You’re a very pretty girl,” Mr. Lomas said.
“Thanks,” Dani replied, lowering her blue eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at his smarmy face.
Mr. Lomas was the floor manager at the Estradido Hotel, where Dani worked as a maid. Nobody had any idea how young she was, which suited her because she was well aware that if her employers discovered the truth she’d be out of a job.
“Yes,” Mr. Lomas said, repeating himself. “Very pretty.”
Dani managed to stay silent. It was not like she hadn’t heard it a hundred times before. Men were always coming on to her, invariably handing out the same old lines.
So far she’d been able to repel what she considered their crass advances, although recently Emily had given her a lecture. “You’re gonna be sixteen anyday soon,” Emily had said in full big-sister mode. “Isn’t it about time you got yourself a boyfriend? You can’t spend all your time stuck in the library.”
“I like the library,” Dani had answered stubbornly. “I enjoy finding out about stuff I never had a chance to learn.”
Emily had rolled her eyes. Dani was such a sweetheart, it would be nice to see her out having fun instead of spending all her spare time locked away reading books.
Emily and Sam were now married. They lived together in his apartment, while Dani stayed put in the small place she and Emily had shared. She could just about afford it, although Sam kept on telling her it would be smarter to get herself a roommate and split costs.
The good news was that as far as they knew, Dashell had never come searching for either of the girls. Sam always kept a sharp lookout and had not spotted him. “It’s like he knows you could nail him for all the bad things he’s done,” Sam reasoned. “He probably feels safer at the ranch an’ don’t dare come to town.”
“I’m sorry for the other kids we left behind,” Dani said wistfully. “At least we got to escape, thanks to you.”
“And I got me a wife,” Sam boasted with a broad grin. “The best girl in the whole world.”
Emily giggled. They truly were a happy couple. Emily now worked as a waitress at the Stardust Hotel, and Sam was a parking valet at the Desert Inn. They were both into their jobs and loved living in Vegas. In their spare time they managed to see most of the shows, getting in on their employees’ discount. Sometimes Dani went with them but not often, because she was more interested in educating herself.
“I was thinking,” said Mr. Lomas, a skinny man with sparse brown hair combed carefully over his forehead, and thick, bushy eyebrows—hardly a prime candidate to date the delectable Dani.
“Yes sir?”
“I was thinking that you and I should go out and uh . . . celebrate,” he said, stroking his chin.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lomas,” she answered carefully, “but what exactly would we be celebrating?”
“You’ve worked here awhile now,” Mr. Lomas continued, clearing his throat. “I never see you with a boyfriend, an’ since today is your birthday—I saw it on your job application—somebody should take you out to celebrate.” He smiled, revealing tobacco-stained teeth. “I know a nice motel near here where they serve a fine dinner.”
Yes, she thought to herself, and I’m sure there’s a fine room with a fine bed right next door to the fine dining room.
Dani was no longer the naive young girl who’d arrived in the city three years previously. She’d learned plenty along the way, and it seemed to her that staying away from men was the wisest path to take.
“That’s very generous of you, Mr. Lomas,” she said politely, “only it’s not such a good idea.”
“Why?” he asked, a nerve twitching on the left-hand side of his narrow face.
“Because you have a wife.”
“I’m not asking you to marry me, dear,” he sneered, refusing to accept defeat gracefully. “I’m merely inviting you for a spot of dinner.”
“I understand, Mr. Lomas,” she replied, wishing he’d leave her alone. “And perhaps if your wife were to join us . . .”
“Forget I asked,” he said, marching off in a huff.
Fiona, one of the floor maids who’d been standing nearby, quietly applauded. “You told him,” she said. “Mind you, he might’ve given you a raise.”
“Who wants a raise if that’s the way I have to get it?” Dani said scornfully.
“Dead right,” Fiona said. “That man is a big old married lech. The worst kind.”
“He sure is,” Dani agreed.
