Page 25 of Rise of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow #17)
“You know how crazy my mother was. It’s possible that Kassie’s mom is, too. Especially if she feels like Kassie isn’t doing whatever she wants her to do.”
“I know she wanted Kassie to send her money. Money Kassie doesn’t have because she’s already tapped out after covering her mom’s bills,” Melissa said. “You can’t get blood from a stone, though, so I imagine she was pretty upset.”
“Kassie also told me her mom was in debt to some pretty rough people,” Briggs said. “Maybe they targeted Kassie in order to get at her mom.”
“Someone should call her mother,” King said, his eyes flashing with a darkness Melissa wasn’t used to seeing. “Make sure she knows Kassie is missing and feel her out. Find out where she’s at. If she did come to Keating Hollow, I’d put her as number one on the suspect list.”
Melissa had heard that it was pretty common for crimes like this to be committed by close friends or even family members, and she thought King might be onto something.
“I’ll see if I can find a number to call her,” Melissa said.
“I’ll touch base with her and let her know we’re here for her during this crisis. See how she responds.”
“We should also look into this Theo guy,” Briggs said as he stared at his phone. “He’s always commenting on Kassie’s posts and talking about protecting her and keeping her safe from the ugly world. It’s pretty creepy to be honest.”
King walked over and peered over Briggs’s shoulder as he looked at the social media page. “That guy lives just down the coast a few hours. Probably wouldn’t be too hard to find him.” He tapped his name into a search engine and in no time, he said, “Got him! His address is right there.”
“Now what are you going to do with it?” Briggs asked him.
“Go have a chat.” King looked at Sadie. “Want to come with me after we’re done with lunch?”
“I’m sure as heck not letting you go by yourself,” she said. “We know better than most how crazed fans can get.”
King nodded. “You’ve got that right.”
They quickly polished off the macaroni and cheese. After King put their bowls in the dishwasher, he said, “We’re going to head down the coast. We’ll be in touch.” He met Melissa’s gaze. “Let me know if you talk to her mom and how that goes.”
“I will,” she said and walked them to the door. After they left, she returned to the couch where Briggs had relocated and sat next to him.
He immediately wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder. “I don’t ever want to get another call like that again. I’m damned lucky I didn’t get hauled in for reckless driving considering how fast I hightailed it back here after Sadie’s call.”
“I’m sorry. I hate that you were driving when she told you what happened.” Briggs pressed a soft kiss to her head. “I was worried about you, too.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m just glad we’re here now.
” Melissa pushed herself up and went to find her own phone.
Then she searched for Kassie’s mother. It didn’t take long to find her.
She had her own website and contact number that was billed as management for her daughter.
It was obvious that Norma Kinny would do what she had to in order to get a piece of Kassie’s success.
The phone rang twice before a woman answered. “Norma Kinny, what’cha got?”
“Ms. Kinny?” Melissa asked.
“Isn’t that what I just said?” the woman barked.
“I suppose it is,” Melissa said. She introduced herself and then said, “I know this has to be a rough time for you since Kassie went missing yesterday morning, but I just wanted you to know that I’m here if you need anything.”
“Kassie’s not missing,” the woman said, sounding disinterested. “The sheriff is over reacting. My daughter just does this sometimes. I wouldn’t worry about it. She’ll turn up.”
“But, Ms. Kinny, didn’t the sheriff tell you that there’s video footage of her getting assaulted? And she didn’t take any of her stuff,” Melissa explained.
“Oh.” There was a long pause. Then she said, “I’m a little strapped for cash right now. Can you send me funds so that I can get to Keating Hollow?”
“I’m sorry, you want me to send you money?” Melissa asked, taken aback.
“Yes. So I can get there and be there for my daughter. You just said you’re here for me if I need anything. You can Venmo me five hundred dollars. I’ll text you my Venmo link.”
“Five hundred?” Melissa parroted.
“Yes. For food and gas and lodging. You know what, it would be better if you sent six hundred.”
The line went dead and then a text popped up for the woman’s Venmo.
Melissa gaped at the phone. “She can’t be serious.”
Briggs took her phone, looked at the link, and shook his head. He tapped out a message and then handed the phone back.
It read, Melissa is not your bank. Ask your husband for money.
“She’s married?” Melissa frowned at the phone. “Kassie didn’t mention that.”
“Yep. They are both grifters, but Kassie’s stepdad has a job at the sanitation department. I’m pretty sure he just tells Kassie’s mom he doesn’t have any money because she’d spend it all.”
“Then she guilts Kassie into covering her debts, is that it?” Melissa asked.
“You’ve got it.”
Melissa felt sick as she thought about that scenario. She couldn’t imagine having a mother who just used her for money. Melissa’s mother usually wouldn’t even let her buy lunch. Her mom always treated and called it her “mother’s rights” to spoil her daughter.
Damn, she missed her mom. She’d have to make a point of calling her soon.
“Since Kassie’s mom doesn’t appear to be in town, I guess we can cross her off our list,” Melissa said. “I feel like, unless King finds anything out, we’ve hit a dead end.”
Briggs pressed his lips together and nodded. “I think the only thing left to do is ask Austin for the video footage outside the studio.”
“Do you think he’d give it to you?”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Briggs tapped his screen and called his boss.