Her Scream in the Silence (Carly Moore #2) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,76

once more. “Y’all want drinks while you wait?”

Marco ordered water and I got iced tea. When she walked away, I leaned in closer and lowered my voice. “Marco, maybe we should do this tomorrow.”

“We’re already here, and besides, I’m hungry.” But his eyes looked glazed and his cheeks were flushed.

I leaned over the table and pressed the back of my hand to his forehead and then his cheek. Both were slightly warm, and I wasn’t sure if he had a low-grade fever or if he was just warm from the exertion of getting inside.

He grinned. “You playin’ nursemaid?”

“I’ve had plenty of practice with Hank.”

Closing his eyes, he slumped down in the seat and rested his head back. Within about twenty seconds, I was sure he was asleep.

Angie was standing in the back with another waitress, who looked a couple of decades older. I slid out of the booth, taking care not to disturb Marco, and headed to the back.

“Is there a bathroom back here?” I asked, deciding to ease my way into this.

“Right there,” said the other woman, whose name tag read Sheila. She thumbed to a door down the hall.

“Oops,” I said with a laugh. “Right in front of me.”

I hurried into the bathroom and decided to use the facilities while I could. When I came out a few minutes later, Sheila was waiting on a table, but Angie was still standing in the back.

“Did you ever hear from Greta?” I asked.

“Nope,” she said with a frown.

“Marco was pretty worried, so we paid her sister a visit to see if she knew anything.”

“Did she?” Angie asked and I could see a hint of worry in her eyes.

I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “No. She doesn’t know where she is, but she doesn’t seem all that concerned.”

She shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Melody doesn’t give a shit about that girl. Only keeps her around for babysitting and makes her hand over most of her paychecks for room and board.”

That didn’t sound all that surprising. “She said Greta hasn’t had a boyfriend since Tim Hines. Do you know if that’s true?”

She gave me the once-over. “How do you know Greta?”

“I confess, I only just met her yesterday. I came by Watson’s to ask her some questions about Lula, and then she stopped by the tavern to talk. I think she saw someone who frightened her, because she looked scared and left in a hurry. I had Max walk her to her car, and now she’s missing.” I took a breath. “I’m worried.”

Angie didn’t respond, but she looked worried too.

“Melody said someone came in last week asking Greta about Lula. Do you know anything about that?”

She picked up a pitcher of water. “I’ll come over to your booth in a minute.”

It wasn’t exactly a promise of anything, and her expression was blank, but it was the best I was going to get.

“Okay,” I said. “Thanks.” When I sat back down, Marco stirred. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit.” He tried to sit up but slouched back down in his seat.

“I think you need to go to the doctor, Marco.”

“I just need a pain pill and sleep.”

I hoped that would fix it, but I wasn’t so sure. Then again, he’d seemed fine until our mud adventure, and that had come after the exertion of climbing up and down Max’s narrow staircase, not to mention the emotional strain of arguing with his best friend. Marco had been shot twice three weeks ago. He was on medical leave for a reason.

Angie was refilling water glasses around the room, and she came to our table last. She didn’t waste any time getting down to business.

“Greta told me that a man was in here asking for Lula,” she said in a hushed tone. “But Lula was still gone, and Greta told him so. The bastard didn’t like her answer, so he left and stuck her with the bill for his pie and coffee. Watson’s pretty strict with that stuff, so the guy’s bill came out of her tips.”

A reminder that Max was a great boss…when he wasn’t drunk and pissed at me.

“Did she know who he was?” I asked.

“She said she didn’t recognize him.”

“Did you believe her?” I asked.

She hesitated. “I don’t know. I’m not sure why she would lie, but something was off.”

“Did you see him?” Marco asked.

She gave him a long look. “You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” he grunted.

“I mean, you didn’t look so great when you came in, but now