It was a few days after the birthday party that had me back into my old routine. Wake, work, visit with Godric, go home and sleep. The only difference was that I was on better terms with Eric now. Nobody said a word about Mississippi or Russell. I was thankful for that. Eric trusted me more it seemed. I had my own key to the bar now. I was usually the first to arrive, so it did make sense.
I twirled and wove through the crowd of the bar, smiling at customers. Ginger was off tonight, allowing me to get more tips and have more people to worry over. It should have been a slow night, being a Tuesday and all. But it was summer. No school.
"Here we are," I state happily, placing my tray on the small table. The couple smiled at me, clearly tourists, taking their offered drinks and dropping a twenty on the tray. "I'll be sure to come back to keep them refreshed."
"Thanks dear," the woman says.
"Can we get a picture?" the man asks, holding up the camera hanging from the lanyard around his neck.
I laugh a bit. "Sure." I put the twenty in my tiny pocket before leaving my tray on the table. The woman leans over to get in the picture with me. I wore a black lace dress tonight, a dark innocent look as Pam called it. I felt like a morbid Alice in Wonderland. A black ribbon tied in my hair, stiletto shoes, and a small white apron around my hips. I smiled coldly as the women leaned into me, posing with her.
A bright flash later, I was moving on. I felt ridiculous in this outfit, but the dress was cute when it didn't have the apron. We had been open for only a few hours and I was ready for a break. These stilettos were killing my feet and I was hungry. I slipped behind the bar, ignoring Chow while putting the correct money into the till and getting my tip out of it. There was a jar by the till with my name on it. Tips were quickly adding up. Soon I could get a new bed. I smile happily before placing my trey down.
"I'm taking my long break now, Chow," I say while he mixes a drink at rapid speed.
"Does Eric know?"
I shrug. "If he asks, I'm out front. I left my lunch in the car."
He gives a jerk of a nod. I slip by him again, moving out the door. Pam eyed me a bit as I stepped out. There was the usual line waiting to get in.
"Need something, cupcake?" Pam asks as I take a deep breath of the air. It smelled too strongly of alcohol, sex and ew in there.
I roll my shoulders before stepping to the side, allowing the next person in.
"Just taking my long break." I pat my stomach once before heading toward the side where my car was. "I'll be back in a few."
"Yeah. Yeah."
The car lights flashed as I unlocked it, leaning in to grab the paper bag on my seat. Oh sweet sandwich. How I want to devour you. I leaned against the car, sandwich lifted to my mouth. I was chewing happily when I was blinded by a bright light.
"Ow!" I crow out after choking down the bite I had. "Get that out of my eyes," I call to who ever had the flashlight.
"Miss."
I frown at the man. I had seen him in Merlotte's a number of times. With him was a blond I had seen too. I didn't know their names, never had a real conversation with them. The blond was pissed, arms crossed as he looked around. The other was in a sheriff's uniform, maglight turned to our feet.
"Do you work here, Miss?" the cop asks, frowning a bit as he looked over my face.
I lower my sandwich. "Yes. Did you need something?"
The blond glances at me. "Kathy?"
I frown a bit now. "I'm sorry. I don't know your name."
"Jason. Jason Stackhouse," he says quickly, shaking my hand.
"Oh!" I say quickly, smiling at him. "Sookie's brother."
"I'm sheriff Andy Bellefleur," the cop says.
"Hello, Sheriff." I frown as I look over their serious faces. "Is something the matter?"
"We are looking for Sookie Stackhouse."
My sandwich drops, opening at my feet in a mess. I stammered, possibly looking like a fish as I opened my mouth to talk before closing it a few times. "What?" I whisper. "I just-"
"Sookie mentioned going to Mississippi with you and I thought you might have seen her since coming back," Jason says while rubbing at his hair. He looked so worried. What a good brother.
"I just talked to her a few days back," I say quickly, looking up at the cop with worry. "When did she go missing?"
"Three or four days ago."
My hands smack to my mouth. "But that's when I last spoke to her."
"So you did speak with her?" the cop asks, pulling out a pad and pen. He was writing. "Can you give me your full name and tell me more?"
I clasped my hands at my chest, near tears. "I'm so sorry. Katherine Ethel Morgan. I spoke to her last when she broke up with Bill. It wasn't a pretty one, broke her heart to pieces. Bill had just left, she was in tears. "
"And why were you there, Miss Morgan?"
"To get my car," I say with a motion at the car I leaned on. The cop gave a whistle of approval. I pay no mind, looking at Jason. "You don't think she took off do you?"
"Or Bill did something," Jason says with a mean bite to his words.
"Oh gosh no!" I say quickly, leaning out to grasp his arm. I hugged him tight, pressing my teary eyes to his chest. "Bill really would never hurt her, Jason. He loves her to bits."
"Bill is a vampire," Andy points out as I pull back from Jason.
"So?" I snip, hip cocking out. "That has nothing to do with it."
"Katherine."
I turn to look over my car toward the door to the back. Eric stood with his hands in his pockets, frowning at the men before me. I saw Andy gulp and Jason's eyes widen a bit.
"Eric," I say quickly, "They say Sookie's missing."
"Missing?" He was next to me in a flash, hand in his pockets. He looked sternly over the men. I sniffed, fisting one hand in the fabric of Eric's shirt before putting my face against him and crying softly.
"You are?" the cop demands, looking up at the man.
"Eric Northman. Owner of this bar."
"Where's my sister?" Jason demands angrily of Eric.
Eric rested one hand on my shoulder as I pulled away to look on with wide eyes.
"Perhaps you should ask Mr. Compton. He is her ex-boyfriend and only neighbor."
"We have," the cop says while lowering his pad, hands resting on his belt. "He had mentioned Miss Morgan having been friends with Miss Stackhouse. He also mentioned that Miss Stackhouse would work for you some times."
"Did he?" Eric looked ready to hunt down Bill.
I push from Eric. "Look. I have been with Eric since we got back from Mississippi. He didn't do it."
"So were you there with Miss Morgan to get her car?"
"He was," I say stubbornly. "We went to my house to get some clothes. From there we went to his home."
"Are you two dating?" Andy asks with a frown.
"N-"
"Yes," Eric says as he pulls me flush against his side.
Jason frowns. I gap up at him. What? I am not! I grumble, pushing at Eric's side. "We are not," I huff, rolling my eyes as he lets me go. "I stayed at his place so we could go from his place to my birthday dinner."
"Which was?"
"At Merlotte's."
"Can anyone verify your alibis?" Andy asks while looking from me to Eric.
"For the dinner?" I ask with a few long blinks. "Or me staying at Eric's?"
"Either," Andy huffs.
"I swear on any oath you wish that Eric was with me for the whole day and both nights," I demand, hip cocking.
"What's the last think Miss Stackhouse said to you?"
"That she just wanted to be alone," I say softly, looking down as I picture that pained look. Where are you Sookie? Andy asked a few more questions, Jason looking like such a lost puppy. He left after a bit. I hugged Jason once more, wishing him the best of luck and telling him I am here to help in any way I could.
A/N: I do apologize for the long wait, everyone. School is starting to get to a point that I can manage easier. So here is the next chapter. I have a bit of a dilemma. Anybody who would like to help push this story in a direction, please message me. I've come to the point where I have a number of ways to lead this story, but I cannot decide which way to go. As always, please review and message any thoughts or ideas.
