In Miami Secret Affair Led To 𝐇𝐈𝐕 & 𝐀 𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐃!𝐬𝐦3𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 | HO!!

Kendra Bailey ran her hand along the rim of her martini glass, watching the multicolored lights reflected in the glass. All of Las Vegas seemed to lie at her feet that evening. At least that’s what she wanted to believe. At 25, she had learned to create illusions as well as any magician on the Strip. The illusion of luxury, the illusion of success, the illusion of happiness.

Her carefully painted lips curved into a smile when she caught the eye of the man at the next table. Expensive suit, expensive watch, attentive, appraising gaze—a familiar type. That was her job: to be noticed, to attract interest, to sell her time and attention at the highest possible price.

Kendra hadn’t felt embarrassed in a long time. It was just business. And in a city built on excitement and a thirst for thrills, her services were always in demand.

She sipped her martini, thinking about how far she had come in the last four years. From the poor neighborhood of North Las Vegas to the expensive hotels on the Strip, from cheap cocktails to $500 bottles of champagne.

She took a big gulp. The alcohol burned pleasantly in her throat, helping her forget what she had been through.

Kendra’s phone vibrated and she glanced at the screen. A message from Imani.

Where are you? I’m already at the Bellagio. Trevor was asking about you.

Kendra sighed.

Imani Davis, her so‑called best friend, the only person in this business she could more or less trust. They met three years ago when they both worked at the same club. Since then, their paths had often crossed. Sometimes they collaborated, sometimes they competed, but they always stayed in touch.

I’ll be there in 30 minutes, Kendra replied, finishing her martini.

Leaving the Cosmopolitan bar, she stepped out into the warm Las Vegas night. The September air was still hot even after sunset. Tourists bustled along the Strip, mesmerized by the neon lights and fountains.

Kendra had long since stopped paying attention to these sights. She had seen the real Las Vegas, a city that devoured dreams and spat out broken hopes.

Nevertheless, she had a plan.

She saved every cent she earned in this business for her education. In two more years, she would be able to leave this life behind, earn a degree in business administration, and start all over again.

At least that’s what she liked to tell herself in moments of sobriety and clarity.

Catching a taxi, Kendra gave the address: Bellagio.

The driver, an elderly man with a thick accent, nodded without showing any interest. Another pretty girl going to the casino. Business as usual in Vegas.

On the way, Kendra checked her makeup in a small mirror. Flawless.

She always made sure she looked her best. In her line of work, appearance was her main asset.

Her phone vibrated again. This time, it was Darius calling, her pimp, although he preferred to call himself her manager.

“Where are you, baby?” Darius’s voice sounded tense.

“I’m on my way to Bellagio to meet Trevor,” Kendra replied, trying to keep her voice calm.

“Okay, but don’t forget I want my cut. You’ve earned it over the last two weeks.”

Kendra rolled her eyes.

Darius Montgomery always thought about money. Greedy, controlling, and dangerous. A combination to be avoided.

But in her world, she couldn’t survive without a patron.

“You’ll get it tomorrow,” she said. “Trevor’s in a good mood today.”

“I hope so,” Darius said threateningly, and hung up.

Kendra sighed and leaned back in her seat.

Darius had been getting more and more demanding lately. Maybe it was time to find another manager, or better yet, start working for herself.

But that was risky. Darius wasn’t the type to let his protégées go easily.

The taxi stopped at the Bellagio fountains.

Kendra paid and got out, admiring the water show for a moment.

Jets of water shot up into the night sky in time with the music, creating a truly magical spectacle. Tourists with cameras stood around watching the show in awe.

How she wanted to be one of them, a carefree tourist who came to have fun for the weekend, not someone who makes a living selling the illusion of romance and attention.

Inside the Bellagio casino, the familiar atmosphere of controlled chaos reigned: the clatter of slot machines, shouts at the craps tables, muffled conversations at the poker tables.

Kendra moved confidently through the gaming room to the VIP lounge where Trevor Coleman usually spent his time.

The security guard at the entrance to the lounge recognized her and nodded, letting her in.

Here, the music was quieter, the lighting was subdued, and the air was saturated with expensive perfume and cigar smoke.

