Page 107 of Before She Disappeared

It feels to me it all boils down to one key question—Angelique and Livia were clearly involved with something illegal, but how illegal? What kind of crime would incentivize kidnapping and holding two teenagers for nearly a year?

I mull the possibilities as I wrap up for the night. Closing out tabs, carrying the last of the dirty dishes to Viv, cleaning.

“Where’s your handsome hunk?” she asks me as she finally bustles out, pulling on her coat.

My phone hasn’t rung. I refuse to admit how many times I’ve checked it. “Working.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Been a long day.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Oh look, there’s your husband waiting for you.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Stop that!”

Finally a smile. “Girl, you gotta get your priorities straight. None of us have forever. You know what I’m talking about?”

“My eggs have petrified in my ovaries?”

“Forget that, honey. I’m talking fun. You hear me?”

She’s not wrong. But it doesn’t help my cause as I let her out the front door, then lock up behind. I watch as her husband takes her arm. They look adorable. Two peas in a pod. Viv shoots me a final cheery wave. I do my best not to vomit in her general direction.

Stoney closes out the register, brings me my tips. I wave him off. “I keep eating out of the kitchen. My bad.”

“You’re both eating my food and showing up late?”

“What I lack in discipline I make up for in personality.”

He gives me a look.

“Hey, I’m confessing my sins up front. Offering you money back. As employees go, that’s not too shabby.”

He seems to accept this.

“I even clean up after your homicidal cat.”

“Piper’s a good worker. Complains less than you do.”

“I haven’t bitten off anyone’s toe lately.”

He shrugs. Apparently that’s not as impressive a feat as I’d hoped. “You gonna bring that little girl home?” he asks me.

I’m feeling reckless. “Hell, I’m gonna bring two little girls home: Angelique Badeau and Livia Samdi.”

He hands over the fifty bucks in tip money, cash I sorely need. “You do that, and we’re even.”

“You love this community, don’t you?”

“It’s my home.”

“I don’t have a home, but I still know what you mean.”

We both finish up our work in silence. Then Stoney exits stage left and I climb up the stairs to my apartment. I meant what I said to Lotham; today had been a long day. Best to retire early.

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