Page 49 of Dead Pretty

“Is your manager still here?” Detective Sparks asks.

“Yes.”

“Could you get her for us, please?” Detective Sparks says.

“Um, sure. One minute.”

I leave the main desk and walk through the back to Margaret’s office.

Her door’s open, like it always is.

I stop in the doorway. “Margaret, the police are here.”

Her surprised eyes lift to mine over her computer screen.

“The police?” She pushes her seat back, rising to stand.

“Yeah. They’re asking about Mike. I told them that he didn’t show up today and that you called him but got no answer. They asked me to come get you.”

“Oh gosh. Yes, I’m coming now.” She rounds the desk.

I step back out of the doorway, allowing her through, and then I follow her back to the main desk, where Detective Sparks and Detective Peters are still waiting.

“Officers …” Margaret says, holding her hand out to shake theirs.

I stand just off to the side. Not too far away that I can’t hear their conversation, but enough that I’m no longer a part of it.

After their brief introductions are done, Margaret says, “You’re looking for Mike?”

“Yes,” Detective Sparks says. “We need to speak to him urgently. We’re told he’s not answering his cell?”

“That’s correct. I called this morning when he didn’t turn up for his shift. It’s not like Mike. In the two years he’s worked here, he’s always been on time. Never had a day off. So, it seemed odd that he hadn’t called. I left him a voice mail, asking him to call me back, but I still haven’t heard anything. I was going to go to his house later to check on him.”

“Speaking of his home, can I confirm his address with you?” Detective Peters says to Margaret.

“Of course.”

He hands Margaret a slip of paper.

“Yes, that’s Mike’s address,” she says, reading it before handing it back.

The detectives share a look that I can’t decipher.

“Can I ask what this is concerning? Is Mike okay?”

“It’s a police matter,” Detective Sparks answers curtly. “But the moment you hear from Mike, I want you to call the station immediately.” He takes a card from his pocket and places it on the desktop. “This is a central number, but ask for either myself or Detective Peters, and you’ll be put straight through to us.”

Margaret picks up the card, holding it to her chest. “Okay.”

“The moment you hear from him,” he emphasizes as though Margaret didn’t get the importance the first time.

“Thanks for your time,” Detective Peters says.

They both turn to leave, but then Detective Sparks stops and turns back. His eyes finding mine.

“I didn’t catch your name, Miss …” He steps back toward me.

Something in his tone makes my stomach turn over.