Missing

Investigation:Accusations

"Dad!!!"

I groaned and rolled over facing the other direction. It felt like I had just fallen asleep, but JJ kept shaking me and the longer I tried to stay asleep the more he shook.

"Dad!!!! Wake up!!!! Dad!!!!! Look!!"

Groaning I turned over and opened one eye. Watching him curiously. He shook me and took off running towards the window. I stretched and sat up running my fingers through my hair trying to wake up a bit. Suddenly I was tackled and I fell back on the couch and smiled sleepily

"Alright...I'm up...I'm up."

"Thanks dad!"

Confused I looked at him. He was very excited about something and I wish I could share in the excitement. I honestly had no idea what he was going on about

"For what?"

"Are we getting a pool?"

"A pool? No. Why?"

He climbed off and took my hand tugging it. I stood up and followed him to the window. I lifted one of the slats of the blinds and nearly fell over. At least a dozen people digging up various parts of my yard. Quickly I threw open the master bedroom door and grabbed a pair of pants and a shirt

"Jennifer. Get up. Get up now!"

"Go away Jon" She groaned rolling over

"I'm serious Jennifer. Get up. You're not going to believe this shit"

I sat on the edge of the bed and put on a pair of socks and quickly put on my shoes as Jenn got out of bed and put on slippers. JJ was watching the activity through the blinds and turned to him

"Stay in the house. Don't go outside"

Jennifer and I exited the house and down the porch. I looked around in disbelief as several groups of people were digging with shovels in various parts of my yard. Someone had a dog sniffing around. The yard was taped off like a crime scene and naturally the neighbors had all come out to gawack at what was taking place. Jenn suddenly clung to my arm and looked around completely shocked

"What's is all this Jon?" She whispered

"I don't know, but you better believe I'm going to find out"

I looked around quickly and noticed one of the investigators who spoke with us at the mall yesterday. I took Jenn's hand and walked over and stood toe to toe with him. He took a step back and sipped on his coffee watching me

"What is all this? Why are you digging up my yard??"

"We're searching for your daughter Mr. Good"

"Excuse me? Sierra went missing from a shopping mall. Why would you dig up my yard?"

"We have to explore all possibilities"

He pushed past me and walked towards the side of the house by the gate to the backyard. I let go of Jenn's hand and followed behind him quickly shocked and unwilling to accept the nonchalant answer I was getting

"What possibilities? You said you'd update us and we hear nothing. My six year old son wakes me up to you digging up my yard. Where is my daughter?"

"That's what we want to know Mr. Good."

The man with the dog walked up and was floored by what I was hearing

"The dog picked up a scent in the backyard"

They walked into the yard and I followed close behind. Something happened at the mall yesterday because suddenly they think Sierra is here somewhere

"Is that a cadaver dog? Do you think we killed our daughter? What...where....excuse me??"

He was ignoring me and I was getting upset. I touched his shoulder and in an instant I had guns pointed at me. I quickly removed my hand from his shoulder and raised my arms and took a step back. I didn't mean to overstep my boundaries. I certainly wasn't going to do anything. I just wanted answers

"We want to conduct some interviews downtown...."

"I...can you get them to take the guns away? I don't want my son seeing this and I'm sorry for touching you.."

The guns lowered and the activity resumed around me. I turned and met up with Jennifer in the front yard who was upset and took her in the house. She was confused and I was in shock and upset at what I had found out. I was afraid to tell her why they were really here and what they were doing. The idea horrified me and I had no idea why they concluded we had done something to her. Jennifer sank into the couch and I felt the need to call a lawyer. We sat for what seemed like hours. Me on the edge of the couch, my face in my hands trying to wrap my head around the madness. The doorbell rang and I opened the door. The investigator and lawyer were both standing there. I let them in and quickly ushered Jon into his room and shut the door.

We spoke briefly with the lawyer who then came into the living room and sat down next to Jennifer with myself on the other side.

"We want to interview both of you downtown. Get some more information that might be helpful in the search for Sierra. Would you be willing to submit to a polygraph test?"

They were looking to me. This was all about me. They suspected me for some reason. Jenn's mother showed up with bags like she was staying for a while and that was all I didn't need. Jennifer didn't even ask if I wanted her mother here, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since she was so angry with me. She agreed to watch JJ as we rode with the lawyer to the police station. We were separated into different rooms and the lawyer went with Jenn. With her being pregnant I wanted someone there to protect her from being harrassed or anything. I could handle myself.

I sat in the swivel chair of this blank room. There were double sided widows and a camera in the corner. I knew they were watching me right now. I put my elbows on the table and my face in my hands. It was going to be another long day and they were obviously no closer to finding Sierra than they were yesterday. The door opened and I looked up. A new investigator came in and set down a file folder and a pad of paper before sitting down

"Mr. Good I'm detective Thomas. Before we get started I need to read you your rights"

I nodded and waited for him to finish "Am I under arrest?"

