Murder in the Forest, Chapter Eight
The Cassidys sat stunned after Blacklaws told how he knew their daughter. Both FBI agents looked at one another, at Blacklaws, and then back at the couple whose daughter was missing.
Finally, Christie Cassidy said, "Vaughn, we need to level with these people. This is very embarrassing, but if we can tell them anything at all that'll get Courtney back…"
He nodded and sighed. "Agents, what I'm about to tell you is in confidence, if at all possible. I don't even want the sheriff to know, unless he really has to. I mean, we know his family from church and school! We live here, and my reputation is everything to my business. But the fact is, I've lost a lot of that business over the past year to a new firm that's undercut my insurer's allowable rates. I can't always discount policies as much as they can. And we had some medical expenses before my mother died last fall, and then the funeral. High expenses… The gist of this is that I had to let go a clerk in the office and we've thought of firing the maid." He looked carefully to see that the Mexican girl wasn't in sight.
"Courtney wanted to attend UCLA; not just go to the junior college here. But we couldn't swing that right now, and she wants to pay her own way, not be a burden to me and her mother when things are tight. So, she heard about that job and took it before Christie and I knew she was doing that. When we found out where she was working, the family had a big argument. Both of my daughters stuck together and told me that I should be grateful that Courtney was making so much money in three nights a week, sometimes on a weekend. She pays her own tuition and wants to work until she has enough saved for a year at UCLA after she graduates with an Associate of Arts degree here and maybe gets a scholarship or two. She threatened to move out if we couldn't handle her working there, at least while she hunts a better job that'll let her set her hours so that she can stay in college. So we agreed to see what happens over the next few months and in the meantime, we carefully aren't talking about that. Especially, we are not telling anyone whom we know. What worries me is that Tessa sort of thinks it's glamorous or adventurous and she looks up to Courtney. Thank goodness, she's legally too young to even be in a bar, let alone to dance in one. And she told me last week that she'll try to talk Courtney into finding something else without getting Christie and me involved, so that Courtney's rebellion and stubbornness won't be aroused. She'll listen to her sister before she does her parents, about some things, anyway. And that's where we stand right now. I just hope this whole issue goes away and that Courtney stays in junior college on what she can make in some other job and still can save enough to stop working in that sleazy club."
Christie took her husband's hand and said, "I think she'll come around. Courtney is smart and she's basically a good girl. This thing is partly about money and about her pride, about not wanting to take money that Vaughn and I don't have right now, and she told me that we need to keep Rosa, the maid, if we can. Both girls like Rosa, and she needs the job. And to be honest, I think this dancing thing appeals a little to Courtney's vanity. She gets excited about men wanting her, buying her flowers and little gifts and coming back to ask for her to dance at their tables. Apparently, some of the girls there have fans." She grimaced.
"Deputy Blacklaws? Is that your name? What do the girls earn there, if you know? What does Courtney get for a table dance or a lap dance? That's just so sordid, but I want to know." Mrs. Cassidy flushed pink but had genuine curiosity in her eyes.
Blacklaws replied that the going rate was $20 for table dances; $25 for lap dances. "But the girls get tips, and if you'll forgive my saying so, I suspect that Courtney gets more and better tips than most. She seems popular on the few occasions when I've seen her work. And she gets attention as she makes her rounds on stage, too. The girls dance on a succession of three stages, then take breaks and work the floor for table and lap dances. She's quite classy and seems to interact well with men. She has her steady admirers, I'm sure, and she does seem to enjoy the attention. But if I may change the subject, we need to decide if she's a victim of kidnapping for ransom, or was taken by a rapist, or is missing for some other reason. Does she date anyone in particular? Have any close friends who'd know where she might go or with whom, if she was taken?"
The Cassidys looked at one another and Christie said, "I know she dates Tim Wright more than other guys. I don't think they're going steady, but they go out a night or two a week, when she isn't working, of course. He brings her home sometimes, too, after they go somewhere after she gets off. And I know that she's spent three nights at his apartment near the college. But he seems nice and I know that she's going to spend time with men now that she's out of high school and is doing… what she does. I'd rather have her be with Tim than most young guys today. He seems decent and I doubt that he uses drugs, and she says he treats her with respect. I know she likes him. But I don't think they'd take off and not call us. And I called Tim last night and asked if she was there. He said no, and he got concerned. In fact, he called a couple of hours ago and asked about her. He's worried, too. They were supposed to date tonight and she hasn't called him."
Reid and Seaver asked the remainder of the questions that they normally would in such circumstances and warned the couple to notify them at once if any ransom demand was received.
"I know the kidnaper will probably tell you not to contact police, but if you don't, you probably won't see Courtney again. We have very subtle ways of investigating kidnappings and we can avoid letting them know that we're working the case." Reid tried to reassure the troubled parents.
"Look here," said Cassidy." If someone has grabbed Courtney for money, what's to stop them from taking Tessa, too? Are you going to be able to protect her? Should we take her out of school for awhile, until we know what's really happening?"
"That's a good question," admitted Seaver after looking at Reid. "Frankly, if she was my daughter, I think I'd keep her here at home. We were going to swing by the school and see if she could tell us anything that you haven't, but maybe when we do that, we'd better bring her home in Peter's patrol car. Does she have her own car?"
"No, she either rides the bus or I get her," said Christie Cassidy.
They decided to have the male Cassidy and Reid call the principal and have Tessa brought to the school office and for her mother and the law officers to collect her there.
"In fact, why don't I stay with the Cassidys in case someone contacts the house and you and Peter go get Tessa?" suggested Reid to Seaver. He felt that Tessa might say more to his female partner than if he was present. And he wanted both parents away from the girl in case she knew anything that she was hiding from her mother and father.
They agreed to that and Vaughn Cassidy reached for the telephone. He glanced at his wife, who told him the school number from memory. This day had become a nightmare, and he hoped fervently that it would improve. At least, Tessa would be home safe soon. He didn't know what he'd do if he lost his second daughter as well as the first.