The girls walked across the street and the Morton’s valet opened the restaurant door for them. As they rode the elevator up, Vivian’s stomach growled at the sizzling steak and baked bread aromas.
“I’m going to eat an entire filet,” Lucy said as she sat down. “I’m not sharing.”
“I think I could eat two steaks right now,” Kate said, taking a seat next to Lucy.
John the bartender introduced himself and gave them each a bar menu. Two appetizers would hold them over until dinner arrived.
“We’ll have the mini-crab cake BLTs and the petite filet mignon sandwiches,” Wendy said, closing her menu. “And we’d like to go ahead and order if that’s okay.”
Lucy, true to her word, got the center-cut filet. Kate ordered the porterhouse so she could get the filet on one side and the New York strip on the other. Vivian ordered the Cajun ribeye and Wendy the Shrimp Alexander.
“And what can I get y’all to drink?” John asked.
Before any of the girls could answer, a man in a tuxedo came over. “They’ll have a bottle of Silver Oak cab.”
“Ralph!” Wendy said and jumped up and gave the maître-d a hug. “So good to see you!” Wendy bartended at Morton’s in Houston during college; Ralph was her manager.
“What a surprise to see you,” Ralph said. “What are you doing these days?” They caught up and reminisced about the late nights in the bar playing cards.
John served the wine and the appetizers, which were gone in minutes. He inquired about the scratch on Lucy’s face, so they told him all about their crazy ass day in the swamp. From the hicks to the shooting, he was captivated. “Y’all should write a book about this.”
The girls laughed and cheersed to that.
The steaks and shrimp were all cooked to perfection. The girls dipped their bread into Wendy’s Shrimp Alexander sauce.
“That is the best damn sauce,” Lucy said, taking a second swipe and double-dipping.
Wendy shielded her plate. “Back off, sista.”
They finished dinner and resisted dessert, but John surprised them and brought out the Godiva cake, topped with Haagen Dazs vanilla. Heaven on a plate.
Vivian’s phone buzzed with a text from Adrienne.
This jailbird is free. Hope u made it back ok. Get car 2moro.
Vivian filled in the girls, then threw down her napkin. “I need to walk, y’all about ready?”
Kate set down her fork and wiped her mouth. “I just want to go to bed. I don’t want to have to tell Jason anything. It’s going to be heartbreaking.”
Wendy polished off her glass of wine. “It’s not the worst news that could be delivered. It still leaves hope that Daisy will be found.”
Vivian tucked her phone back into her purse. “I just texted him and he’s good with us coming by. Let’s go.”
The girls said goodbye to Ralph and John and left the restaurant. Two cop cars were parked facing opposite directions on the streetcar tracks on Canal. The officers talked to each other through the driver’s open windows. A street light illuminated the three-sided shelter of the streetcar stop, where two passengers were waiting.
Vivian did a double take as she recognized the blond-haired, buzz cut guy sitting long ways across the bench. She tilted her head slightly in his direction. “Don’t look over there, but there’s that damn undercover cop again.” She started walking toward the Marriott a few blocks down.
“This is officially getting creepy,” Lucy said.
Wendy stopped and bent over, pretending to fix her flip-flop. “He left the shelter and is walking down the median.”
“You’ve got to call Antonio,” Kate said.
***
Daisy remained hiding in the bathtub until her muscles ached with stiffness. The blows to her legs and back didn’t help. Wanting more comfort, she peeked into the bedroom, and finding no one there, crawled into bed. She had left the television on a local station, and the late news was about to come on. She felt around the bed for the remote but didn’t find it and didn’t have the energy to look for it.
The screen cut to a female reporter, who was having a bad hair day, standing in front of a hospital sign. “We have an update on the murder and kidnappings that are plaguing the adult entertainment industry in New Orleans. Simone Hitchens, the second victim who was taken two weeks ago, is being treated in the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans after being rescued today in St. Bernard Parish by neighbors. According to her family, the kidnapper was shot twice during the rescue. Sources tell us he’s in stable condition here. The police have just released the identity of the body that was found yesterday in St. Louis Cemetery #1. We’re told it is the first kidnapping victim, Lisa Miller, who had been missing almost a month. The third victim, Daisy Easley, is still missing. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.”
Simone being found alive gave Daisy a little hope, though she had no idea if Sonu had anything to do with her or Lisa’s kidnappings. She didn’t think he did, but what did she really know about him other than he was a delusional jerkwad who thought she was going to marry him in his country? Probably some very hot, sandy country with weird customs and archaic ideas about women. No fucking way.
***
The girls walked into the lobby of the Marriott and Vivian called Antonio. She got his voicemail and left a message about the undercover cop being outside of Morton’s.
They took the elevator to the 14th floor and Lucy hesitantly knocked on Jason’s door.
He answered looking more upbeat than Vivian expected, but that quickly changed once he realized the girls were not too chipper.
“What? What’s happened?” he asked as they entered the room. He looked up and down the hallway before closing the door.
Vivian took a deep breath. “It’s not horrible news, it’s just been a crazy, crazy day. Crazier than we ever could have imagined.”
Jason sat on the bed and pointed to a chair across from him. “Tell me about it.”
She recounted the airboat chase with the swamp brothers and how that led to Mustang guy. She told him about the gunfight that led them to Simone.
Jason stood up. “You’re sure he didn’t know anything about Daisy?”
“I’m almost positive. Adrienne crammed her foot into his gunshot wound and was adamant as he answered. He admitted to killing the other dancer but said he knew nothing about Daisy.”
Jason sank further into the bed and put his head in his hands. “What does this mean?”
Wendy put her hand on his shoulder. “We feel like Daisy is alive and waiting to be found.”
Kate moved to him, placing her hand on his other shoulder. “We won’t give up, Jason. We know this isn’t over.”
Lucy stood next to Kate. “Absolutely. This isn’t finished.”
Vivian got up from her chair and Jason stood, staring down at her with tears in his eyes. “I can’t give up hope.”
Vivian squeezed his hands. “We haven’t.”