Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18 Miss JT

Joy

I entered my office building with a cup of coffee in one hand and a small briefcase in the other. I was wearing a chiffon white button down blouse, a light gray pantsuit, and silver strappy high heeled sandals.

“Good morning, Miss JT,” my receptionist said. I nodded my head at her and proceeded to my

office.

My secretary was already waiting for me with my schedule.

“Miss JT, your team is in the conference room and here is your schedule for today,” she said.

“Thank, Emily,” I said, grabbing the sheet of paper. “If my parents call, please tell me.”

“Sure thing, Miss JT.”

After I graduated college, I took a job as a rookie agent at a sports agency and worked my way to the top. When I closed a deal with my first super star athlete, I decided it was time to put up my own sports agency. Currently, I have a long list of distinguished and highly-paid athletes being managed by my company and so far, it has been profita

profitable.

While I was a struggling rookie agent, the boys wanted to put up the capital so I could start my own agency, because they didn’t like seeing me under so much stress. However, I wanted to do everything on my own. It did take me several years to get where I’m currently at, but I did it. Ultimately, the agency is my business and mine alone.

It wasn’t easy. I actually wanted to throw in the towel numerous times as I started my career. If it weren’t for the support of my parents and my three partners, I would have. Thank G od, I preservered. Now, I was successful.

My parents were currently vacationing in Europe. As an anniversary present, I gave them their dream honeymoon, touring France, Venice, Italy, the Vatican, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. They call me every morning, so I was expecting their call.

I walked into the conference hall and smiled at my team of agents.

“Good morning everyone! Who do you have for me today?”

I was delegating work to my team and preparing to head to a photoshoot for a star player

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OFTER 18 Miss JT

whey phone began to ring. My mother was calling.

Hey! How are the Swiss Alps treating you?” I asked.

“It’s gorgeous, honey. I wish you could be here,” she answered.

Then it wouldn’t be called a honeymoon,” I said, giggling.

Thm, honey, I have a favor to ask you. Do you remember Old Man Eugene? She asked. I paused, stood up from my chair and walked into my office, closing the door behind me. It’s been years since my parents mentioned anyone from New Salem.

“Yes. Mom. He owns the pub at New Salem. What about him?” I asked.

“Well, his granddaughter is missing and he called your father hoping to borrow some money to help find her,” she answered. “Is it possible for you to send him some money for us?”

“Sure. Mom. Can you send me his details, so I can send the money right away?” I asked.

Does he need anything else?”

Prayers. His granddaughter’s name is Joan Summers. She’s suppose to graduate high school at the end of the the school year. Please include her in your prayers tonight, Joy,” my mom

said.

“Will do. Don’t forget to send Old Man Eugene’s information. Tell Dad I said hi. Love you.” I said and hung up. My phone pinged right after with a message of the bank information of Old Man Eugene.

“Emily, kindly tell Layla and Austin I need them in my office now. Thank you.” I told my

rough the intercom. Layla and Austin were my best senior agents.

?” Layla popped her head through the doorway of my office. I gestured for come in and handed them my schedule.

“I need you and Austin to do everything on my schedule. I have a family emergency that I have to look into.” They both looked at me, puzzled.

“I thought you parents are touring Europe, Austin mumbled while scanning the sheet of

paper.

“Extended family. Tell Liberty I’ll make it up to her and tell Ben I’ll call him later, I instructed while sorting my stuff in my purse. “Buy them lunch and charge it using your

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CHAPTER 15 Miss JT

Company credit cards.

“Anywhere?” Layla asked, already smiling wickedly.

“Anywhere. I gotta go. Call me if you guys encounter any problems.” I said before leaving.

I whipped out my phone and dialed. Cristos immediately picked up.

“Hi, honey! Do you miss me already? Cristos asked, amused I was calling him when we just had breakfast together.

“Like the moon misses the stars, I answered which was code that I needed something

“What’s up?” He sounded serious. I entered my car before answering.

“I’m on my way to you. I need a couple of favors. One. I need you to send ten thousand dollars to a Eugene Summers of New Salem, North Dakota with bank account number fifteen. thirty-five, twenty-one, fifteen, forty-five, ten. Use one of your untraceable accounts. Second, Ineed you to investigate a Joan Summers, aged seventeen or eighteen, a senior at New Salem High.” I turned on the ignition of my car and went to speaker phone.

