Tutor

Forty Five

Odell

"What do you mean you can't declare her a missing person until it's been 24 hours?" I can't describe the anger I feel bubbling away inside me. "Demi is 8 months pregnant and she's missing, that should be top priority" Marissa placed her hand on my arm and I turned to her, softening slightly at her gaze.

"Arguing isn't going to make them search harder, Odell" I sighed, glancing back to Officer James and Henry.

"So, you're going to do nothing for the next 24 hours?"

"24 hours or not, we are still going to take this seriously, Mr Beckham" I rubbed at my eyes and then sighed. "Would Demi have any reason to leave town?" I couldn't believe I was being asked this question. She's 8 months pregnant. What the fuck?

"No."

"Does she have any family out of state that she could want to visit?" are these officers serious right now?

"She's 8 months pregnant and she went missing at midnight, without her phone and without her car. No, she wouldn't."

"That doesn't answer my question, Mr Beckham. Does Demi have any family out of state?"

"Her dad lives in New York, but they don't really talk" Marissa spoke for me, obviously able to sense my anger at this entire situation. I can't believe they're asking such stupid questions. "She doesn't have any other family" Officer James nodded as Officer Henry jotted this all down. "But you may want to look closely into one of her colleagues."

"Who?"

"Elliot Chance. I think he may have had something to do with all of this" if he did, I will kill him.

"How so?"

"She's been scared of him since she started to work there. He's always inappropriate around her. It wouldn't surprise me if he was somehow involved in all of this."

"And that's Elliot Chance?"

"Yeah, he works at Hope's Animation" Officer Henry jotted it down. "He was at the party last night, he-he wouldn't leave her alone" my eyes widened as I turned to Marissa.

"And you left her alone?" Marissa's eyes met mine and I shook my head, turning away from her as my anger grew.

"He wasn't in there when we left. I'm so sorry, Odell. If anything happens to her or the baby, I will never forgive myself" tears began to pour down her cheeks and my heart broke. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her into me, holding onto her tighter as she sobbed. I could feel my own eyes beginning to well up with tears.

"Do you know if Elliot had any family in LA?"

"I don't know him personally. I just know that Demi found him very unsettling."

"Has Demi reported him at all?"

"No, she didn't think anyone would believe her" Officer James nodded. "I kept telling her to report him but she wouldn't."

"I understand. We'll look into him as soon as we can."

"What do we do now then?"

"We'll be in contact when we hear something."

"There's nothing we can do?" Officer James sent me a small and sympathetic smile.

"I'm afraid not."

"So, I just need to stay at home, worrying about my pregnant girlfriend who you aren't actually going to report missing until it's been 24 hours?" they didn't need to reply for me to know the answer. "Please, let me know if you hear anything."

"We will, Mr Beckham, and if you think of anything else that might help, you can call us on this number" he pulled a small card from his pocket and passed it over to me. I shoved it into my pocket, glancing to Marissa as she pulled away from me and quickly wiped at her cheeks. The officers walked away from us.

"They're going to find her, Odell."

"They better."

-

"Hi Ba..." mom stopped herself mid-sentence. She stood in the doorway, her eyebrows furrowing as her eyes ran along me and Marissa who probably looked a mess as we stood on the porch. "Is everything okay?" I shook my head before I spoke.

"Demi's missing" she gasped her hand flying to cover her mouth as her eyes welled up with tears.

"You're not serious?"

"She went missing early this morning, the police are currently looking into it but they can't report it until it's been 24 hours" a lump suddenly formed in my throat. "She went to a colleagues retirement party last night and she never came home" my mom stepped up to me and locked her arms around me. "Her car is still in the parking lot and her phone was by the entrance" tears pricked at the back of my eyes as I locked my arms around my mom. "Mom, I'm so scared" she tightened her grip around me.

"I know, Baby, but they'll find her. They will."

"Delly" I pulled away from my mom and quickly wiped at my cheeks as Lani skipped her way down the stairs. She threw herself at my legs and giggled.

"Morning Princess" she pulled from my legs and glanced to Marissa. My mom was rapidly wiping at her cheeks.

"Where Demi?" her little eyebrows were furrowed as she glanced back up at me. She sucked in her lower lip and turned to my mom who was still quietly crying. "Why you crying?"

"Nothing for you to worry about, Honey. Shall we get you some breakfast before we take you to day-care?" she nodded, not asking for any further explanation as she held her arms up. Mom lifted her up and onto her hip, carrying her into the kitchen. Marissa and I followed behind her. I slid onto the stool beside Lani who was waiting patiently for her breakfast.

"Demi at work?" I glanced briefly to my mom who glanced at me over her shoulder, she gave me a subtle nod.

"Yeah, Princess. Marissa's here to keep me company" Lani giggled, turning to mom as she slid a bowl of cereal to her.

"Thanks Mommy."

"You're welcome" I glanced to mom as Lani tucked into her breakfast. "You want anything, Honey?"

"No, I'm alright, Mom" even though I said that the raise of her eyebrows told me that she didn't believe me and she turned to make me and Marissa some breakfast anyway.

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