‘And I’m glad I could help you with your search.’ Father Mike smiled as he walked him to the door. ‘And rest assured that if Holly has your mother’s bracelet, it really couldn’t be in better hands.’
60
In Greenwich Village, Tasha Geller languished behind the counter of her aunt’s store, twirling her hair, snapping gum and talking on the phone. This job was like, so easy.
‘So what did Dana say then?’ Tasha said to her friend Gretchen. She paused for a moment, waiting for a response. ‘Ugh, what a bitch. I saw she changed her Facebook status to ‘in a relationship’. I mean, someone should tell her that just because you make out at a party doesn’t mean that you are, like, in a relationship.’
She laughed at whatever her friend said, and then turned and jumped up to sit on the counter.
‘Yeah, it’s OK, a bit boring. It’s my aunt’s store. I really don’t have to do anything and she is, like, paying me ten dollars an hour. Not too shabby.’ A pause. ‘Yeah, I don’t know, some girl quit or something. I can’t remember, whatever, she’s not working and my aunt needs some help, so I said I’d do it. I don’t have anything else to do. Besides, like I said, it’s not like I really have todoanything. It kind a smells a bit though.’
Another pause.
‘Just a clothing store,’ she continued. ‘A used clothing store. Beats me, I don’t know why anyone would want to wear someone else’s crap, you know?’ She laughed. ‘Right, like hand-me-downs? I know, gross.’
Suddenly, Tasha’s attention was turned to the front door as the bell chimed, signalling that someone had just walked in. She rolled her eyes and jumped down from the counter, looking at the customer who had entered, glancing around expectantly. ‘Ugh, Gretch, I have to go, I’ll call you back. There’s someone here and I have to gowaiton them. Yeah, OK, call you back, bye.’
Tasha placed the phone back on the receiver and looked at the customer.‘Like, hi. Can I um, help you?’ she said smacking her gum.
She wished that the guy would just hurry up and figure what he wanted or needed and leave. She wanted to get back on the phone with Gretchen. They had lots to talk about. ‘Is there, like, something you are looking for?’
Tasha still didn’t know her way around the store really, but her aunt said that she didn’t need to do much more than man the cash register and make sure people didn’t make a mess of the rails. She figured that if someone came in looking for something in particular, they could find it on their own, and if they couldn’t find what they needed, they could leave. Hopefully promptly and without annoying her too much.
‘Actually, yes. I’m looking for Holly?’ The man wore a hopeful expression.
‘Um, she doesn’t work here any more, she’s gone.’
He frowned. ‘What do you mean – gone?’
Jeez, how much plainer could she get? She meant that Holly didn’t work here now. Adults could be so dumb sometimes.
‘I mean, like, she doesn’t work here. She used to, but now she’s gone. Can I help you with something else?’
‘Um, well … well I was looking for Holly because she might be in possession of something that belongs to me, or rather, someone close to me. I’m looking for a piece of jewellery. A bracelet.’
Tasha snapped her gum. OK, she knew the answer to this. ‘Well, we don’t sell jewellery.’
The man held up his hands, looking annoyed. ‘No, I’m not looking to buy anything. I’m actually looking for something that was lost, and I think Holly was trying to track down the owner of this bracelet that she might have found. The bracelet belongs to my family.’
Hearing the buzz of an incoming text, Tasha pulled out her cell phone and flipped it open.
‘Well, I don’t know,’ she mumbled idly, as she read the message. ‘I don’t think we have a lost and found—’
‘No, that’s not what I am saying.’ The man started to raise his voice a little. ‘Are you Carole?’
‘No, and she’s not here either.’ Tasha shrugged, and the man now looked as if he was about to explode. Jeez …
‘Well, do you think that maybe you could give me another number where Holly can be reached and I’ll get out of your hair. I only have the store’s number.’
At this request, Tasha’s eyes flew up to meet Greg’s and narrowed.
She didn’t like the way he seemed to be losing his cool and getting more animated. She might not be the brightest bulb in the box, but kids her age understood the meaning of ‘stalker’ well enough to remember the ‘stranger danger’ lessons taught in childhood.
‘Sorry, I can’t.’ Tasha didn’t know Holly from Adam, but she knew that she was doing her a favour. ‘We don’t give out personal information about employees, past or present,’ she added with conviction, sure her aunt would be proud of her ability to confidently assert store policies.
Greg sighed. ‘Well is there anyone else I can talk to here please … ? Carole, will she be back later?’
‘No,’ Tasha said sharply, looking to the phone. ‘And if there’s a problem, maybe I should just call the police.’
