The Secret - Camren

Part 22

I was sitting in the back of Clinton's car as he spoke to the police. Lauren's house had been declared an official crime scene. I don't know how long I had been waiting and honestly I didn't care. It was my entirely fault. If I hadn't fallen for Lauren she wouldn't be in this situation. It was my fault. Anything bad that has ever happened to the ones I loved was my fault.

I was brought out of my mental torment by Clinton climbing into the front seat.

"What happened?" I asked as he started the engine.

"They aren't sure exactly, but I gave them the info about Jack and they will investigate. Do you know where Lauren's parents are? The police want to inform them of the situation" he answered dryly.

"He dad died a while ago and her mom is in a mental institution until, wait! She's coming home tomorrow!! Someone needs to call them and tell her to stay there, she can't come home to this, and she won't be able to handle it!" I said my voice getting louder.

"I'll take care of it miss, try and rest alright?" he said watching me in the rear-view mirror. I simply nodded and looked out the window as we made it back to Dinah's house. What was I going to tell Taylor, FUCK what about Chris? I didn't know where he went, just some friends house!

"Clinton?" I said. I saw his eyes twitch towards me in the mirror. "We need to make sure Chris knows not to come home. Can you take care of that? I'm not sure where he is but I think I have his cell number" I continued. He simply nodded.

***

It had been two days and still no news. Lauren's mom was set to stay at the facility in definitively until Lauren was found. If she was found. Chris was staying at his friend's house and Taylor was staying with me and Sofia at Dinah's. I hadn't slept since the night before Lauren went missing. I could hear Taylor crying at night, she pretended she was strong and she could handle it during the day but I knew she was struggling. I tried talking to her a few times but she would get mad and lock herself in the bathroom so I stopped trying. We both stayed home from school this morning, knowing that it wouldn't help anything. Clinton and Rodriguez never left our side. If any of us left the house someone was with us and someone was constantly watching the house.

I knew he wasn't near me, that he was with my girlfriend but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching my every move. I didn't feel safe, nothing made me feel safe. Not the bodyguards always watching my every move, not a house full of people. Nothing.

The police had told us that usually within the first 24 hours kidnappers called to ask for ransom or any other demands they had. Jack hadn't called. He hadn't sent a letter or anything which really scared me. I could tell it was bothering the police as well. It's like they didn't know how to proceed anymore.

I laid down on the couch, ready for another day of waiting. Taylor was pretending to watch TV next to me when the phone rang. I was going to let it ring when I noticed the police stations number on it. They said they would only call if they had news. Was this finally it? Did they find Lauren? I thought as I jumped off the couch.

"Hello?" I practically yelled into the small device hanging from the living room wall.

"Hello, Miss Cabello please?" said this high pitched voice.

"Speaking"

"Hello, hello, I'm special agent Rebeca Wilson. I would like to ask you a few questions about Miss Jauregui's disappearance please. Is it possible for you to come to the station in an hour?"

"Umm sure, what do you need to ask about? They already asked me a bunch of questions at the house?" I asked confused as to why I was going to be questioned.

"We will explain once you get here, see you soon." She said before hanging up. Well that was weird.

***

I had been sitting in the waiting room at the police station for the past thirty minutes. Taylor was playing on my phone in the seat next to me and Clinton was standing at the back of the room observing. I wish I didn't have to bring Tay but Rodriguez was at school with Sofia and she couldn't be left alone anymore.

"Miss Cabello?" said this small woman with bright red glasses. I stood and followed her into an interrogation room.

"Why am I here?" I asked her. She just smiled and walked out. I sat down in the metal chair and waited...

Still waiting...

These people really aren't punctual.

Finally after another 45 minutes this tall man wearing a ugly beige suite walked into the room with a file and took a seat in front of me.

"Hello Miss Cabello, I'm detective Carleton. Mrs. Wilson had an emergency and apologises for her absence." I nodded in response.

"Why am I here? Officers already asked me a bunch of questions"

"Well you see Miss Cabello, we received an anonymous tip regarding Miss Jauregui's disappearance" he said opening his file.

"I'm really happy you got a tip but why does that mean I need to be questioned?" I said nervously.

"Well you see... the tip involves you Miss. Where were you last Saturday?" he asked. Shit! did they think I was involved in this?

"You think I did it?"

"Please answer the question" he said sternly.

"I saw Lauren at my sisters soccer practise in the morning. We made plans for a date and I went home" I said getting angry. Who the fuck would say I was involved!!

"What was the plan for the date?"

"She was going to surprise me but she told me to dress casually and she would pick me up at 6:30 that evening. She never showed up."

"Alright and where were you between 4 and the time you made it to Miss Jauregui's home?"

"I already told you! I was at Dinah's house!" I said, my voice getting loud.

"Can you have someone verify that information?" he said taking notes.

"WELL NO SHIT I CAN I LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH 10 OTHER PEOPLE!" I was screaming now.

"Can you name these people?"

"OMG seriously? The love of my life is missing and you are wasting your time on me because of some random tip? Did you ever think maybe the kidnapper is messing with you? Jack wants to ruin my life! IT WAS PROBABLY HIM!!"

"We will take that into consideration, but please, so that we can give you an alibi. Please just name the people who say you between 4 and the moment you got to Miss Jauregui's home."

"Dinah, Taylor, Sofia, Rodriguez, Clinton, ..." I began naming my newly found family members.

"Thank you Miss Cabello, you are free to go, you clearly have a solid alibi. We will call if we have any information on your girlfriend" he said taking a few more notes.

***

I had been back home for about three hours when they called me back. I wasn't in the mood to take their shit so Dinah answered the phone for me. I watched her as she answered their questions, explaining that she knew Lauren and that I was in the shower and asked if she could take a message. I don't know what they told her but she suddenly became stiff. She hung up and turned towards me. She had tears in her eyes and her face had gone white. I almost jumped off the bed and went to her, grabbing her hands and demanding for her to tell me what she had just heard.

"Dinah, please?" I pleaded. "They... They found a body... they need you to come identify the body. They ... they think it might be Lauren" she said crying.