Page 39 of Last Seen
“I don’t know.”
“Well, he certainly seemed to know you. Do I need to beat him up?”
This is said without irony, though the stranger looks like he would be a feral fighter, no holds barred. Maybe a knife tucked into the jeans pocket.
“No, no, it’s fine.”
“You’re heading out? Why don’t I walk you to your car.”
“That’s nice of you, Aaron. Thanks.” She waves at Kater, who is playing pool in the back. Kater blows her a kiss and shouts, “I’ll see you tomorrow!”
Halley picks up her bag and immediately realizes something is wrong. It’s lighter than when she came in. She rips it open and gasps aloud.
The file on her mother is missing.
Chapter Fifteen
Halley practically turns over the stools looking for the file, knowing somewhere deep she isn’t going to find it. It didn’t just fall out of her bag or get picked up and thrown away as bar litter. Someone took it.
And that someone must have been the dark-haired stranger. The one who thought she’d know him.
“Could you have left it in your car?” Aaron asks.
“No. I brought it in. It’s not something I’d leave behind. Too sensitive.”
“It had to be that guy,” Aaron says. “He was lurking around you all night.”
“Was he? I didn’t notice. I saw him once across the bar, then he spoke to me, but that was it. Damn it. Why would he take the file?”
Kater joins them. “I thought you were taking off. What’s wrong?”
“I had a file on my mom’s murder in my bag, but now it’s gone.”
“And that creepy guy was talking to her,” Aaron adds. “I think he took it.”
“Yeah, he was interesting looking, if you like your men dangerous as hell. He asked me about you, but I made it clear you were not his type, and that you were married. Told him to buzz off. Maybe it’s in your Jeep?” Kater is loose with alcohol and not entirely able to focus. Any other time, Halley would find this hilarious. The responsible girl getting a load on. Right now, she just feels annoyed.
“It’s not, it was in my bag. It weighs a ton.”
“Why don’t we go out and take a look.”
“Yeah. Okay.” She digs into her bag and realizes the Jeep keys are gone, too. Says a very bad word.
“My wallet is here, and everything else, but my keys and the file are missing.”
“Should we call the police?” Kater asks.
“Absolutely,” Aaron says.
Kater is leaning against the bar now. “I’m hammered. You should probably do it, Halley, not me.”
“Let’s see if my Jeep is still here first.”
They troop outside into the soft mountain air. The lot is dark, down a staircase behind the bar, and half-full. She is relieved to see her Jeep right where she left it. She scans the parking lot. No sign of the stranger. But he could be hiding anywhere. She hates this. One tiny bit of news and everything has changed. She’s never been scared like this before. Not in Marchburg.
Kater stage-whispers to Aaron, “Look in the back seat, make sure he’s not stashed there waiting to abduct her.”
Aaron approaches the Jeep carefully. “No one. But look.”
