Page 23 of Special Agent Joseph

Joe looked from the man back to Megan and saw her trying to hide the grin the pilot’s words had provoked. “Mikey, back off. This is business.”

“Of course, my love. Looks a bit like monkey business to me but what do I know?” He dropped his grip on his suitcase and held his hand toward Joe. “I’m this pretty chimp’s roommate, Micheal Freon. And who might you be?”

Smiling, Joe reached out gladly, enjoying the man’s upbeat character. “Special Agent Marcus. Call me Joe. I’m working with Meggie for the next little while, trying to track down a missing teenager.”

“Your name’s Joseph.” Megan spoke up cutting their visit short. “And don’t you call me Meggie.”

“Then stop calling me Joseph. I hate it.”

Shocked at his vehemence, she still didn’t give in. “It’s your name.”

“No. It’s Joe.” For some strange reason the difference in names meant a lot to Joe. He didn’t want to be Joseph. Not to her.

“Stop being weird both of you. I need a drink.” Mikey turned away to go into the apartment, leaving them alone. Since Joe didn’t understand Megan’s sudden bitchy manner, he dropped the topic and stood back to let her go in front of him to the car. “So… where is this place you’re supposed to be hanging out… where you hope to get approached?”

Chapter Sixteen

Megan’s snit lasted for as long as long as it took for them to settle into the car and then it faded. She needed Joe to drop her off on the corner near the bus station where she could go inside and then out the other door as if she’d just arrived. Reading reports from other agents, she knew kids had been approached this way before. Once there, she turned to him. “I’ll hang around out front looking lost and wait to see what happens.” She handed him a gadget. “Here’s an earpiece.”

He held it in his hands, turning it this way and that until she huffed and took it from him. “Quit fooling around. You know it’s so you can hear me talking. I have one too.” She pulled hers from her ear so he could see it. Then she replaced it and watched as he did the same. “Can you hear me okay?”

“Yeah. It’s clear. So you know, I’m kinda nervous for you to be out there alone. I can see a lot of iffy characters nearby. You sure it’s safe getting picked up?”

“I can take care of myself. Just be my backup in case I need you. Otherwise, stay away and let me do my job.”

Megan reached for her grubby backpack and got out of the car. She passed through the building and once outside again, she pretended to be waiting for someone. Adding a wiggle to her walk, she strolled around the area for some time before heading over to a bench where a younger girl sat alone. She pulled the picture of Lucia from her pocket and held it out. “Excuse me. You ever see this girl? She’s my stepsister. I’m looking for her.”

The other girl’s glassy-eyed stare didn’t seem to focus at first but eventually she shook her head as if to clear it. She looked to be about eighteen or even older but not by much. Her blonde hair had been tortured into a bundle held together by a large clip on top of her head with strands hanging every which way. “No. Don’t know her. You must be new around here. Don’t know you either.”

“Got off the bus a couple hours ago. Lucia was supposed to meet me, but the little witch didn’t show up. I came all this way on her say-so. And I’m pissed.”

“Don’t blame you. It’s tough coming to a strange city alone. Do you have a place to stay?”

“No. Lucia promised she’d deal with all that. She has our money. Probably spent it on shit for her nose. Jesus.”

“Don’t worry. I know a place. You can come with me. Maybe your sister is there too.”

“I ain’t going anywhere with you. Hell, I don’t even know you.”

“It’s okay. Look, I’m in the same situation as you are. I’m Francine… Franny. I came to this fucking city to make a fortune and ended up in the worst mess you can imagine. Now I’m working off my debt for Mrs. Lydia. She’s a good person. She’ll give you a place to sleep and food.”

“Yeah. And what do I have to do for this generosity?”

“She’s got a club with customers you have to be nice to… if you know what I mean?” When she saw the effect of her words on Megan she backed off. “Just waitressing and maybe a lap dance once in a while. She won’t let anyone take advantage… well unless you’re willing.”

Considering that at first Franny appeared to be messed up… surprisingly, she seemed fine now. Also, it soon became clear to Megan that Franny’s job as a recruiter had kept her on the bench in an area close to the bus terminal… exactly the type of person Megan wanted to meet.

“You work for this Lydia person very long?”

“A few months now. Best to have someone looking out for you in this hellhole. Girls can get really fucked on their own. Trust me. I know.”

Considering her voice rang with truth, Megan had to believe her. Pretending to hedge, she asked, “Do you think Lucia might be there with Mrs. Lydia?”

“Could be. There’s a lot of young girls coming to the city alone and getting into trouble. I know for a fact we have a number of them at the club. Hey, you can check when we get there.” Franny stared into Megan’s face and appeared to be contemplating saying more.

With a sigh of regret, she actually voiced her thoughts. In a tone filled with candor, she spoke low, her anxiety showing. “Look, Megan, my best advice to you is to get your ass back in that bus depot and go on home… but you’re already shaking your head. Okay then, girlfriend, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Let’s go.”

Watchful for where Franny was taking her, Megan joined the girl in the taxi and after listening to Franny nattering BS the whole way, they arrived on Freemont street in twenty minutes. There, Franny led her to an older club that had seen better days. Making sure to point out the address as if she were a star-strucknewbie to the city, Megan hoped that Joe had picked up on her message and would be within calling distance should she need him.

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