CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO - THE CLUB TRAIL

After what felt like hours, Mara spotted a bouncer near the VIP section. She approached him, holding up her phone with Clarissa's picture. "Excuse me," she yelled, "have you seen this woman tonight? She's wearing a red dress." The bouncer studied the picture for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I remember her. She was here earlier." Mara's heart leaped. "Is she still here? Where did she go?" The bouncer shook his head. "Nah, she left a while ago. With some guy." Mara's stomach dropped. "What guy? Do you know where they went?" "Sorry, didn't catch which direction they headed," the bouncer shrugged. "The guy was tall, dark hair, looked like money. That's all I got." Deflated, Mara thanked him and went to find the others. They regrouped outside the club, all wearing identical expressions of disappointment and worry. "She was here," Mara informed them, "but she left with some man. The bouncer doesn't know where they went." A heavy silence fell over the group. They were back at square