“I was worried sick,” she reminded me.
Before she went on a Naya mouthing spree and gave me a ten-minute lecture, I dialed my work number. “Give me a sec; I need to call work. April? It’s Alexia.”
“What’s going on?” she exclaimed over the phone. “Don’t tell me you’re sick because you don’t sound sick.”
“Can you let Charlie know I’ll be out for a couple of days? I’m so sorry to spring this on you at the last minute, April. Do you think you can handle the store by yourself? Call one of the girls in as backup if you need to.”
“Of course I can handle it,” she retorted. “I’ve just been worried is all. By the way, someone came in here looking for you.”
“Who? Was it a cop?”
Which made me a little nauseous because all these people were suddenly looking for me and my mom was missing.
“I don’t know. A big scary guy with long hair.”
“Was his name Lorenzo?” I asked.
“Yeah, that’s the one. He seemed worried about you too. He wanted to know where you lived—said you weren’t answering your phone. Is he your boyfriend?”
I glanced at my messages and saw the number twenty-four blinking. How did he know where I worked?
“No, no,” I said. “He’s the guy who asked about my car.”
“Don’t worry,” April reassured me. “I didn’t tell him anything. He said he knew how to find you here because of your work shirt.”
Ah, yes. Now it was clear.
“April, it’s just some family drama and I need more time off. I’ve got a ton of vacation and I’m sure Charlie won’t mind. He’s always trying to get me to use it; I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to give you advance notice.”
Which almost made me laugh. Advance notice on a kidnapping?
“Alexia, it’s under control. There’s no need to call Charlie, I don’t want him to get upset over nothing. He’s been sick.”
“With what?”
“I don’t know,” she said in quiet words. “Something doesn’t seem right. He hasn’t been coming in as much over the past few months, not like he used to. When I talked to him, it didn’t sound like he wanted to be bothered with work stuff, and you know that’s not like him. But no need to worry, I got it covered. I created a rotation schedule with the girls; Kelly even stepped up to work more hours in the week if needed.”
“Good.” I glanced up at the impatient Naya, leaning against the front door and picking her polished nail. “Gotta go. I’ll call you later. And if you need anything…” I hesitated, because I wouldn’t be home and didn’t carry a phone. Austin hadn’t given me permission to share his number with anyone.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Alexia. Just do what you need to do,” she said, and I felt the stress melt away with her reassurance.
“Thanks. And if Lorenzo comes in again, tell him everything’s okay and I’m dealing with family business. I’ll try to get in touch with him. Not sure why he even cares, we just met. Talk to you later.”
I hung up and gave Naya the skinny. I left out the part about being half dog and decided she just needed to know about my mom’s kidnapping and to keep an eye out for anyone suspicious visiting my apartment.
“What about the cop?” she asked.
“Was he here?”
“Last night.”
I walked to the bar and got the information I’d scribbled on a napkin with his number. He had wanted to talk to me about my father, and that made me anxious.
She wrapped me up in a generous hug. “Find your mama. I’ll keep an eye on your place and if you need anything, call me.”
“Thanks,” I muttered against her perfumed neck.
“And if any of those strapping young men you’re hanging out with are single, slip them my number.”
