“Mind if I help? I had a few girlfriends in college who took keeping track of their boyfriends to a whole new level. I learned a few things along the way.”
“You’re a proficient stalker?” Evan grins at me.
“Angie was the best, but in a pinch, I’ll do.” I don’t tell him that cyber stalking is pretty much the norm nowadays. “Check what you wanted to first.”
Evan pulls up the staff directory and starts scrolling through all the phone numbers. It doesn’t take him long to realize the number isn’t listed. I don’t think he had much hope it would be anyway, that would be way too simple.
With a wave of his hand for me to sit, he steps back from the computer. I take the offered seat but pull my phone out of my pocket instead. I know the operating system well, and I also know if I use the private setting, my search will be protected by the VPN.
A few clicks later, and I ask Evan to read me the number. I enter the ten digits and the response is immediate, but not very telling. “The number is listed as unpublished, but it does say it’s a cellphone and the origin city is nearby.” I point to the info available.
“It says you can find the owner if you click here.” Evan pokes the screen before I can pull my phone away.
“They want you to pay for that, and I’m not giving these people my credit card number. Let me try something else.”
“I’ll give you mine,” Evan offers, pulling a wallet from his back pocket.
“Unless you plan on canceling it right after, I wouldn’t do that,” I warn, then put the numbers right into a Google search. Surprisingly, a name pops up. “R. Clark,” I say out loud, then turn to look at the guys. “The name might not be right. Sometimes it could be registered to someone else or listed under a false name, though they are supposed to make you show an ID when you get a phone, even if you don’t have a plan.”
“I know an R. Clark.” Evan’s nostrils flare, and he leans back so he’s no longer looking over my shoulder.
“Do they work here?” I scroll down the screen, but it only shows the same city the last search did, no actual address.
“Yes,” Evan grits out through his teeth. “He’s one of the floor monitors.”
“This is just from a Google search, so it might not be accurate, but it’s a place to start. What are you going to do?” Evan looks like he’s about ready to rip someone’s head off.
“We’ll ask him,” Griffin interjects calmly. “There’s not much hope of him lying to both of us.”
“What about Maya, the girl Caleb said might know something? Do you want to talk to her first?” I almost want him to say no. I bet he would scare the dickens out of the girl right now with just his expression, but I also want them to have as much information as possible.
“Randi, which room is Maya in?” Evan barks, not answering me.
“Uh, right there.” She points to one of the rooms across from her after only a moment’s hesitation.
Evan stalks over and bangs on the door twice before he unlocks it and jerks it open. “Maya,” he says with an edge still in his tone.
“Yes?” Her reply is muffled but quick.
“We need to talk.” The door snaps shut behind him.
“Should we go in there with him?” I look at Griffin.
“Are you worried about the girl? She’ll be fine.” He leans against the desk, appearing relaxed. I stand up from the chair and move to his side.
“He seemed pretty upset,” I mutter softly.
“With good reason. If Evan made this person a floor monitor, it means he must have trusted them.” Griffin keeps his voice low, since Randi is still down the hall. I don’t think she would have been able to hear us, but I’m not sure, so I decide to keep my questions for later.
It seems like a long time passes before Evan emerges, but in reality, it has probably only been five to ten minutes at most.
His disposition doesn’t seem to have improved at all. The side of his jaw is ticking, and his hands are balled into fists. He jerks his head to the side, beckoning us over to him. “I won’t be back until tomorrow,” he announces when we reach his side, but he’s not talking to us, he’s looking at Randi.
“I’ll hold the fort down.” She nods and heads back toward the desk as we leave the security office.
“Informative?” Griffin asks.
“Hardly, unless you want me to believe you and Michelle are hooking up,” Evan drawls. Griffin just shakes his head. “Well, that’s what Michelle was telling everyone before she disappeared.”
