I want to thank everyone for the great response to this story. I know the holidays have come and gone, but it took me a while to develop the plot a little more;)
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.
I took Route 1 to Quaker Bridge Mall. Traffic was heavy, but moving.
Christmas was just around the corner and even though lots of people are currently unemployed, the mall's parking lot was full. The first open spot I found was no good for me. The Buick would have never fit there since the neighboring car was over the line.
Ten minutes later I finally found parking, leaving me to walk quite a distance to the nearest entrance. Once I was inside, I took a moment to look over the mall directory before heading to the information desk.
A woman who looked to be in her twenties was behind the desk, looking like she'd rather be elsewhere.
"Excuse me." I said I was looking for Walter Dunphy.
"Walter?" She gave me a funny look, like I was from another planet.
"Mooner. I'm looking for Mooner." I clarified and she gave me an 'ah, okay' type head nod.
"He should be by Macy's, but who knows." The woman shrugged, saying he could be anywhere. He was unpredictable like that.
"Thank you." I gave her a polite smile and stalked away. It's always good to keep good relationships with others. In my line of work I never know when I'll be running into someone again.
Walter, or should I say, Mooner wasn't anywhere to be found. After almost an hour of searching I ambled over to the food court to grab something to drink. I scanned my gaze around, looking past the busy shoppers enjoying a bite to eat, trying to decide on what I should settle on.
And then I spotted him. Mooner was camped out on a table by the restrooms. I approached, introduced myself and asked if he could spare a few minutes. Judging by his leave on his 'guard', it looked like he wouldn't mind.
He beckoned me to sit. "Like, what can I help you with, Dudette?" Apparently, he remembered me from way back when. I took advantage of the opening and explained I was looking for Lucille.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Maybe hearing his side of things would give me a different perspective. He was more than cooperative, telling me he spotted her walking briskly.
"She had a toilet paper trail, so I thought I'd tell her. You know, that's like soo embarrassing." Mooner said as soon as he tapped Lucille on the shoulder she whirled around. "I don't remember everything." He said Lucille was like a Ninja, swatting her arms back and forth.
I asked if he knew what possessed her to do such a thing. To me, it sounded like she'd over reacted to his approach.
"I dunno." Mooner's attention span was short. I was losing him to a Brownie. "She came and apologized." He told me Lucille brought him some Brownies and although they weren't as good as his, he liked the flavor.
"When was this?" Mooner stared at me and it was obvious he wasn't going to be able to give much more. I thanked him and gave him my card. Maybe he'd remember something else later.
S&R
I walked around the mall some more, taking a look at the restrooms. They all looked pretty standard to me. I don't know what I was expecting to find, but it seemed like a good idea to check them out. Plus, I had to pee.
On my walk back to the car I had the feeling that someone was watching me. I knew it was a little paranoid on my part, considering the mall was heavily trafficked today, but I just couldn't shake off the feeling.
I slid behind the wheel and waited. I checked the mirrors, but I didn't spot anyone lurking between cars waiting on me. I backed out of the parking space and headed to Route 1.
I kept an eye out for a tail, knowing what to look for since I'm usually the one tailing someone. It was hard to be sure, because there was some traffic. I found on street parking in front of the bonds office and waited. Nothing.
I got out and went inside, waving at Connie as I waited for her to end her phone conversation. She told me she had to go bond someone out.
"You look tired." I said as I watched her round her desk.
"Tell me about it." I followed her out the door and waited until she locked up.
"I know you're in a hurry, but would you happen to know where Lucille's father lives?" I told her I'd already talked to Mooner. Maybe Lucille's father could give me more to go on.
"Yeah. He lives a couple streets over from Vinnie's." Connie gave me directions, hurrying off to her car.
I wound through streets, easily finding the address. The street was mostly deserted. People were out working or shopping.
I walked up to the door and knocked. A man opened the door on my third knock.
"Harry?" I asked, sticking my hand out and introducing myself. Harry 'The Hammer' was appropriate. He was a stocky man, thick in a muscle going a little soft kinda way.
"You're looking for my Lucille?" He lifted an eyebrow shifting his stance to tower over me. "Finally someone cares, unlike her weasel of a husband."
Oakay. I guess he isn't very fond of Vinnie. No surprise there.
I asked if he knew of any place his daughter would run off to and if he knew of any reason she'd run.
