Page 55 of The Attercop

“Fine,” she said in a huff.

Charlie closed the door behind him and relieved himself. He washed his hands then opened the door. When he came out, he found…no Jules. Maybe she’d had to pee.

A person came out of the entrance to the women’s washroom next door.

“Excuse me,” he yelled over the loud music, “but did you see a woman go in there? About eighteen, long blonde hair?”

The girl just shrugged and walked off.

Charlie opened the door. “Jules. Are you in here?”

When he heard nothing, he yelled again. “Jules!” Nothing. He went into the room and looked into all the stalls. One had its door locked. “Jules—you in there?”

“Listen, asshole, Jules ain’t here. And if you got a problem with that, maybe you should look in the mirror and see what she’s been putting up with!”

He ran out of the washroom and scoped the room. There were so many people…

Where the hell is Jules?

His phone. He hadn’t checked his phone. Maybe she’d called him.

Charlie reached for it. It was gone. He patted down all his pockets. Nothing. He ran back to the table and checked the pockets of his jacket. No phone. Where the hell was it? He checked his watch—nine-forty-four p.m.

The watch. It could track his phone if it was still on. He pressed the app. Nothing. “What the fuck!” he yelled.

Maybe she’d just needed to get some fresh air. He ran outside.

He couldn’t see her in the parking lot.

He checked near his car. She wasn’t there.

It was no use. Jules was gone.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Declan sat by Angel’s bedside above Bar-None. Mickey had insisted on taking the smaller guest room so the Kid could sleep in the main bedroom. Declan knew the guest room was actually a storage cupboard that Mickey would probably set a cot up in. His kindness knew no limits when it came to the Kids who helped out at the bar.

As for Angel’s safety, Declan was convinced that the boy was in no further danger. The attack on Angel was a message for the detective himself. What the full meaning of the message was, however, remained a mystery.

After Angel fell asleep, Mickey got up and said, “I should probably get back to work.”

Declan rose from his chair. “I really appreciate what you’ve done for him.”

Mickey smiled as he looked over at the sleeping Angel. “He’s like family. You do it for family. They’re the only thing of real value that any of us have.”

Declan gave Mickey a hug then made his way to his van. He pulled out of the parking lot and started to drive back to the office. His phone buzzed with a text. He looked at the time. It was just after ten-thirty p.m.

Must be Charlie looking for babysitting tips.

Declan glanced at the number. He didn’t recognise it, but when he saw the message, he nearly drove off the road.

If you call the police, call anyone, or tell anyone about this text, someone will die. I’m tracking your phone. Reply YES if you understand. This text will be deleted after ten seconds.

Declan quickly pulled over and replied as instructed.

His phone buzzed again.

Another message appeared with an address in the Northwest part of Calgary. Declan barely had time to scribble down the information before it disappeared.