CHAPTER 80

   They walked down the hallway of the administration block of the state university as they had been directed towards the head's office. A secretary stopped them at the door even after they had introduced themselves. She disappeared inside another room but came back within seconds to permit them. Dylan nodded her thanks and led the way inside. After leaving Maisie's home, they had gone to Mirabelle's next and at least her parents had been more forthcoming. Being their only golden child made it easier to say anything that could help bring their daughter back. That's how they found themselves going to this university to interview a girl they had been told was close to Mirabelle and they wouldn't just waltz in and do that without at least informing the school's head. Furthermore, it was Sunday evening. They wouldn't know of the girl's whereabouts more than the principal. She let Kenny take the lead this time.

              "Detectives, good evening. What can I do for you?" The short but well built man sat up and turned full attention to them as he ushered them to seats. "I'm guessing it's about Maisie Williams. We received the news earlier. It is very sad to lose such an intelligent woman who could have had a really bright future."

             "We are here about her and the other girls who have disappeared before and after her. We understand that they are all from this institution."

             "About time someone gave a damn about their disappearance. I have been getting a lot of heat from parents,some threatening to sue the school if I did nothing forgetting that I am just a principal and they are big girls. I can't possibly know all their whereabouts at all times," he exhaled deeply. "Anyway, what can I do to help?"

               "We want to interview one of the girls' friends. Would you happen to know where we can find Melissa Pierce?"

              "You think she might know something?" 

               "We are hoping so."

              "Phew!" he leaned back in his seat and started scratching his thick beard. "Well,Miss Pierce works on weekends so she is most likely not within the institution."

            "Do you know her place of work?"

   He took a moment to answer and when he did,he appeared embarrassed about it.

             "The nightclub down the street. You are most likely to find her there from Friday night to Sunday night."

   They looked at each other. The club down the street was just not a club,it was mainly a strip club and that also meant hookers. They however didn't want to conclude anything. Maybe Melissa was just a bartender. They didn't need to know anything else from him. That was enough for them and hopefully Melissa would be forthcoming. They got back in the car and drove off after thanking the principal who just shrugged it off and went ahead to make a call as they were going out. 

                 "What?" she asked when she noticed Kenny was deep in thought. 

               "Nothing, just wondering if you realize that her name starts with an 'M'."

                 "Yeah,I did. And it's been two weeks since the last disappearance." She sighed,"And she is blonde."

                 "You think she's in danger?"

                  "We can't rule that out. Hopefully we will get to her first before anyone else does."

 The car hurtled down the street, not too fast but fast enough. It was already dark and that meant the working hours had began. The loud noise of the club became louder as the drew nearer even before they saw the sparkling neon lights. They didn't look like people dressed to go to a night club and flashing their badges around at the entrance was likely to lead them back to the car. They needed to do something that would make them blend in at least until they were inside. She looked at her outfit then at Kenny's.

                "We need a makeover."

 Kenny grinned, "Oh,I love makeovers." 

 She checked her pockets for her credit card then got out of the car,Kenny following her out. There was a clothes shop still open right across where she had parked and so they headed there. 

  Five minutes later,she stood waiting for Kenny outside the shop. She was already all dressed up, wearing a tight white T-shirt with top two buttons open and a shiny leather jacket and pants. She looked like a stereotypical lesbian only seen in movies. The only thing she didn't change was her hairstyle. She wasn't about to cut half of it off her head to fit in perfectly just for one night. She could feel the cold surface of her gun pressing against her body in the uncomfortable pants but she would have to bear with that for the next few minutes. She had never worn tight pants in all her life. Being in them for just two minutes left her wondering how people managed to get around with the discomfort. Maybe she could ask Carly that. She smiled. She had talked to her some minutes back and told her what she was up to. Carly had just teased her and told her to make sure she picked up new ideas for their own night of love making sessions and a whole lot of things she wasn't sure she could even get out of her mouth. Never had she seen this kinky side of her but she was really loving it. 

               "Let's get going handsome," she turned sharply when she felt a tag on her arm only to find Kenny all dressed up in a long shiny dress,a long black wig,full make up on his face and slightly raised heels. He was checking her out as well. "Or should I call you pretty?" 

              "That definitely suits you better," she replied smiling. "I almost didn't recognize you." It was the first time she was seeing him dressed this way in person.

             "Is it convincing enough?"

              "You might get more hit ups than me. That's for sure."

              "It will give me something to gloat about for the entire week." They both laughed and headed to the car.

                     ★★★

     Getting inside the club was easy since they now didn't look like tough people in suits but ordinary people in there for the fun. They headed towards the bar section and sat down on bar stools. 

