She could, of course, still go to the cops. But how much evidence could she give them? What could the cops really do? This was Las Vegas, for crying out loud. Loan sharks had to be as common and pesky as flies in this town. The cops might swat at one, but another would buzz around a few minutes later, until the police accepted them
as part of the landscape.
Dragging herself to her feet, she staggered to the door and slammed it shut. After throwing the feeble security lock and latching the chain, she stumbled to the bed and curled into a ball. She wanted to call Gage back, tell him what had happened, but her phone was in pieces thanks to Vipers boot, the room phone disabled.
She tried to push aside the jitters Viper and his pals had stirred. She had to figure out what to do, how to get herself out of her circumstances. Without money, she couldnt even buy a bus ticket home. She was stranded in Vegas. Her phone was ruined. She had no job, no boyfriend. And she was pregnant.
Her dire straits pressed down on her, nearly suffocating her. When tears pricked her sinuses, she closed her eyes as, like Dorothy in Oz, she dreamed of home. Of Lagniappe. Her family.
As much as she wanted to call her parents or her sisters for help, her pride wouldnt let her. Shed been a disappointment to her overachieving family most of her life. The black-sheep sister. The daughter with the penchant for trouble. She couldnt bear the thought of telling them how royally shed screwed up again, especially because her father had predicted Derek would lead her to ruin.
Her returning to Lagniappe penniless, unwed and pregnant would cause whispers in her parents social circle that would haunt them for years. Shed hurt her family enough with her rebellion, her stubbornness, her rash decisions to last them a lifetime. No. Asking her family to bail her out again was not an option.
Her gaze drifted to the broken pieces of her phone, and a deep, caring voice filtered through her memory. Okay, dont worry. Well figure this out together.
Gage. Her heart squeezed as her best friends face swam in her minds eye. His crooked smile, his puppy-dog brown eyes and scarred chin, courtesy of his abusive father. Gage had been her best friend since eighth-grade drama class. Shed taken drama because it gave her a creative outlet. He had been in the class because of a scheduling mix-up. But his handiness with tools and woodcraft proved valuable in building sets, so hed stayed in the class.
Zoey, ever the extrovert, had struck up a conversation with the quiet, gangly stagehand and been drawn to his quirky sense of humor. Later, as their friendship deepened and bonds of trust formed, shed learned his humor was a shield that hid a home life she wouldnt wish on her enemies. The Bancroft home had become Gages sanctuary, his escape when his home life was at its toughest, and Gage had become Zoeys safe harbor when she felt adrift, struggling to live up to the high-water mark her sisters set and always falling short. When her wanderlust after graduation had grown wearisome, shed returned home and found Gage waiting for her, willing to forgive her rash disappearance from his life after one life-changing night that had shaken her to the core
Gage shrugged his shoulder in an uncomfortable contortion to keep his cell phone against his ear, waiting for the bank representative to take him off hold, while he poured a bowl of raisin bran for Pet and doused it with milk.
Pet curled her lip in disdain. Whats that?
Supper. Eat.
I dont like it.
You havent tried it. He shoved the milk back into the refrigerator and shifted his cell to a more comfortable position. Elevator music droned in his ear.
As soon as it was clear Zoey wasnt going to answer her cell, Gage had called the police department in Las Vegas, hoping to send the cavalry to her rescue. But not having an address to give them, there was nothing they could do. Plan B meant finding Zoey himself. Whatever it took. And fast.
It has raisins. Im lergic to raisins.
Youre not allergic to raisins.
Am so.
Are not. Eat.
I dont want this. I want chicken nuggets, Pet grumbled and poked out her lower lip.
Gage gritted his teeth and battled down his growing frustration. He refused to lose his temper with Pet. She wasnt the reason for his agitation or the acid gnawing his stomach. His worry over Zoey and his inability to get in touch with her was his chief aggravation at the moment.
Were out of chicken nuggets, and Im not making mac and cheese again. You need vitamins. He tapped the cereal box. See here? This says its fortified with vitamins. Its healthy.
Ice creams healthy. It has milk.
You cant
Sir? the bank employee said as she came back on the line. Were not allowed to disclose private financial information, even to family members. Im sorry.
Shooting his niece a warning look, Gage aimed a finger at the bowl of raisin bran as he paced out of the kitchen. But this is an emergency.
Im not looking for account numbers or balance information, I just need to know where Zoey Bancroft might have made ATM withdrawals or credit-card purchases in the past couple days. Are there any motel charges?