The Callahan Archives (In The Shadows)

three.

The next day

[•••]

Arrow.

Cam and I stood in Bernards office, in front of his desk. I'm pretty pumped we have a mission to go on, it's been quiet around here lately.

"Your mission today is to investigate this hotel." He handed me a folder and a paper with an address on it, "Multiple people have been reported missing in the last few weeks, most of them being young women and children last seen at the hotel. Let us know what you find, call for backup when arrests need to be made."

"Gotcha," I muttered as I flipped through the folder, Cam gazed over to the folder in my hands.

"Damn, seven missing peoples cases?" She exclaimed with a worried look plastered on her face.

"Horrible, but it could be worse." I reply "Now, what's the plan then?" I ask Bernard.

"You two are to go in there and act like you're getting a hotel room, we don't have a solid lead for who the perpetrator is, so look for anything suspicious, but do not get yourselves in trouble." He said, dragging out the last part and nodding in my direction.

"What?" I questioned.

"You're reckless, that why you were on suspension for a while. Get people hurt again and you're gone." Cam answered for him, and I sighed in annoyance. "Let's get going, but get out of your uniform first." She sighed and turned for the door.

"Aw but I look so good today." I whined. I basically heard the eye rolls that came from my coworker and superior.

Cam just scoffed "Arrow, go." She basically pulled me out of the room with her.

"Yes I'm going, good lord." So she pulled me along. I went and changed into a pair of jeans and a basic shirt and a hoodie, still keeping my knifes and important gadgets on me just in case. But I found it weird wearing this, I never usually wear shit like this, i'm always in work clothes.

I walk back into Bernards office, and Cam standing arms crossed, was ready and waiting in a big poofy sweater and shorts. I quickly averted my eyes. It felt weird to look at her right now and I have no idea why.

"Ready?" Camari asked smiling. I looked back at her.

"Yep, as always." I replied.

[•••]

We arrived at the hotel around afternoon time. I looked out the car window. Our car looked like any other car, to blend in of course. The hotel looked like a very high end place, probably why no one suspected it.

We got out of the car, walked up to the building doors and walked in. I immediately noticed the weird smell emitting from the building, it smelled kind of like a musty basement, but it wasn't like it was super strong so I can handle it.

We walked over to the secretary to check in. The woman at the front desk had black hair and full face of makeup. I did my best to burn her face into my memory. As we did a man with black hair walked out of one of the back rooms, hands busy fiddling with papers.

"Camari?" The man sighed. I looked to Cam then to the man. Do they know each other? Cam looked a bit startled that he was here. She froze up.

"Camari why are you here?" He said sounding a bit more aggressive. I was about to step in when she spoke up.

"I'm sorry babe, I didn't know you were working tonight." She gave him a tight smile as his anger rose.

"Well, I'm not gonna ask again, why are you here.. and with another man might I add." Her boyfriend spat, adjusting his glasses. This was going to get heated if we didn't clear things up.

"Sorry if I could just cut in here," I gave her boyfriend a small wave and a very passive aggressive smile. He looked over to me, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation,

"Hi, so you see, Camari and I are staying for a business trip, and this hotel is closest to the airport. Don't worry your pretty little face, we have separate rooms." I keep my fake smile plastered on my pale face.

"I don't believe you buddy." Her boyfriend huffed, still looking angered.

"Gavin, I promise it's just a business trip." Cam cried as she walked closer to him. He let his arms return to his sides, and as they did Cam flinched. I would've never guessed they were together, he doesn't even glance her way, he's just staring me down. I guess he somewhat cares then.

"Fine, Meredith get them 2 rooms." He swooshed his hand in the woman's direction and walked back towards the door of the back room.

"Camari." Gavin huffed, looking back to her direction.

"Yes babe?" She tried to smile but it didn't come out right.

"As soon as you get back from your 'business trip' you meet me immediately, got it?" He snarled. I crossed my arms.

"Yes of course." She sighed. Gavin left into the back room. The secretary began typing on her monitor. I noticed that Cam anxiously cracks her knuckles, and she's doing it right now. I want to help her feel more comfortable, her boyfriend seemed to make her anxious, but I don't doubt her. So I grabbed her hand to try and comfort her, she gave me a glare of death, then looked around to make sure her man wasn't looking, like it's a sin to hold someone's hand.

"Here's your keys, enjoy your stay." She gave a gentle smile and turned back to her monitor. We walked away still holding hands.

Once we got around the corner and out of sight, Cam immediately pulled her hand out of mine.

"God that was embarrassing, and what were you thinking, Gavin would kill you if he saw that?!" She pushed her brown locks out of her face.

"Calm down, you seemed nervous, I'm just trying to help, it didn't mean anything. Unless you wanted it to." I said jokingly.

"I- No!" She went red and pushed me. I chuckled, It's funny bugging her.

"I'm kidding." I patted her shoulder, "So you have the keys, hand mine over."

"Demanding much." She retorted, smirking.

"You've known me how long and you still don't know that?"

"Five years.." Cam muttered as she gave me the key to room 105, and she had 106. We put on gloves and opened the doors to our rooms. I also took a quick look around to make sure there were no cameras.

"Yeah you should know that." I sighed. Cam walked into her room and I did mine.

In my room, there was dirty towels lying on the shine bathroom floor, bedsheets were messed like someone had just been sleeping there and there was food left out on the table, almost completely untouched.

"Dude! Do they not clean the rooms?" I exclaimed.

"What?" Cam sort of shouted. She didn't even need to yell, the walls here were paper thin. She appeared at the door of my room and looked into the absolute mess of a room.

"My room looks normal, but yours looks like someone was here just recently." Cam looked around the whole room, careful not to touch anything, "Somethings definitely up."

"Yup," I started but got distracted from an unopened box of cupcakes on the table, completely untouched. "Ooh cupcakes."

"Arrow," she turned and grabbed my hand, stopping me from opening the box, "No."

"But-," I started.

"No buts! We don't know what's in those and we have a job to do. You wanna get suspended again?" She said in a concerned tone.

"I know I know, and that was only because civilians were in danger, one time." I said grumpily, I then noticed something so I pressed my earpiece.

"This is Agent #42, I have evidence to report, over."

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