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Forty Six

Odell

3 days. Demi has been missing for 3 days. The police are finally taking it seriously but knowing that hasn't made this any easier. I don't want to do anything. There's a hole in my heart and the ache is so severe that I'm even struggling to get out of bed. Marissa has been staying over and having her here has been like a comfort blanket. We've been able to comfort each other. Cleo doesn't understand what's going on and she's constantly lying on our bed, on Demi's side. Lani is repeatedly asking why Demi isn't around and we're struggling to find excuses to tell her.

The police checked out Elliot's apartment on the first day and found what I can only call a shrine to Demi. An entire wall was covered in photos of Demi, even photos of her asleep in bed. He's been inside our house. The thought made me angry but it also made me nauseous. I should have been here to protect her.

There was a lead yesterday but it got us nowhere. Someone stated that they saw a man who looked like Elliot walking into a gas station up in Santa Rosa. The police searched every motel in the area but found nothing. They questioned the guy behind the counter of the gas station but he didn't shed any light.

"I'll get it" Marissa called as a knock sounded on the front door. Cleo followed behind her, her tail wagging excitedly. She returned a moment later with Officer James and Henry.

"Morning, Odell."

"Morning" I mumbled, turning back to my coffee.

"We got another call last night" my head shot back to them, my eyes growing wide as I waited for them to continue. "There was another sighting of a man believed to be Elliot, in Salem."

"But that's in Oregon."

"He seems to be moving north" I ran my hand over my head. "There was no mention of him being with a girl. We had police check out every motel in the area and they came back with nothing" my heart sunk into my stomach. I'm going to lose Demi. "We believe...Just one moment" he stopped himself as his phone began to ring. He stepped from the room and I turned to Marissa who had silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I hate this. I just want her back" I nodded, glancing down at my hands as my eyes welled up with tears.

"We need to get to the station" Officer James stepped back into the kitchen with an urgency around him. "We have a lead."

"Can we come with you?"

"Mr Beckham, I don't..."

"Please. I can't sit around any longer. I need to do something" it took a moment for him to cave. I pushed myself up from the stool and went to slide on my shoes. "I'll message my mom to come and watch Cleo" we headed from the house a moment later. I never thought I'd be riding in the back of a police car. It took around 20 minutes to get to the station. Marissa and I followed behind the officers and into the station, we were led into a conference room and I can honestly say that I was surprised to find someone sat beside another officer. I'd say she was in her mid-30s, she had long blonde hair that was tied back into a ponytail and she was wearing very minimal makeup. Officer James signalled for us to take a seat.

"This is Sara" I flashed the blonde a smile which she mirrored. "She's come forward with some information which may help in finding Demi."

"What information?"

"I'm Elliot's older sister" my heart dropped into my stomach. "I-I live in New York so I don't see Elliot often but we do talk" she glanced down at her hands and sighed. "He was always talking about this Demi from work that he had a crush on. I didn't think anything of it. I-I didn't think he was being weird with it. I just thought he was a guy with a crush, but then I saw the article of Demi's disappearance, and that she was 8 months pregnant. I'm so sorry for my messed up brother" her eyes had welled up with tears and I could see that she was genuinely sorry. "I heard that he's heading up north. Our parents have a lake house up in Portland. I've given the police the address" I couldn't help but to start feeling elated. Are we finally going to get Demi home? Is this the lead we needed? Sara's sad eyes were pulled from mine as her phone began to ring. "It's Elliot."

"Don't let him know that..."

"I know" she lifted her phone up and answered it, placing it on speaker. "Hi Bro. How are you?"

"Hey Sis, I'm good. How are you? How's Lily?"

"I'm good. Lily's down for a nap at the minute" she's a good liar. "Are you coming to visit us anytime soon? Lily misses you."

"I-I'm not too sure. I haven't made any plans" we could hear rustling in the background. "I can't promise I'll be able to come for a while, make sure you give her a kiss from me though."

"Why? What's going on?" the officer sat beside her was shaking her head but I wanted her to continue with these questions.

"Nothing, I-I'm just very busy with work. I need to go, Sara, I'll talk to you later" before Sara could speak her farewell, he hung up. I leant back against my seat and sighed.

"We need to get up to Portland, notify the police there in case they see anything that can help" from that moment on, it was a rush. We haven't had a lead this convincing since she went missing. We haven't had a lead like this at all.

"Thank you so much, Sara."

"I can't imagine what you're going through. I hope you bring her and the baby home safe" I flashed her a smile before I ran after the officers with Marissa hot on my tail. Are we finally going to bring Demi home?

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