My chest tightens like a rubber band is squeezing my lungs from the inside and it doesn’t ease even as I make it outside the club and dial the only number I trust.
He answers on the third ring.
“This better be good,” croaks a sleepy voice as the sound of fabric rustling follows. “Wait… Falco? Is that you?”
“Pidge.”
“How did you get this number?”
“It was on the back of a coaster,” I reply, giving the second half of our code.
“Shit. Why you calling me this late? I don’t have anything for you.”
“I’m not looking for work. I need your help.” The street in front of the club is empty of all cars except the three that we arrived in. A few drunken people stumble down the sidewalk toward a local takeout place, but the stink of grease turns my stomach.
“What do you need?” Pidge asks, yawning widely. “If it’s fun then I’ll wave the charge.”
“A club called Syrup. I need you in their CCTV telling me when a woman left.”
“This is a really creepy way to find a date.”
“Pidge.”
“Alright, alright. What she look like?”
“It’s Aerin Paramatti.”
“Shit.” Pidge’s voice suddenly loses all of his relaxed softness. “You lost her?”
“Temporarily misplaced.”
“Lost.”
“Pidge.”
“I’m looking, I’m looking.” The clack of keys follows.
Unable to stand still, I hurry toward the car Aerin and I drove here to check if by some chance she simply climbed inside and fell asleep.
The car’s empty.
Giacomo’s car is also empty, and the third car with extra security holds only the driver, whose cap is pulled down low over his eyes.
She could have walked right past him.
“Alright. She left your club with four people. A woman and two men. They got in a cab.”
“Can you track the cab?”
“You insult me.” Pidge sighs. “I might charge you extra.”
“Charge me whatever you need.” Sliding into my car, I start the engine and turn the wheel while waiting for Pidge’s direction.
“Alright she took the cab ten blocks south.”
“What’s ten blocks south? Another club?” The tires spin against the tarmac, metal screeching from how hard I pull the wheel. I race off down the street, following every detail of Pidge’s directions.
“Looks like they stopped at a pizza place. She paid by card. Let me just…” Pidge hums to himself while he works. “Yeah, she paid the cab fare too. Her next purchase was— hold on, take a right here, you’ll get there faster.”
