|16|


Looking up from the latest edition of Fornax Hustle, Verne saw the longest face he had seen in two weeks at that bar….It was Casnar, and he looked like he was in need of a rest. Pulling the front cover over to close the magazine, Verne stood up and went out behind the counter—the front of it for those who looked over and saw him standing next to the drell who sat down, dirty, tired, worn.

"Looking kind of glum, Casnar, what's going on?"

"I'm here to drink." Verne made no indication he was going to mind his magazine again—he held up a hand to the bartender, telling him to ignore the customer.

"Where is she?"

Casnar stared despondently at the bartop, he shrugged heavily and his sigh was long and hard, "…She disappeared….I left her at the hospital…." He continued to stare at the counter's reflection with the dark lights overhead.

"What happened at the hospital," Verne pushed. "Get with it, Soterios," he spoke with a rise, "…You say something—don't be so pathetic. Did you two have a fight and that's why she left?"

"She had the seizures they said….They flew her to Denver….I went to Denver, they said she wasn't there….I waited….I waited and she never was brought to the hospital—I asked and then I demanded and they threw me out, locked me inside an observation cell in the precinct for disorderly conduct, public nuisance, a whole list of bullshit, Verne….But she's gone."

"How'd you get to come here from Denver?"

"I was bailed out by a guy I met through a friend….Extended family through my in-law's…" Casnar rubbed his jaw, "…I owe him for a grand but he said it was okay….I fucked it up, Verne….I should have never brought her to Nederlinds."

"I heard the Troy boys saying they saw someone break into her house not a day after you were both gone."

"Who…Which Troy—all three of them?"

"Get your sorry-looking ass in a shower, eat some food and open up shop—call the Troys in and start asking questions, Casnar—you better find out where she is because I bet you she's not missing because of a hospital mixup."