Trevor was sitting at his usual table in the corner, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

To Kendra’s surprise, Imani was sitting next to him, laughing at something he had said. Her laughter seemed too loud, too fake.

When Kendra approached the table, Imani looked at her with barely concealed irritation, quickly hidden behind a smile.

“Finally,” she exclaimed. “We thought you weren’t coming.”

Trevor looked up and smiled. He was an attractive man in his 40s with short hair and piercing eyes, always impeccably dressed, with manners that betrayed his good upbringing.

No one would have guessed that over the past year he had lost more money in this very casino than many people earn in a lifetime.

“Kendra.” He stood up and kissed her on the cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you, Trevor.” She smiled, ignoring Imani’s piercing gaze. “Sorry I’m late.”

She sat down next to him and the waiter immediately appeared at the table.

“Champagne?” Trevor offered.

Kendra nodded, although she would have preferred something stronger. The evening promised to be tense.

Imani was clearly vying for Trevor’s attention, which was not surprising. He was a generous client.

“We were just discussing tonight’s party,” Imani said, adjusting her tight‑fitting red dress. “They say there will be a lot of important people there.”

“What party?” Kendra asked, accepting a glass of champagne from the waiter.

Trevor smiled.

“Jason Harris. He’s rented out the entire top floor of the Palazzo. You don’t know him. He’s new to Vegas, but trust me, he’s someone worth meeting.”

Kendra took a sip of champagne.

Jason Harris. The name meant nothing to her. But if Trevor thought he was important, then he must be.

“What’s he like?”

“A businessman from Chicago. Investments, real estate,” Trevor swirled the whiskey in his glass. “He’s got connections and even more money.”

“And he loves beautiful women,” Imani added with a meaningful smile.

Kendra nodded understandingly.

It was a typical scenario. A wealthy businessman comes to Vegas, throws a party, and invites beautiful women. Nothing new.

“So, are we going?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“Of course.” Trevor finished his whiskey. “I promised Jason I’d bring the most beautiful girls in town.”

Imani laughed and put her hand on Trevor’s shoulder, giving Kendra a triumphant look.

“Then we need another drink for courage,” she said.

The next hour passed in casual conversation.

Trevor talked about his business plans, his new project in Miami, how he was going to win big at the casino—the usual conversations filled with more dreams than reality.

Kendra listened half‑heartedly, occasionally agreeing and smiling in the right places.

She watched Imani, who was clearly trying to monopolize Trevor’s attention.

This was not like her. Imani was usually more reserved, more calculating. Something had changed.

By 11:00, they decided to head to the party.

Trevor paid for the drinks, leaving a generous tip, and they left the Bellagio.

“Let’s take my car,” Trevor said, heading for the parking lot.

Trevor had a brand‑new Mercedes, another sign of his love of luxury, despite his financial problems.

Kendra sat in the front passenger seat, leaving Imani in the back, which drew another disapproving look.

On the way to the Palazzo, Kendra watched the casino lights flash by.

Every building on the Strip was a monument to human greed and the hope for easy money, and each one hid countless stories of despair and broken lives.

The Palazzo towered over the Strip as yet another monument to luxury.

Trevor handed the car keys to the valet and they headed for the private elevators.

The security guard at the elevator checked their names on the list and let them in.

As they ascended to the top floor, Kendra felt a familiar sense of unease.

Parties like this were always unpredictable.

Sometimes they ended with generous tips and new clients. Sometimes with unpleasant situations that had to be extricated from.

When the elevator doors opened, they were greeted by the noise of a party in full swing.

The penthouse was filled with people. Men in expensive suits and women in revealing dresses. Music blared. Waiters carried champagne and cocktails. And the huge windows offered a stunning view of Las Vegas at night.

“Trevor.”

A tall man with a broad smile approached them.

“Glad you could make it.”

“Jason.” Trevor shook his hand. “Great party. Let me introduce you to Kendra and Imani.”

Jason Harris looked them both over appraisingly.

His dark eyes lingered on Kendra for a moment, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

Something about this man alarmed her.

Perhaps it was the cold, calculating look hidden behind his friendly smile.

“It’s very nice to meet you, ladies,” he said. “Make yourselves at home. Drinks, food, everything is free. The only rule is to have a good time.”

