Lost and Found

by Tamara Larson

  “What do you mean, they disappear?”

  “I mean, they go on the road, or they get involved in drugs, or worse.”

  “What’s worse?”

  “Well, lets put it this way: for some girls, it’s a fine line between lap-dancing and hooking.”

  “Oh my God. Duncan’s little sister is involved with a pimp. This is terrible. I should call Duncan.” Jessie reached for the white phone on the wall before she realized that she didn’t even have Duncan’s number here. She’d left his card at the store for Clay when she’d left that afternoon. She set the phone back down in its cradle and looked at Jamie, panic in her eyes.

  “Jessie, calm down.” Jamie reached out a soothing hand, and rubbed Jessie’s shoulder. “We don’t even know if it’s really her. I think Terri-Lynne works tomorrow night. Why don’t you wait and tell him in the morning. He probably needs his sleep, and he won’t be able to do anything until tomorrow night anyway.”

  “But what if this Diego character is hurting her? What if he’s doing something to her right now?”

  “It’s three-thirty in the morning, Jess. Even scumbags are asleep right now. Besides, she doesn’t look like she’s being abused. I swear. He has to get her hooked on the lifestyle first, and that takes some real seduction. The abuse comes much later.”

  “Jamie, it scares the hell out of me that you know anything about this.” Jessie sat down and stared at her sister morosely.

  “Relax, Jess, girls don’t get into trouble at my club very often, but it does happen. It’s the nature of the business, what can I say?” She shrugged her shoulders and leaned against the sink casually.

  “You can say that you’re going to quit and join a nunnery instead.” Jessie said, perfectly serious.

  “Not bloody likely,” Jamie said with a snort. “I’m gonna go, Jess. Are you sure you’re alright?” There was genuine concern in her voice as she said this. She loved her sister more than anything, and she couldn’t stand to see her so upset. She sincerely hoped that Duncan was worth all this drama.

  “Yeah, it’s just been such an exciting day.” Jessie rubbed her eyes and gave a little yawn.

  “Well, wait until tomorrow when Detective Big Dick comes to the club to identify little Terri-Lynne. Guido’s got a bit of a crush on the girl. He’s not going to like it one bit if your Honey takes her away from the club.” Jamie opened the door and looked back at Jessie, wiggling the fingers of one pale hand in farewell.

  “Sounds like Guido is a bit fickle.” Jessie said, getting up to lock the door behind Jamie. “Good night, Jay. Thanks for coming over and harassing me.”

  “My pleasure. Hey, at least you’ll have an excuse to call him now.”

  “I just wish it was better news.”

  “It’s going to work out, Jess. I promise. Remember, who’s the psychic one?”

  “You are. Take a cab, alright?”

  “It’s only four blocks.”

  “Take a cab anyway.”

  “Alright, Alright. Call me after you talk to him, okay?”

  “Yeah, I will. Bye.” Jessie locked the door and leaned against it, wondering exactly how she was going to tell Duncan that his little sister might be working as an exotic dancer.

  Chapter 11

  The roses were mostly cream, but they had a shadow of peach at the base of each delicate petal.

  The delivery boy had arrived with them minutes after Jessie had opened the store at 10:15. She’d been late, and frantic to get the cash register set up when the plump, red-headed young man had set them down on the cashier’s desk in front of her. At first, she’d thought they were a mistake, but the long white box had been addressed to her at Forgotten Treasures.

  The card was also addressed to her in a masculine scrawling hand. It read:

  Jessie,

  What have you done to me? I spent twenty minutes this morning trying to find roses that were as perfect as you. I didn’t succeed, but these were close. (Notice how they match those pale orange under things you had on last night.)

  Thinking of You,

  D.

  Jessie had never received flowers before. Had never even conceived of someone sending some to her. She thought romantic gestures like that were for cheating husbands and prom dates. She’d been cynical about roses especially. Thought they were corny and somewhat unoriginal. At least that’s what she thought until she’d held the long-stemmed bouquet in her arms and had buried her nose in the soft petals to inhale their sweet scent. Then roses were magical, and she finally understood why they were so overused for anniversaries and apologies.

