knows.”
“I have no idea who he is.”
“Then we ask around the club. Somebody has to know him.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. I didn’t see him with anyone
else.”
“I can talk to the bouncer while I’m there too. How do we
know he isn’t lying?”
“Why would a bouncer lie about something like that?”
“People lie for all kinds of crazy reasons. Or she returned
and he just didn’t see her. People come and go in clubs all night long. It’s
hard to remember all the faces.”
“But then why wouldn’t Angelica answer my calls?” My voice
lilted at the end and I made a conscious effort to keep it level before I
continued. “Why wouldn’t she call me back when I said I was worried?”
A part of me knew it might be because I was pushing her too
hard. That she had enough of my protective streak always looking over her. This
Westcott guy picked up on this right away.
“Was your relationship strained in any way?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“Because when people go missing there are usually two
reasons. Either they’re in trouble. Or they’ve disappeared of their own free
will for some personal reason. Do you think either one of those are more likely
here?”
I could debate this in my head all day long with arguments
for each. “I think it could be either one.”
Westcott said he’d go by the club Vamps when it opened up
again for the evening. I paid him for two days work and hoped I wasn’t wasting
money.
Layla
I didn’t say a word to Devon on the way to Stefano’s place.
Devon used the silver handcuffs just as he promised, only at least he had the
decency to let me sit up in the backseat of the car this time.
The windows were tinted. And the car door had childproof
locks. I checked. Oh, he was so thorough it just made me sick!
As the lively bustle of London gave way to the rolling
fields outside of the city, my anxiety heightened. We were getting closer.
Several minutes passed before I recognized the turn that led to Stefano’s
place.
He lived in an old Tudor outside of London. Close enough to
get into the city, but enough of a distance to have more privacy. The Tudor
stood formidably against the night sky. I always thought it held a majestic,
Gothic appeal, but now it only appeared dangerous and foreboding. Shivers of
terror shot into me, which I forced away, putting on a brave face. If I was to
meet my eternal end tonight, I’d meet it with dignity.
Neither Stefano nor Devon would have the satisfaction of
seeing me beg for my life.
“Ready, sweetheart?” Devon asked.
I answered his question with a glare, fully aware that my
anger probably turned my eyes.
“I’ll take that as an ‘I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,
Devon!’” he added.
“What you’re doing is horrible enough. You don’t have to be
an asshole about it.”
“You’re right,” he said. “But at least I got you to talk to
me. It’s been quite the long drive with your hateful gaze boring into the back
of my skull.”
“And how would you know that with your eyes faced front?”
“I’ve had to keep an eye on you the whole time, my feisty
little minx. The rearview mirror isn’t enough. I have a camera on you that I
can watch up here.”
I looked over the front of the seat, but couldn’t climb high
enough to see his device. “Wouldn’t you make a splendid James Bond?” I added
with contempt.
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind the next time they’re
casting for a new one.” He looked into the rearview mirror as if sizing up his
appearance. “You’re right, I would be perfect for the role.”
“I never thought I’d say this,” I said. “But I’m looking forward
to going to Stefano. Because that means I no longer have to spend any time with
you!”
“Aww, sunshine. Why do you say such cutting words? That’s
okay, your body spoke volumes earlier as to how you truly felt.”
Scowling, I said, “Let’s get on with this.”
Devon
We met Stefano’s bodyguards Lee
“I have no idea who he is.”
“Then we ask around the club. Somebody has to know him.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. I didn’t see him with anyone
else.”
“I can talk to the bouncer while I’m there too. How do we
know he isn’t lying?”
“Why would a bouncer lie about something like that?”
“People lie for all kinds of crazy reasons. Or she returned
and he just didn’t see her. People come and go in clubs all night long. It’s
hard to remember all the faces.”
“But then why wouldn’t Angelica answer my calls?” My voice
lilted at the end and I made a conscious effort to keep it level before I
continued. “Why wouldn’t she call me back when I said I was worried?”
A part of me knew it might be because I was pushing her too
hard. That she had enough of my protective streak always looking over her. This
Westcott guy picked up on this right away.
“Was your relationship strained in any way?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“Because when people go missing there are usually two
reasons. Either they’re in trouble. Or they’ve disappeared of their own free
will for some personal reason. Do you think either one of those are more likely
here?”
I could debate this in my head all day long with arguments
for each. “I think it could be either one.”
Westcott said he’d go by the club Vamps when it opened up
again for the evening. I paid him for two days work and hoped I wasn’t wasting
money.
Layla
I didn’t say a word to Devon on the way to Stefano’s place.
Devon used the silver handcuffs just as he promised, only at least he had the
decency to let me sit up in the backseat of the car this time.
The windows were tinted. And the car door had childproof
locks. I checked. Oh, he was so thorough it just made me sick!
As the lively bustle of London gave way to the rolling
fields outside of the city, my anxiety heightened. We were getting closer.
Several minutes passed before I recognized the turn that led to Stefano’s
place.
He lived in an old Tudor outside of London. Close enough to
get into the city, but enough of a distance to have more privacy. The Tudor
stood formidably against the night sky. I always thought it held a majestic,
Gothic appeal, but now it only appeared dangerous and foreboding. Shivers of
terror shot into me, which I forced away, putting on a brave face. If I was to
meet my eternal end tonight, I’d meet it with dignity.
Neither Stefano nor Devon would have the satisfaction of
seeing me beg for my life.
“Ready, sweetheart?” Devon asked.
I answered his question with a glare, fully aware that my
anger probably turned my eyes.
“I’ll take that as an ‘I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,
Devon!’” he added.
“What you’re doing is horrible enough. You don’t have to be
an asshole about it.”
“You’re right,” he said. “But at least I got you to talk to
me. It’s been quite the long drive with your hateful gaze boring into the back
of my skull.”
“And how would you know that with your eyes faced front?”
“I’ve had to keep an eye on you the whole time, my feisty
little minx. The rearview mirror isn’t enough. I have a camera on you that I
can watch up here.”
I looked over the front of the seat, but couldn’t climb high
enough to see his device. “Wouldn’t you make a splendid James Bond?” I added
with contempt.
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind the next time they’re
casting for a new one.” He looked into the rearview mirror as if sizing up his
appearance. “You’re right, I would be perfect for the role.”
“I never thought I’d say this,” I said. “But I’m looking forward
to going to Stefano. Because that means I no longer have to spend any time with
you!”
“Aww, sunshine. Why do you say such cutting words? That’s
okay, your body spoke volumes earlier as to how you truly felt.”
Scowling, I said, “Let’s get on with this.”
Devon
We met Stefano’s bodyguards Lee
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