Morganville (Justin Bieber)

Chapter 76

Michael didn't come back. Two songs later -- two long songs -- Eve finally got Justin to look for him, and the three of us moved out through the bottom floor, checking out the rooms (all packed) and not finding Michael anywhere. In the hall bathroom a line of people were waiting for the toilet, but no sign of a tall, gorgeous vampire.

When we went up the big, sweeping steps toward the second floor, I couldn't help but think about Rhett Butler carrying Scarlett. My mom loved that movie. I'd always thought it was boring, but that scene stayed with me, and I could almost see it in this house. But instead of Scarlett, Monica Morrell was still standing at the top of the steps, surrounded by her protective circle of toadies. Gina and Jennifer were back, each wearing a dress that was plainer than what Monica had on, but in complementary colors. Her very own backup group. There were a couple of other girls in the crowd, but mostly it was guys -- good looking, polished types. The entitled of Morganville, and every one of them was wearing a bracelet.

"Well," Monica said. "Look who's coming up in the world." Her crowd laughed. Monica's eyes were vicious. If she'd been sort of human when we'd been alone in the coffee shop, she'd gotten over it. "Scrubs stay downstairs. We're going to have to have the place gutted and rebuilt anyway, after this."

"Yeah, I'll bet Daddy's going to be furious when he gets home," Eve said. "I meant to ask, is that dress vintage? Because I could swear I saw it on my mother once." She swept up, heading straight for one of Monica's big strong linebacker types; he looked confused, and edged out of her way. Justin and I followed. Monica was dangerously silent, probably realizing that any comeback she could try would sound cheap.

"We're going to have trouble getting out of here," Justin said. It was quieter upstairs, although the continuing clamor downstairs throbbed through the floor and walls. The hallway was deserted, and all the doors were closed. It was lined with expensive portraits and framed formal photographs of the Morrell family. Not surprisingly, Monica took a lovely picture. I had never seen Mrs. Mayor, but there she was in the family photos -- a wispy, half-ethereal woman always looking somewhere other than her family. Unhappy, somehow. Richard Morrell seemed grounded and adapted to this town, and of course so did the Mayor; Monica might not be stable, but she was definitely Morganville material.

Her mom, maybe not so much.

"Wonder where her parents are?" I said aloud.

"Out of town," Eve said. "So I heard, anyway. Bet they'll just love getting back to find somebody did an Extreme Home Makeover, Crackhead Edition." She tested the doorknob of the first room on the left. Locked. Justin tried the one on the right, opened it, and leaned in. He leaned out again, eyebrows arched.

"Well, that's new," he said. I tried to lean past him to look. He put his big hand over my eyes. "Trust me, you're not old enough. I'm not old enough." He carefully shut the door. "Moving on."

I opened the next room, and for a second I couldn't figure out what I was seeing. Once I did, I couldn't speak. I backed up and touched Justin wordlessly on the shoulder and pointed.

There were three guys in the room, and a girl on the bed, and she was passed out. They were taking off her pantyhose.

"Shit," Justin said, and moved me back. "Eve, call the cops. Now. Time to shut this crap down before somebody gets really hurt."

Eve got out her cell phone and dialed, and Justin went into the room and closed the door. He came back after about a minute with the unconscious girl in his arms. "Anybody know who she is?"

I shook my head. "What about those guys?"

"They're sorry," Justin said. "Eve? You recognize her?"