10

Friday morning after Thanksgiving, Vegas

Heith and Edgar stared blankly at the “For Rent” sign in front of Marni and Milli’s house. Looking through the windows, the house was completely empty. Several neighbors were giving them very hostile looks and a police car stopped to tell them to move along or they would be arrested for trespassing. They went to the school address Heith had from Marni’s location app and asked about Marni Haywood-Rowling. The lone security guard at the gate glared at them when they gave their names. Then he threatened to call the police and have them removed for trespassing. At the Famous Vegas Cakery, no one would tell them anything about Milli or which bakery she now worked for.

Desperate, they went to The Velvet Rope as a last resort, hoping that some of Marni’s friends still worked there. The evening crowd was just arriving. It was getting dark, but Edgar did not miss the hostile looks they were getting from the bouncer as th