The Vegas sun was warm on KatyPerry's skin as she soaked it up next to the hotel pool. It was a welcome change from the weather she had left behind in New York. A few hours after Katy's plan took off the whole city was hit with a foot and a half of snow. The flight she was suppose to take out of town tonight was canceled due to the blizzard. The only down side to this was spending another day with her mother. Of course Katy loved the woman, but Katy was hoping to get away one more time without a baby guilt trip from her mother. The only bundle of joy she cared about was the cocaine deal she did while she was in town for the night. 

"Katy."

Mary Hudson, The Mother, said beneath her large brimmed hat. Katy and her mother lounged in side my side chairs next to each other poolside at the Las Vegas Country Club. 

"Do you want to know who I was thinking about just the other day?"

It was one of those questions women that need all the attention on them at all times asks. One word to describe Mary may have been dramatic, but never say the word in her presence. She was obviously above such things. Mary was married to a rich man and was living a very easy life. 

Mother, please tell me. I'm at the tip top of my seat waiting to hear. 

"Miss, don't you sass your mother."

Mary held her champagne glass up so the waiter was able to tip it off.

"Andrea Swift. Didn't she die around this time?"

The second other thing Katy dreaded to have come up in conversation with her mother. 

Mother, must we talk about this right now?

"This is just like you Katy. You are always say I reach out to you, but when I try to have a conversation with you you block me out. Always so busy with work."

Her favorite. The guilt trip. Last month, a year ago was Andrea Swift's funeral. 

-

Oh shit.

KatyPerry had awoken to a phone call in the middle of the night. The voice was familiar, but one she could not place. It didn't help that she was only half awake. Female, panicked, terrorized, trauma. 

What? Who is this?

She asked the stranger on the other end.

"Katy, I'm so sorry for calling so late and so out of the blue. I just....you were the only one I could think of...."

Each time the woman spoke she busted into fresh tears, not even being able to finish. 

"It's Taylor, from Richmond High. I know it's been so long, maybe you don't remember me. We were on the cheerleading squad together, we lived right next to each other, we were pretty much insepriable."

Taylor gulped out for a breath of air. This seemed to allow her to speak more clearly.

"Katy, my mom just died. Richie just told me. I just don't think I can go through this without you."

That's when Taylor really lost it. Katy got a little hard with herself for not being able to instantly recognize Taylor's voice. They had been very best friends until she had left their small town outside of Vegas. They had history, but this was the death of her mother and people change.

"Taylor, I'll be on the first flight out."

-

Mother, you do remember what Taylor said about dad? I understand that she just lost her mother, but the things she said, I will never forgive her. 

"Katy, are you going to be a silly girl forever?"

Mary scoffed at her daughter and Katy picked up her things.

"Now, now, don't leave. I won't talk one more word about her."

Katy had looked over at her mother who had raised her hat. Her mother looked her in the eye. 

"I forgot. I was thinking about her because the girls at the salon were talking about Taylor. Guess she went to New york and no one has heard anything from her for a few weeks. I heard her dad has been pretty torn up."

Mary sniffed her noes as if she was tearing up herself. Katy did everything she could to not roll her eyes.

"After loosing your dad I couldn't imagine losing you to. So please, Katy, if you can do anything to see if you can track her down?"

Katy's mother asked her as if she was a detective. Like this is what she did for a living. 

Mother, she's probably just shacked up with some new boyfriend in the theater district. Two young and dumb love birds escaping from the modern day chains that bind them.

Still pretending to shed a tear, Mary sniffled again.

"Can't you a mother just care for her child?"

The less ground her mother had to stand on to get her way the more irrational she became. Katy gave up before she even let Mary start.

Yes, yes. I will ask around if anyone has seen Taylor Swift. Now, can we please just enjoy the nice weather. 

Katy looked over at her mother only to discover that she was already flipping through the newest issue of Vogue.

- 

Back in New York, KatyPerry made a very nice deal off the coke she picked up in Vegas. She stopped into Dovahkiin's office to let her boss know she was back in town. A quick stop at the shop to get milk and bread and then home. Unfortunately home didn't give Katy the relaxation it promised. When she opened her mail she found a letter from her mother. A newspaper clipping of TaylorSwift's disappearance, a recent picture of the girl and a name, scratched on a piece of paper with a phone number.

 

John Holt
462-555-8725

 

Katy - 

Spoke with Mr. Swift and he is thrilled to know you are looking into the case. He was eager to have me send you some information he felt would be helpful for you. 

-xoxo
Mother

Katy opened the bottle of wine that was on her kitchen counter and went straight to bed. She'd relax with a book and figure out who this John Holt is tomorrow.