Page 79 of Three Girls Gone

“Only we will. We’ll save Eloise too.”

Amanda nodded, squeezing out thoughts about what Eloisemight be enduring right now. Her focus needed to stay on saving the girl.

They reached Tammy’s apartment building and went up to her floor. She answered after they knocked once.

Amanda held up her badge, as did Trent beside her. “Are you Tammy Welland?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

Amanda tucked her badge away and introduced herself and Trent. “Do you have a minute? We have some questions for you.”

“Why not? Come in.” Tammy was in her twenties, and her energy was laid-back and casual. Her house smelled of sage, and she had a figurine of a beagle posed in meditation on the entry floor.

“That’s Rex,” Tammy offered, when she must have noticed Amanda looking at it. “I have a habit of naming everything. So what is it?”

The conversation should be brief, so Amanda didn’t request a place to sit. “You worked a birthday party yesterday at the Scoop. Is that right?”

“Uh-huh. Good bunch of kids too, but hyper. Though when are they not when they’re consuming sugar?” She shrugged and smiled. “What about the party?”

“You worked it with Alec?” Amanda asked.

“No. He went home not feeling well just before, but he sent a friend to help.”

The back of Amanda’s neck tightened. “A friend?”

“Yeah, that’s what he told me anyhow.”

“Alec told you this?” Trent asked.

“His friend did. He had an apron, and I assumed Alec gave it to him.”

Probably the one sitting in an evidence bag in the trunk. “What was this friend’s name?”

“He didn’t offer. I didn’t ask. I thought about callingGreg to check it was okay, but I didn’t want to land Alec in trouble and I needed the help. The place was busy. It was just nice to have an extra set of hands, though he bailed after the party was over. I couldn’t find him anywhere.”

Amanda resisted the urge to look at Trent. Whoever had worn that apron was the guy they were after. “Is there anything else you can tell us about him? Does he speak with an accent? Did he share anything personal about himself with you?”

“Nothing I noticed, and he wasn’t the talkative type. I was just wanting to get my shift over with so I could curl up on the couch and read a book.”

“Did you notice if he paid close attention to the girls at the party?” Trent asked.

“Ick. Do you mean it the way I think you do?”

Trent nodded. “Specifically the birthday girl.”

Tammy curled her lips in disgust. “I didn’t pick up on that, but he had a dark aura. That I picked up on.”

“Okay. Thank you for your time.” Amanda gave her a business card and said that if she remembered anything distinctive about him to call, whether it was day or night.

“No problem. Would you be able to tell me what all this is about?”

“The birthday girl was taken from her bedroom last night,” Trent told her.

“Oh.”

“You wouldn’t have a number for Alec, would you?” Amanda asked.

“I’ll do you one better. He lives down the hall. Apartment three-oh-seven. The second he feels better I’m going to lay into him about how his friend bailed on me too. Though…” She studied their faces. “You don’t think that guy was his friend, do you?”