"Firsttimeshecameherefornoodles,Inoticedherrightaway.Woresomeoutdatedolddress.Fiwobowlsinonego—hungrylikeshehadenindays.Someguypaidherbill,awalkedoffwithhim.I''''''''vetalkedtoher.She''''''''sanorphan,livingwithherfosterfathernow."
"Youknow,aman,"Hesaidwithachuckle."Gothimselfagrown-upfhter,hehe."
Hetiltedthebottle,watgtheliquorslosh.
"We''''''''regivinggirlslikethatacethey''''''''reout,followtherightman,andaslongastheypytheircardsright,they''''''''lleatwell,livesoft.Thelues?Youcouldn''''''''tdreamofhavingtheirlife."
Thesonfellsilent.Theoldermanpattedhimontheshoulder.
"Gogetsomesleep.Weopenearlytomorrow."
Hepaused,aglintofcalcutioninhiseyes.
"Ifyou''''''''rereallyworriedaboutthatman,"headded,"I''''''''lltakehertothe''''''''shipment''''''''myselftomorrow.It''''''''sarush,Iknow—buthenightbreedtrouble."
***
Jundidn''''''''tsleepthatnight.Instead,hespentthehoursbingthroughthefilesofthetwomissinggirls.
OhemhadworkedatRedLanternforhalfayearbeforeshevanished—simplyfailedtoshowuponem.Herroommate,alsoanundotedimmigrant,wastooscaredtoreportit.
Theonlyreasonthecaseeveintothesystemwasbecauseamansheowedmoogotnervousshe''''''''dskippedtownandcalledthepolicehimself.
Whenthepolicequestioherestaurantowner—oldHessel—aboutwhyhehadn''''''''treportedhisemployeemissing,he''''''''dshruggeditoff.Saidthepcewasbusy,hedidn''''''''thavetimetochaseafterfkyworkers.pihatcash-paidstaffswereunreliable—thisonehadevenstolenfromhisregisterandrunoff,orsohecimed.
Thenthecopsaskedwhyhehadn''''''''treportedthetheft.
Hesseljustugheditoff."Notmuey,"he''''''''dsaid."Fetit."
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