He called the waiter over and took champagne glasses for Kendra and Imani from the tray.

“To new acquaintances,” he raised his glass.

They drank and Jason pulled Trevor aside, leaving the women alone.

“He’s cute,” Imani whispered, watching Jason walk away. “And obviously rich.”

Kendra shrugged.

“There are lots of guys like that in Vegas. They come, throw their money around, and then disappear.”

“Maybe.” Imani took a sip of champagne. “But Trevor says he’s here for the long haul. He’s starting some kind of business.”

Kendra looked around.

The party was typical of Vegas. Expensive alcohol, beautiful people, an atmosphere of decadence.

In the corner of the room, she noticed a group of men playing poker. Judging by the stacks of chips, the stakes were high.

“I’m going to look around,” Kendra said. “See you later.”

Imani nodded, already scanning the guests for potential clients.

Kendra walked around the penthouse, stopping for a quick chat with one guest or another.

She knew how to charm, how to make men feel special, even if the conversation lasted only a few minutes.

An hour later, she ran into Jason Harris again.

He was standing at the bar watching the guests.

“Enjoying the party?” he asked when Kendra came over to order another cocktail.

“Very much,” she smiled. “You have excellent taste.”

“I try,” he said, handing her a fresh martini. “Trevor told me about you. He said you were special.”

Kendra accepted the compliment with a smile, though she felt tense inside.

Trevor had recommended her, which meant he had already discussed the terms with Jason.

“Really?” She took a sip of her martini. “And what did he say?”

Jason moved closer so she could smell his cologne.

“That you’re smart, discreet, and open to interesting offers.”

Kendra met his gaze without embarrassment.

She had long since learned not to show her true emotions.

“It depends on the offer,” she said.

Jason smiled, clearly pleased with her answer.

“I have a business meeting tomorrow evening with potential partners. I would like you to accompany me. Keep me company. Create the right atmosphere.”

Kendra nodded understandingly. A standard request.

“Is that all?”

Jason shook his head.

“Not quite. After the meeting, I’ll need your help with something special. Nothing complicated, but unusual. And very well‑paid.”

So that’s what it was.

Kendra was wary.

Special requests often meant trouble, but they also meant big money.

“How special?” she asked, trying to sound interested rather than concerned.

Jason glanced around, making sure no one was listening.

“Let’s discuss the details in a more private setting,” he said, pointing to the door leading to the terrace. “It’s quieter there.”

Kendra followed him, feeling her heart begin to beat faster.

Something about the situation felt wrong, but her curiosity and the prospect of good money outweighed her caution.

The terrace was cooler and quieter.

The lights of Las Vegas stretched out in all directions, creating the feeling that they were standing on the edge of a glowing sea.

Jason leaned against the railing and looked at Kendra with a mysterious smile.

“Trevor said you want to change your life. That you’re saving for an education?”

Kendra raised her eyebrows in surprise.

She had never told Trevor about this. Apparently, Imani had let it slip.

“Everyone has dreams,” she replied evasively.

“I can help you make yours come true,” Jason said. “What I’m asking will only take one evening, and you’ll get $50,000 for it.”

Kendra almost choked.

Fifty thousand for one evening? That was what she earned in several months.

“What exactly do you want me to do?” she asked, trying to remain calm.

Jason leaned closer and began to speak in a low voice.

As he explained the essence of his proposal, Kendra’s face changed from surprise to disbelief, then to concern.

Kendra Bailey woke up to the insistent ringing of her phone.

Her head was splitting from the night before, and her mouth felt unpleasantly dry.

The screen lit up with Darius’s name.

She answered reluctantly.

“Where’s my money?” Darius growled without greeting her. “You were supposed to bring it yesterday.”

“I’m working on it.” Kendra rubbed her temples. “I’ll have something for you today.”

“You better.” Darius’s voice was laced with undisguised menace. “You know what I do to people who try to cheat me.”

The call ended, leaving Kendra alone with a throbbing headache and a growing sense of unease.

She checked her messages.

Three missed calls from Imani and a short message.

We need to talk. Urgent.

Another problem.

At Jason Harris’s party yesterday, she had clearly shown interest in the host, but he had chosen Kendra.

