Page 3 of Shadow Lies

This Charley person could call them herself.

She’d just opened her mouth to say that when Charley said, “There will of course be monetary compensation for you if you were able to assist us.”

Monetary compensation. That got her attention.

Acting like the Ramen-eating, starving, pretend student she was, she asked, “How much compensation?”

“That depends.”

“On what?” she asked, jumping for that carrot Charley dangled.

“On how helpful you are. Let’s just say, your next month’s rent will be paid if you can get us a current location for him. After that, we’ll see.”

After that... Meaning there could be more?

Next month’s rent being covered would give her a nice cushion. She’d even be able to pay for a course next semester and start chipping away at the credits she still needed to graduate.

Once she did that, actually earned the degree she was currently pretending to have, she’d be able to get a real job and stop lying to her parents about her employment.

“All right. I’ll do it. I’ll find him. How do I get in touch with you?” There was no number listed on the caller ID for her to call back.

“We’ll be in touch with you.”

Then the call disconnected. No mention of when or how long she had. Which meant she’d better hurry.

With another glance at the graffiti covered men’s room door—the men who hung out at this place truly were disgusting—she hit the listing to dial her parents. She needed the Lee’s phone number and she needed contact information for Kane.

Just the current location of Kane Lee. She could get that. Easy. And after that, she wouldn’t exactly be on easy street, but she’d be able to move forward instead of just trying to stay afloat.

Show mamma the money!

ChapterTwo

Alexis decided not to make the call from the men’s room where Frank could bust in any moment and blow her cover.

She leaned into his office. “I have to run to my car.”

He frowned. “It’s not your break yet.”

“I have female problems, Frank. I either go to my car now and get what I need or bleed all over the place. Your choice.”

“Jesus. Just go. Don’t tell me next time. Christ.”

She controlled her smile until she was heading out the door. The female problems excuse never failed on her boss. And his embarrassment never failed to amuse her.

In her car, she grabbed a pen and fast food napkin out of the glove compartment. Hopefully she’d have something to write down after making this call.

With a bracing breath, she scrolled through her contacts and tapped her parents’ number.

When her mother answered, she crossed her fingers and said, “Hi, Mom.”

“Hello. Nice of you to call.” The attitude in Alex’s mother’s flat, unfriendly tone was clear.

She got it. It had been a long time since she’d called home. There was good reason for that. Reasons she couldn’t go into.

“Sorry I haven’t been in touch. I’ve been busy at work.”

“They don’t have phones where you work?”

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