Great. “So how long've you worked for Jabril?” Cyn asked, changing the subject.
"Almost two years. Since I turned eighteen. A friend of my mom's got me the job. It's kind of creepy with all those dead guys sleeping all day, and the hours are weird, but it's okay."
"I don't think they're actually dead,” Cyn commented. “So what do you do out there?” She started to lift her sunglasses as they went inside, but dropped them back down when she saw the hot colors splashed across every surface in sight.
"Cleaning, you know. Dusting, vacuuming, polishing the silver,” her eyes rolled in disgust. “Pays well, though."
"You work in the big house too, or only the servants’ quarters?"
"Sometimes the big house. During the day. No one's allowed there after dark. Don't want to gross out the big bad vamps by forcing them to look at lowly humans. Not unless you're one of the bimbos, anyway."
"Bimbos?"
"That's what we call the blood slaves Jabril keeps in his basement lair. Not a whole brain cell between them, although what they lack in brain cells, they make up in silicone. Those boobs can't all be real."
Cyn choked back a laugh. That was pretty much what she would have expected from Jabril and his ilk. “So, is there somewhere we can at least sit down? I'm feeling like a giant among the Lilliputians here."
"There's a cafe. It's mostly kid food, but they do have Starbuck's coffee."
"There is a god! Lead the way, child."
Cyn managed to snag one of the few adult-sized tables in the café and made Kelli hold onto it while she went in search of coffee. It wasn't a real Starbuck's, but it would do.
"So.” She slid onto the bench seat across the table and passed Kelli an icky sweet chocolate chip frappuccino. “What do you know?"
Kelli licked whipped cream from her upper lip before saying, “Like I said, Liz used to get out during the day. Her tutor was clueless and besides, she only came twice a week. There's this one guard who always looks the other way, and a couple of others who were so-so.” She rotated her hand, palm down. “They kinda felt sorry for Liz, being a kid with all those old guys. And, ya’ know, vampires and all."
"They didn't worry she wouldn't come back? I mean Jabril doesn't strike me as an understanding employer."
"Huh, you got that right. But they knew Liz would come back because her sister was there. Plus...” She shrugged. “Liz wouldn't do that to the guys, get them in trouble like that."
"So what'd she do when she was out?"
"Came down here, mostly."
"This museum?” Cyn looked around. If Liz was in the habit of hanging around here, she might be here now.
"Nah, not here here. Just, you know, here. The museum district and Montrose, with the other kids. Well, and Jamie."
"Ah, yes, Jamie. What can you tell me about him?"
"What's to tell? His mom's a druggie, his dad's gone, or dead, who knows? Who cares? Jamie bailed a couple of years ago when he turned sixteen, been on the streets ever since. He spends a night here, a night there. Different shelters, hang outs. You know, like the other kids do. Liz used to give him money for food, sometimes a motel. They were pretty tight."
"So you said. You think Liz is with Jamie?"
"Maybe,” she said, evading Cyn's gaze.
Cyn sighed. “Look, Kelli, someone needs to find her before Jabril does. It would be good if that person was me because I want to help her."
"He's got someone else looking, you know."
Cyn looked at her curiously. “You mean Jabril?"
"Yeah. Some guy who came around asking questions the day before you did. Old guy, buzz cut, smelled like cigars.” She made a face. “You pissed off?"
"Honestly? I figured as much. Jabril's got old business with someone I did some work for awhile back. I think he's trying to f**k with that guy's head a little bit. It won't work, but Jabril doesn't know that. He also doesn't know that when I find Liz—and I will—I'm not going to be hauling her ass back to Lord f**king Jabril. We're going to hunker down somewhere safe, maybe with a nice view and a gorgeous spa, and celebrate her eighteenth birthday in style. And then I'm going to make damn sure she has a say in her future."
"That'd be nice,” Kelli whispered. “But he'll take it out on her sister, you know. Mirabelle."