Dana chose a locker in the gold-gilded bathroom, angling her head to see if the toilet was gold, too. Nope. Regular porcelain. She left her shoes and exited the bathroom, nearly running into a voluptuous brunette struggling with a corset in the ostentatious guest room, complete with mirrors on the ceiling. “Help,” the woman said, partially turning, her mask a sparkling aqua.

“No problem.” Dana swiftly tightened the drawstring at the back. “You were tangled.”

“Got a little busy playing in the upstairs office,” the woman said, turning. “Next I’m hitting the dungeon downstairs. Lilia said there’s a couple of crosses down there. I’m Julie.”

Dana shook her hand. “Dana.” She studied the woman’s sparkling blue eyes as the hard rock thumped through the closed door. “You look familiar, even wearing that stunning mask.”

“I’m an aide with Senator Locombe. We’ve been in the news a lot lately with the new farm bill.” Julie brushed her hair away from her face. “Man, I needed a relaxing time tonight.”

Dana nodded. “Yeah, me too. Sometimes the pressures of work take over, and it’s good to just let go for a bit.”

“Amen, sister. It’s the one place I can just be me without having to make a decision.” She leaned toward Dana. “I saw you with Wolfe. I’ve been trying to catch that guy’s eye for a month. He is such a hottie. I bet he knows how to spank a girl properly.”

Dana choked and then quickly regained control. “Yeah, he’s gifted.” If Wolfe tried with her, she’d break his hand. But she did understand the desire to let go and just relax with somebody else making decisions. “I initially came to hang out with Albert Nelson because my friend knew him, but . . .”

Julie’s eyes widened. “I know. I wasn’t here last time, but I heard all about him being shot and falling right to the ground. Do you know anything about it?”

Dana shook her head and leaned in. “Not really. You?”

Julie looked around and then back, her voice lowering. “Just the usual rumors that if you wanted drugs, he was the go-to guy, or if you wanted connections, he was the guy to ask.”

“Connections?” Dana murmured.

Julie nodded. “Yeah. Like if you somehow ended up with jewelry or a painting or whatever that you needed to get off your hands, then Albert Nelson was the guy to call to find the right people who could get it done.” Her voice dropped lower. “I only know that because I was playing with Ralph, the big blond guy, and he got really drunk one night and talked a lot about getting rid of an ex-girlfriend’s designer purses without her knowing.”

Ralph. Wasn’t that name in Candy’s notes? Dana perked up. “Is Ralph here tonight?”

“Haven’t seen him, but I’ve been up playing.” Julie straightened.