Page 28 of Roughing
DARING TO CONSIDER
~~Michella~~
Sometimes, actually, most times, I made stupid, rash decisions that I regretted later. Inviting a near stranger to live in this small space was one of those. Yet I’d do it again if given the chance.
The next morning I cleaned out one drawer and less than a foot of closet space.
“Thank you. You don’t need to go to all this trouble.”
“It’s not a problem,” I insisted while wondering if it was. I glanced at my watch. I had to get to work.
“Are you leaving?”
“I am.”
“Aspen and Leila got me a job at the Portland Puck. I start tonight.”
“That’s wonderful, but already?” I was truly excited yet concerned.
“Leila said they had a cocktail server quit on them last night. They need someone as soon as possible, and I’m available.”
“Good timing.” I questioned whether or not this meek little mouse could handle a bar full of rowdy patrons. At least she’d have Leila with her.
“I know. It’s perfect because it’s at night and my classes are during the day. I’ve heard the tips are good.”
“I’ll bet they are, especially when the team comes in after games. Those guys can afford to tip.”
“Sometimes the richest people are the stingiest.”
I laughed. I’d seen that myself in my time as a barista. “I’ll drop by and see you tonight.”
“Would you? That’d be wonderful.”
“I will. Gotta go now. See you later.” I hurried out the door. I was going to be late again. Rather than asking Briggs for another ride, I had Everly drop me off. I was out of her way, but I didn’t want to continue to depend on Briggs and give him the wrong idea. My uncle promised my car would be done this afternoon and he’d drop it off at Gone Missing.
Carla wasn’t in the office when I arrived, which wasn’t surprising. The woman was on the go constantly. She pulled in about an hour later and burst through the door, causing me to jump.
“Michella, I need to talk with you.” Her tone was brusque, hurried, and businesslike, same as usual.
I braced myself for possible bad news. Was she firing me? Had I screwed up somehow? I ran through the past several days in my head and didn’t come up with anything I’d done wrong.
I sat down in one of the plastic chairs and waited for whatever Carla might lob in my direction.
“We have a new case, and I’m going to need your computer expertise.”
I perked up. In the week I’d worked here, never once had she asked for my assistance other than with boring research. I didn’t mind doing research, but the stuff she gave me wasn’t very sexy or fun.
“I’m at your service.” I straightened in my chair and spoke in a coolly professional manner, though inside, I was leaping and shouting excitedly.
“I’ve been hired by Pria Evans’s family to investigate her disappearance.”
“Pria Evans?” My entire body went cold, and my throat constricted, leaving me feeling strangled. I blinked several times to clear the slight fuzziness in my vision. Carla wouldn’t appreciate such a show of weakness, and I fought my panic off the best I could.
“Are you okay?” Like any good investigator, she zeroed in on my distress.
“I’m, uh, I’m fine,” I croaked. Judging by the shrewd narrowing of Carla’s eyes, she didn’t believe me.
“So you’ve heard of the case?”
