Jilliane Hoffman by Pretty Little Things

hours since she’d been dropped at the corner to wait for the school bus by her mother. If she didn’t surface by tomorrow morning, he’d visit Sawgrass Middle, talk to her classmates and try and track down every Karyn or Carla on the register to see who Lainey might’ve gone home with.
    But right now, it was time to go car shopping. He slipped on his sunglasses, and pulled away from the curb, as Lainey’s identical friends, standing side by side, watched expressionless from the living-room window.

18
    Even though Bobby had never met the guy before, or even seen a photo, he already had an idea what the CarMax Regional Salesman of the Month looked like. Maybe it was the used-car profession that had him drawing mental pictures, or Todd LaManna’s choice of a spouse, but stocky, short, temperamental and balding were the first four adjectives that came to mind.
    Bobby stepped through the automatic glass front doors, and there he was: Stocky, short, temperamental and balding, dressed in a blue CarMax polo shirt and khakis, a clipboard in hand and a slippery smile on his ruddy, full face. Like a shark to chum, he rushed over to Bobby before one of his clipboard-carrying brethren could get there first.
    ‘Hey there, guy!’ Todd called out in a booming voice. ‘Thinking about helping out the economy today?’
    ‘Todd Anthony LaManna?’ Bobby asked, reaching for his badge.
    The apple cheeks deflated. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t deny it. There was a big ‘Todd LaManna’ patch sewn on his polo. ‘What’s this about?’ he asked, the self-assured boom reduced to a decibel above whisper.
    ‘This is about your stepdaughter, Elaine, Mr LaManna. Do you have a moment?’
    ‘Not really,’ he replied, looking around. Besides salesmen, there was no one else in the showroom. ‘I’m kinda busy.’
    ‘Make one.’
    They stepped into a glass-enclosed cubby that looked out on to the showroom. It was a room where deals were made. Where sales managers, in full view of the anxious customer back on the sales floor, but without the sound effects, finally ‘gave up’ their lowest price after bullshit haggling with the tenacious Salesman of the Month. It’d been a while since Bobby had bought a car, but the games were always the same, whatever dealership you were in or car you were buying.
    But there was no dealing today. ‘I guess she’s not home yet,’ Todd said quietly as he closed the blinds.
    ‘And I’m guessing you’re not too worried about that,’ Bobby answered.
    ‘Oh, man, don’t make this about me. Debbie said she’s at a friend’s house. She’s probably having a good time, is all, and doesn’t want to come home and do shit around the house all day. I know I wouldn’t.’ He chuckled. ‘Why do ya think I work weekends?’
    Bobby didn’t laugh back. ‘Any idea where Elaine might be?’
    Todd shrugged. ‘She’s Debbie’s kid. She told her mother she was going out with some girl from school. I don’t know who her friends are; I don’t ask. I tried getting involved with the other one, Liza, ya know? To be a good parent and all. Lot of good it did me. That little –’ he cut himself off. ‘She’s constantly getting in trouble and me worrying about her don’t do no good. She doesn’t listen to anyone. I’ve had the cops in my life ever since the first time I caught her smoking weed.’
    ‘When was the last time you spoke with Elaine?’
    ‘I’ve been working a lot lately. I haven’t even seen her since, I don’t know, like maybe Wednesday? It’s gotta be, I’m thinking here, maybe Wednesday morning before she went to school. That’s when I talked to her. Told her to clean her friggin’ room up.’
    ‘What’s your relationship with Elaine?’ ‘What?’ Todd replied, his face crimson. ‘Fine, great. Normal.’
    ‘Normal?’
    ‘I’m feeling trapped here. Like you’re asking me questions for a reason.’
    ‘There’s no reason to feel trapped,’ Bobby replied. ‘She’s a