The bass was still echoing in their bones when the crew stumbled out of Ace of Spades. Laughter, half-sung lyrics, and the scent of street tacos lingered in the warm Sacramento air. The plan was simple—Midtown for cocktails and dancing—but as Naghina pulled the limo bus up to the curb, the vibe shifted.
"Someone's got a secret," Naghina said with a half-smile, catching their eyes in the rearview. The way she said it made them pause.
They slid into the plush, neon-lit limo bus seats—Marcus and Dante still hyped from the show, Cassie scrolling through tagged photos, and Sofia unusually quiet.
“Where to first?” Naghina asked, already cruising down J Street.
“The Flamingo House!” Cassie chimed. “Then Jungle Bird for those killer mai tais.”
But Sofia’s voice cut through the chatter. “Actually… can we make a quick stop at The Citizen Hotel?”
Everyone turned.
“What’s at The Citizen?” Marcus asked, eyebrows raised.
Sofia hesitated, then laughed it off. “Nothing. Just a vibe. I need a selfie on the marble staircase.”
But it wasn’t nothing. Naghina caught her glance in the mirror again—nervous, distracted. She’d driven hundreds of groups, but something about this night… didn’t line up.
They hit a few hot spots: LowBrau, Harlow’s, then a surprise detour at Revival Rooftop where Sofia disappeared for twenty minutes and came back looking like she'd seen a ghost.
“You good?” Dante asked.
“Yeah,” she lied.
By the time they were headed toward Jungle Bird, Naghina had made up her mind: this wasn’t just another night out. And if she was right, something—or someone—was waiting for them at that hotel.
But who said limo drivers couldn’t play detective?