Page 2 of Shadow Of Pretense (Margot Harris 2)

“She doesn’t like to leave the house. Plus, if she makes me do stuff, she doesn’t think I’m a freeloader since I’m still staying at her place. I’m earning my keep.”

“Why me?”

“She likes you.”

“The last time we met, I was beating the shit out of you.”

“Yeah, that’s what she likes about you. I told her not to worry, Chrissie will show up in a few days, she always does. When she insisted this time was different I suggested anybody but you, but she wasn’t hearing it.”

“How old is Chrissie?”

“Fifteen, almost sixteen.”

“How long has she been missing?”

“A week.”

“That sounds like a reason to be concerned.”

Randy shrugged, “She ain’t exactly Miss Goody Two Shoes.”

“Did someone file a police report?”

“Nah, her mom is too busy being gone to notice that kind of thing. It’s surprising Chrissie has done as well as she has with a mom like that.”

“Dad?”

“He ain’t been around for years.”

“They talk at all?”

“I

don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Yeah, a punk who’s too old for her. I already talked to him. He hasn’t seen her.”

“I might want to talk to him myself.”

“You going to kick his ass?”

“No.”

“If I paid you extra?”

“No.”

“Bummer, that punk has it coming.”

“Can you make a list of her friends and close relatives and give me as much contact information as you can get? It’ll make it easier and faster.”

“I didn’t know I was in the ‘make it easier on you’ business.”

“Yeah, well I get paid by the day so it’s your money—or more accurately, your mom’s money. Maybe she’d be willing to make a list.”

“I’m just messing with you. Mom figured you’d want this,” Randy said as he reached behind his back and handed her a folded up sheet of notebook paper. “Everybody is in there. Mom said if you have any questions, all you have to do is call. Her number’s on the bottom.”