I sighed. “Hayley. She’s missing, too. Fiona and Damon know about her, and may go after her as a way of entrapping me. I’m trying to find her.”
“Does she have an address or phone number? Maybe I can locate her for you.”
“No. She’s in the wind.”
“That’ll be tough, boss.”
“I know. I’ll talk to her sister. Maybe Hayley went there.”
“Good luck.”
***
I’ll freely admit I entertained the wild speculation, and hope, that Hayley would answer the door. When Roxanne did, wearing dirty pajamas and her hair hanging in her face, I’ll also admit I was taken aback. Her upper lip curled in derision upon seeing who her visitor was.
“First her and now you,” Roxanne rasped, a cigarette between her fingers. “How I am blessed.”
“Hayley’s here?”
“She was.”
Indifferent, Roxanne shuffled across her foyer, trailing smoke. I followed, wondering what brought the high and mighty Roxanne to such a state of dishevelment. By the smell, she’d been drinking and smoking for quite a while.
“When was she here?” I asked as Roxanne dropped to her sofa.
“This afternoon. I think. No, this evening. A few hours ago.”
“Why did she come? Knowing how you’d never let her stay under your roof again.”
Roxanne shrugged. “Wanted to share her new address and phone number. In case I needed her.” Roxanne drew a long drag on her cigarette, then blew the smoke out through her nose. “Sanctimonious little bitch.”
I stifled my anger. “She left you that information?”
“In the kitchen, maybe. I don’t know. Don’t care.”
Leaving her to her smoke and booze, I crossed the big room and went into the kitchen. Sure enough, Hayley’s handwriting was on a note. Her address, her cell number. I jotted those down, and left the note where it was. Returning to the sitting room, I asked, “Did she come by cab?”
“Nope.” Roxanne smirked. “She drove a cute little Honda. I peeked through the window.”
“A new car? Used?”
“I dunno. Just that it was sotypicalof Hayley to buy practical.”
“You mean that she’s not like you,” I said, my lip curled. “Extravagant and excessive in every part of her life.”
If I thought to enrage her, I was wrong. Roxanne continued to smoke and stare into space as though I wasn’t there. If Hayley bought a car, a phone, and rented an apartment, she might very well be home.I can talk to Honda dealers abouta sale to her.I had her number now, I could call her, talk to her. If she’s at home, I could sit her down and talk to her.
Convince her of how wrong I was last night.
Maybe I might find the sand to tell her how I feel.
I started toward the front door.
“Hayley said she dumped you.”
I half turned, eyeing Roxanne over my shoulder. “That doesn’t mean I’m letting her go.”
***
