Chapter Nine: She's not here
"Icing? Icing?" asks Barkley down the cell phone. The other end of the line crackles.
"Yeah, I'm here," says Icing.
"Is Venice there?" asks Barkley.
"No, she's not. I asked all day in Hollywood, no one's even seen her, let alone knows where she's gone, even in any particular direction, it's like she's disappeared off the face of the earth," Icing says, then she thinks about Harley. "Please, please tell me it's not Levi."
"It is," Barkley replies.
"Oh my God, God. How are Phoenix and Harley?" asks Icing, a slight stammer in her voice.
"They're not good, but holding up really well. I'd be a lot worse if it were one of you."
"Don't, even say that Barkley please. I'm going back to the hotel now, I'm in a taxi, and I'm coming back up tomorrow to carry on looking."
"Alright, Phoneix and Harley want to stay in Arizona, and there's no way I'm telling them I'm leaving them, so you're gonna be up there alone until you find Venice, ok?"
"Alright. Barkley, I'm really freaked out."
"I know, me too, we just gotta try and keep a cool head, you know? I've got to go, my credits low, don't give up hope, I'll speak to you soon, bye." Barkley hung up the phone, scared for both his sisters. Harley and Phoenix were in the next hotel room, they had found a cheap one just near the state line and had paid for a few nights.
Icing, back at the hotel, sat alone on her hotel bed. Knowing that the others wouldn't be back at least until the room rent had run out at this hotel, she went into Phoenix and Harley's and began gathering up their clothes and things. It was silly for the room to be left unused for days, she might as well clear it out and get a return on the money they paid for it. She returned the key to reception and hauled everyone's luggage into her room, where it took up most of the floor space. She wanted to keep herself busy, she didn't want to have to think about the others, or Levi, or Venice, wherever she may be. So Icing had a shower, and watched a movie, ate some dinner, and tried not to think about it. But she couldn't help it, her cousin was dead and her sister was missing, it was too much of a coincidence for there to be a link. There couldn't be a link, it was just two terribly tradgic events that unfortunately happened to the same family in the same few days. She thought for a while, and then phoned her brother.
"Barkley?"
"Yeah."
"How's Phoenix and Harley?"
"Still not great, I don't want to crowd them, so I'm in the next room."
"Have you cried?"
"Yeah."
"Me too. I've emptied their room, and returned the key, I don't think you'll be back for anyone to stay in there."
"Good idea, still no news from Venice?"
"None."
"Icing?"
"Yes?"
"I'm scared."
"I know. It's too much to handle, within three days." Icing wiped a tear creeping from her eye.
"She'll be alright."
"Yeah. But Levi. I really want to see her Barkley. How, is she? Do they know anything?"
"She looks peaceful, if it's any consolation. The police say she was strangled." Icing gasps, and then tears flow from her eyes.
"You ok?"
"Not really."
"She just looks like she's sleeping, there's hardly any marks on her at all, she's just a bit dirty."
"God. Those kids had been through enough already, losing their mom, I can't imagine what they're feeling."
"I know. What was five's now two, hard to imagine. I'll come back tomorrow, you can drive back and see her, and I'll carry on looking for Venice."
"Thanks."
"Icing, we've got to stay strong."
"I know. I'm just such an emotional mess at the minute," Icing rests her head in her heads, crying into the cell phone.
"We all are. You're alright up there on your own?"
"Yes. Don't worry about me, concentrate on Phoneix and Harley."
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye," Icing hangs up, and lays down on the double bed.