It was an old story. Rivalry over a lucrative client.

After a hot shower, Kendra dialed her friend’s number.

“We need to meet,” Imani’s voice sounded unusually serious. “Blue Moon Café in an hour.”

The café was located a few blocks from the Strip, a quiet place where they could talk without the risk of being overheard.

When Kendra entered, Imani was already sitting at a table in the corner, sipping a latte.

“You look terrible,” Imani said instead of a greeting. “What did you want to talk about?”

Kendra ordered a black coffee.

Imani leaned forward and lowered her voice.

“About Jason Harris. What did he offer you yesterday on the terrace?”

Kendra tensed.

So Imani had seen their conversation.

“Nothing special. Just accompanying him to a business meeting.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Imani narrowed her eyes. “I saw your face when you came back. He offered you something more.”

Kendra took a sip of coffee, buying time.

Should she tell Imani the truth?

“He wants me to help him with something,” she finally said. “Nothing criminal. Just unusual.”

“And how much did he offer?” Imani’s eyes flashed with interest.

“Enough to be interesting,” Kendra replied evasively.

Imani leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I thought we shared information about clients. Isn’t that what we agreed?”

“This is different, Imani.” Kendra shook her head. “This is a personal offer.”

“Personal?” Imani snorted. “Nothing is personal in our business. You just want to keep him for yourself.”

“Didn’t you try to do the same thing with Trevor?” Kendra countered. “I saw you fawning over him yesterday.”

“Trevor is different.” Imani narrowed her eyes. “He’s just a regular client, not a potential gold mine. Jason… I’ve heard he has connections with people who can open doors to a whole different league.”

“Listen.” Kendra tried to smooth things over. “I haven’t agreed to his offer yet. I need to think about it.”

“What’s there to think about?” Imani leaned closer. “If he’s offering big money, take it. And if you need help…” she raised her eyebrows meaningfully. “You know, we can always work together.”

Darius waited for Kendra at his usual spot, a small bar on the outskirts of town.

The place was half empty despite the early evening hour. A few regulars sat at the bar, ignoring those around them.

“I have part of the money,” Kendra said, taking an envelope out of her purse. “The rest will be here tomorrow.”

Darius counted the money and grimaced.

“That’s less than half of what you owe me.”

“I know, but I have an opportunity to earn a lot more. Tonight.”

Kendra briefly outlined Jason’s proposal, omitting the details that Darius didn’t need to know.

“Fifty grand for one night?” he whistled. “What does this guy want you to do, kill someone?”

“Nothing illegal,” Kendra hastily assured him. “Just an unusual request.”

“My share is 50%,” Darius said after a pause.

“30.” Kendra countered. “I’m the one taking the risk.”

“40.” Darius insisted. “And that’s my final offer.”

“Deal,” she agreed. “But after this, we’re even. And no questions about the details of the job.”

Darius grinned, clearly pleased with the deal.

“But if you try to cheat me…” his face hardened. “You know what will happen.”

Leaving the bar, Kendra dialed Jason’s number.

“I agree,” she said. “But I have conditions.”

“I knew you’d call,” he said, his voice tinged with satisfaction. “Meet me in my room at the Palazzo at 8:00 tonight. We’ll discuss your terms in person.”

Kendra hung up, feeling a mixture of excitement and fear.

The phone rang again.

This time it was Trevor.

“Kendra, did you talk to Jason?”

“Yes,” she replied cautiously. “Why?”

“I wanted to warn you.” Trevor lowered his voice. “Be careful with him. I heard something disturbing.”

“What exactly?”

“Not over the phone,” Trevor said quickly. “Let’s meet in an hour at the Cosmopolitan bar.”

Trevor was waiting for her in the far corner of the bar, nervously twirling a glass of whiskey in his hands.

“Jason Harris isn’t who he says he is,” he whispered when they sat down. “I did some digging. No one in Chicago knows a businessman with that name. At least not at the level he claims to be.”

“Then who is he?”

“I don’t know for sure. But the people he associates with… they have a questionable reputation. And his interest in you…” he paused. “I don’t like it. What exactly did he offer you?”

“Fifty thousand dollars for one evening,” she finally said. “To accompany him to a business meeting and one favor.”

