The words were barely out of his mouth when the doors opened and Sheriff Barker strode in.
Maybe strode wasn’t quite the right word. It was more like he stomped in and he didn’t look happy. That might have had something to do with the girl he was escorting. I recognized her as a member of the Ricks family, though she was hardly identifiable beneath all the makeup. Her mini skirt scarcely covered her butt and the fishnet stockings she was wearing definitely made her look like she was ready to hang a for sale sign around her neck.
Molly Ricks was the middle daughter of Ricky Ricks, Raven Point’s biggest dickhead, in my opinion anyway.
I didn't know Molly well, but she'd gone to school with Pippa. My sister had never gotten along with the Ricks girls, especially Molly, but most people didn't get along with the Ricks. They had an infuriating; ‘no one is better than thou’ attitude.
Well, at the moment, the only thing Miss Princess Molly Ricks had going for her was that the handcuffs she was wearing were plastic instead of solid steel. The girl’s bleached hair made her look cheap. I wasn’t sure if that was because it was a home job done by someone that didn't know what they were doing or if she was just slutty to begin with.
I almost felt sorry for her – almost. “Out trolling for tricks, I see.”
Molly tossed me a murderous look of which I completely shrugged off. The Ricks were more yap than bite.
Of course, I had no idea if she’d really been out trolling for tricks, but she sure was dressed for the job.
Molly wasn’t the only one giving me dirty looks. Sheriff Barker furrowed his gray brows and shot me down with his furious blue eyes. “That’s enough, Miss Summers. This isn’t your concern.”
Before I could find a sufficiently sarcastic comeback, another member of the Ricks family burst through the doors.
“What's this about?” Denny Ricks hollered.
The tall and lanky figure of Denny Ricks was only intimidating if you feared that the car grease on his clothes would rub off on you. He wasn’t so much vicious as nerdy. He was a Ricks cousin so most people in town didn’t know much about him, except that he showed up every once in a while to fix the family's automobiles. He was a mechanic that lived in the Portland area, but did make trips to the Zone every so often.
“I found her on Main Street soliciting men,” Sheriff Barker replied. “You know we don’t tolerate that kind of thing around here.”
“Not a – a chance! There must be some kind of mistake.” Denny was so furious that he practically choked as he tried to get his words out. “Why would Molly do that?”
Dirty Denny had a point. The Ricks had plenty of money so there wasn’t much reason for Molly to be selling herself on the streets.
“You have nothing on me,” Molly screeched. “You don't know what I was talking to that guy about.”
“Wanna bet,” Barker said. “You solicited a police informant who happened to be wearing a wire.”
“That’s entrapment,” she gasped.
“Sure it is, Molly,” I laughed. “They forced you to put a for sale sign on your forehead.”
She tossed me another furious look. As much as I wanted to provoke her even more, Barker wasn’t having any of it.
“Knock it off, Destiny,” he said in his no nonsense voice. This was a clear warning that if I pushed it, I would be wearing handcuffs myself.
Deputy Steven Krem walked in, saving me from having to defend myself. I had snarky defense just ready to unleash.
He handed Molly over to the Deputy. “Book her on Solicitation of Prostitution.”
Denny tried to follow the Deputy and Molly to the booking area but Krem held up his hand. “Back off, Denny. You need to wait out here.”
“When can I bail her out?” Denny yelled at him.
“When the judge sets bail, which won't be until morning,” Sheriff Barker said as he pointed to the door. “Now, unless you want to spend the night with her for interfering with an arresting officers, I’d get out of here.”
Narrowing his eyes, Denny glared at the Sheriff but thought better of answering him back. In a huff, the younger man pushed the doors open and stalked off.
“Now, what can I do for you?” he asked.
“I need to report Pippa missing. She went to meet someone to get information on Ember’s disappearance and now she is missing too.”
Barker shook his head. “Do any of you people on Old Post Road know how to stay out of trouble?"
Now that was insulting. He was implying that our geographic location had something to do with us getting into trouble when it was really just a few of us that got into trouble, like the dumb ones. Molly and Pippa weren’t the sharpest crayons in the box.
“I’m sure Pippa is just worried about Ember,” I said, in defense of my dim-witted sister. “At least she’s doing something. That's more than I can say for the local law enforcement.”
“You watch that tongue of yours, Destiny Summers.” Sheriff Barker wagged a finger in my face. “For your smarty-pants information, I am being briefed hourly on the search for your sister. You might not believe this but Raven Point does encompass more than Old Post Road. We have a lot of problems around here, especially with that new freak-club opening up in the tunnel.”
“My sister is a child. That should be a priority.”
“And it is,” he said as he was walking away. “Fill out the missing person’s report and I'll put a BOLO out for Pippa and her car.”
It wasn’t much but it was something. I hadn't expected the Sheriff's department to do much until Pippa had been gone for seventy-two hours. It was apparent I was going to need outside help.
Chapter 15
Parking next to an overflowing dumpster, I sat in my car and stared at the little wooden sign that marked the entrance to Back Street Recoveries.
