Free Lauren by Laura Marie Henion Page B

the next abrupt and demanding. Of course, the way his eyebrows pointed up ever so slightly while his eyes squinted added to the effect of his annoyance. Did the guy ever lighten up or what?
    "I'll follow your lead, Lieutenant, and I won't even say I'm from the city,” she said sarcastically, placing emphasis on certain syllables to make her Bronx accent stand out even more, but she understood his concern.
* * * *
    Lauren immediately noticed the old rock and roll theme that had started out in the parking lot now continued inside as she and Eddie entered the front entrance. The entrance itself was designed like a huge jukebox. The side panels were lit up in green and red lights, and the center door was glass but painted to appear like the front of a jukebox with pushbutton numbers and records to choose from.
    She thought it was rather ingenious and assumed it took hours to create such a realistic masterpiece. There was a short hallway past the door that began with hardwood flooring, and continued throughout the restaurant. There were old record labels, famous music artists, and names of old bands decorating the walls.
    The owner decorated the place from floor to ceiling. Lauren could hear the music playing and she recognized the artist's voice immediately.
    "Man, I love Elvis. He was so cool.” Lauren smiled, then located the jukebox. It sat alone, all lit up in lights as Blue Suede Shoes played.
    "Can I help you?” a young guy asked Eddie.
    Lauren walked toward the two men.
* * * *
    They spoke to the bartender who worked at the bar three nights ago. The manager hadn't arrived yet, but Ken had questioned him last night.
    The bartender only remembered the blonde, not the guy.
    "I'm sorry. I wish I could remember more, but the place was so crowded that night.” He shook his head, sincerely disappointed for not remembering more. Lauren spoke to a waitress as Eddie continued his conversation with the bartender and a cook.
    Lauren spoke to some of the other staff, then noticed a bus boy come out of a back room, break eye contact with her, then head into the kitchen. He was Hispanic and to her, he appeared a little frightened.
    Lauren made a mental note of it as she listened in on the conversation between Eddie and the bartender.
    She looked back toward the kitchen door. Something about the kid bothered her. Call it ‘intuition’ or ‘gut feeling,’ but whatever it was, she didn't feel right leaving the restaurant without speaking to the kid first.
    They got what they needed and were about to leave when Lauren asked the bartender, “Hey, do you mind if I speak to the busboy who just entered the kitchen?"
    "Yeah, no problem. But his English isn't that great."
    "That's okay. Thanks,” Lauren said, then she headed after the busboy.
    Eddie followed her into the hot, stuffy kitchen.
    The first bus boy was responsive, but another one stood toward the back, near the grills, and avoided looking at her. Lauren focused on the first bus boy instead.
    " Olá, como estás ,” she said.
    The guy stepped forward, and spoke to Lauren in broken English.
    "So you were outside taking a smoking break? Show me where you were sitting,” Lauren asked as she followed the guy out the back kitchen door, to a set of overturned plastic crates the staff used as seats.
    From the farthest seat, one could see the parking lot. Lauren took out her notebook and continued to ask questions, half in English and half in Spanish.
    "So you remember seeing a white truck?"
    " Si ."
    "Was it a boxed truck?” Lauren made the shape with her hands.
    " Si and a señorita ... a woman, yellow hair, got in. She looked like she was..."
    The man started rocking side to side, as if he were drunk.
    "Too many cervasos?” Lauren asked, with a small smile.
    " Si ... Si, señorita .” He grinned, nodding his head ‘yes.'
    They continued to ask a few questions, and soon they had a description of the vehicle and a partial description of the man.
    Lauren thanked the man and shook