“What favor?”

Kendra shook her head.

“I can’t say, but I swear nothing illegal.”

“Kendra, listen to me.” He took her hand. “You’re a smart girl. Too smart to fall into a trap for money. If you need money, I can help.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time. You are special to me. Not just an escort. I want to help you get out of this life. Give you a chance to start over.”

Kendra felt a lump rise in her throat.

“How much?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Trevor looked hurt.

“It’s not about the money, Kendra. I’m talking about a real relationship. About being together.”

Kendra pulled away, feeling disappointed.

Trevor was no better than the rest. Just another man who thought he could buy her, only with a different currency.

“Trevor, I…” She shook her head. “You’re a wonderful person. But I can’t. Not now.”

“Because of Jason’s offer? Are you risking everything for money?”

“Not just for money,” Kendra replied. “For freedom. The freedom to choose my own life, not be part of someone else’s.”

Trevor sighed.

“I respect your choice,” he finally said. “But please be careful with Jason. There’s something wrong with him.”

In the Palazzo room, Jason met Kendra with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

“You look gorgeous,” he smiled, letting her in.

The luxurious suite was impressive. Panoramic windows overlooking Las Vegas at night. Modern furniture, a bar with expensive drinks.

“Martini?” Jason offered.

Kendra nodded, looking around.

The room was immaculately clean with no personal belongings in sight. Only a laptop on the coffee table and an expensive suitcase by the wall.

“You mentioned your conditions,” Jason began, handing her a glass. “I’m listening.”

“First, full payment in advance. Second, no photos or videos. And third,” she paused. “No surprises. Everything strictly according to the scenario you described yesterday.”

“Reasonable requests.” Jason smiled. “I agree.”

He took a metal box out of his suitcase and opened it, revealing neatly stacked wads of cash.

“Fifty thousand, as agreed.”

Kendra felt her mouth go dry at the sight of such a large amount of cash.

“And all I have to do is…” she began.

“Everything we discussed,” Jason confirmed. “Accompany me to the meeting and do one favor afterward. Nothing complicated.”

“When is the meeting?” Kendra asked.

“In an hour. We have time to prepare.”

He moved closer to her, his gaze becoming more intense.

“But first,” his voice dropped to a whisper, “I’d like a small advance on my money.”

His hand slid up her thigh, moving higher.

Kendra tensed, but didn’t pull away.

It was part of the deal, part of the game she had been playing for many years.

An hour later, they were leaving the Palazzo for the waiting limousine.

Kendra’s purse contained $5,000, the advance Jason had allowed her to take.

The rest would be waiting for her in her room after she had performed her service.

“Where are we going?” Kendra asked as the limousine pulled away.

“To a private club outside the city,” Jason replied. “My partners are waiting for us there.”

Meanwhile, at the Royal Oasis Hotel on the northern edge of Las Vegas, Imani Davis paced nervously around her room.

Her irritation over the situation with Jason and Kendra had turned into outright rage.

She was convinced that she deserved the offer more than Kendra.

After all, she was the one who had first noticed Jason, and she was the one who had inquired about his capabilities.

Imani took out her phone and dialed Darius’s number.

“What do you know about the offer Jason Harris made to Kendra?” she asked without preamble.

Darius chuckled.

“Fifty grand for one night. Some kind of special job.”

“What kind?” Imani tensed.

“She didn’t say. But whatever it is, my cut is 40%.”

Imani bit her lip.

Forty percent of fifty thousand was a lot of money for Darius. No wonder he wasn’t asking any questions.

“Aren’t you afraid she’s trying to cheat you? That she plans to run off with the money?”

There was a pause on the line.

“Do you know something, Imani?”

“Just a hunch,” she lied. “Kendra’s been acting strange lately. She talks a lot about how she wants to start a new life.”

“I’m keeping an eye on her,” Darius snapped. “And if she tries to cheat me—”

“Of course,” Imani agreed hastily. “Just be careful. She’s smarter than she seems.”

Hanging up the phone, Imani smiled.

The seed of doubt had been sown.

Now all that remained was to wait and see how everything would unfold.

That same evening, Esther Morales, a maid at the Royal Oasis Hotel, was finishing her shift.

There was one last room left on the seventh floor.

