The Longest Silence. Debra Webb

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      Waldrop squinted at the pic. “She’s been here a few times. I don’t know the guy you’re talking about though. The chick’s usually with Hailey.”

      “Hailey? Who’s Hailey?”

      Waldrop snickered. “I don’t know her last name. She’s this older chick who comes around sometimes. I think she digs on younger girls. Know what I mean?”

      Tony grabbed him by the throat. “I know what you mean. Now, how do I find this Hailey?”

      He held up his hands, fear back in his eyes. “I don’t know, man.”

      Tony tightened his grip on the scrawny bastard’s throat.

      “Kayla knows her,” he squeaked. “She works here. She...she can tell you all about Hailey.”

      Tony shoved him loose. “Take me to Kayla. Now.”

      Clinton Road, 5:50 p.m.

      Kayla Maples opened the door of her shabby duplex and immediately tried to close it. Tony used Waldrop as a doorstop.

      Waldrop squealed. “Goddamn, man, you trying to kill me?”

      Kayla screamed and ran for the kitchen. Tony shoved Waldrop aside and rushed after her.

      “He’s a fucking fed!” Waldrop shouted from where he’d landed on the floor.

      Kayla stopped and held up her hands. “I swear to God, I didn’t do whatever you think I did.”

      Almost as good as a confession. Tony ordered, “Sit down.”

      She inched her way back toward him but didn’t sit. Kayla was maybe twenty. She had short, curly red hair. She might be five feet tall and weigh all of a hundred pounds. Her face was clear; her skin looked healthy. Not the first visible tattoo. Since she wore shorts and a tee, he spotted no visible needle tracks either. But then there were a million ways to get high that didn’t show.

      “I swear to God the pot’s not mine. It’s my brother’s. He lives here, too.” She turned big round eyes up to Tony. “Please, I’m a nursing student. Any trouble could get me tossed out of the program.”

      “I don’t care about your brother or his pot.” Tony pointed to the sofa. “Sit. Tell me about Hailey.”

      The girl frowned. “Why do you want to know about Hailey?”

      “That girl she’s been hanging out with,” Waldrop piped up, “is missing.”

      Kayla’s eyes rounded. “Tiffany? Tiffany Durand?”

      Tony nodded. “You a friend of hers?”

      “Not really.” Kayla shrugged. “I’ve seen her around the campus. I’m a sophomore at the same college. She started coming to the club last month.” She frowned. “I thought she was going to the beach or something for the weekend.”

      “She’s missing.”

      “Oh my God.” Kayla clasped her hand over her mouth.

      Tony followed her gaze to the silenced television screen. The alert for Tiffany and Vickie Parton flashed on the screen.

      “Tell me about Hailey,” Tony repeated. “Tiffany was hanging out with her?”

      Kayla took a moment to compose herself. Waldrop collapsed on the sofa next to her and complained, “This guy is seriously fucking with my schedule.”

      Kayla waved him off. “Shut up. I’ll help you open.” She lifted her attention to Tony. “Hailey Martin. She’s like thirty something. She comes to Wild Things a couple times a week. She’s a big tipper. She’s usually with someone younger and female, like Tiffany.”

      “Did you ever see Vickie Parton, the other missing freshman, with Hailey?”

      Kayla shook her head. “I’ve never seen Vickie before.”

      “Are you and Hailey friends?”

      “Not really.” Kayla glanced at Waldrop. Waldrop shrugged.

      “What?” Tony demanded.

      “They say,” Waldrop said, “she always has X handy.”

      Son of a bitch. “Was Tiffany getting Ecstasy from her?”

      Kayla shook her head adamantly. “I’m pretty sure Tiffany doesn’t do drugs. I didn’t get that vibe from her at all. She’s more like me—about getting her education.”

      Tony looked to Waldrop. He shrugged again. “Who the fuck knows? I try my best not to see shit.”

      This was getting him nowhere. “Where can I find Hailey Martin?”

      “I don’t know where she lives,” Kayla said, her eyes relaying the honesty in her words.

      “Cell number?”

      Kayla shook her head. “She acknowledges my existence but that’s about all. I’m not her type.”

      “Hell, man,” Waldrop wailed, “you’re a fed. Just ask your po-po friends to get the 411 on the bitch. I got shit to do.”

      “Did you ever see Tiffany with an older man? Dark hair?”

      Kayla did some more of that frowning as if she were searching her memory banks. “Are you talking about Miles? Hailey has a friend named Miles who hangs out with her sometimes.”

      “You have any other details on Miles? A last name?”

      She made a face. “Sorry. I don’t. He’s tall, dark hair, late thirties maybe.”

      “You talking about that guy who drives the Ferrari?” Waldrop asked.

      “That’s him,” Kayla said. “I just figured he’s some older rich dude who likes to go after younger women.”

      Tony had a bad feeling she was closer to being right than she knew.

      Waldrop stood. “I gotta go, man. I do not want to get fired.”

      “I appreciate your help.” Tony headed for the door.

      “Wait!” Waldrop called. “You brought me here, man.”

      “Kayla said she’d help you open,” Tony tossed over his shoulder. “Ride with her to the club.”

      He walked out the door and scanned the neighborhood. At least he had a lead. It might not pan out but it was better than the nothing he had a few hours ago.

       8

      Doe Run Road

      7:15 p.m.

      Hailey СКАЧАТЬ