Chapter 16: Shopping Discovery

After putting Kayla down for the night she had called Josef and he had told her to go visit David. He'd assured her nothing else needed her immediate attention and that if something arose he'd call her. She had managed to wait an hour before calling to tell David, originally planning to get on a flight first thing in the morning and surprise him but realized she couldn't.

She'd spent the last hour packing. Her suitcase was almost full. She tried to keep it just the minimum, knowing if she needed anything she could pick it up there. Still, as she was packing her bras and panties she couldn't help but want to have something new to surprise him with.

Candice looked at her phone and looked at the special alert she got notifying her of a sale at one of her favorite boutiques today. She decided to go check it out before she left. David would be working for most of the day and the sooner she got there the sooner he'd leave for the day and she didn't want to interfere with work too badly.

Grabbing her purse Candice heads for the door. In the elevator she calls Beth but gets her voicemail. Not bothering to leave a message she just hangs up. Beth had much more important things to worry about than going shopping with her; she'd called mostly on instinct.

Ryan made his way out of another downtown back room game empty handed. He'd had a thought that Coraline might try and find a game to take their money easily or find a whale and seduce him for all he was worth. So far he'd come up empty. The guards watching him allowed him to work on his own following from their vehicle tracking his anklet.

He'd been the perfect prisoner. He was even starting to think he may make it out of this alive. Then again David still was nowhere to be found. He hadn't seen Candice since they put the monitoring anklet on him but seeing as David hadn't found him to give him what he deserved he assumed he hadn't come back to town. Ryan thought about calling Candice. Before whatever happened to him he had one thing he'd wanted to ask for years.

He had many more questions now but he'd settle for what he could get. Still something stopped him from calling. After Coraline is found, he told himself.

Ryan made his way towards another shop which he had heard held backroom games. Hopefully he'd catch a lead soon enough.

Candice made her way into her favorite lingerie shop, Le Bra on N Robertson Blvd. They always had nice pieces for special occasions when you wanted to spend the money. The owner was very helpful in her selection making it impossible for her to choose between her two favorites. With her two new outfits in hand Candice headed out of the store. It was still early and she was already there she decided to check out a few more shops before heading home.

David had called her just as she left the loft sounds like an excited kid at Christmas. He had asked her when she'd arrive and agreed that once she got there nothing else would be done for the day. He'd told her he should be at a stopping point around 4. Candice said she'd try to make it there around that time.

"I have something important for you," he'd told her.

"What is it?"

"You'll have to wait and see," he teased. This was part of the reason she wanted something new for when they came back to LA. She'd tell him she had a surprise for him and then make him wait until they were home to get it.

Now it was just after 1 and she was ready to head home drop off her purchases and get her bags. She still wanted to swing by and say goodbye to Beth in person and let her know she wouldn't be far if they needed her.

Heading back to her car Candice passed a vintage shop and saw a pair of Manolo Blahniks in the window. Pausing for a moment to look at the shoes a thought occurred to Candice. If Coraline was in LA chances are she'd be shopping in this area. The first time she'd met her while playing Morgan Vincent she'd been wearing, what would now be old, pair of Manolo Blahniks.

On a whim Candice heads into the store and towards the owner. "Excuse me Sir?"

"Yes Ma'am how can I help you?" He smiled warmly at her.

"I'm looking for a friend of mine. We lost touch years ago but I heard she may be back in LA and I know if she is she'll probably be shopping in this area we love good fashion." Candice smiled and looked around the store taking in the different things they offered. "I was hoping maybe you'd seen here in here."

"We do stay pretty busy but maybe she'll stick out. What does your friend look like?"

Candice wished she'd had a photo on her phone so instead she took to describing her from what she remembered. "She has raven hair, she used to keep it to her shoulders I'm not about now. She was tall and thin, thin lips, and brown eyes. She would have been in within the last 2 weeks."

Candice tried to keep her ton friendly and her description of a long lost friend not a raving lunatic vampire. The man considered for a moment, "That sounds like more than a few women who've been in here. Is there anything more?"

"Part of her family is from Europe so her French is really good, she used to try and talk to people in it whenever she was shopping."

"Oh yes," the owners eyes lit up. "Noelle. Yes she was in here just the other day."

Candice's eyes widened, "You wouldn't happen to have a way for me to contact her would you?"

The owners smile dimmed, "I wish I could tell you but we hold our customers information confidential. You understand."

Candice frowned, "I just really hoped we could catch up. The last time we spoke…we weren't on the best terms. We both said things in the heat of the moment and I want to fix things. I hated that I lost my best friend over some stupid musician."

She could see he was softening. "Please Sir. I really need to find her. I promise I won't tell anyone you helped me."

He shrugged and checked his books. "I'm sorry I can't give you her information but if you happen to find yourself in the area of the Westwood on Hilgard Ave who knows you might run into her."

Score, Candice thought. "Thank you so much. I have to go out of town on business right now but as soon as I get back I'll look for her. I want it to be a surprise so if she comes back in please don't mention me."

"Of course not," he assured her.

Candice headed out of the store happy with her possible lead. She didn't know for sure if this was Coraline but there was a good chance.

To Be Continued…

Evilous