Part 3 (1/2)
The scenario that had kept him awake the entire night in a state of panic and self-loathing had now become reality.
Knife Wound APPARENTLY, THESE MOSS PEOPLE were not early risers. Loki must have rung the doorbell three times already. It was nearly eight o'clock. On a Friday morning, no less. He didn't understand it. Somebody was home; the doorman had talked to a member of the family. Either they were extraordinarily lazy, or just plain rude. But just as Loki debated whether or not to pick the lock, he heard footsteps. The latch clicked.
”One second,” a voice muttered.
The door swung open, revealing a pale and disheveled Paul Moss. He was still dressed in his pajamas.
”Good morning,” Loki said with an effervescent grin. ”Paul, isn't it?” He extended a hand, which the boy limply shook. ”Oliver Moore, Gaia's uncle. We met right here in your apartment.”
”Yeah,” Paul croaked, clearing his throat. ”Hi. I remember you. Is Gaia with you?” He peered over Loki's shoulder, suddenly far more awake. Loki found it impossible to believe that Gaia would have had any kind of remotely s.e.xual encounter in the back of a cab with this scruffy non-ent.i.ty. Sam Moon may have been pitiful, but this carrot-topped fool fell somewhere in the troglodyte category.
”No, I'm afraid she's not,” Loki said. ”But I've spoken with her on the phone.”
”When?” Paul asked. He seemed concerned. ”Last night? This morning?”
”Both,” Loki replied.
This seemed to be a relief to Paul. He exhaled slightly.
Loki cleared his throat. Paul didn't catch the hint. Perhaps the term ”troglodyte” was too much of a credit. Loki was finding it difficult to maintain a pleasant facade.
”Do you think you might invite me in?” he asked finally. He knew this portion of his search was worthless and excessively time-consuming. But he also knew that no stone could be left unturned, even the stone from under which Paul Moss had crawled.
”Oh. Yeah. Of course.” Paul slapped his forehead and laughed. ”Sorry. I'm just a little out of it. Come on in.”
Loki laughed, too, though he failed to see any humor in the situation. He picked up the black suitcase by his side and strode straight for the living room.
”Do you want some coffee?” Paul asked, hesitating in the hallway.
”That would be lovely, thank you so much.”
The moment Paul turned toward the kitchen, Loki let the ludicrous smile drop from his face. He scanned the living room for any hints of Gaia. As he'd suspected, he found none. No, she wouldn't come back here. She was too smart to endanger the lives of this family. He scowled and sank into one of the couches.
”So what did Gaia say on the phone?” Paul called. ”Because she didn't even call last night and I was kind of worried-I mean, we were kind of worried. That's not really like her, you know?”
”Gaia didn't call you last night or this morning?” Loki asked innocently. ”She promised me she'd call you when we spoke.”
Paul loped back into the living room with two steaming mugs; Loki could tell by the acrid scent that the coffee was some cheap, instant, supermarket brand. Still, he smiled. The key was to keep his anger in check. This was an easy game to play. Enjoyable, even. Yes, in some ways, it was always fascinating to deal with the general populace-that vast majority of cretins like Paul (”civilians,” as some in his trade liked to call them), the type of ignorant folk who could sit there and perceive Loki as merely an eccentric, well-mannered uncle. Not a terrorist who could kill Paul in a hundred different ways before he even managed one sip of that foul brew.
”No,” Paul said, handing Loki a mug. ”She didn't call me, but she might have called my mom-”
”Ahhh. Where is your mother?” Loki interrupted.
Paul hesitated. There was a flicker of something behind his eyes. It couldn't be suspicion, though. Unless Loki had underestimated him after all.
”Mom!” Paul shouted. ”Gaia's uncle's here! Are you up?”
But I haven't.
”Be right out,” came the faint reply.
Paul laughed again. ”She'll be out in a sec. So, why are you here?”
”Well, Gaia and I are going on a little trip to Europe,” Loki said, ignoring the boy's utter lack of manners. He cautiously sniffed the coffee before sipping it, then quickly set it down on the coffee table. ”I told her I'd stop by and pick up a few things.” He gestured to the black suitcase to ill.u.s.trate his point. ”Perhaps I could take a look at her belongings....”
He left the sentence hanging as Mrs. Moss swept into the room, then smiled immediately and stood. At least she had the decency to dress properly before greeting a guest. She was quite an attractive woman, in fact-particularly in that gray flannel pants suit. Very well put together. Except for the dark circles under her eyes. Her skin was a little pallid, as well.
