Page 47 of Captivating Anika

“Molly, why don’t you come back? We could really use your help here.”

She takes a moment to think.

“Okay. I’m on my way.”

I let out a big sigh. “Great. I’ll see you soon.”

Then I rush into the salon to greet my two-o’clock appointment. When I pass Landon, I lean in and whisper in his ear.

“Get your apology ready, Molly’s on her way back.”

Ignoring his grumble, I get busy.

I’m not sure how we did it, but by six thirty the last customer is gone.

Landon is walking Molly to her car, and hopefully clearing the air, while Monique is helping me clean up the salon. I finally have a chance to get the dirt on Kim.

“What did she say to you?”

Monique shuts off the vacuum and clips it back in the charger next to the coffee station before turning to me.

“That something came up and she’d call you later to explain. Did you not talk to her?”

I grab my phone to see if there are any missed calls or messages, but there aren’t.

“Nope,” I tell Monique while I find Kim’s number.

I call and listen to it ring before I’m relegated to the mailbox, where I’m told I can’t leave a message because it’s full. I shoot off a quick text instead.

“Not answering. I’m gonna go see if she’s upstairs.”

It would be kind of strange if she came back and didn’t check in with us, but who knows what’s up? I put on my shoes, drop my phone in my purse, and swing it over my shoulder.

Monique is already waiting by the back door.

“I’m coming with you,” she announces.

It’s clear, after five minutes pounding on the door, she’s not here.

“Should I go grab the spare key?” Monique asks.

“I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve reached the point where I’m ready to invade her privacy. Maybe she’s just visiting her mom,” I suggest, trying to come up with reasons she can’t be reached.

“I still say it’s weird.”

I lead the way down the stairs. Stopping at the driver’s side door of the truck, I turn to face Monique.

“I don’t disagree, but I’m going to give her some more time. If she doesn’t get back to me in the next few hours, I’m calling Detective Evans. I’d feel more comfortable having him there before we barge into the apartment.”

“Fair enough,” she concedes. “Keep me in the loop.”

“Will do. Same here if you happen to hear from her.”

Hog

I have a large pizza box sitting on the coffee table when she walks in the front door.

I can smell the cheese from here and my stomach’s been grumbling since I had it delivered ten minutes ago. I was tempted to get a head start, but decided to wait instead.

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