WHEN I GET BACKย to my cubicle, my phone is ringing. Iโm not in the mood to talk to anybody, but I do have a job to do and maybe this will get my mind off everything going on. And when I recognize Carmen Salinasโs number, I know it wonโt be an unpleasant call. Making a sale today would give me a lift.
โNatalie!โ Carmen gushes when she hears my voice. โI heard about what happened at your company! About that woman who went missing. Are you all right?โ
โIโm fine.โ I swallow a lump in my throat. โItโs just been a long day.โ โI canโt imagine! Do they have any idea what happened to her?โ
Despite everything, I almost laugh. Leave it to Carmen to call in search of gossip. But sheโs not going to hear any of it from me. โIโm afraid not.โ
โOh myโฆโ Carmen lets out a long sigh, and I can almost imagine her toying with the many strings and beads that she always wears around her neck. Iโve never seen that woman wearing less than five necklaces at a time. โI donโt even work there, but the whole thing is making me stressed out. I canโt even imagine how you must feel!โ
โYou should take a few capsules of LoStress,โ I tell her. โThat product works miracles for anxiety. Weโve gotten nothing but great feedback.โ
โYou know what, honey? I think weโre fresh out. Do you think you could bring by a case of it later today?โ
I can read Carmenโs mind. Sheโs hoping to pump me for more information about Dawnโs disappearance later today, not that I expect to know anything more. Unfortunately, our stock is low at the moment, and LoStress is always a big seller. Iโve personally sold more of it than anyone else at the company. It makes me feel good that Iโm helping people reduce their stress. How many people get to say that they truly help others at their jobs?
โIโm afraid Iโll have to put in an order,โ I tell Carmen regretfully.
Sheโs disappointed, and Iโm worried sheโs going to tell me to forget about it, but then she surprises me by asking for two boxes. After we hang up, I enter the information into the computer, but just as Iโm submitting the order, my attention is drawn to a commotion at the front of the office. I stand up, and over the edge of the cubicles, I can see Detective Santoro talking to Seth. Theyโre shaking hands. I canโt hear anything theyโre saying, which makes me uneasy. Especially when Seth points in the direction of my cubicle.
The detective waves to me. I wave back.
Then heโs coming right toward me. I smooth out my hair and tuck a loose strand behind my ear. Thereโs no reason to be nervous. I didnโt do anything wrong. Iโm sure the detective is just going to ask the exact same questions as yesterday, and then heโll move on to somebody else.
A few seconds later, Detective Santoro is approaching my cubicle. He smiles at me, and I have to admit, his smile disarms me. He doesnโt seem upset or suspicious of me, and it also brings out a hint of dimples on both his cheeks. The detective is s*xy in a swarthy sort of way.
โMiss Farrell, right?โ he says.
I nod. โYes. Detective Santoro?โ
He beams at me. โYou got a good memory.โ
โYou have to have a good memory if you work in sales.โ Itโs true. Clients love it when you remember every detail they told you about their lives and their business. Thatโs why I keep notes. โHave you found out anything about Dawn?โ
The smile instantly vanishes from his face. โIโm afraid not. Weโre doing our best to find your friend. I promise you that.โ
โI appreciate that. Have you spoken to her mother?โ
He nods grimly but doesnโt elaborate. โIโm hoping I could ask you a few more questions, Miss Farrell. Iโm trying to gather as much information as I can to find her.โ
โOf course. Anything I can do to help.โ
โWell, thatโs great.โ He jerks his head to the left. โYour boss said we could use the conference room. Do you mind?โ
Itโs not like I have a choice. So I follow the detective to the conference room, all the while pushing away the sick feeling in my stomach.