Page 44 of Gin & Jewels

“No, she’s not in. Is there anything I can help you with?”

I sighed. “No. She’s a friend, and I just haven’t been able to get ahold of her today. I’m starting to worry.”

The man blinked and tilted his head slightly. “You can’t get ahold of her either?”

Either?“No, she hasn’t called or texted me back all day.”

“She was supposed to work today but didn’t show up, and she didn’t call to tell me why.”

My heart stopped. That didn’t sound like Cassie even though I didn’t know her all that well, but I knew the job was a new one, and she didn’t seem like the type to chance it. Plus, she had talked about needing money to travel. “Really?”

He nodded. “She’s never missed a shift before. It’s not like her.”

“Did you try her emergency contact?”

“No.” He shook his head. “We thought she quit or something.”

“Can you try calling now while I’m here?”

“Sure. Let me get the info from my office, and I’ll give them a call.” I waited a few minutes for him to return. “They didn’t answer either.”

“Is her brother her emergency contact?” I asked.

“He is.”

“Thanks. If you hear from her, can you please tell her to call Brad? I’m just worried about her.”

“Sure. I’ll leave a note in her locker.”

“Thanks.” I tapped the glass case and then turned to leave. I didn’t have a good feeling, and my gut was telling me that something was wrong.

I drove straight to her house, walked up to the door, and rang the doorbell three times in a row. It opened, and the young woman who answered wasn’t Cassie. “Is Cassie home?” I asked.

“No.”

“What about her brother?”

“No.”

I sighed, frustrated. “When was the last time you saw her?”

“Why?” she sassed and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Because it’s important.”

“Why?”

I was losing patience. “Because Cassie hasn’t returned my calls, nor did she show up for work.”

“Well, I haven’t seen her.”

“Since when?” I asked again.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Yesterday maybe.”

“Do you live here too?”

“Why? You a cop or something?”