Page 95 of Fish out of Water
Grant turned back to where Sylvia stood.
Used to stand.
“Where in the hell did she go?”
I stood up from my chair. “She couldn’t have gotten far.” Sylvia was spry as hell, but also a little shit-faced, so she’d be lucky to make it halfway across the room before toppling over.
Grant pointed in the direction he’d dragged me the previous night. “You go that way. I’ll go this way.”
I hurried across the room, wincing a little at the aching in the balls of my feet as I scanned the space, looking for Sylvia’s white hair.
I crouched down, hoping I might be able to identify her by the flaming red of her dress, but it was impossible to get a good look at any one person.
So I grabbed a chair and pulled it close to the back wall, using it for leverage as I climbed up onto the seat, hoping to get a better look.
It worked.
Unfortunately it also made it clear Sylvia was not in the main room.
Grant was going to shit his pants.
I bunched up my skirt before stepping down, being careful not to catch my heel in the hem of the sheer fabric. The dress had to cost an arm and a leg, and I didn’t want to ruin it the first time I wore it.
Once both feet were safely on the ground I looked for any escape she might have taken.
There was only one option and it made my stomach turn just a little.
I pushed open the door leading to the hall Grant led me down just over twenty-four hours ago. “Sylvia?”
I heard a muffled scuffing sound coming from the direction of the coat check room.
Grant said I didn’t have to worry about the men from last night, but was he positive on that?
What if they were back?
What if they’d grabbed Sylvia and she was too drunk to fight them off?
I tiptoed into the hall, leaning to peek around the corner toward the closet, hoping to get a better look at whatever might have made the noise.
But the hall was empty.
I let out a little breath, relief sagging my shoulders and unclenching my teeth.
Something banged against the inside of the door, sending me jumping back as the sound seemed to echo around me.
“Damn it.” I yanked off my shoes, holding the soles tight, heels facing out.
No one was going to hurt Sylvia if I could do anything about it.
I crept down the hall barefoot, heart racing in my chest.
Sylvia would do the same thing for me. I knew it. Even after knowing her for less than a day it was clear she was a bad-ass bitch.
And I wanted to be one too.
The sounds coming from the room continued, getting louder as I closed in.
Someone was definitely in there.
