Chapter Thirty
The next morning, Jennie approached Lance at the cafeteria in a hotel near his place. Both her and Reed had gone to his home only to get no answer when they repeatedly rang his bell.
Sensing a strange vibe, feeling as if another person had been on the other side of the door, Jennie had given up, deciding to grab a coffee instead. After that, they’d check out Bosko at his place of work. Something she’d been hesitant to do unless forced.
Strangely, coincidentally, Lance sat at a table by himself, totally immersed in his phone. Pissed off at again being cheated out of her plans for a coffee, she’d gone over to speak with him, Reed waiting at the entrance from her stay-here signal.
“Hi. Lance Bosko? Agent Jennie Sarnowski. May I sit with you for a minute?”
Lance looked up surprised. “Sure. What can I do for you?” Whether he recognized her from the night before when he’d dropped Lisa off, she couldn’t decide. He half stood, pointed to the seat across, and added, “Would you like a coffee?”
When she nodded, he waved over the waitress and mouthed two coffees, then turned back to her. “So… what’s up?”
“We’re looking for a girl by the name of Melena Brunner. We have information she’s been abducted… information pointed directly at you I might add. We need to ask you some questions.”
Jennie watched as the good-looker’s shock faded and his demeanor became wary. “First, what’s this all about? I know Melena Brunner, she used to live in the same apartment building as I did in Jersey.”
“Her father’s accusing you of kidnapping. Now, do you want to answer our questions here, or would you be more comfortable downtown?”
Just then her coffee arrived, and his was refreshed. Lance’s voice seemed suddenly strained as he spoke to the waitress. “Thanks.” The dude had manners and Jennie couldn’t help being impressed.
He stared into her eyes, his probing. “Are you arresting me?”
“Not yet. Have you seen her?”
“First, I have a question. What happens when you find her?”
“She’ll be returned home. She’s not in any trouble. Look, we just need to be sure she’s unharmed, and that you’re not to blame for her disappearance.”
“Yeah, well that’s not gonna happen.”
“Excuse me? Are we talking about you claiming responsibility?” Jennie saw the disgust on his face, and she took it to mean that he wasn’t worried about that aspect. Okay, something else was going on here. She sensed it and was seldom wrong. “Or that the kid returns home?”
Lance stiffened and his tone hardened. “Yeah that. It ain’t gonna happen.”
Bingo.Jennie understood it to mean that Melena was here. “Why?”
“Because you aren’t sending her back to the sick asshole who’s been abusing her for years is why. Look, I’ll call my boss. He’s expecting me. Then, I’ll go with you. We need to talk.”
“First, where’s Melena? I need to know she’s safe.”
“As far as I know, she’s fine. Let’s go.”