Victimizing the Vulnerable

April 19th

03:48 pm:

The manhunt is on its second day now. Still no sign of Leslie and with our only help in a sudden coma, there may be no chance of finding Leslie; alive. Rows on rows search the large field in between Rockwell and the large city.

"Leslie Bennet!" Officers call out as they lead German Shepherds over  a bubbling creek.

"Any sign of her?" I ask Dan as he crosses out another area of map with a red felt pen.

"If she's a pile of rocks, then we couldn't have missed her..." Slowly, Dan mutters, peering up at me. "D, she could be anywhere by now. And who's to say she's even alive, for all we know she could be burnt to ashes. Ashes, ashes spread in a river traveling towards the ocean."

The first twenty four hours is the most crucial in a kidnapping. Most kidnappers kill their hostages after that. In a homicide investigation, the first forty eights hours is crucial. This is the time period where you are most likely to find the killer. Unless you don't have a body, or a lead.

"We are gonna move to the south side." Rebecca says as she enters the small blue investigation tent. "There's no sign of any disturbance in this field for miles."

As Dan flips over the map he ask"How do you know her anyways D?"

"Uh..." I mutter softly. "She kinda interviewed me."

Glares and stares from the other officers burn against my skin. Literally, I can feel my cheeks turn from a simple rosy pink to a hot cherry rouge.

"Denver, do you believe you put her at risk?"

"I...I didn't mean too! All I wanted was to help her, she waited all night for a detective to give her information. I didn't want her to wait longer for one of you...you...you clowns."

Silence fills the large tent. You could hear a pin drop and bounce off the grassy ground below. As I begin to open my mouth, a single gunshot sounds. Causing us to all jump and duck in fear.

"What the f-" shouting I cover my head.

"DENVER!" Screams Rebecca as she crashes down to the grass beside her.

As I gaze up I notice red liquid flowing out of a hole, in Rebecca's left shoulder.

"Rebecca's been shot!"

Rushing over there, I manage to push officers out the bottom of the frail tent. Hoping someone would go call an ambulance before she bleeds out.

"I...I...I think it hit an artery! " she cries when putting pressure on her wound. Blood is dripping through her fingers.

"Just relax Rebecca!" Clumsily I dap tissue on it. "You're gonna be fine?"

"Where did that....where...who shot me?"

Static crackles over the radio. Unable to understand the person on the other side, I throw the radio out of the tent.

"Looks like they found a sniper's nest East of here." Ben mumbles as he frantically dials nine one one. "Stupid emergency service.....always down when you need it..."

"Denver.." Rebecca coughs as blood begins to drip out of her mouth. "Denver... I need you..."

"Anything," softly I whisper. "Anything you need."

"Carry...carry me to the road..."