Lottery 1
Jenny was jumpy the next two days at work. The staff was beginning to ask around where Andrea was, it was the second day she’d missed her shift. The girls were standing at the coffee maker talking about her when the manager stuck his head out.
“Jenny have you heard from Andrea? I call her cell phone but there’s no answer.” he began talking to her through the opening in the wall.
Jenny walked over, “I haven’t talked to her.”
“Well I want you to call her on your phone. Maybe if something is wrong she will pick up.” The manager waited for her to comply.
Jenny gave him a strange look and dialed her friend.
“Hello this is Andrea, I can’t answer right now. Leave a message.” Andrea’s voice could be heard cheerful as ever on the other end of the transmission. Jenny felt her blood run cold, the message had been changed back.
“Are you ok?” the manager asked.
The girls quit chattering and glanced at Jenny.
“I’m fine.” Jenny hung up the phone and put it back in her apron. “I’m just thinking, what if something happened to her.” she looked over at the girls.
“Like what happened to you?” the manager questioned.
Jenny’s mind quickly turned to the diner video that had captured Marvin grabbing her days before. The police had mentioned they would come for a copy later, but never returned.
“YES!” Jenny jerked to face him. “We should report that man to the police. From the video.”
“I think it’s worth bringing up, especially since he already assaulted one of my waitresses. Who’s to say he wouldn’t attack another, outside the diner.” the manager went back to his office.
Thirty minutes later the police arrived. They spoke to the entire staff, and a missing persons report was filed on Andrea. They also decided to pay a visit to a man they knew well in the 17th precinct, but had been spotted operating on this side of town. Marvin Devine.
Officer Durant was well acquainted with Marvin Devine, as well as the rest of Lou Artou’s gang. He knew which cops were paid off by Artou, and he wasn’t one. He wasn’t Lou’s biggest nightmare, but he was definitely a fly in his ointment.
Durant was smiling with confidence as he banged his fist on Devine’s apartment door.
“Morning Officer, how may I assist you?” Devine smiled back as he held the door open.
“There’s a missing lady.” Durant started.
“There’s a missing lady?” Devine mocked. “Well as you can see there’s no missing ladies in here. In fact there’s no ladies at all in here.” he opened the door for the officer to see inside. “That’s not really my thing. Kidnaping ladies and taking them home.”
Durant continued to smile, “Don’t play innocent with me, Marvin. We’re old pals. We go way back.”
“Don’t play naive with me, Officer Durant. You know how the game is played out.” Marvin mocked again.
The officer’s smile didn’t fade. “Even if I can’t find out what you did with her, you’re still going to take a trip with me downtown.”
“And why’s that?”
“I have a warrant for your arrest.”
Marvin’s smile faded, but he would not resist arrest. He turned around and put his hands behind him.
Durant began cuffing him, “Seems they have you on film harassing a young waitress. It’s not even borderline assault this time. There’s proof.” He pulled Devine out of the apartment and closed the door to it. “Funny how the report seems to have gone missing on it earlier. It’s a good thing I was in the neighborhood this week on work exchange.”
“You always do an outstanding job, Officer.” Marvin agreed as the two walked out to the car.