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Chapter 16- Lexie

The warm scents of pine and cinnamon potpourri were brewing on the stove, Christmas music blaring from the speakers, and a bottle of white wine sitting on the table waiting to be opened. The past few weeks had been stressful with finals and knowing someone was abducting girls resembling Kate.

As soon as I saw the second missing girl I contacted the police. It was more than a coincidence that the strange man was seen with both before their disappearance. They informed me a detective would stop by to get a statement.

Matt joked it was my over-imaginative mind acting up from built-up sexual tension and I needed to get laid. So when a good-looking man with curly blonde hair showed up on my doorstep, I thought it was a trick. He introduced himself as Mike and was dressed in everyday clothing.

I played along with the joke, pulling some dollar bills from my purse and sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. He didn't think my actions were funny and only after showing his detective badge did I believe him.

My life began to look up and it seemed as if Chris had moved on with his also. He was amicable whenever we met, even saying greeting me by name.  I assumed Caroline was the reason for his attitude change towards me and was happy for him.  However my feeling hadn't disappeared, so I made sure to keep our greetings brief as a way of controlling my emotions. It was difficult hearing his voice.

The search for the missing girls continued and the strange man was not found. Kate and I kept a low profile, staying close to home at night. I began to wonder if I had overreacted about the strange man and the resemblance of the girls to Kate. 

Kate wasn't worried about the coincidences and planned a girl's night out with Kim and Lisa before Christmas break. She was leaving a few days early to avoid an expected winter storm and I was staying to work and spend some alone time with Mike. We were becoming good friends with his daily visits and I hoped it would become more.

"I hear you are staying around for a week," Kim said as we sat down at the bar.

"Yes, I have to work, so I'll be pretty busy," I confirmed. I didn't want Kim to interrupt my time with Mike.

"Great.  I have my Christmas party tomorrow. Do you want to be my date?"

I didn't want to spend any extra time with Kim and not in the Christmas party mood.   "I was thinking of just relaxing for the weekend. Besides they are predicting a pretty good snowstorm."

"Come on.  It's at the new martini bar downtown and drinks are free," she grinned, knowing I loved martinis.

Kate chimed in. "Lexie, you've wanted to go there forever.  They play all that old jazz music you like."

Kim worked for the city and I could imagine what her coworkers were like; a bunch of married couples in their 40 and 50's talking about their kids. However, I wanted to see the place and loved the sound of free martinis.

"Come on.  We don't have to go until the band starts at 8," Kim pleaded. "It'll l be fun."

"Wait, what kind of dress code is it?"

Kate laughed spitting out her drink.  "Lex, you're always worried about what to wear. Just borrow something from my closet."

"It's casual and jeans are fine," Kim added.

I just received a nice Christmas bonus from work and already decided to go shopping with it. My dull Minnesota complexion and hair needed some brightening. I looked down at my frumpy sweater compared to Kim, Lisa, and Kate in their cute trendy outfits.  I needed an update to my wardrobe.