The Red Light Girls (Unsolved Mysteries Book 2) by Kim Knight (most romantic novels TXT) 📗

new here myself. I started after the news about them had surfaced, so I never met them. Sorry.”

The woman moved down the bar and started to upload some bottles, restocking the fridge. She glanced over her shoulder at Chris and Madeline again and narrowed her eyes a second time as if uncertain about their motives.

“She suspects something,” said Chris. “She thinks we’re the police. Maybe we should go.”

“No. We can’t go yet. It’s fine.” Madeline waved off his words. “Don’t worry about her.”

She took another long swig of her beer.

“It might be a little hard to get any more info on the girls, though, especially since she’s new. Hmm.” She glanced around. “Who else can I speak to without causing suspicions?”

Frustration ate at her. She chewed on her lip impatiently, then looked at Chris.

He’s gaze was locked on something on the other side of the bar. Madeline followed his line of sight to a large screen television mounted on the wall.

“Shit. Janssen told me they’d announce it soon,” Madeline blurted out and pulled on his elbow.

Chris remained mute and focused on the screen.

Madeline noticed a man head over to the DJ and whisper in his ear, he nodded in response, and then cut the music.

“Oh, my God.” The new barmaid behind the bar kept her eyes trained on the television screen. She grabbed the remote from under the bar, then turned up the volume.

The carefree, talkative atmosphere fell silent. Everyone in the bar listened in to the breaking news announcement.

“During the early hours this morning,” the reporter announced. “Another female body was found. She’s been identified as twenty-five-year-old Donna Mikel. The family have been informed. Donna was reported missing two weeks ago. She was an entertainer in the city. Her body surfaced in the canal a few meters from the Anne Frank museum. More details to follow.”

The news reporter moved to live footage along the canal. Her hair blew in the wind.

Madeline gasped once she had seen where the police had taped off the section. She glanced around at the other patrons, who all looked around at each other, and then back at the screen.

The barmaid added Dutch subtitles to the screen, then lowered the volume. After a couple of seconds, she nodded at the DJ, then the music started up again, drowning out the chatter of the other patrons.

“Damn, this is getting serious,” Madeline whispered to Chris. “I don’t think there’s much more information I can get here today. The girl on shift didn’t even know any of the girls.”

“Yeah. This sucks.” Chris sighed. “Don’t look so disappointed. The police are doing the best they can, ya know?” Chris placed a hand on her shoulder. “C’mon. Let’s grab something to eat, and I’ll walk you back.”

Chris held out his hand to Madeline. She took it and slid off the stool. Slowly, she slipped on her jacket. Chris followed suit, and when finished, he followed her out the door.

Will the detective talk to me now? How to pop the question played around in her head.

23

Stuck Between the Two

Chris Visser

Half an hour later, Chris watched Madeline push her pancakes around her plate. Sitting opposite him in the café, he could tell she looked deep in thought.

“Ya gonna eat those or just play with them?” He grinned, then pointed his fork down at her plate.

“Sorry, I’m in a world of my own.”

Madeline shoved a mouthful of the sweet delight into her mouth. He half-smiled and tried to gain her eye contact. She avoided it.

“No problems. I understand how you feel. I’m happy to see you and glad we got to spend some time together today.”

“Me too, it’s just—”

“Chris, you dick! I knew it,” a familiar female voice called out from across the café.

Damn. He shook his head. Not this. Not now. Not Stacey.

Chris snapped his focus from Madeline to the angry female marching up to the table.

“Who the fuck is she?” Stacey placed her hands on her hips. “I knew I couldn’t trust you.”

“Stacey what are you—” He didn’t know if he should stay seated or rise.

“Never mind what I’m doing here. Chris, I thought you were sick. I came all the way over here to get you something to eat since I know how much you love the food here. But it looks like you’re okay to me.”

“Chris who is this?” Madeline butted in with a frown.

Chris turned his attention from Stacey back to Madeline. “No one. She’s—”

“No one? Oh, so I’m no one now?” Stacey yelled. “Fuck you, Chris. Last week, we were together, and now I’m no one?” She turned to face Madeline. “That’s right, we’re together, well, at least, I thought we were.”

Chris struggled to remain neutral—to not get annoyed. But the harder he tried the more he was sure his face moulded itself into a look of frustration. He got to his feet about to defend his position. Madeline cut him off.

“I’ve heard enough.” Madeline grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and stormed out.

“Madeline, wait,” Chris called out.

He grabbed his phone from his pocket and tried to call her, but it went to straight to voicemail. Quickly, he gathered his things to leave.

“So, you’re going to run after her?” Stacey demanded. “You need to let me know why you lied to me?”

“Just shut up, Stacey,” Chis retorted in a low voice.

He glanced around the café. The owner made his way over to the table. Chris held up a hand to him.

“I’m sorry I’m leaving right now. Here, take this.”

After fishing out a few notes from his wallet, he handed them over to the owner, then turned on his heels and ran out the door.

Damn. What lousy timing.

24

A Word of Warning

Madeline Sloane

The vibration made her fingers tingle. With a little more force than required, she pressed cancel on the incoming call from Chris for the second time.

Dammit. I should’ve known better. What’s that saying, when something sounds too good to be true, buyer—or in this case—dater beware. Sitting on