  Jessie was so touched by Duncan’s thoughtful act that she actually felt tears well up in her eyes. Who would have thought that someone as tough looking as the detective would take time out to try and make her feel special? It was completely crazy. Macho guys like him didn’t send roses after one almost-date, did they? Apparently they did.

  Jessie set the flowers down on the desk and snatched up Duncan’s business card from where Clay had taped it to the cash register with a big pink heart drawn around Duncan’s cell phone number. She grabbed the store’s old-fashioned black manual dial phone without even thinking about what she was going to say, and dialed impatiently.

  “Reinhold,” he said, after two rings.

  “Duncan,” Jessie said into the phone, her voice breathless with excitement. “It’s me, Jessie.”

  “Hi. Did you get them?” He spoke quietly, like there was someone else there, but his tone was very warm and husky. Jessie felt goose flesh ripple her arms at the intimate timbre of his voice.

  “Yes, I did. Thank-you so much. They’re just gorgeous. I can’t believe you did that.”

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t have preferred red?” Duncan’s voice sounded anxious and Jessie wondered if he’d been worried about her reaction. “I know that’s tradition, but they seemed so overdone or something. The ones I got you just seemed to suit you better.” His voice went even lower and Jessie could imagine him turning his back to whoever else was present and covering the mouthpiece with his hand to muffle his next words. “I was actually looking for some pale pink ones to match your nipples, but I thought that would be too racy for you.”

  “Now who’s trying to seduce who?” Jessie asked, her own voice a low purr in response to his words. “Seriously, they’re perfect. I’m overwhelmed.”

  “Good, that was the plan.”

  “The flowers aren’t actually my only reason for calling though. I think I might have some news for you about Theresa.” Jessie set the phone in the crux of her shoulder and neck and began shredding the ribbon on the flower box with both hands. She couldn’t seem to help fidgeting.

  “What? Tell me.” Suddenly, Duncan was all business again.

  “Well, Jamie stopped by last night—.”

  “Your sister stopped by after I left. Does she do that a lot? She would have had quite a shock if I’d still been there.”

  For someone in such a rush to hear her news, he certainly seemed interested in her sister’s nocturnal habits. “No doubt, but while she was here, she saw Theresa’s picture. It had fallen out of your coat when we were, uh, you know.” Color flooded Jessie’s cheeks at the memory.

  “What did she say, Jess?” He sounded surprisingly controlled and Jessie wondered if maybe he would take her news better than she’d anticipated.

  “Now I don’t want to get your hopes up, but Jamie said that Theresa looks like a girl that recently started working at the club where she works.”

  “The strip club?” Duncan’s voice thundered through the earpiece and Jessie was forced to pull it away from her ear. He swore viciously and Jessie wished she were there to calm him down.

  “Well, Jamie says it’s more like a burlesque gentlemen’s club, but okay, yes, the strip club.”

  “How sure is she?” He snapped.

  “Pretty sure, but she did say that this Terri-Lynne was scheduled to work tonight. The club opens around nine. Maybe you should go down
there to check it out.”

  “I plan to. Did she say anything else?”

  Jessie paused, unsure how he would react to her next piece of news. She tapped the card from the flowers against her teeth and listened to him breath softly into the phone. “Well, I don’t think you’re going to like this, but Jamie did say that this Terri-Lynne was hanging around with some guy that sounded like bad news. Dago Saw-something. That’s probably who was with her at the store last night, don’t you think?”

  “Diego Savares?”

  “Yeah, I think so. Do you know him?”

  “Not personally. He’s just your average low-life. Likes to think of himself as some kind of entertainment manager, but really he’s just your average bottom-feeder. He was involved in a child-prostitution ring a few years ago, but got plea-bargained down for some information and got off.”

