“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.”