Once again Ellie was sitting in the dressing room of the club. Her two shows were over and she’d already cleaned off her make-up ready to go home.
‘Great spots today Ellie,’ said Alfonzo entering the dressing room unannounced.
He was, thought Ellie, about fifty-years-old. He had thinning black hair, obviously dyed, with a fleshy bald spot in the top centre. He stood only five-feet tall but wore thick heeled shoes to add a couple more inches to his height. He was overweight and sweated profusely, even when standing still.
‘Thanks Alfie,’ she said smiling at him through the mirror. She called him Alfie because she knew he liked it. ‘By the way… Alfie, did you think anymore about that raise I asked you for?’ Ellie watched again in the mirror as his expression changed.
He dabbed his forehead with his handkerchief whilst puffing out a laboured breath. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said in reply. ‘Perhaps I could take you out for dinner sometime, and we could… you know, kind of discuss it?’ he added wiping the sweat from his face and neck.
Ellie stood reaching for her coat and said matter-of-factly. ‘Forget it Al, I’ll work tomorrow and then I’m gone.’
Alfonzo also stood and wiped his head once more. ‘Okay okay,’ he said raising his hands in defeat. ‘You win; you get the raise starting Monday.’
‘Thanks Alfie,’ she said, and taking his handkerchief she rubbed a small spot on his bald patch. Bending down she kissed him on the dry bit. ‘I thought you’d see it my way. Oh, one other thing, no more schoolgirl uniform. Give it one of the other girls.’ Ellie promptly left the dressing room and the club.
She waved to another dancer as she walked out into the alley, when she reached the street she noticed two police cruisers and what could only have been an unmarked parked outside Louigi’s café. She knew Louigi fairly well and went over to see what'd happened.
When she reached the far sidewalk two policemen exited the café. ‘Hey Frank…’ she called. Frank was one of Ellie’s regulars and had been for years; when he was off duty of course. He started towards Ellie and that’s when she saw a grim look on his face.
Ellie looked a little closer; she noticed Frank was carrying something, some books, Alicia’s books. She’d recognised the flowered design Alicia drew on them. Ellie’s heart stopped. Her chest became tight. She found it difficult to breathe and steadied herself on one of the police cars.
Frank passed the books to his colleague and took hold of Ellie’s upper arms to stop her from falling. ‘Ellie,’ he said trying to snap her back. ‘Come on, let’s get you inside and sat down.’
Inside Louigi’s Frank sat Ellie on a chair and sat beside her. ‘Hey Lou,’ he yelled. ‘Can we get some water over here please?’
‘What’s happened? Where’s Alicia?’ Ellie couldn’t believe she'd actually said these words. It'd sounded like someone else, a voice she'd never heard before.
‘We think…’ said Frank pausing. ‘We think she may have been kidnapped.’
‘Think, you think. What do you mean… think?’ Ellie shouted in sheer disbelief.
Frank took hold of her hand and leaned in closer. ‘Louigi said she ran through his kitchen and when he followed her out the back…’ Frank knew this next bit of information was going to be a bombshell. ‘When he followed her out back… he saw two men put her in their car and drive off. We found this near the entrance to the alley.’ He showed Ellie a white rag, and although it was dry, it had been soaked with chloroform. ‘It’s their calling card.’ He added.
Louigi brought over a glass and a jug of water. ‘Ellie, if there is anything I can do...’
Frank looked at Louigi and shook his head. Louigi nodded once and moved away blinking rapidly at the sting in his eyes.
‘Find her Frank, find her for me.’ She pleaded.
Frank nodded solemnly, knowing they were still looking for eight other young girls who'd been abducted recently by the same people, and so far they’d got absolutely nowhere with their inquiries.
Frank passed Ellie a business card. ‘Look Ellie, give these guys a call. They’re old friends of mine, tell them I sent you. They’re good Ellie, really good. In the meantime you’ve got the Richmond police force looking as well.’
Ellie took the card but wasn’t taking in what was being said to her. Her daughter was missing, no one knew where she was, no one knew who, or why she'd been taken. No one knew... no one!