  “Oh my God. How does someone like that get off? That’s terrible.” Suddenly, Jessie realized what a huge gulf there really was between her and Duncan. She organized books for a living, and he attempted to catch some genuinely vile criminals. How could two people with such different occupations have anything in common? Except for chemistry, which they seemed to have up the kazoo. Just talking to Duncan on the phone made Jessie feel warm and alive all over.

  “That’s how the modern justice system works. Sometimes the slimy little minnow gets away so we have a chance at nailing the great whites.”

  Jessie couldn’t help herself from responding. “Your job is terrible. How can you see stuff like that happen everyday and not lose hope?”

  Calmly, as if used to answering this question, he said, “Sometimes I do. But not today. Today I might just find my sister. Thanks so much, Jessie, for telling me and for being so concerned.”

  “Should I have called last night and told you? I thought maybe I should have, but I’d left your card here at the store.”

  “No, you did the right thing. I won’t be able to do anything about Theresa until tonight anyway. I was just interviewing a suspect in a serial rape case.”

  “And you took my call?” Guilt washed over her, but she was also somewhat pleased that he put such a priority on her call.

  “Yeah. I did. I’ve been kind of tense for the past hour wanting to see if you got the flowers. Will I see you tonight?”

  “You mean, at the club?”

  “No, definitely not. I meant afterward.”

  “Why don’t you want me to be there? I may not be exactly best friends with Theresa, but I know her a little bit. And I’d like to make sure she’s okay.”

  “It might be dangerous. If this girl is Theresa, and I have a feeling she is, this Savares character might not want to give her up. Things could get out of control.”

  “Well, then I’m definitely coming. Jamie will be there and I couldn’t stand if anything happened to her.”

  “Jessie, please don’t. I’ll make sure nothing happens to anyone. I know you don’t know me very well, but I’m asking you to trust me.”

  “I do, but—.”

  “Jess, I don’t concentrate with you around. I’m sure nothing bad will happen tonight, but I need to stay focused, okay? Please wait for me at your place and I’ll come over after.”

  Jessie decided to change the subject. If she didn’t promise anything then he couldn’t be too angry when she showed up tonight. For her own peace of mind, she needed to see how things turned out. “What are you going to do with her exactly? Have you thought about that?”

  “No, not really. I was mostly thinking about finding her. I suppose I’ll just put her on a plane back to Toronto.” Duncan sounded torn, like he wanted to honor his obligation to his grandmother, but wasn’t sure it was what for the best.

  Jessie hesitated again. This was not her concern, but her fondness for Theresa made her ask. “Won’t she run away again?”

  Duncan sighed deeply. “Maybe, but what else can I do?” Jessie could practically see him running his hands through his raven hair in frustration.

  Gently, she said, “I don’t know. It’s none of my business, but couldn’t she stay with you?”

  Duncan sounded like he was choking. “No way! I am not cut out to be a brother at this point. I haven’t even seen my family in more than ten years for a very good reason. I just want to make sure she’s safe and sound and taken care of. That’s as far as I’m willing to go. I like my life the way it is. Uncomplicated.”

  He hadn’t seen his family for ten years? Jessie couldn’t imagine that. She’d never gone more than two days without talking to her sister. And before her parents died, it had been the same way with them. Family was everything to her and it seemed unnatural to her to be so segregated from them. Something awful must have happened. Jessie wanted to ask him about this, but it didn’t seem like the right time. Instead she focused on the immediate problem.

  “Really?” Then why was he pursuing her exactly? Wasn’t that a sign that something was missing from his life? Jessie was tempted to point this out, but controlled the impulse. She’d intruded enough for one phone call.

  “Yeah, but Jess, that doesn’t include you. Can I come over after or not?”

  Jessie decided to leave it alone for now. She didn’t pretend to know him that well, but she suspected that he would find it difficult to drop Theresa off at the airport. He just wasn’t that type of man. “I’ll be here, naked and armed with condoms this time.”

  “God, you do know what to say, don’t you?” He groaned softly and chuckled. “But I didn’t mean that I was coming over to finish what we started and have my wicked way with you. I just thought you’d want to know what happened at the club.”