”Oliver,” she breathed. She shook his hand quickly and tried to smile in return, but her brow was furrowed. ”Please tell me you've talked to Gaia, because I've been worried sick.”
”There's no need for panic,” Loki a.s.sured her in his most soothing tone. It occurred to him that she might not have slept. Perhaps she was even wearing the same outfit from the day before. ”I've spoken with her by phone, but-”
”You have?” Mrs. Moss whispered. She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. ”Excuse me, I'm sorry.It's just... well, thank G.o.d. She's all right, then? You know for a fact that she's all right?”
Her desperation would be amusing, were it not so abrasive-and were it not for the fact that Loki shared it himself. Clearly these people would be of no help. He could feel rage creeping up on him again. He was as much in the dark as they were. He had sunk to their level. It wasn't just infuriating; it was horrifying.
”I know it for a fact,” he lied.
I'm so relieved; you have no idea.” She spoke quickly, and her voice trembled. ”We haven't heard a word. I've been an absolute wreck. I was thinking of calling the police-”
”Oh, no, there's no need for that,” Loki gently cut in, patting her on the shoulder. It was time to raise the stakes. ”You know... if the truth be told... I feel awkward mentioning this, but I think her date with Sam Moon went better than expected.”
Mrs. Moss rubbed her eyes and blinked at him. Then a look of recognition crossed her face. She frowned, blus.h.i.+ng slightly. ”Oh. I see. Well... oh, dear, is that why she didn't call? The girl is almost eighteen. She can spend the night at Sam's if she wants, just as long as she calls me.”
Paul suddenly hurried from the room, saying nothing.
Loki stifled a snicker. No need to worry, Paul. You won't be having any more compet.i.tion from Sam Moon. ”Well, she must have been afraid to call you,” he said. ”There's your explanation. Now I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to take Gaia on a little European trip.”
”Oh, really?” Mrs. Moss asked, her face brightening. ”How lovely! When?”
”Well, tonight, actually,” he replied. ”I apologize for the short notice, but a sudden extra ticket came through for me. Now, Gaia told me to pack up some of her things here and then meet her, but of course I was in such a hurry, I neglected to ask her where we were meeting. So, I've got my driver downstairs; I just thought I'd try a few of her favorite places. Are there any particular places you think I might find her?”
Mrs. Moss's eyes narrowed. For a moment, she stared at him, as if waiting for him to deliver a punch line to some crude joke.
Loki's smile grew strained. ”Is there a problem?”
”No, no.” Mrs. Moss laughed uncomfortably. ”But she should be in school, don't you think?”
”Oh. Yes.” Nausea gripped Loki. His legs nearly gave out beneath him. This insipid woman's question had the exact same effect as a knife wound. It was so obvious. Loki had been so consumed with anger and frustration that he'd failed to make the most simple deduction. Of course Gaia was at school. True, he knew that she'd attended sporadically in recent weeks... but it should still have been first on his list. And not realizing that frightened him. It pained him. Self-doubt and uncertainty were two weaknesses he could not afford to suffer. They had never afflicted him before.
”Are you all right?” Mrs. Moss asked.
Loki laughed lightly, his face once again a mask of politeness. ”Quite. I'm sorry. Excuse me. If you don't mind, I'll just grab some of her things and be off then.”
Mrs. Moss shrugged and waved toward the hall. ”Be my guest. Do you think you could have her call us before you leave, though? And if it's possible, could we get an itinerary of where you'll be staying? It would just be nice...”
Her voice faded as Loki stomped into the bedroom, ripped open a closet door and stuffed whatever clothes he could find into the suitcase until nothing else fit. He had no time to listen to Mrs. Moss's inane requests. He had to leave. Anyway, it didn't really matter what he packed. He'd be buying her an entirely new wardrobe in Germany. Waste of time, he chastised himself. He snapped the suitcase shut and hurried back to the foyer.
Mrs. Moss opened the front door for him. ”Well, it was nice seeing you,” she murmured. ”How long will she be gone? I want to be sure and-”
”Not long,” Loki interrupted, stepping briskly toward the elevator. ”I'll have my a.s.sistant messenger the itinerary over to your house later this morning.” He paused and summoned one last smile as he punched the ”down” b.u.t.ton. ”How does that sound?”