Okay! So this seriously needs help! I had such bad writer's block and after I got over it I wrote this. Suggestioins are very much appreciated!
Chapter 6
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. She’s probably halfway home by now. Even if she’s not, my team will find her,” I soothed the mother. Her teenage daughter had just gone missing and she was frantic.
“Don’t you dare tell me that!” The woman snapped angrily. I watched her pace back and forth and back and forth across their kitchen floor. She wouldn’t stop and it was driving me crazy. I hated it when people paced like that. It meant they were worried, agitated, overlooking our ability to do our job.
“I will tell you that. Do you know why? ‘Cause my team is the best that you’ll ever find. I just need your help and cooperation. I need you to answer my questions.”
She stopped pacing long enough to glare at me. “Fine, I’ll answer your questions. You still won’t be able to find her.”
I took a deep breath and shifted in the wooden dining chair I was seated in. This was going to be a very long evening. “Alright, first off I need you to give me a picture or her so that we know what she looks like.”
She plodded off into their living room without a word. I stared at the clock on the stove. Five seventeen p.m. I could hear her mother rummaging around. She grunted a few times and screeched in fury every so often. I began to wonder if she was being mauled by an otter. I laughed at the thought. I’m usually understanding with my clients, but she was being ridiculous. Most mothers would be worried, but they would cooperate and give us what we needed to find their children and loved ones. This one was different, she had already lost hope and it had been just over twenty-four hours. I examined the cream coloured walls, lost in thought. I was trying to make connections already, and all I knew was that the mother’s name was something close to Amanda Burlington and her daughter was Lakisha. Lakisha had been on her way back from a late-running guitar lessons and never showed up. Her mother had called the office six times, each to be told that it wouldn’t be counted as a missing person’s case until after twenty- four hours. Perhaps the guitar teacher had something to do with it? Or what if... What if I wasn’t crazy? What if the girl in the alley way had actually been Lakisha Burlington?
“Found one,” Amanda growled, shoving it at my face.
I blinked and took it. Long brown hair, brown eyes, average height, skinny. Not stunningly beautiful, but not ugly either. I furrowed my brow. Hadn’t the girl in the alley had long brown hair? I hadn’t seen her eyes, but the hair had the same texture; fairly wavy and quite dark. I tried not to show my shock. “I can’t believe it!” Oops... too late.
“Believe what?” Amanda demanded, crossing her arms across her chest. At least she wasn’t pacing.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, pocketing the photo, “Could you tell me if she would have had any reason to run away? Family strain or a lost loved one?” I stared into her eyes, trying to send the message that I was dead serious. I meant business and I didn’t want more attitude.
“Not that I’m aware of. She lost her father four years ago, but why would she choose to run now?” Her voice softened and I watched her eyes grow moist.
“No, I don’t think she would run now. I think I have a haunch already, but that’s classified. Give me a call if you hear anything that could be of help to our efforts.” I handed her a card and shook her hand.
“Larry Larogoo?” I heard her mutter when I turned my back. I opened the door, rolling my eyes. She had pronounced it wrong. The two O’s at the end sounded like one long O. I shut the door behind me and plodded down the front steps. I opened the door to my police cruiser and slipped inside.
~*~
“Hey! I’m home!” I called as I opened the front door to my apartment. My wife, Lisa and my son, Cameron had been out on a vacation. I couldn’t afford to take another week off, so I had to stay behind at the office. They were due home an hour ago.
“Hey hun!’ My wife called, appearing in the doorway. I walked up to her and kissed her lightly on the head.
“How was B.C?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Beautiful. I wish you could have gone with us,” She kissed my lips. Oh, how I had missed her.
“Okay seriously?” My son asked, eyebrow raised. Where had he come from?
“Hey buddy!” I called, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and squeezing him.
He rolled his eyes and walked back into the living room. “Son, you’re sixteen years old, I’d think you’d be into kissing.” I stepped past Cameron and took a whiff of the air. It smelled good, like home-cooking; something I hadn’t experienced in just barely over a week. I was getting sick of hot wings and pizza everyday for lunch and supper. “Smells good. What’s for supper?”
My wife beamed. “Roast beef and scalloped potatoes. That’s okay right?”
“Definitely! Anything home-cooked is okay,” I replied, shrugging out of my jacket and slinging it across a chair. “I’ve got a new case,” I said absently.
“I heard. What’s this one?” My wife asked, adding garlic pepper to the slow cooker.
Cameron bounded into the room, suddenly interested in me again. “A murder? Grand theft auto?” his eyes were curious and I laughed.
“No. Do you know a girl named Lakisha? She goes to your school,” I answered. My son might be able to help.
“Yeah, she’s in my history class. Why?” He crossed his arms and leaned on the wall.
“She’s missing. I suppose you wouldn’t know so much that could help me since you’ve missed school for a week now.” I stared at my son intently. If he knew anything that could help... That proved my haunch wrong, I would be eternally grateful.
He shook his head and claimed he hadn’t heard anything. “We were partners for the science fair. She’s really sweet, I don’t see why anybody would murder her.” He looked concerned.
“Woah there kiddo! She’s missing, not murdered.” I stared at my son. There was something in his eyes. He was hiding something. I raised an eyebrow and brushed past him. He knew something and that I didn’t.
I walked into my home office and sat down in front of my Dell laptop. I flipped it open and hit the power button. I entered my password quickly and went straight to the internet. Nothing new on the police website. I closed it off and leaned back in my office chair, running a hand through my short blonde hair. Had she really disappeared?
I'm also still really liking your plot idea. It's the kind of thing that I really like to read!