  “Oh, I do want that, but I also want to get on with this whole seduction thing. How else am I supposed to get some more roses? I think I have a lavender teddy somewhere. Do roses come in lavender?”

  His voice had that throaty tone that she loved so much when he said, “I don’t know, but if there are, I’ll find them.”

  “So, I’ll see you tonight?” Jessie curled her fingers in the phone cord and imagined his reaction when she showed up at the club tonight. She wondered if there was somewhere she could station herself so Duncan wouldn’t see her. She really didn’t want to upset him, but she had to see what happened.

  “Definitely. I don’t know what time though. I’ll call you if things get too complicated, or if I’ll be too late, okay?”

  “No problem. Bye Duncan. Thanks for the flowers. You’re very sweet.”

  Gruffly he said, “Glad you like them. Can’t wait to see this lavender thing of yours. Bye.”

  Jessie hung up the phone and sighed, leaning down to take another sniff of the roses. He was so easy to talk to, she thought, so kind and concerned about her. She could definitely get used to this.

  She froze in mid-sniff. Wait a second, she couldn’t get used to this. If she did she was just going to be sorely disappointed when things didn’t work out. She needed to keep her distance, but how was she supposed to do that when he did things like sending her roses, and taking her calls when he was in the middle of interrogating deviants.

  He was making this whole sex-only thing very difficult for her. Why couldn’t he be just a little less great? She should focus on his faults. Jessie took a piece of paper out and began writing a very short list. Now, what were his faults exactly? Let’s see, he’s temperamental, and kind of bossy. Also, he doesn’t seem to want to get involved with his sister. Does that mean he’s selfish? Or does it mean he honestly thinks Theresa would be better off with their grandmother? Either way: not great. But not terrible either.

  Why couldn’t he do something aggravating, or have some horrendous personal habit? Like nose picking or jock itching or open mouth breathing. That would make this much easier. She could just have sex with him, and then move on to finding someone more appropriate—someone considerably less great.

  The bell over the door jangled and Jessie looked up to see a very worn-out Clay enter the store. He was wearing tinted, Top Gun-
style aviator glasses, despite the overcast morning, and his hair looked he’d just walked through a wind tunnel. A giant bottle of Evian was tucked under one arm. He clearly wasn’t his usual dapper self. He yawned and stretched luxuriously, walking stiffly toward Jessie with a half-hearted wave.

  “Hey,” Clay croaked, “late night last night, but I had to come in early to get the low-down. So, what happened?” He leaned against the counter and took off his sunglasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Setting the glasses down, he finally focused on Jessie and noticed the roses in her hands.

  His lethargy disappeared instantly. “Oh, my God. Those are gorgeous!” Clay grabbed the roses from her hands and thrust his face into them, loudly snorting their scent. “Well, you must have been a very good girl last night. Tell Uncle Clay everything.” Clay began looking under the counter for something to put the roses in. The best he could come up with was a discarded plastic Big Gulp glass. He poured some of his Evian water into the glass and began carefully arranging the flowers. He had to set them against the wall to keep them standing as he waited patiently for Jessie to begin her story.

  She didn’t, she just smiled at Clay, and shook her head.

  “What? You’re not going to tell me?” Clay looked at her like she’d just announced she was shaving her head and becoming a Hare Krishna.

  “No, not after you got Jamie all freaked out.” Jessie put her hands on her hips and gave Clay a stern look. “She came to my place last night and chastised me for a half hour about the dangers of meeting strange men at their apartments.”

  “Sweetheart.” Clay placed a placating arm around her shoulder. “I can’t help it if your sister is a bit high strung. Besides, if I hadn’t told her and she found out later, I would be one castrated little puppy. And we can’t have that, now can we?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.

  Jessie shrugged off his arm and gave him a dirty look. “It’s not a terrible idea.”

  “Well, that’s what I get for showing my concern. I suppose you would have preferred to tell her yourself then?”