Page 25 of Until

“Yes. She was at the last masquerade ball. I’m hoping she comes to the next one this weekend.”

“Don’t you keep a guest list?” he asks.

“I do, but it doesn’t seem like she was on it. I combed through everything. I have one lead, the car she left in, and so far, that didn’t give me anything.”

“Okay, so she’s not fictional, she’s a ghost.”

I stand up, ready to ask Harold to leave, when Beverly knocks and then opens the door.

“Line one, sir,” she says. “You’ll want to take this.”

I wrinkle my brow at her, and she shoos my look with a wave before pointing at the phone sternly. I pick it up and turn my back to Harold.

“Ryan Stirling,” I say.

“Oh hey, buddy. This is Mel Schwartz. I thought you’d like to know that guy showed up again. He’s renting a car for this Saturday.”

I spin on my heel and grab a pen and a notepad. Saturday is the night of the ball.

“Did you get a name this time? See his car? Anything?”

“Nah, but the security cameras were going this time. I have the tape if ya wanna see it. I haven’t watched it yet.”

“I’ll be there in half an hour,” I say.

I hang up the phone and see Beverly and Harold looking at me expectantly.

“I have a lead,” I say as I grab my jacket off the coat rack and walk out the door.

When I arrive at Schwartz Luxury Autos, Mel is outside waiting for me. He claps his hands together and grins as I approach.

“Good to see ya,” he says. “I called you as soon as he left, but I haven’t watched the video myself. I was waitin’ for ya.”

“Thanks, Mel. Let’s watch it.”

I follow him into the garage and to a small office in the back with a desktop computer. He connects everything to make the video viewable.

As we watch the video, I realize this is a waste of time. The man who booked the car made sure to stay out of the camera's sight line. The only thing I could see was the back of his head, which was covered with a hat.

“Oh man, I’m sorry to drag ya out here for nothin’,” he says. “I should’ve looked at the tape first.”

“It’s alright, at least now I know she should be there Saturday. Do you remember anything else about the guy this time?”

Mel slowly strokes his chin. “Nah, I told ya everything before. White hair, nice suit, very proper. Even the accent.”

“Accent? You didn’t mention that before.”

“Oh yeah, one of those stuffy English accents you only hear in the movies. I tried talking with him to see if I could learn anything, but he wasn’t having it.”

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter since I can’t see him in the video to see if he’s familiar. Will he be taking the same car as last time?”

“Yup, he specifically requested it.”

“Good, that helps.” I reach into my pocket, pull out a folded hundred-dollar bill, and hand it to Mel. “That’s for any trouble. I appreciate you helping me, Mel.”

He grins, takes the money, then shoves it into his pocket. “Anytime, boss. And if you ever need a car, remember Schwartz Luxury Autos. Use the Schwartz.”

Knowing the car she will arrive in at the ball, I plan to wait outside for her. I’ve waited long enough to see her again. I’m not going to risk missing her.

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