Junknewwhatthatmeant.Theoldmandidn''''twantanyonelookingtoocloselyathisbooks.
ThefilealsotaiatementsfromHessel''''swifeandtheirdeliveryboy.Theirstoriesmatchedalmostwordforword.ThatwaswhenJunfirstnoticedadetail—Hessel''''swifehadgotteizenshipthroughmarriage.Andthedeliveryboy,Kurt,wastheirson.
Theseissinggirlhadstedonlytwoweeks.Sheclockedoutasusualonenight,andbym,shewasgohistime,Hesseldidn''''tevenbothertosoundsurprised.Saidhewasusedtoit.Cimedhehadn''''tletherhecashregister,soatleastnothimissing.
Therestofthereportwasthesamepattern—interviewswithroommates,friends,boyfriends.hegirlshadstablehousing.Theydriftedfromonecheaprentaltothe,carryinglittlemorethanabagofclothes.Nothingtheyleftbehindofferedanyclues.
Andlikethat,bothcasesfadedintothebackgroundhecity—unsolved,unremembered.
Junwaothekitandbrewedhimselfacupofcoffee.Thepalemlightspilledthroughthewindow,buttheuneaseinhischestwouldn''''tsettle.
Hecouldn''''ttellifitwasthecaffeine—orsomethingelse.
Eitherway,heknewohingforsure.
He''''dhavetostopbytherestaurantagain.HavealittlechatwitholdHessel.
Ifitcamedowntoit,hecouldalwayshelpReyasettlethatso-calledantiquevase—fivedigitsbarelymeantanythingtohimanyway.
***
Juheentiremfinishinghisusualdailytasks.JustasRedLanternopenedforthelunchservice,hewalkedintotherestaurant.
Thecrispchimeofthewindbellweledhim.Kurt,themixed-racedeliveryboy,stoodattheter,talkingtothemiddle-agedAsianwomanbehindit—hismother.Hisfacelookedteheversationclearlynotgoingwell.
Hearingsomeoer,Kurtturned.WhenhesawJun,hisbrowfurrowed.
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