Cursed Agent (On Hold.)

Chapter 7

Stephanie's POV

"Hayley's gonna be real mad," I mutter," First we lose Layla then we don't spy on Rosemary."

Mark just snorts,"I don't give a shit what she thinks."

"When we're in such lowly positions and she's in such a high position, we should care." I mimic in my best Hayley impersonation.

We both laugh and for a moment the tension is gone.

But after a moment Mark remembers he's mad at me and clears his throat.

"Have you called Teresa?" I ask, changing the subject.

Teresa works with Mark back at the agency, and she's the only other person who doesn't like Hayley.

I wouldn't say we were friends but she's the only person we can trust to help us find Layla.

At first I didn't want her help but after we spent hours looking for her - so long we even skipped on scouting out Rosemary - I decided we needed help.

"Yea. Should be here any moment now." Mark answers almost robotically.

I sigh. He can't be that mad at me can he?

We are currently in the cafe Layla works in, outside the mall.

I thought it was the most obvious place to start looking.

I figured we could try the mall and where she works because they're the only places she ever goes.

But obviously Layla knew we would look here and went somewhere else.

That girl is smarter than I give her credit for.

"Ahh, here you are. Don't worry Teresa is in the house!" I look over and see Teresa standing there smiling smugly.

"You mean the cafe." I correct.

She just rolls her eyes and sits down.

"So, where have you looked?"

"Everywhere in the Mall." Mark answers.

"That's it?" Teresa looks a bit shocked.

"Yea, we don't know where else she would go, she only ever comes here." I answer.

"Riiight." Teresa says, "Well no wonder you called me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask indignantly.

"It means that Layla's not going to hide in the one place she knows you'll look. Is there anywhere else she's gone, or you've gone together?" Teresa asks acting the detective now.

I think about it.

Just as I'm about to say no a thought springs to mind.

"Well, when Layla first moved in, I wanted to show her around so I took her to 'Central Park' and she got pooped on by a bird and it ruined her top, not that she didn't have another one she has heaps, and I tried to make her feel better so we went to the coffee shop and they had awful coffee and she said it was the worst place ever and that she hated it and would never come again." The words were rushing out now and I didn't even have time to breathe.

When I finished I looked up, to see both Teresa and Mark staring at me.

I groan.

"That's where she went isn't it?"

Teresa nods with a 'well, duh' look on her face.

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"Err. I swore she would be here." Teresa groans.