"Hot damn," Phineas muttered.
Scarlett looked down at Vanda and gasped. "Oh my God! She's here! Tootsie, hurry. She's here!" She, or he, flapped a hand in front of his face. "Oh my God, I can't breathe."
"Where is she?" Another figure dashed onto the balcony. Hot pink bell-bottoms and a halter top, completely covered with sequins. He wore a hot pink wig to match, topped with a sparkly pink pillbox hat.
"Et voilà." Colbert gestured to the balcony. "Tootsie."
Tootsie pressed a hand to his chest while he stared at Vanda. "It's really her! Oh my God, she's wearing the purple catsuit. And the purple hair." He reached out to grasp Scarlett's hand. "This is so exciting!"
Together the two men leaped off the balcony and landed on the ground floor.
Scarlett wobbled slightly in his six-inch red stilettos, then scurried toward Vanda. "I'm so glad to meet you. I'm your biggest fan!"
"No, I'm your biggest fan." Tootsie squeezed in front. "I'm a full size bigger than Scarlett." He giggled.
"Well, you wouldn't be if you laid off the Chocolood," Scarlett sneered. "Oh, Vanda—may I call you Vanda, please?"
"I suppose. It is my name."
Scarlett giggled. "You're so clever. And brave! We just loved the way you led that riot outside DVN when Ian was in trouble."
"You saw that?" Vanda recalled the event last December. Gregori had brought a camera out to the parking lot, where she'd gathered a group of women to support Ian. But at the time, she'd been a lot more worried about Ian's safety than the possibility of appearing on television.
"We just adore Ian," Tootsie explained. "Such a sweet boy."
"And such a sweet kilt," Scarlett added, but Tootsie slapped his wrist.
"Behave. And we just love the way you tried to help Ian find his true love." Tootsie pressed a hand to his mouth. "It was so romantic. I think I'm going to cry."
"Don't," Scarlett fussed. "It'll make your mascara run. And Vanda…" He grabbed her hand. "We just loved the way you attacked Corky Courrant. Don't we, everyone?"
Murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd.
"We have it all on tape," Tootsie explained. "That hideous part when Corky was insulting Ian, and then that lovely part when you went flying across the table to strangle the bitch."
"We've watched it a hundred times!" Scarlett exclaimed.
"Great," Vanda muttered. "It was one of my finer moments."
"We just adore you," Tootsie insisted. "And we love that terrible temper of yours."
"Oh yes." Scarlett shuddered. "It's so raw and fierce."
"Do you—" Tootsie pressed a hand to his hot pink lips. "Oh, I hate to be an imposition, but do you possibly think you could demonstrate one of those glorious fits of rage for us?"
"Oh yes, please." Scarlett clasped his hands together. "It would be such an honor to see you royally pissed!"
Vanda gritted her teeth. "I'm working on it as we speak."
"All right," Robby interrupted. "Enough gossiping. We need to proceed with the plan."
"Oh my." Tootsie looked Robby over. "Another nice kilt."
Robby arched a brow. "If ye come to the Vampire Blues with us, ye must be prepared to fight for yer lives."
Scarlett and Tootsie both gasped.
"Y'all have a fabulous time." Scarlett stepped back, waving good-bye.
"And don't let anything happen to Vanda," Tootsie added.
"We won't," Phil grumbled.
"This way." Colbert and six of his men strode toward the warehouse entrance.
Outside, they piled into two black limousines. Time to set the trap and see if Casimir would take the bait.
CHAPTER 17
Phil ushered Vanda to a table in the center of the club. Vampire Blues obviously catered to a different sort of clientele than her club had. No bright lights or fast, pounding music. No screaming, bouncing girls demanding the next male dancer.
Vampire Blues was a dark, gloomy place that reeked of spilled Blissky. Vampire waitresses, dressed in black satin shorts and camisole tops, glided around the scarred tables. Above the bar, a television was tuned to the Digital Vampire Network. Stone Cauf-fyn was delivering The Nightly News, but the mute button had been turned on.
In a corner, next to the bar, a small jazz band was playing a slow, sad melody, and a couple on the dance floor swayed to the music.