Page 271 of Unexpected Hero

Gotta keep going.

Back on my other machine, I attempt to access the security cam footage from the Stumbling Sea Turtle. It takes a few attempts, but I finally hack their server right as Klein comes into the office.

“Where’s Mia? What’s she working on?”

I don’t even bother looking up. “Hasn’t come back yet.”

“What’s the big news? Which case is going ass over tits now?”

My fingers freeze. “What are you talking about?”

He can’t possibly know Lettie is missing. Nor would he know who she is or that I’m working on this.

He plops down in his chair casually. “Mia said something urgent came up on a case.”

His words don’t fucking compute. “I thought you didn’t know where she was or what she was doing.”

“I didn’t. I don’t.”

Judging by the look on his doe-eyed face, he knows nothing about Lettie. Therefore, whatever he’s talking about is irrelevant. I attempt to blow him off so he leaves me alone, faking a normal vibe.

On the inside, I’m quickly spiraling out of control.

He makes some excuse to leave the lair shortly thereafter. Not that I care.

Once I skim through the files where the nightclub’s security feeds are stored, I pound my fist against the desk.

Nothing there for Friday night. A quick scan through all the dated files reveals that footage from several nights is missing. Either they have faulty equipment, or something fucked up routinely goes on there.

The system running a facial search on Lettie’s image pings, throwing an error message. This is not the time for this bullshit.

Mia’s been working on enhancements to the program. Looks like she’s not finished. Dammit all to hell.

I could call her in to make her fix them now, pulling her off whatever she’s working on. But if I put her to work on this, it’ll lock up the machine, and I need this one for its power. Plus, I’d have to tell her why I need it fixed immediately. She asks far too many questions for her own good.

Making a snap decision, I adjust my approach. Keeping this system available for me is more important at this point.

I launch the older version of the program from my back-up files. It’ll take longer, but at least it’ll work. Well, it should.

I work for hours.

Call logs and cell towers.

Camera footage at nearby intersections.

Police reports.

Hospital admissions records.

It’s dead end after dead end.

Lettie disappeared.

Like a ghost.

At some point Klein and Mia announce that they’re leaving for the night. I barely react.Too much to do.

While forking my fingers through my hair, I close my eyes and try to cast a wider net. What am I missing? There’s got to be something else I can do. I can’t go interview witnesses without raising suspicion with the cops.

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