Page 63 of Damian’s Conquest

Tracy wasn’t among the employees. Naomi walked to the counter in the back of the store where a middle-aged woman was ringing up a customer’s purchases. She waited patiently, until the woman left, before smiling at the cashier.

“Hi, I’m looking for—”

“An eyebrow wax, right?” She gestured to Naomi’s face. “And maybe a little coloring too, make them a little darker? You have such a light complexion.”

“Uhm, actually, I was looking for Tracy.”

“Tracy?” the woman asked, and her voice took on a displeased tone. “I’m afraid she’s not working today.”

“It’s just, I’m worried about her,” Naomi lied. “I haven’t seen her in a few days, and she hasn’t answered her phone. So I thought I’d check.”

“Oh,” the woman replied. “Well, she’s not here. She didn’t show up for her shift. And she didn’t call either, so if you do speak to her, let her know if she doesn’t show up tomorrow, she won’t have a job to come back to.” She tipped her chin up and looked past Naomi. “Now if you will excuse me, I have paying customers to take care of.”

Naomi turned away and walked toward the exit, when she caught the gaze of a young woman who was just finishing with a customer and handing her a tube of foundation. Naomi stopped not far away from her, and pretended to be interested in the various lotions displayed on a table. A few seconds later, the woman joined her.

“I’m Cynthia,” she said. “I overheard you asking for Tracy.”

“Hi, Cynthia, I’m Naomi. Do you know where she is?”

Cynthia shook her head. “No, but I’m worried about her too. It’s not like her not to call. Are you a friend of hers?”

Naomi cleared her throat, stalling for a second. “I know her because of her boyfriend. And I haven’t seen either of them in the last few days. I’m really getting worried about them.”

“Mick? You know Mick?”

“Yes. Do you know him too?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve never met him, but she talks about him all the time.”

“Yeah, he’s a great guy,” Naomi said, hoping to draw more information out of Tracy’s colleague.

Cynthia sighed. “It’s a shame her family doesn’t think so.”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t know about her grandmother? She calls her the dragon lady.”

“Oh, her,” Naomi said quickly as if she knew the woman. “Have you actually met her? ‘Cause I haven’t.”

“I haven’t either, but she makes Tracy’s life hell. That’s why she moved out. She couldn’t stand being under that woman’s thumb any longer. And ever since she started dating Mick, it’s been even worse. Her grandmother thinks he’s a bad influence. Just because he’s a bartender.”

“Yeah, people judge others really quickly,” Naomi commented. “It’s not fair.”

“Exactly. And her uncle isn’t any better.”

“She never talks much about him, or about her parents,” Naomi fished.

“He’s her mother’s brother. So tragic that her parents died so young. I wouldn’t wanna be raised by a neat-freak grandmother.” Cynthia leaned in, and quickly looked over her shoulder, then took a lotion as if to try to sell it to her.

Naomi played along.

“If I had to guess, she and Mick probably left town. She was always talking about leaving with him as soon as they had enough money saved up. Because as long as she’s in San Francisco, her grandmother and her uncle will always try to control her.”

“You’re right, Cynthia. I just wish she or Mick would call me back so I know they’re okay. Did Tracy say anything to you about where they would go?”

Cynthia shook her head. “No, she never mentioned a place.”

Naomi gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks so much for talking to me. I’ll leave another message for her on her cell, and hope she’ll call me soon.”