“Sorry. Can’t.”
“Why? Why can’t you?”
“Look, just shut-up and eat your food!”
He left the cell and locked it. Chelsea started to cry again, and lunged towards the door but her chain stopped her. She spotted the food and hunger took over. She devoured the bar and drank the shake in one gulp while the man gave food to Ed.
Within minutes the man had returned upstairs and the eerie silence had fallen over her again. She curled up on her blanket, making herself as small as possible. She wanted to disappear.
****
Donnie closed the door at the top of the basement steps. Pulling out a kitchen chair, he sat at the table and laid his head in his hands. It had not been a good day.
He’d been rude to the girl downstairs, something his momma wouldn’t tolerate, and become angry with Billy. He knew the fight with Billy was what was making him so unhappy.
I’ll focus on getting Suzanne, that’ll patch things up with Billy. When I have her, I’ll go tell him sorry and give him the good news. He’ll be much happier once I have his girlfriend in a cell.
He fell asleep on the kitchen table.
Chapter 9
The next morning, Jason was met in the parking lot by Devin James. A crime reporter for the San Antonio News, he was quickly becoming a thorn in Jason’s side. Black, 6’3” with a big smile that hid a cynical mind, he had a way of asking the questions Jason didn’t want to answer.
“Morning, JD.”
“What did I tell you about calling me that?”
The reporter ignored the rebuke.
“So, word on the street has you investigating missing persons. Not your usual gig. Any truth to that?”
Jason didn’t like being ambushed, especially first thing in the morning, and it annoyed him how James managed to get info he shouldn’t have.
“You know I can’t comment about ongoing investigations.”
Jason noticed the reporter seemed to be ignoring his response and looking past him. When Jason turned to see what James was looking at, he saw Nina coming across the lot from her car. He gave her a wave.
“Watch out. You’re being stalked!”
Nina laughed.
“I don’t see any predators around here.”
“Actually, it’s a reporterus ignoramus. Pretty tame, really.”
Devin James feigned injury by clutching at his chest.
“Detective Strong! You cut me and I bleed.”
Nina took the reporter’s hand.
“I don’t believe we’ve met. Jason, who is this angel?”
“That’s Nina Jefferson. Nina, this is Devin James. I believe I mentioned him.”
Devin practically purred.
“Enchanted.”
Jason chuckled.
“That ‘angel’ you refer to might just break your arm if you get out of line.”
It was Nina’s turn to smile.
“Excuse me, Mr. James. We have work to do.”
With that, she unwound herself from the reporters grip and joined Jason walking towards the station doors, leaving the reporter behind.
They went by Lieutenant Banks office but she wasn’t in yet. Jason suggested they go see Chelsea Morris’ friend at Daylight Donuts and Nina agreed.
When they returned to the parking lot, Devin James was gone. Nina grabbed the file out of her car and they left for the north side of the city.
****
Suzanne Cooper was having a good day. Her chair at “TINA’S HAIR SALON” had stayed busy. The tall women with auburn hair was popular with her clients and today they had tipped her well.
“Mrs. Harkin, can I get you to move over to the hair dryers.”
“Of course, Dear.”
Suzanne carried the bunched up smock around the elderly woman, as she made her way to the dryer chair. When she was settled into place, Suzanne lowered the helmet over Mrs. Harkins head and set the timer for fifteen minutes.
“I’ll be back to get you in a bit.”
Mrs. Harkin smiled at her and opened a People magazine.
As Suzanne went back to her chair, she saw a young man get out of a gray Subaru, come in and stop at the desk. She didn’t recognize him.
“Can I help you?”
He was average height and build with black hair that didn’t look like it needed cut.
“Yes, I need a haircut. Do you have an opening?”
“Let me see who’s not busy.”
“No. I want you to cut my hair.”
“Oh. Well, I have about fifteen minutes. I guess I can squeeze you in.”
He smiled at her and there was something vaguely familiar about him.
“Great!”
He came around the desk and sat in her chair. She grabbed a smock and wrapped it around him.
“Do I know you?”
“No. A friend of mine, Chelsea Morris, said you were the best.”
Suzanne couldn’t place the name but she had people walk in and get haircuts all the time.
“I guess I don’t remember the name. You don’t look like you need much of a haircut. What did you want done?”
“Oh, just thin it some and clean up the sideburns and neckline. I hate when things aren’t tidy.”
Suzanne couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Okay…tidy up, it is. What’s your name?”
“Donnie.”
“Nice to meet you, Donnie.”
Within ten minutes, she was done and he examined himself in the mirror.
“Do you have a straight razor?”
“I don’t but Silvia does, why?”
“I like to get the thin hair by the sideburns.”
“Okay. Sit tight while I borrow hers.”
She went two stations down and returned with the blade. She ran it below his sideburns and he stood up.
“How much?”
“Twelve dollars.”
He gave her two twenties.
“Keep it.”
“Thanks! That’s very generous.”
“It’s my pleasure. After all, you squeezed me in.”
He smiled at her, turned and left.
Suzanne just stared after him.
That was odd. I need to look in my address book for ‘Chelsea Morris’.
Her timer went off, telling her Mrs. Harkin was done.
****
The detectives parked out front of Daylight Donuts and a waitress with Trudi on her nametag met them at the door of.
“Two?”
Jason smiled at the small red-head. She had green eyes and a bright smile.
“Are you Trudi Fulton?”
Her smile disappeared.
“Yes.”
“My name is Detective Strong; this is my partner Detective Jefferson.”
He showed her his ID.
“Is this about Chelsea?”
“Yes. Do you have time for a few questions?”
“Sure. Let me tell Gloria.”
She crossed to the back of the restaurant, spoke to the other waitress before returning and guiding them to a table near the door.
Jason looked into her eyes. He sensed a fear lingering and knew it would probably be there for awhile.
“You doing okay, Trudi?”
“I’m making it. Work both helps and hurts. I’m glad to be busy but then it’s hard when someone like Mr. Perkins comes in.”
“Mr. Perkins?”
“He’s an elderly widower who doesn’t like anyone but Chelsea to wait on him. He’s taking it hard.”
“Is there anyone else who seemed overly interested in Chelsea? Maybe pestered her or she had mentioned she was afraid of?”
“Nobody. She seemed happy and worry free.”
“The last time you saw her was when she clocked out that day?”
“Yeah. We worked opposite shifts and I was just coming in.”