The guest was supposed to check out today, but hadn’t returned the key.

After knocking and getting no answer, Esther opened the door with her master key.

The room looked empty. Scattered belongings, a rumpled bed, empty bottles on the table.

Esther sighed and set to work, picking up trash and changing the bedding.

When she approached the large suitcase in the corner of the room, she noticed a strange smell, sweet and unpleasant.

With her heart pounding, Esther opened the suitcase latches.

What she saw inside made her scream so loudly that even the neighboring rooms heard her.

Inside the suitcase, curled up in an unnatural position, lay a young woman.

Her dark eyes were wide open, staring blindly at the ceiling.

There were clear finger marks on her neck.

It was the body of Kendra Bailey.

Detective Isaiah Rodriguez rubbed his eyes wearily as he looked at the photos from the crime scene.

Four in the morning was not the best time to be called in, but killings rarely happen at convenient times.

The body of a young woman found in a suitcase in a hotel—the Royal Oasis—was an unpleasant sight even for a seasoned officer.

“Kendra Bailey, 25 years old, strangled. Death occurred approximately 24 hours ago.”

“What do we have?” Rodriguez asked, turning to his partner, Officer Clark.

“Not much,” he replied, leafing through his notebook. “The room was booked under the name Michael Smith, obviously a fake, paid in cash for three days. The staff didn’t notice anything unusual. Cameras—most of them don’t work, but there are a few in the lobby and parking lot.”

“Witnesses?”

“The maid who found the body, Esther Morales. The manager remembered seeing the victim entering the hotel the night before last. She wasn’t alone, but he didn’t get a good look at the person with her.”

“What do we know about the victim?”

“Kendra Bailey. Worked as an escort. Apartment in the western part of the city. No serious problems with the law.”

“We need to find out who her pimp is,” Rodriguez said thoughtfully. “He must know her clients.”

By 9:00 in the morning, Rodriguez was already at Kendra’s apartment.

It was a small but neat one‑room place in a high‑rise building.

On the bookshelf were textbooks on business administration and economics.

“Looks like she was studying or planning to study,” he remarked.

In a dresser drawer, they found an envelope with $5,000 in cash, new bills with sequential serial numbers.

Kendra’s phone was on the kitchen table.

When they turned it on, they found a series of missed calls and messages.

Most were from someone named Darius.

Where are you?

Why aren’t you answering?

I need my money.

Another name appeared frequently in her contact list: Imani.

Several missed calls and a message: Call me back. It’s urgent.

There was also a Trevor in her contacts who had sent a message:

Hope everything’s okay. Call me when you can.

“Three key contacts,” Rodriguez summed up. “Darius, Imani, Trevor. Let’s start with them.”

They found Darius Montgomery at the Black Lotus Bar on the outskirts of town.

He was a tall, strong man with a heavy gaze.

“Kendra’s dead?” he asked when he heard the news. “That’s awful.”

“When did you last see her?” Rodriguez asked, watching him.

“The night before last. She came here and brought part of the money she owed me.”

“Owed you?”

“Business is business, detective. I provide the girls with protection, connections, clients. I get a percentage for that.”

“Kendra was late with her payments.”

“And you weren’t upset about that?”

Darius smiled.

“If you’re implying that I killed her for the money—no. Kendra promised a large sum. Fifty thousand from some new client. I would have gotten my 40%. Why would I kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?”

“What kind of client?”

“Some rich guy who threw a party at the Palazzo. He offered her a lot of money for a special service. Kendra didn’t go into details.”

“Name?”

“She didn’t say, but you can ask Imani. She was at the party, too.”

“Imani?”

“Imani Davis. Kendra’s friend. Also works for me. They often went to parties together, exchanged information about clients, but lately they haven’t been getting along very well.”

“Why?”

“Rivalry. They both wanted the same wealthy clients. And apparently this new guy from the Palazzo chose Kendra over Imani. She was not thrilled.”

The next stop was Imani Davis’s address.

The door was opened by an attractive woman about the same age as Kendra.

“Detective Rodriguez, Las Vegas Police Department,” Isaiah introduced himself. “We’re investigating the death of Kendra Bailey. Can we ask you a few questions?”

Imani turned pale.

