, can I ask why you don’t have a ring on your finger?”
“We’re business partners.”
“There’re lots of ways to make a living. But it’s been my experience that handsome men with hearts of gold are as rare as a woman leaving a bar without getting her bottom grabbed. Find one like that, you better reel him in or someone else will.”
Michelle thought of Sean and Joan working together again while she was stuck in here having a fight for her soul with Horatio “Harley-Davidson” Barnes and getting peeped on by Barry the Dickhead. “It’s not that simple,” she finally said.
“Oh, women tell themselves that all the time. That’s partially because nothing for women is simple. It’s only simple for men and that’s because, God love the little bastards, they just can’t see any higher than they can grope.”
“Sean is different.”
“Then you’re just making my point for me. Screw the complex and keep it simple. A ring on the finger. That’s all it takes.”
“Assuming for argument’s sake that I’m willing, what if he’s not?”
Sandy ran her gaze over Michelle. “Then, frankly, he needs to be in here more than you. He might be a cut above most men, but I’m assuming he still has a zipper and something behind it.”
“Relying on physical attraction doesn’t work long term.”
“Of course it doesn’t! But you bait them with the curves, haul them in and use the time till your looks fail to train them properly.”