Back Street’s office was housed in an old red brick building between an adult novelty shop and a bakery. The building had once been a brothel in the 19th century but had been divided and converted into legitimate businesses decades ago.
I couldn’t help but wonder why Back Street would choose such a shady, dingy area to open shop. It was almost as if they were trying to stay low key, which made no sense if your aim was to grow your business.
I started for the little red door that was Back Street’s entrance. Now that I was actually here, I was anxious to see what the inside looked like. I imagined some early 1900s style office with old typewriters and a Sherlock Holmes character ready to solve any mystery you could throw at him, but only if you could pay for it.
I preferred those in public service, if only because they provided the illusion that justice was for everyone and not just the few who could afford it.
A bell rang as I stepped through the door. The office area was much like I imagined it would be, but instead of old-fashioned typewriters but actually had computers.
It was becoming apparent, even to me, that I had a bad habit of being to pre-judgmental. Since my mother’s death, I hadn’t been the nicest person in the world. That was something I would have to work on.
The tiny lobby was separated from the back by a reception counter. Behind the counter was the same little guy I’d seen handing out flyers in Wicked’s parking lot, except this time he wasn’t wearing a top hat to hide his bald head.
According to the name plague on the counter, her name was Bailey McQuin.
“How can I help you, lass,” he asked with a thick accent that sounded somewhat Irish but not quit.
“I am looking for help on a missing person’s case. Do you handle that type of case?”
“I’m sure we do,” he said, his blue eyes dancing with laughter.
I was overcome with the odd feeling that he’d already known what I wanted.
“Please have a seat and I’ll see if Mr. Jackson can speak with you about it.”
“Thanks,” I said, offering a smile.
I sat in one of the three folding chairs that made up the lobby waiting room as the little ma
n disappeared into what I assumed was a back office.
With nothing else to do but fidget or thumb through a Hollywood gossip magazine, I decided frightening was my better option. I never could understand why someone would want to read about scandals. I had more than enough problems to deal with. There was no way I wanted to be weighted down with someone else’s wacky problems, especially when I didn’t even know the person who’d allegedly been thrown out of a bar by bouncers.
Okay, I am guilty at looking at the cover’s headline.
That was all I had time to do before Bailey returned. “Mr. Jackson would be pleased to speak with you.”
Bailey motioned for me to follow him, which I did. He showed me into a small office that was cramped with file cabinets from floor to ceiling, though the office appeared to be empty of the mysterious Mr. Jackson.
We continued through the office to a door that opened into a courtyard. There I saw a man with long dark hair, working on a Harley motorcycle. I recognized him immediately. It was the same guy who’d helped me when Millie broke down in L.A.
Now I was suspicious. If he lived in Raven Point, how did he happen to be in L.A when and where I would need his help? That entire incident had been contrived and I fully intended to find out why.
“What a surprised, Mr. Jackson. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Placing the wrench he was using on the ground, he looked up and smiled. “I do get around.”
“Yeah, I can tell. So you just happened to be in California and just happened to be driving by when my car broke down?”
“He’s stalking you.” Kayla’s unexpected intrusion caught me by surprise.
The interfering ghost was sitting on a lawn chair near the door, watching our exchange. As tempted as I was to ask my ghostly pain in the ass where she’d been, I resisted. I needed this guy’s help and if he thought I was nuts, he might not be so will to offer his services.
I quickly turned my attention back to Jackson.
He stood up and wiped grease from his hands with an old red rag. “Like I said, I get around.”
Well, that wasn’t much of an explanation but now wasn’t the time to interrogate him. “Okay, if you say so.”
“Bailey said you needed help with a missing person’s case.”
Nodding, I put on a smile. “I do. Both of my sisters are missing but they went missing at different times.”
Frowning, he grabbed a bottle of water and downed half of it before replacing the cap and turning his attention back to me. “That’s strange. Have you already reported it to the police?”
“Yes, I did. I reported it early this morning. The sheriff didn’t seem too worried. I told him that Pippa had agreed to meet someone who claimed to have information on my baby sister’s disappearance. He still didn’t seem too worried.”
“That could have something to do with the fact that it would be difficult for anyone to turn Pippa Summers into a victim,” he laughed. “She’s as mean as an old bulldog.”
Giving him one of my death glares, I let Mr. Jackson know that I didn’t appreciate his humor. “This is not a laughing matter.”
“I know and I’m sorry,” he sighed, though I could still see amusement in his eyes.
I wanted to yell but I also needed his help so I bit my tongue. What was with the guys in Raven Point, especially the good-looking ones? They were all jerks. At least that’s the way it was beginning to seem.
“If she had a cell phone with her, we should be able to track where the phone last pinged. Maybe we can even find out what number last called her phone,” he explained.
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “We would need to get a warrant for that? That could take some time.”
“I can get the records without a warrant,” he assured me.
“That’s against the law,” I pointed out.
“Depends on whose law you are talking about.”
I wasn’t about to argue with him. If he had a way to shortcut the process, I was okay with it. Whatever it took to find Pippa was fine with me.
