Missing

Chapter 1

Emma's POV:

Wednesday, March 6th, 2018

2 weeks. Its been 2 weeks since Nori vanished into thin air. Two weeks without my Nori. Everyday since she disappeared, I've been at the police station, harassing them into looking for my missing roommate. Thats not all she is to me though. She is more than my roommate. She's my best friend. My girlfriend. She's the love of my life! And she's missing.

"Miss Banville! We've told you already. We're working as fast as we can. We'll call you with any leads we have but until then, go home and stop harassing my officers!" Chief inspector Foster shouted at me angrily.

My anger for the police had tripled since Nori went missing. They had done absolutely nothing to help. No questioning. They didn't bother checking CCTV footage of where she was last seen. No search parties. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"NO! You fuckers haven't done anything to help find Nori White! You haven't done any questioning. You haven't done a search party. You haven't checked the CCTV. How can you look yourself in the mirror and not vomit?!" I shouted.

I could feel my face flushing with absolute rage. If steam could come from my ears, it would be.

"Get out Miss Banville!" He shouted back.

"Fine. I'm gonna find my fucking girlfriend with or without your help!" I shouted, storming out of the building and jumping into my car. I sped away to meet Dom at my home to do some digging with the PI. Now, I didn't expect the police to do anything. I hold no expectations for the police department. Thats why, the day after Nori went missing, I hired a Private Investigator named James Horace. He's a younger gentleman around 37. Only a few years younger than myself and a few older than Nori. I had been skeptical of hiring someone so young, but all of my contacts assured me he was the best of the best. Despite my skepticism, I agreed and hired him right away. Nori deserves the best of the best. I will find my Nori. And I will bring her home to me if its the last thing I do.

As I drove home, everything the police had told me when I reported her missing came flooding back.

Miss Banville, Ms. White has probably gone away for a few days. She's an adult. She will probably be home soon. We can't file her as a missing person until 72 hours have passed and the chances of someone being found alive after 72 hours is slim to none.

Who would want to do this to my Nori? Why her? She's the kindest, most selfless and loving woman I've ever met. Everyone who meets Nori just adores her. They gravitate towards her. And how could they not? Nori's an Oncologist who works at a specialty clinic. She dedicates her life to researching and helping people with cancer. She's empathetic towards everyone and she can find something to smile about even on the worst of days. I've seen it rub off on other people. Most doctors are cold and stand-off ish. They don't spend much time with patients and aren't all that friendly. But Nori is. Nori takes time out of her day to talk to the patients. Make them feel heard. Make them feel cared for and valued. And every single one of them looked forward to seeing her. I've gotten dozens of calls and emails from her patients families wishing me the best. Asking for updates. And I couldn't give them any. And it broke my heart because I couldn't share anything the PI had told me with them. And god did he find a lot.

I squared my shoulders, wiped me face free of tears and pulled into my driveway. Dom was already at my flat when I got there, waiting next to his motorcycle.

"Em!" He called, waving to me as I got out of the car.

"Hi Dom." I said quietly, walking up the steps with him keeping pace behind me.

"How'd it go? Are the pigs going to do their job?" He asked.

"I should be asking you. You're the ex copper." I replied.

"Yeah. I figured not. Thats why I left ya know. And came to work for you." He said, sitting down at my kitchen table.

"James will be here soon. I want to hear what he's got so far. The police won't do shit so that means no sniffer dogs. And its been two weeks. I doubt they would pick up a scent."

"Don't give up hope Em. James said on the phone he had a lead. Maybe it will lead to something bigger. One step closer to bringing Nori home."

I nodded.

"Thanks Dom. I-"

*knock knock knock*

"That must be James." I said, getting up to open the door for him.

His face held an expression of mixed emotions. Like he was upset but relieved. That made my stomach sink.

"Hi James. Thank you for coming." I said, stepping aside to let him in.

We walked back to the kitchen to join Dom who had been reading the information James had collected over the  past two weeks.

James sat down and dropped a very large and heavy folder on the table.

"We have a lot to discuss." He said seriously.