“Kendra is dead? My God. How?”

“When was the last time you saw Kendra?” Rodriguez asked, watching her reaction closely.

“Three days ago. We met at the Blue Moon Café. We talked about work.”

“A specific client?”

“Yes. Jason Harris. He recently arrived in town and threw a party at the Palazzo. He invited us both through our mutual friend, Trevor Coleman.”

“And Harris took a particular interest in Kendra.”

“Correct.” Imani tensed. “How do you know that?”

“Just a guess,” Rodriguez replied. “Darius mentioned some kind of big offer. Fifty thousand.”

“Yes, Jason made her an offer. She didn’t say what it was, but the amount was substantial.”

“And that didn’t bother you? That he chose her over you?”

“What are you trying to say, detective?”

“Just trying to understand the dynamics of your relationship. Darius mentioned some rivalry between you two.”

“We were friends.” Imani’s voice hardened. “Yes, sometimes we competed for clients, but that’s business. Nothing personal.”

“Where were you the night before last?”

“At home. Alone. Watching movies, drinking wine.”

“Can anyone confirm that?”

“No. I told you I was alone.”

They found Trevor Coleman at the Bellagio.

He was sitting at a poker table, but when he saw the detectives, he immediately agreed to talk.

“I warned her,” he said when they sat down in a secluded corner of the bar. “I told her there was something wrong with this Harris guy.”

“What exactly made you suspicious?”

“I did some research. There is no businessman in Chicago named Jason Harris, at least not at the level he claimed to be. And the people he associated with… some of them have questionable reputations.”

“Do you know what he offered Kendra?”

“She didn’t say specifically. She just mentioned the amount. Fifty thousand for one evening. For accompanying him to a business meeting and one service. I tried to talk her out of it, offered to help, but she was determined.”

“Were you close to Kendra?”

“I was her client. But yes, we became friends. I offered her a relationship. Wanted to help her get out of that life, but she refused.”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“The night before last, at the Cosmopolitan bar. Before her meeting with Harris. I tried to talk her out of it.”

“What do you know about Kendra and Imani’s relationship?”

“They were friends, but lately there had been tension between them. Imani was becoming more ambitious. She was looking for richer clients, higher connections. And Jason Harris was just such an opportunity.”

“Do you think Imani could have been jealous?”

“Jealous is too simple a word, detective. In their world, clients aren’t just money. They’re opportunities, connections, potential futures. Imani saw Harris as her ticket to a different league. And when he chose Kendra…” Trevor fell silent. “But I can’t imagine her…”

Back at the station, Rodriguez studied the surveillance footage.

The video from the Palazzo showed Kendra entering the hotel at 7:50 p.m.

At 8:03 p.m., she took the elevator up.

At 9:12 p.m., she came down accompanied by a man Trevor identified as Jason Harris.

They left the hotel and got into a limousine.

At 10:45 p.m., the Royal Oasis parking lot camera recorded a silver sedan pulling into the lot.

A hooded female figure got out and pulled out a large suitcase on wheels.

She entered the hotel through a side entrance and took the elevator to the seventh floor.

Forty minutes later, she left without the suitcase.

A check revealed that Imani Davis owned a silver Lexus ES registered in her name a year ago.

The day before the murder, $50,000 was deposited into her account.

The source was an offshore company that was virtually untraceable.

With a search warrant, they returned to Imani’s apartment.

In the bedroom, in the far corner of the closet, they found a black bag.

Inside were bloodstained clothes, gloves, and a scarf, which, based on a preliminary examination, could have been used as a strangulation weapon.

Imani was detained at Las Vegas airport as she attempted to board a flight to Miami.

She had $30,000 in cash and a one‑way ticket with her.

“We found the murder weapon in your apartment,” Rodriguez said during questioning. “We also found $50,000 that was deposited into your account the day before Kendra’s death. That’s the exact amount Harris offered her.”

“You’re wrong,” Imani said. “I didn’t kill Kendra. We were friends.”

“Friends who competed for the same clients,” Rodriguez remarked. “Friends, one of whom received a life‑changing offer while the other was left with nothing.”

“The 50,000 in my account is from another client,” Imani objected.

