VALERIE

Sixty Nine

Lightly dabbing at the canvas with her paint brush, Valerie frowned when she heard the faint noises of someone crying.

She looked over at Meeko who was laying down on the guest bed with his ears perked up, Valerie frowned at the incessant noise again before deciding to investigate.

4 am and she herself wondered how Johnny's parents weren't awoken by it.

Slowly creeping down the long hallway, the crying became louder and louder before she stopped at the archway that led into the living room.

Valerie was a little surprised to see Vanessa sitting on the couch beside Johnny with a tissue in her hand.

"I, I just don't know what's wrong with him." She was rubbing underneath her eye with the tissue, "He's suddenly more moody, do you know I haven't seen him in a week? Since my birthday Johnny!"

Johnny shook his head, "Any idea where he could be?"

Vanessa shrugged, "No, he's missing. Even his boss hasn't seen him around and I just don't know what to do with him anymore."

She buried her face into her hands before dramatically looking back at him, she clutched onto his shirt and with wide eyes gasped, "What if.. what if he's dead?"

Valerie scoffed, "Demons don't die."

Both Johnny and Vanessa immediately acknowledged her presence.

Valerie smirked at Vanessa who was trying to regain her composure.

Re-adjusting her hair she smiled, exposing her bright white teeth that were aligned so perfectly, "Johnny are you two?"

Johnny shook his head, "No were just friends."

"Valerie right? I remember Johnny brought you to my friends gala, it's a shame we didn't get to speak."

Valerie raised an eyebrow up at her before speaking, "Nick's missing?"

Vanessa nodded her head slowly.

Contemplating things herself Valerie stayed silent for a while.

If Nick was supposedly missing. Valerie had a strange feeling she knew where he was.

"I think I might know where he is." She said touching her bottom lip, Vanessa smiled and clapped her hands twice, "Great, tell me the address to GPS it."

Valerie shook her head, "It's not a place you can find on your GPS."

//

The gravel under Vanessa's heels cracked loudly as both Valerie and Johnny were walking with her down the damp alley.

Vanessa was terrified at the smells and appearance of the dark trail.

"Why would Nick be in an alley? He isn't like that."

Johnny wanted to laugh but held it in while Valerie didn't care and just chuckled.

"You sure don't know Nick then." She muttered lowly, Vanessa looked at her strangely before grinning.

After a few more minutes, the trio finally arrived at the large steel red door. Valerie was taking a risk coming here. Last time she was here she pointed a gun at some guys head for money. Then it all went to shit.

Valerie knocked on the door only to have a new door man other than Mickey answer it. He stared at the trio in curiosity.

"Can you call Nick out here." Valerie asked the man sweetly.

"Who's asking?" He questioned with his thick gruff voice.

"Vanessa."

"Give me a second to find him."