Page 78 of Flawed

I know her last name. I can do a search.

I speed home and turn on my computer. I search her name but don't find anything. I call the operator, but she tells me there's no listing. I do everything I can to find where Chanel Moulin went, but it's like she disappeared into thin air.

I research who the landlord is for the building, get his phone number, and call. He hangs up on me.

So I research what he looks like and where he lives. The next day, I wait for him to leave his building.

When he finally appears, I step in front of him. "Conrad."

He pins his eyebrows together. "Who the fuck is asking?"

"I need to know where Chanel went," I blurt out.

"Who?" he asks.

"Chanel Moulin," I inform him.

His eyes light up. "Oh. You're that guy that called me last night, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am. You got a problem with that?" I say, putting on my most intimidating look.

He takes a step back. "I'm not looking for any trouble, man."

I continue, "Then tell me where she is."

He tosses his hands in the air. "I don't know where she went."

"How is that possible? Didn't she give you a forwarding address?"

"No. She left and didn't even get her security deposit. She moved out, but her rent was completely paid," he informs me.

"Why would she not get that?" I ask.

"Not sure, but it's forfeited. She had a time frame to tell me where to send it," he states.

I don't say anything else. I get back in my car, and the truth hits me.

I lost her.

She doesn't want me to know where she lives.

The truth hurts worse than any pain I've ever felt. And I get the sinking feeling I'm never going to find her.

14

Chanel

Six Weeks Later

"Sophia, hand me the screwdriver,"my father calls out.

My mom rolls her eyes.

Dad keeps leaving his tools all over the place. For the last four hours, he's been putting the crib together. He's not the handiest of men, so it tends to take longer, but eventually, he always gets it right.

And I'm running out of time. I debated about how I wanted to decorate the baby's room for too long. My parents showed up this weekend and finally made me get everything ready. They lectured me about how there's no more time to procrastinate, and they're right. The baby's due in a few weeks.

So my parents and I picked out the furniture yesterday. My mom and I spent all morning shopping for different baby items. Now, we're washing the clothes we bought and putting them away.

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