Page 104 of Zone
“She didn’t know who the father was?”
My tone is sheepish as I answer him. “She was having sort of a…Mamma Miasummer.”
“Am I supposed to know what that means?” He’s not impressed, but I power through.
“She was sleeping with a lot of men. She knew it was her last summer, and she was sort-of… you know… going for it.”
“Women get such strange notions in their heads.”
I don’t bother pointing out how men have been known to do similar, “strange” things. Aunt Sly knows best how to handle his arrogant butt.
“What do you think?” I return to my original question. “Would that sort of information matter?”
“It would definitely add strength to our case, provided Jada cares what her cousin wanted. I’m not sure how much legal weight it would carry if it’s simply hearsay.”
“I’ll try to find her friend and call you back.”
We disconnect, and I grab my purse, running down the stairs. I tap on my phone for a rideshare, and I decide to go straight to the Dome. It’s a desperate move. I have no idea where Stacia might be right now.
Most everyone associated with the team takes off during bye week. It’s the one break in the six-month season where they don’t have a game. The teams even play on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
What feels like forever later, I hop out at the massivestadium, dashing inside to see what I might find. As expected, the place is entirely dead. I go into the office, and a woman is there, digging in a drawer behind the reception desk.
“Excuse me.” I do my absolute best to project calm, friendly vibes. “I’m looking for my friend Stacia Smith. Well… she’s not really my friend. She’s more a friend of a friend, but she knows who I am.”
The woman sits up from behind the desk and frowns, running her eyes up and down my body. “Does Stacia work in the building?” She leans forward as if she’ll page her.
“She’s on the Cheer Krewe?” My brows rise.
The woman shakes her head. “Sorry, babe. Everyone is gone for the break. Last I heard the Cheer Krewe were all headed to the port to catch the next Carnival Cruise to the Caribbean.”
“NO!” The word shrieks from my lips faster than I can stop it.
The lady falls back, holding up her hands. “Sorry! They’ve been planning it since March.”
“How long will they be gone?” I look up at the clock, seeing it’s after five.
That ship has totally sailed away by now.
“I think it was just a three-night cruise.” The woman shakes her head. “I hardly see the point...”
“Thank you so much. If she checks in at all, would youpleasetell her Melody Dunne is searching for her desperately.” I flip a notepad around. “Here’s my number.”
“Sure.” The woman glances at the notepad then at me again. “I don’t expect anyone will check in from that cruise.”
I’m running out the door as she finishes speaking, and I’m not listening to discouraging words. I’m not losing hope. Knox needs me to stay strong, stay optimistic, believe.
It gives me a new idea. I direct the rideshare to take me home.
* * *
“Wait.Let’s just talk about this a little more. Think it through.” Lindsey puts her hand on my arm, giving me a squeeze. “Are you sure you want to put your entire career on the line for him?”
“It’s too late to worry about that now. Chet and Susan blasted all my credibility out of the water with their ridiculous Maury-show stunt.”
“Pretty sure it was the most viewed clip on YouTube last week.” My bestie sighs. “They broke the Internet.”
“That means people liked it… right?”