“One-five-three-five-two-one-one-five-four-five-one-zero. Got it. What is this all about?” Cristos asked. I could hear him clicking on his computer.

“Eugene Summers is a close friend of my dad’s. His granddaughter, Joan Summers, is missing, I said. I heard more clicking and some mumbling.

“Joan Summers. There’s a newspaper article on Jpan Summers dated a few days ago. It says here the Sheriff does not suspect any foul play. According to him, Joan Summers is believed to have an unknown online lover and he suspects she might have eloped. Hang on,” Cristos said. “I just pulled her file from the school. She is an excellent student, with an almost 4.0 GPA and has been accepted NYU. The Sheriff’s story doesn’t fit her profile,” Cristos murmured. I’ll dig some more.

“Alright. I’ll see you in a bit. I hung up and dialed Xavier, hoping he would answer. Usually when he’s at the shooting range, he puts his phone on silent.

Luckily, he did.

“Hey, Joy! Is this about date night tomorrow? Don’t worry, I have it all planned out,” he greeted me.

315

honey & cm, need a few. These contacts of yours in Bismarck, North Dakota, are they

do you need?

I need them to poke their nose into a missing girl case. Joan Summers. Whatever they can

find. 10 p k.” I told Xavier.

No need to pay. They owe me a debt. Where is this girl from?” He asked.

New Salem, North Dakota.” I answered. He suddenly went into a coughing fit. It took him several moments to compose himself.

7m sorry, I thought you just said New Salem.” he croaked, his voice raspy from coughing.

Tes, Javier. I last 6. Joan Summers is the granddaughter of an old friend of my dad’s. Can you do this one little favor for me?” I asked sweetly. “Pretty please?”

You know I can’t say no to you. I’ll call you when I get something.” he said.

“Sure. I’m heading to Cristos right now. If you want, you can meet us at his bar.”

Taking a day off from work,

Bays there.”

The next call was to Sebastian.

uh?” I heard him sigh. “It’s that important. Okay, I’ll meet you

Toy, what a surprise! Do you want to meet up for lunch?” He asked.

Yeah, something like that. I need you to meet me at Cristos bar. There’s something really important I need to discuss with you. It can’t wait.”

“What is this all about? Don’t tell me you’re breaking up with us?” He asked, concerned. I

giggled.

“No, silly. You guys are my sun, my moon and my stars, I said, alerting him. “Something. came up at my old town. A girl is missing.”

“It’s a family emergency. Sure, I’m leaving the cleaner’s now.”

When we were all at Cristos bar, the meeting commenced.

“What do you have, Cristos?” Sebastian asked.

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CHAPTER 18 Miss JT

“Joan Summers, seventeen years old, auburn colored hair, five foot six in height, went missing on the night of her spring formal. She was said to be wearing a blue gown with white sandals. She was last spotted talking to one of her teachers at the auditorium. She excused herself to use the bathroom and never came back. They noticed her missing because she was supposed to make a short speech.” Cristos slid a sheet of paper in front of us. “This

is her file.”

was

“Student body president and organizer of the spring formal, with an almost perfect GPA. She

in the running to be class valedictorian. Already accepted to NYU. I found nude photos. of her circulating on social media. Sheriff has already made a statement about an unknown online lover. Rumors say she has been selling sexual favors online,” Cristos said.

“I found something interesting though. One student said she was being followed by the

mayor… a Mayor Liam Cohen. And check this out. He, then, slid a print out of a photo in

front of us. “On the eve of the New Salem High Spring Formal, aside from Mayor Liam Cohen, Councilman Cristian Murdock, New Salem Auditor Daniel Williams and Undersheriff

Jackson Emery were all in attendance. I bet you ten grand the four of them had something to do with Joan Summers’ disappearance.”

My hands tightened around the handle of my purse. I had a feeling the four ba stards from my past had something to do with her disappearance.

“So she’s been missing for over two weeks. That doesn’t sound very promising,” Sebastian

said, staring at the picture. Suddenly, Xavier’s phone rang. He excused himself to take the

call.

“But we have to find her, Sebastian,” I pleaded. I owe Old Man Eugene a debt.”

“I know, Joy, but usually in cases like this, with all the viscious lies spreading and nude photos, we aren’t going to find her alive.”

“Sebastian’s right,” Xavier said sadly. The conversation he just had didn’t bring good news.

“I’m so sorry, Joy.”

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