"No." Harry said this whole thing was very unlike his daughter. He said I should be looking at Vinnie's whereabouts. "He probably got her into this mess." It was obvious he wasn't a Vinnie fan. I thanked him and gave him my card.
I walked back to the Buick and drove to my parents' house. Maybe they had something for me.
Grandma was at the door. She said I was just in time for lunch.
"Have you found anything?" Grandma wanted to know.
"Nothing that makes sense yet." I loaded my plate and took a seat with my mother and Grandma at the kitchen table.
"I haven't heard anything." Grandma said she was going to a viewing this afternoon. She volunteered to ask around.
S&R
After eating I drove back to the bonds office with a plate of food on the seat next to me for Connie.
"Hey." I said to Connie when I came in, setting the plate of food on her desk.
"You're amazing." She said, thanking me for the food. "I need a raise." She grumbled just before digging in.
I told her I'd done some poking around already. "What about Vinnie?" I wanted to know his usual hanging spots.
Connie snorted, saying he loved lower Stark Street and gave me an 'if you know what I mean' glare. "His bookie runs that area." Connie said Vinnie and Stark Street's night life went together like Mac-n-Cheese.
I wasn't thrilled with the idea of wadding through the night life on Stark, but it was worth scoping the area for Vinnie.
Connie had things to do, so I let her concentrate and headed back to my apartment.
I parked in my usual spot and as I walked to the building's entrance, I kept my eyes peeled. I still couldn't shake off that feeling of being watched.
My apartment was silent when I entered. That was good. I did a fast sweep of my place, just to make sure. I didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Again, that was a good thing.
I decided a nap was a good idea since I was going out later tonight.
S&R
I woke up with a start, sitting up in the darkness. Night had fallen. I jumped out of bed and turned the light on. I moved out of my bedroom, flicking lights on and checking my apartment. Again, nothing out of the ordinary.
I shook the spooked feeling away and got ready. I dressed in comfortable clothes that would keep me warm and didn't constrict my mobility. Just in case.
I told Rex to keep his eyes open and not talk to strangers.
My drive was uneventful until I turned onto Stark. The area isn't particularly pretty during the day, much less at night. What caught my attention tonight was the fact that no one was out on the street, except for a lone woman standing on a corner. It looked like she was working. I parked and crossed the street to speak to her. Maybe she knew something.
"Hi." I said, giving a friendly wave to her. "I'm looking for a woman."
"Hmmp." She gave me an odd look, shifting her weight to her other foot. She was standing under a street light, illuminating her large and dark body. She was squished into colorful clothes that were a couple sizes too small.
"That come out wrong." I explained I was looking for Vinnie.
"First, you're looking for a woman. Then a man." Her eyes narrowed. "Which is it, girl?"
"I, uh…" Before I could clarify my words, there was a loud explosion somewhere in the nearby area. Seconds later, the lights on the block went out and the only light illuminating the night came from not too distant flames.
Chaos ensued. I heard screams and soon gunshots started.
Running footsteps moved past me, gunshots rang in my ear and fire erupted on my left butt cheek. I let out a cry of pain. I could hear sirens wailing in the distance as I tried to orient myself towards the Buick. It would have been easier if the car was a newer model, equipped with electronic gizmos I could use as guidance.
Someone grabbed my arm and pulled for me to follow. I screamed, partly due to the pain on my ass and partly because I didn't know who was leading the way. I large hand clasped over my mouth, silencing me.
"Shh." It was whispered in my ear and I stopped struggling. I recognized the voice. Ranger.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked, trailing behind him as we moved between two buildings.
"What are you doing here?" I hate when people answer with another question. It's annoying.
"I'm looking for Vinnie." I struggled to keep up. Ranger didn't say anything. He kept us moving.
A few minutes later, I couldn't take another step. It was painful. But I guess luck was on my side after all because we emerged on another street. A car was parked there.
"Wait, my car's back there." I protested, watching as he moved to the driver's side door. This street did have electricity.
"Leave it." He said it was chaos right now. That it was dangerous. He shot me a look, indicating I should get in.
I silently cursed, angling inside the SUV. Just before my ass hit the seat I felt a hand touch it. "HEY!" I slapped his hand away. "NO TOUCHING!" It wasn't that I found his touch unpleasant. It was more that my ass hurt.
He grabbed my hands with one of his, easily ending my slapping. "You're bleeding." He showed me his other hand, the tips of his fingers covered in blood.