Not Again

Chapter Five - 'I'm Sorry Tim'

Sgt. Grey

How am I meant to tell Tim?
How do I break the news that his girlfriend is missing?
How do I break that Lucy is missing again?

I pace around my office for a few minutes. There's no correct way to do this. I'll just have to wing it.

I rush over to Tim's office, praying that he had his radio on and already heard, praying that he's going to take the news well, praying that Lucy's fine.

I'm here.

I take a deep breath.

I have to do this.

*knock knock*

'Come in!' Tim yells.

I can see through his office window that he's still looking down at his paperwork.

'Hey Tim.'

I'm trying to mask the concern and worry in my voice, but I know he can tell something wrong by just looking at me

'Everything alright?'

'No. It really isn't. There's no easy way to tell you this but..'

Why did I start the sentence like that? I've screwed myself up.

'but what?' He asks, growing slightly panicked as he rises from his chair.

'Lucy... Lucy's missing.'

Please don't freak out on me Tim. I take a slight step backwards, to be honest I'm kind of scared as to how he'll react.

Tim

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. Lucy was gone again.

'N..No she's at the apartment! I saw her before I came here! She cant be gone! What is going on?' 

I try to convince myself that this is all some hyper-realistic nightmare and that she's safe, but I just can't. I feel my pulse start to race as my eyes fill with tears.

How could she be gone again.

Sgt. Grey

He's frantic, trying wrap his head around the fact that this is happening again.

'We got a shots fired call from a neighbour. It was Lucy's apartment. Officers found traces of blood evident to a gunshot and the blood was Lucy's. I'm sorry Tim.'

'This can't be happening again.'

He places his head in his hands as his eyes start to go red and well up.

I give him a minute to process what I've just told him.

Tim

She's been shot and abducted.
What if she's dead?
What is she's dead and I didn't get the chance to say bye?

This is all my fault.

If i hadn't requested a night shift, I would've been home with her, watching a movie, cuddling in bed, but no.

Now I'm sat in this office, with the worst news of my life while she's out there dying.

And it's all my fault.

Sgt. Grey

Why did I volunteer to inform him? Nell could've done this better, I bet.

Now the only thing he'll think of when he sees me is this. How I delivered the worst news of his life. How I'm the one who tore his world apart.

'Is there any other information?' He asks me as he tries to keep himself together.

'Not at the moment.'

'What detectives are on site?'

'Brandy and McCurdy'

I feel bad to disappoint him, I know he would much rather have Stewart and Jeanette on site as they're far better detectives, but the best I can do for him right now is be honest.

'They won't get anything done! We need better detectives! Can't you get them switched out?' He asks desperately.

The detectives are short staffed today, and he knows that, they were the only option we had.

'I'm afraid not son' I sigh as I watch him start to pace around the room.

He's beyond stressed, the worst I've seen him in all his years working here.

'I was heading to the scene. I was wondering if you'd like to come? It'd be helpful if you'd take a look around, tell us if there's anything out of the ordinary.'

'Sure.'

He gets up from his desk and follows me to shop 14.

He's clearly not okay.