Page 8 of True Valor
Nic crumpled the note in his hand and scannedthe lobby.Where would she have bought… There.A small boutique.Hestrode that way.
“Excuse me,” he said to the store clerk, whohad her nose buried in a magazine.“Did a pretty blonde girl comein here in her pajamas and buy some clothes?”
“Oh, yes, sir.She left about half an hourago.I think she caught the courtesy bus.”
“What did she buy?”
“You must be Nic.”
“What?”
“Nic.You must be Nic.She told me aboutyou.”
“Really.”Who cares?Just answer thequestion.
“Too bad about her losing her bags.Itshouldn’t spoil your honeymoon though.”
“Our honeymoon...Right.No, it shouldn’t.But I do need to know what she bought, if you don’t mind.”
The girl, now a bit flustered, pulled out thereceipt that she said had been charged to the room.“Jeans, asweater, a jacket, and some boots.Here’s the receipt.”
Nic took a deep breath before looking at thebottom line.Places like this weren’t known for their discountclothing.Two hundred thirty-six dollars and some change.
Sheesh.
“She did select all sale items.I tried totalk her into the blue cashmere sweater.It would have accented hereyes.”
At what must have been a look of totalbafflement, she babbled on.
“I’ve always thought light blue with browneyes was gorgeous.But she didn’t want to spend much, said she justneeded something to wear.She didn’t want to go out in pajamas.Guess she was lucky she had those in her carry-on.”
“Whatever.What color coat did she get?”
“Green, forest green,” she replied, walkingto a near rack, “like this one, only green.”
“Thanks.”Nic bolted from the store, headingto the elevators before he stopped short.He turned around andinstead, went to the lobby doors.No bus waiting.Damn.Again, hewalked to the front desk.“Can you tell me where the courtesy busruns?”
“Mostly anywhere in town, sir.”
“When will it be back?”
The clerk checked her watch.“Another fifteenminutes or so.”
“Thanks.”Nic didn’t want to waste time.Butit would help to know where Julie’d been dropped off.Trust yourinstincts, Boyo.He felt his coat pocket.No keys.She’d gone toget the car.Nic sprinted to the elevator, taking it to the parkinglevel.What had first been irritation at her behavior now turned topure fear for her safety.But for the life of him, he couldn’tpinpoint why.
He had to find her and find her fast.
There she was.Sitting on a bench a halfblock from where her car had stopped last night.Her hair shone,despite the thick cloud cover, making her look almost angelic.Nocar though.Must have already been towed.Nic found the nearestparking place and pulled in.
“Hey.”
She hadn’t seen him coming.She wasn’twatching, just sitting there looking at her hands.Nic noted shedidn’t buy gloves.He sat down beside her on the bench.
“The best laid plans...”she said.
“And if the car had still been here?Whatthen?”He reached over and took her hand in his.
Silence.