              "Do you think she is here yet?" Kenny asked over the loud noise. 

               "That's what we need to find out. Let's make an acquittance." She turned to the bartender. "Two tequila shots please."

      She didn't realize how long it had been since she tasted a drop of liquor until she felt the stinging taste of the drink burn down her throat. She closed her eyes tightly. Right,the last time she had done that was before she a Carly got back together. After that she hadn't stepped even an inch of a foot inside a bar. "Two more," she said again then turned around and faced the crowd. Half dressed girls were all around the club each on their own corner entertaining the crowd. She observed each of them. None seemed to be older than twenty five. And none seemed to be who they were looking for. She turned to Kenny.

              "I'll try to mingle with the crowd and ask around, see if someone might direct me to her." She took her other shot but before she could get up,the bartender talked.

             "If you are looking to have the night of a lifetime with a girl here,I'd recommend you to the best we have. Bobby over there is a natural talent." They both looked at the young woman he was pointing at almost at the end of the bar. She had long black hair and a lean body with lovable curves. Definitely what most men and women would go for. Just as they were watching, the girl's session came to an end and she headed towards them at the bar after wild cheering while another one took her spot.

              "Hey Ben, I'll take the usual," she announced once she sat down on a stool close to theirs. Her usual turned out to be a light beer which people mostly used to quench their thirst not get drunk. She swallowed the contents within gulps and banged the glass on the counter.

               "What's the hurry?"

               "I have got to head out early today. I have an early test tomorrow." She stood up to leave,"Unless you have got a gig for me."

  That's when the bartender turned his attention to them smiling and questioning if they were interested. She talked first.

              "We were actually looking for a particular girl, Melissa Pierce." She looked at Kenny,"A friend suggested her to us." She observed his face change at once then exchange a look with the girl who turned to them for the first time. She had heard everything. The thing was,she had already noticed her looks being similar to Melissa, she didn't know much about hair but that was definitely a wig in her head. When she had mentioned about a test,she had come to a conclusion that this could be the girl they were looking for.

            "She's sitting right across from you but in here she goes by bobby," the girl replied and flashed her a seductive smile. "Do you want a private party or what? Any is fine by me."

   Okay,that was definitely not what she had come to do here. She took out her badge.

             "So,you are Melissa?"

 The girl realized that it was not going according to what she had hoped. Her smile disappeared.

               "Yeah,what's it to you?"

            "We are detectives Lewis and Watson with the LAPD."

   She scoffed looking at them up and down in turns,"You and princess Jasmine here are detectives? Is that supposed to be funny?" She laughed. They both showed her their badges and that's when she took it seriously.

              "We are following up on a case and we would like to ask you some questions."

              "I haven't done anything wrong so you guys should leave me alone if you are not going to help me pay my bills." She made as if to stand but Kenny quickly stood up and blocked her way.

            "This is about your friend Mirabelle Jenkins." That name seemed to bring her down. She swallowed dryly and sat back  down. "And the recent death of her other friend Maisie Williams."

  She looked up sharply and surprise was obvious in her face. No,shock. It seemed like she had heard the news for the first time.

                "Maisie is dead?"

               "You didn't know? The whole campus knows already."

               "I have been off campus since Friday so no." She seemed pretty shook up by the news. "What happened to her?"

               "She was found murdered and dumped in a marsh. Shot in the head."

                  "Oh God," her lips shook. "And Mirabelle?"

                "We still don't know where she is and that's why we are here. Her disappearance file was compiled a while back and you were named among the last people she was seen with. We need to find her and the rest of the girls and so we are hoping you could answer a few questions for us. We are reopening the cases and we need as much information as we can get."

    The girl sat there for a while fighting with emotions. She seemed to want to break down but was holding back. The sudden news pretty much shook her up. 

              "Melissa?"

                 "I'm sorry it's just a lot to take in at the moment."

                "Could we go somewhere a little more quiet and talk?"

                "Yeah,sure."

    They followed her but instead of heading outside, she led them through a series of rooms only sealed by curtains. Some of them were drawn,others were left apart and couples busy pleasing themselves weren't even bothered. They walked past them and stopped at a room that stood separately at the end. This one had a door. Melissa pushed it open and led them inside.

            "This is where I bring my special guests," she said proudly and sat on a bed. They both preferred to remain standing. "Anyway, what can I do." She took off her wig exposing well kept blonde hair, trimmed inches above her shoulders but not as short as Dylan's.  She smoothed it back. The girl right in front of them was no doubt Melissa Pierce, a totally different version of who she was back there.     

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