Page 35 of Roughing
“No, nothing, but it’s crucial neither of you leaves the bar alone at night. I’d be glad to help out on the days I’m in town and don’t have a game or road trip. We’ll need an alternate plan for the other nights.”
“Thank you, Briggs.” Heidi choked with relief. Her gratefulness overcame her fear. I was making progress. Michella’s anger turned to approval. I’d won some points tonight.
And I really needed those points because “just friends” wasn’t where I wanted to be.
ChapterTwelve
MORE TIME
~~Michella~~
After last night’s incident with the terrified scream, I slept very little. Despite being groggy and in need of strong coffee, I was on the job before Carla and pounding away on my keyboard. I’d made a chart on the whiteboard of the missing and dead women’s cases that appeared to be connected with columns for last seen where and when,any known connections, and other pertinent data. Four women in all, including Pria, had disappeared from the same general location late at night after being in a bar. Two bodies had been found but were too decomposed to give any clues as to the manner of death, though strangulation was suspected.
I compiled a summary of what was known via the press and my own personal research, as I’d frequented many of those very bars. So did Gordon. A chill ran through me. I could’ve easily been one of those women.
I shook off my emotions, knowing this job required facts and not supposition. I sat up straighter, proud of my chart and how thorough it was. I was good at this job. In fact, so good I felt a confidence I hadn’t in any other job, even being a barista. Even Carla seemed grudgingly pleased.
Carla called an hour later to let me know she was traveling north to interview a few possible witnesses in Pria’s disappearance. I tamped down my disappointment. I’d been excited to show her the work I’d done.
I continued my research and ran background checks on people Carla listed as related somehow to these cases. I made notes and highlighted pertinent facts, adding a few details to my chart if I deemed them of interest.
By the time Carla walked into the office later that afternoon, I was champing at the bit to show her what I’d done. She slumped into her desk chair. She swiped strands of hair that’d escaped from her ponytail out of her eyes. Tired was written all over her face, accentuated by her not wearing any makeup. Appearances didn’t matter to her. The job did. The way I saw it, there wasn’t any reason not to be concerned with both.
I waited impatiently for her to notice my chart. She riffled through papers on her desk and checked the written phone messages I’d left on top of the pile. I cleared my throat, hoping to get her attention without annoying her.
Carla glanced up, chewing on the end of her pencil. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d used a pencil, but this woman loved her pencils. In fact, she had an entire set of colored ones, but most of the time wasn’t able to find the color she wanted. Her gaze swung to the whiteboard, and she gaped at it for a very long time. I squirmed as I waited for her to comment. After what seemed like a lifetime, she focused her attention on me.
“You did this?”
I nodded and wrung my hands under my desk, unable to read her. Doubt swirled inside. What if she thought I’d overstepped my bounds? Been too presumptuous? Didn’t know what the fuck I was talking about?
“This is”—Carla scratched her forehead and squinted at the whiteboard—“incredible.”
“You like it? I hope I didn’t go too far. I kept with the facts.”
“No, this is perfect. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you. I was hoping it’d be a good jumping-off point for you.” I puffed up with pride and relaxed, my fingers digging into my palm.
“It is. I was going to do something similar myself, but you saved me the work.” She pulled a stack of handwritten notes from the battered tote she carried everywhere. I noted it was an off-brand, but I always noticed things like that. I couldn’t help it. “Where did you get some of this information?”
“If it’s online, I’ll find it. I’m persistent like that.”
Carla nodded briskly and consulted her watch. “It’s late. You don’t have to stay.”
“I don’t mind. I have nothing better to do.”
“All right then.” Her expression radiated approval, and my mouth turned up in a satisfied smile. “I have a proposal you might be interested in.”
I sat up straighter and gave her my undivided attention. “I’m glad to help in any way possible.”
“Extracting information from the bar patrons who saw Pria last that night has proved problematic. I recall you mentioned you have connections with that place and know many of the staff and patrons personally. I’m thinking you might get further than I did.”
“I can do that.” I perked up. This sounded more intriguing than googling all day long; though I did enjoy that part of the job, it did get tiring and lonely. I was a social animal and craved interaction with others.
“I’d like you to poke around and see what you can find out without raising suspicions. Even a seemingly insignificant detail might break this case wide open. I want to know anything and everything they have to say. Since you frequent the Portland Puck, they’ll be more inclined to talk to you compared to me.”
I curbed my excitement and maintained professional decorum, even though inside, I was jumping up and down, shaking my pom-poms.
