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Pandora's Children - Part 19

"Where's the club? What's it called?" Jaci asked.

"It's on McCart. A basement club. It's called #Alcoholiday," Sarah answered.

"I've heard of it. Cops are frequently called to deal with angry drunks or sexual assaults there."

"Why am I not surprised," Jaci muttered.

***

"Do you know what days she plays at the club?" I asked.

Sarah shook her head. "You'd have to check with the club. I know the band is called #Ragpicker and the Bums. She's the lead guitarist."

"That's an odd name for a band," Jaci replied. "Who's the lead singer?"

***

"The lead singer is Dana Weals. She used to be known as #Rainwater," Sarah answered.

"I have all of her albums," Jaci said. "I always wondered what happened to her. She just dropped off the face of the Earth."

"Actually, she joined Pandora's Children. She got out too."

***

"How did she get out?" I asked.

"Grace expects a certain level of maturity and intelligence from her girls. Dana was one of those. She wasn't mature. She was always smoking, and when Grace needed her to do something, she was always #baked. Grace had to let her go."

***

"What do you mean, Grace let her go?"

"She figured that if Dana disappeared, people would talk. It was easier to just let her go, but she did do one thing to make sure Dana didn't talk. She cut out her tongue."

"That's why Dana's not singing," Jaci said. "What #bathos."

***

"Wait a minute," Jaci said. "I thought you said that Grace allowed her to leave once a week."

"Let's not have any #arglebargle," I interjected.

"I was getting to that," Sarah replied. "Dana didn't want to stay out, and kept going back, so Grace kept her under wraps."

***

"I doubt she'll be of much help if she can't talk," Jaci said.

"She communicates perfectly well with sign language," Sarah countered.

"Perfect. Let's go talk to her."

"Now?" Sarah asked.

"Now," I said. "I have a good feeling about today."

"If wishes were #horses."

***

As we were leaving the shelter area a young girl ran up to Sarah. "Where you goin', Miss Sarah?"

"I'm going to see some friends, Jayla, but I'll be back, OK?" She looked down and added, "You need to tie your #shoelaces up."

"Yes, Miss Sarah," she said and knelt down.

***

As we drove toward the club, Jaci sat in the back with Sarah because she didn't quite trust the young woman. It was obvious that Grace was a #chimera, and I wondered if her followers were the same. I glanced back and Sarah seemed a little nervous, maybe it was about Dana.

***

"How far is the club from here?" Jaci asked.

"We're about #nine minutes away," I answered, glancing at the GPS.

"What are we going to do when we get there?" Jaci wondered aloud. "Ask her if she has any leverage against Grace?"

"Basically. Did you have a better idea?"

***

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