“You must be Carla. I’m Paige.” I extended my hand.
“Thank you for meeting me.” Her eyes kept darting to the bar door.
“You’re going to draw attention if you keep doing that,” I said.
“Doing what?”
“Looking at the door like someone’s about to walk in and kill you.”
“I’m sorry,” Carla whispered, tipping her glass to her lips.
I studied her. She was in her late thirties, wearing a tailored designer suit, and fear was written all over her face.
“Let’s start from the beginning,” I said.
“My sister is missing. Three nights ago, she didn’t come home. No calls. No texts. Her phone is off. That’s not like her. They took her. I know they did.”
“Who?” My brows furrowed.
“I don’t know who they were. Two men. They were asking questions about her job.”
“What kind of job does your sister do?” I asked.
“She’s a financial analyst for Comp Ware Industries.”
“Can you describe the men who came to talk to her?” I asked.
“One was about six foot three with short blonde hair. He did most of the talking. The other guy was short, stocky, and bald. He didn’t say much.”
“What happened after the men left?”
“She was off. Totally distracted and scared, but she tried to hide it. Then three days later, she disappeared.”
“What is your sister’s name?” I asked.
“Emily.”
“Phone number?” I pulled out my phone.
She rattled it off as I typed the number into my notes.
“Do you know her last location before she didn’t come home?”
“She was supposedly at work,” she said. “We were supposed to meet for dinner that night, and then she sent me a text saying she was stuck at the office and wouldn’t be able to make it.”
I reached over and placed my hand on top of hers. “I will find your sister. But I need you to listen to me very carefully. Once I start, you don’t call me. You don’t ask for updates. You don’t go looking for answers on your own. Understand?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Okay. If I call you, it’s because I found her.” I pulled a small piece of paper from my purse and slid it across the table. “That is my fee.”
She picked up the paper and studied it. “That won’t be a problem.”
“Good.” I stood from the booth. “I’ll get started immediately.”
I walked out of the bar with a smile, feeling alive as I headed to my car. Not in the way of survival, but something different.
I went to The Hamilton Group and straight to Morgan’s office.