The Laughing Clown

Chapter 3

Arriving at Amber's house, I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. Mrs. Smith greeted me with a warm smile, inviting me in. We settled in the cozy living room, and I kicked off the interview.

I started by asking about Amber's daily routine, how she interacts with family and friends, and if there were any changes in her behavior lately. Mrs. Smith opened up about Amber's quiet demeanor and reluctance to share details about her life.

I assured them of my dedication to finding Amber and continued the conversation, learning more about their family. Amber had always been a quiet kid and always used to be shorter than others, that was one of the reasons why she was bullied and had very few friends. Even though they changed her school the bullying didn't stop.
I asked her about the night she went missing. They had gone to a date that night and arranged for a babysitter. When they came back they didn't see their daughter and were very worried and had filed a police complaint.

As I left their home, gratitude lingered in the air for their cooperation but there was sadness there too after knowing about her bullying.

Back in my car, the responsibility of the case weighed on me. It was almost 6 pm, and the sun began to set, casting a sense of urgency. The next destination on my list was Olive Grayson, the babysitter.

Driving to Olive's place, I decided to call him to confirm he was home.

[ON CALL]

Stella: Hello, this is Stella Hawkins. Can I confirm if Oliver Grayson is available?

Oliver: Speaking. What's this about?

Stella: I'm investigating Amber's missing case, and I'd like to ask you a few questions. Are you free now?

Oliver: Yeah, sure. Come on in.

Stella: Thank you, Oliver. I'll be there shortly.

The call ended, and I mentally geared up for the upcoming interview. As I drove towards his house, a mix of curiosity and determination fueled my thoughts. What insights could Oliver provide about that ominous evening?

To be continued...