Page 19 of Rattler's Revelation
“Good. I know I didn’t say so before, but as I was writing it out, I concluded that Walt had help from security and maybe some others.”
“Yes, that’s the conclusion I came to as well,” Chill says. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. However, like I said, we can do that later. Can you think of any women still working at 1% that Walt harassed? If you can give me their names, I can see if they can add to the information.”
I nod. “I know a few, I’ll make another list.”
Chill gives me a quick smile in appreciation. The smile doesn’t reach her eyes, but I know it’s because she’s not happy about what Walt got away with under her nose. For someone like Chlll, that realization won’t sit well.
“Should we get going?” I ask the boys. “Are we taking your bike?”
Randy grins at me as he yanks a strand of my hair. “I doubt we’ll all three fit on Rattler’s bike. I’ll drive.”
I pout a little at the news, even though I know taking the bike is impractical. I can’t stop thinking about how much fun I had on the way here from the diner.
“I’ll take you for a ride later,” Rattler assures me as he opens the clubhouse door for us to exit.
Without prompting, I climb into the backseat. Sitting back here allows me to study both men and their interactions. Randy starts the car, but doesn’t pull out. “Where to first?”
Rattler turns around to hand me the folder Chill gave him. “That folder contains information about four missing women. Did you know any of them?”
I review each name and nod. “I know all of them. Emily Martin and Darcie Tomkin were the two I tried to contact when they didn’t come into work. They shared an apartment. I stopped by their place the day after they didn’t show, but no oneanswered. I talked to their landlord, but he said he hadn’t seen them in a couple of days. Maybe we should start with them?”
Randy nods as he puts the car in gear.
“Sounds good,” Rattler adds. “Tell us where we should go. You’re in charge.”
I catch Randy’s eyes in the rearview mirror. His eyes crinkle at the sides, telling me that he’s smiling at me. He obviously likes Rattler’s instructions about me being in charge. I squirm in my seat as I consider Randy’s words from earlier. Randy has me off-balance. His words pulled the rug out from underneath me. Even though he laid out what he wanted, I still wasn’t sure I fully understood how it would work. Maybe I should have stayed at the clubhouse and spent some time alone thinking, but I couldn’t do it. I needed to help. The missing women were my coworkers, and many of them were also my friends. I was almost a victim. We need to find these men, and then perhaps we’ll be able to locate the women as well.
When we reach Darcie and Emily’s former residence, Rattler assists me out of the car. Randy leads the way to the manager’s office, where he flashes his badge and explains the reason for our visit.
“I wish I could tell you what day they moved out, but I don’t know. One of them shoved a note under my door telling me they had moved out. They asked for a refund on the rent money they’d already paid and requested I send it, along with their security deposit, to the account they wrote on the note.”
“Did you?” Rattler asks.
He smirks. “Not a chance. They signed a lease. I kept the money, as is my right. Besides, they didn’t clean the apartment. They only removed their shit.”
Randy nods his head in agreement. “That is your right. Is the apartment still empty?”
“No, I found a new tenant. We have a waiting list. If they had come and talked to me, we could have worked something out. They were nice girls. I didn’t have any problems with them.”
“But, you didn’t see them leave? You only received a note?” Rattler asks.
The manager studies Rattler’s kutte for several seconds before responding. “I didn’t see them or talk to them. What’s going on here? I know they worked at 1%. That’s your casino. Did they steal from you? Because if you think they did, you’ve got the wrong girls. They weren’t like that.”
“No, we aren’t looking for them for anything like that,” Rattler assures him. “We think they might be in danger.”
“Danger? What kind of danger?” The manager’s attitude shifts at the suggestion.
Randy provides the man with a concise description of what we believe happened to Darcie and Emily.
“You mean you think someone hurt those two little girls? What do you need from me? I’ll give you whatever help I can.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: RATTLER
We leave the manager gathering security feed for the requested timeframe. His distress at learning the girls might have fallen victim to foul play has him ready to give us anything we want. He also promised to find the note. I’m sure the kidnappers left it, and I hope it gives us information we can use. I’m especially interested in the account information. But, not because I think it will provide us with new information. I’m reasonably sure it will match the account belonging to the Keepers.
“Why don’t we split up and each take an apartment on this floor?” Randy suggests after we exit the elevator on the third floor. “It’s the middle of the day, so we might not find anyone home. Although we could get lucky.”
The apartment building features a main wing at the rear, with two smaller wings extending toward the street. Bianca moves to the right toward the wing where Darcie and Emily lived, but I call out before she turns the corner.