Chapter 16
Instead of disappearing, Kayla followed me out to the car. As soon as I got behind the wheel, I turned to look at her. “Where have you been? Pippa has gone missing now. What do you know about that?”
“Nothing.” Kayla shrugged. “I was sleeping. We do sleep sometimes you know.”
“Why on earth would you need to sleep? Sleeping is a physical need. You don’t even have a body.”
“Okay, I don’t know if I was sleeping. That’s just what it seems like. I was in a dark place and didn’t feel like leaving it.”
I eyed her, not quite sure what to make of what she’d just said. Whatever had happened to her, it didn’t sound good.
“So you don’t know anything?” I asked.
Yawning, Kayla shook her head. “But I sure am tired.”
It wasn’t long before Kayla had faded away completely.
I spent the next hour driving around Raven Point, trying to decide what to do next. There was always Wicked. I could go back there and demand that Damian spill the beans on what he knew.
But what if he really didn’t know anything?
There was a part of me that just wanted to see him again. Damian Petrova was mystifying and alluring at the same time. I suddenly felt like the moth that couldn’t resist the flame. As much as it was a bad idea, I still wanted to confront him again.
He knew something. I was sure of it.
Regardless of how much I wanted to confront Petrova, I wasn’t too anxious to return to Wicked. The thought of visiting Shadow Grove wasn’t much better but at least I wouldn’t have to dress in black leather to do it.
Making up my mind, I headed for Old Post Road and Shadow Grove. With any luck, I’d catch Damian at home and wouldn’t have to deal with another trip to Wicked.
When I took the turn off to Shadow Grove I was met with some major changes. Not only was the dirt road now paved but there was a massive electric gate blocking the entrance to Shadow Grove.
A fancy sign on the gate announced to visitors that they had arrived at the exclusive resort, Wicked Adventures.
Really?
This was going to be the location of Petrova’s new resort?
I sat in front of the gate, wondering how I was going to get inside. My quest to gain entrance to Raven Point’s new resort ended when the gates opened and a cement truck rumbled out.
Taking the open gate as a divine sign that I should step on the gas and make a run for it, that’s exactly what I did. I zoomed past the gate as fast as Millie would go. I was just made it before it started to close.
Now that the road was paved, I could take it at a much faster speed than I had last time I visited Shadow Grove. As soon as trees cleared to reveal Shadow Grove, I slammed on the brakes.
Everything was different.
Although I didn’t have a good view beyond the tree line, there appeared to be several rows of guest cottages going up, and they were sure going up fast. The exterior of the old mansion had gotten a facelift and it was looking good but what was even more astonishing was the building that was being built about a hundred yards to the left of the mansion.
The huge, dome-shaped building had gone up fast. It wasn’t complete but they had done a lot in just a couple of days. The hundreds of construction workers rushing around probably had a lot to do with the speed things were getting done.
It was still difficult to tell exactly what kind of resort it would be but according to the flyer, Wicked Adventures was supposed to be some kind of virtual reality resort.
It was certainly innovative but I wasn’t sure how well it would go over in a small town, especially one in the Zone.
Parking in a recently paved parking lot, I made my way to Shadow Grove’s front door. Before I could knock, the door swung open to reveal the same weird butler I’d encountered on my last visit.
“Miss Summers,” he acknowledged, bowing his head.
“Hi,” I said wi
th a strained smile. “Is Mr. Petrova available?”
Frowning, he shook his head. “He is not. I was sure that the master made it clear that Shadow Grove was not open to the public at this time.”
I was taken aback by his obvious stonewalling. “Well, I wasn’t really told that Shadow Grove was closed to the public. Do you know when I can speak with Petrova?”
“He is out of town. I believe he will be back for the grand opening.”
“Okay, thanks. I guess,” I said, adding some sarcasm to my voice so that he would know I wasn’t happy with his attitude.
I don’t think he cared all that much what I was happy or unhappy about.
Just as I reached Millie, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. Normally, I would never answer an unknown number but with my sisters missing, I figured I better answer.
“Hello.”
“Destiny. It’s Levi Jackson.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Hey, do you have something?”
“Your sister’s phone last pinged off a tower near the Ricks ranch. That’s all I have so far.”
“That’s more than enough,” I told him as I slid behind the steering wheel.
“Don’t go there alone, Destiny. Wait for me.” There was a stern note in his voice but I wouldn’t be deterred.
“Sure, I’ll meet you there.” I ended the call before he could argue with me about it.
Backing up, I nearly hit a green work truck when the soda that I’d set in the middle console suddenly tipped over and soaked my jeans.
I slammed on the breaks just before rear ending the truck.
Wouldn’t you know it, Kayla was sitting in the passenger seat with a grin on her face.
“You did that, didn’t you,” I accused.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She was clearly lying. “Witchy poo!”
“You’re the witch,” she pointed out. “You are also dumb if you go to the Ricks nut farm without backup.”
“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes and pulled far enough forward that I could backup without hitting the truck. “I don’t have time to wait for backup.”
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