“Then why did you try to leave town? Why did you keep the bloody clothes and the murder weapon?”

“This is a setup. Someone is trying to frame me.”

Two days after Imani’s arrest, an envelope with no return address arrived at the police station.

Inside was a flash drive with an audio recording of a conversation between Imani and a man, presumably Jason Harris.

“Fifty thousand is a lot of money,” the man said. “But I have to be sure you can handle it.”

“Don’t worry,” Imani replied. “Kendra trusts me. I’ll lure her to a hotel and it will look like the work of a pimp or a dissatisfied client.”

“Why do you want to get rid of her? You’re friends, as you said.”

“We were friends. But she crossed the line. Too ambitious, too smart. And this Trevor, he’s ready to get her out of the business. Give her a new life. And me? I’ll be stuck here forever.”

“Envy is a dangerous feeling.”

“It’s not envy.” Imani’s voice hardened. “It’s self‑preservation. If she gets out, she might talk. Tell about the clients, the business, about me. I can’t let that happen.”

Next came the details of the plan.

Jason Harris was to lure Kendra out of town, supposedly to meet with partners, and then drop her off at an agreed‑upon location where Imani would be waiting for her.

“It seems we underestimated the depth of her motives,” Rodriguez said. “This isn’t just rivalry over a client. It’s fear of exposure.”

Another piece of evidence was found in Kendra’s apartment.

A small notebook hidden under the lining of a dresser drawer.

It contained notes about clients, including well‑known Las Vegas businessmen and politicians.

One of the last entries mentioned Imani:

Imani works for them. Passes on information about clients. Blackmail. Need to check.

“There’s the motive,” Rodriguez said. “Kendra found out that Imani wasn’t just an escort. She was collecting compromising information on influential clients for blackmail. Perhaps Harris was part of this scheme. When Imani realized that Kendra knew or suspected something, she had to eliminate her.”

Further investigation confirmed this theory.

Encrypted correspondence was found on Imani’s phone with several people discussing gathering material on certain individuals.

Jason Harris was never found.

He disappeared from the city immediately after the murder.

When confronted with the evidence, Imani finally broke down.

“You don’t understand,” she said. “It’s not just business. It’s survival. In our world, you either climb to the top by any means necessary, or you get used and thrown away. I chose the former.”

“What about Kendra?”

“She was too clean for this business. She always talked about the future, about education, about a normal life. When she started digging into my business…” Imani shook her head. “I had no choice. She would have ruined everything.”

“So, you killed her?” Rodriguez asked bluntly.

Imani nodded silently.

“Jason drove her to a deserted place outside the city and said he was waiting for his partners. When he left, I drove up in my car. I told Kendra that I had also received an invitation. I suggested we go to a hotel and wait there. She trusted me.”

Imani fell silent, staring into space.

“In the room, I offered her a drink. There was sleeping pills in the glass. When she started to lose consciousness, I…” Her voice faltered. “I used a scarf. It was quick. She didn’t even resist.”

Imani Davis was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The blackmail scheme she was involved in was uncovered, and several high‑ranking Las Vegas officials were implicated in the scandal.

Jason Harris, whose real name was never established, remained a ghost.

According to some reports, he was a professional con artist who worked for a group of blackmailers who used escort girls to gather compromising information.

That evening, after closing the case, Rodriguez sat in his office looking at a photo of Kendra Bailey, a young woman who dreamed of a better life, who fell victim to envy and fear of exposure.

Only a few people attended her funeral.

Among them was Trevor Coleman, who brought a bouquet of white lilies, Kendra’s favorite flowers, according to her friends.

“She deserved better,” he said to Rodriguez after the ceremony. “A better life, a better end.”

“Most victims deserve that,” replied the detective. “Our job is to at least give them justice after death.”

Later, Rodriguez learned that Trevor had anonymously paid for Kendra’s younger sister’s college tuition.

A sister that no one, not even Imani, knew existed.

A small act of redemption in a city built on sin and greed.

Back in that small Miami studio months later, the crystal martini glass from Vegas sat beside a printout of a negative HIV test result Kendra never lived to see. The cheap US flag magnet still pinned the paper down, holding together two versions of her life: the one she thought she could buy her way out of, and the one that ended zipped inside a suitcase.