“Y’know,” Fiona continued, “my boyfriend has some really nice friends. So . . . if you do want to go out and celebrate . . .”
Dani shook her head, thinking that was the last thing she wanted. “No thanks,” she said quickly.
“I’m not interested.”
“In what?”
“Getting involved with anyone.”
“One date’s hardly gettin’ involved,” Fiona sniffed.
“Besides,” Dani added, taking the edge off, “my sister’s throwing me a party.”
“Nice,” Fiona said snippily. “Thanks for the invite.”
“Not a big party,” she added hurriedly. “Actually, it’s only me, my sister, and her husband.”
“Sounds like a laugh a minute.”
She couldn’t care less what Fiona thought, it was her birthday and she would celebrate it any way she chose. Besides, Sam and Emily were the only two people she cared about.
By the time she finished work and got over to their apartment, it was past seven. Emily had promised to cook, and she was looking forward to her sister’s delicious roast chicken and home-style potatoes—Emily’s specialty.
Sam answered the door looking agitated. “Where is she?” he asked, peering past her.
“Who?” Dani asked, disappointed because there was no smell of cooking in the air.
“Emily.”
“How would I know?” she answered, shrugging off her knit jacket. “I thought she’d be here.”
“So did I,” Sam said. “But as you can see, she’s not.”
“Then where is she?”
“I’m asking you,” he said, exasperated.
“Haven’t seen her. I came straight from work.”
“Damn!” Sam said, frowning. “She was due home three hours ago.”
“Did you call the restaurant?”
“Yeah.”
“That she signed off her shift at four o’clock.”
“Maybe she went shopping.”
“She did all her shopping yesterday. The food’s in the kitchen, waitin’ for her to cook.” He ran his hand through his tousled red hair. “It’s not like Emily to screw around.”
“Do you think something might have happened to her?” Dani asked tentatively.
“Dunno,” he said, grabbing his jacket. “I’m gonna run over to the hotel, see if she’s there.”
“I’ll come with you.”
The restaurant at the hotel where Emily worked had no news of her. She’d signed off at four o’clock, exactly as the manager had informed Sam over the phone.
“Is there anyone here who was workin’ with her today?” he asked.
“I think Sharon’s still around,” the manager said.
“Can I talk to her?”
“Wait in the back. I’ll see if I can find her. No need to disturb the customers.”
“You got it,” Sam said.
He and Dani made their way to a small stockroom at the rear of the restaurant and waited.
Five minutes later Sharon appeared. “What’s up, Sam?” she asked.
“What’s up is Emily ain’t come home,” he said agitatedly. “Did she say anythin’ about where she was goin’ after work?”
“No,” Sharon replied. “She told me she’d see me tomorrow, that was it.”
“Maybe we should check the hospitals,” Dani suggested, joining in.
“I’m sure she’ll turn up,” Sharon said cheerfully. “You know Emily. Miss Reliable.”
“Yes,” Dani agreed, trying to stay positive.
Six hours later, after checking the hospital emergency rooms, Dani and Sam were sitting in the police station attempting to file a missing persons report.
“We don’t consider anyone missing until they’ve been gone for twenty-four hours,” said the desk cop, a big man with weary eyes and plenty of attitude.
“She is missing,” Sam said forcefully. “She should’ve been home by four-thirty. It’s now one in the morning.”
“Sorry,” the cop said. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“Goddamnit!!” Sam yelled, banging his fist on the desk. “You gotta do somethin’.”
“Can’t,” the cop said. “Come back when it’s been twenty-four hours.”
Muttering under his breath, Sam strode from the station, Dani right behind him. She’d never seen him so angry.
“I’m gettin’ on my bike an’ searchin’ the Strip,” he decided. “Y’know, check out every hotel, motel, casino. She’s gotta be somewhere.”
“I’m sure she’s all right,” Dani reassured him.
But deep down she had a wretched feeling that they’d never see Emily again.