"No. That was for your protection and ours in case this ends up as evidence"

"Evidence?" I muttered and sighed deeply "I didn't kill my daughter if that's what you think and what this is all about"

"No one said you did. There's just very little evidence or information that we can use in trying to find your daughter. We need answers. You want answers. Something is obviously not right so perhaps you can fill in the gaps"

"Gaps?"

"Explain what happened yesterday"

I told the entire story over again to this new person. It was the thrid time I told it. He asked the same question three different ways. The story was the same. I was growing frustrated. This was counterproductive.

"Why can't you just tell us what happened?"

"I did! Three times! Why can't you just go out and look for her instead of wasting your time with me?"

"You were the last one to see your daughter alive or otherwise."

"NO...not otherwise. She was standing right next to me. I turned away and she was gone. I didn't mean to let that happen"

"Your wife mentioned a strange woman following you around all day in the mall and that you sort of dismissed her concerns. Did you know this woman?"

"No. I had never seen her before Jennifer pointed her out"

"Why would you dismiss your wife's concerns over a strange woman overly interested in your daughter?"

"I didn't dismiss it. She didn't seem like a problem at first. It wasn't until she appeared in the food court after confronting Jenn in the bathroom that I became very concerned."

"Was this a jealous exgirlfriend?"

"I never saw her before yesterday"

"A lover on the side? Was your daughter in the way?"

"What? I just told you I'd never seen that woman before. In the way? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Your wife told us you had a history of sleeping around. It's not uncommon for things like this to happen when one side becomes jealous or a child becomes in the way"

"I...what? History of sleeping around? When I was in my early 20s before I met Jennifer maybe. I've told you twice before and I'm telling you again...I DID NOT KNOW THAT WOMAN. I would never hurt my daughter...."

"You have a lot of things going on in your life. Your wife is due with a third child very soon...you can tell us what happened...stress and things being overwhelming does things to us all....where is Sierra"

"I don't know! You tell me! You're supposed to be looking for her. I could never ever hurt one of my kids."

"You can tell us the truth and we can fix the whole situation"

"I've been telling you the truth the whole time."

"Our dogs picked up your daughters scent in the yard...."

"Of course they did. Sierra played in that yard every day. Her scent would be every where"

"Where did you hide your daughter?"

"Excuse me? I didn't hide anything. I didn't kill my daughter. I didn't do anything. I turned my back for a few minutes in the mall and she disappeared. I didn't...I wouldn't ever..."

He closed the file and sighed in annoyance. I looked at my watch and realized we'd been going back and forth for hours and hours. It was getting no where.

"I'm going to leave for a while. And when I come back I want you to start telling the truth."

He left the room and I put my head down on the table. I was tired, frustrated and hurt. Jenn threw me under the bus. She knew I'd never ever do anything to hurt either of the kids. She knew I adored Sierra and JJ. She also knew I never cheated on her. What the hell is she trying to do? The door opened and he returned and sat down with a sigh. It'd been 11 hours at this point and I just wanted to go home.

"Did you decide to tell the truth?"

"I've been telling you the truth the whole time. I don't know how else I can explain it or answer your questions. I'm not going to admit to something I didn't do"

"Mr. Good it's very rare for children to just randomly disappear without a trace from a crowded mall. Was this woman your accomplice?"

"NO...accomplice? This is what you concluded? Isn't there surveillance footage? Why am I the suspect?"

"Mall footage is grainy. We're still waiting for footage from the Gap where you said she was last seen."

"I did not, would not, could not do anything to my daughter. I told you all day long."

He closed the file and sat watching me. I was close to losing it. I was emotionally and physically drained. I wanted to leave, but something was telling me he wasn't going to let me go. Suddenly it was all over. I walked toward the lobby and was met by Sami. It was great to finally see someone who knew I wasn't a killer, cheater or otherwise. We walked out to the car and leaned against the passenger door. I didn't even want to go home. I turned around and looked at Sami who was watching me from across the car

"They think I killed Sierra."

"Well, they're fucking stupid...."

"Jenn threw me under the bus. Used my past....I would never hurt my kids...."

"I know. Come on. I'll take you home."

We pulled up in front of the house. I looked out the window and the more I sat stewing on what happened today the more livid I became. Slowly we walked up to the front door and sighed deeply before walking inside. Jenn was sitting on the couch waiting. She stood up and walked towards me and I put up my hands

"Don't fucking touch me."

"Jon...I'm sorry....I...."

I walked by her and went straight to the bedroom and started packing a bag. There was no way I could stay here right now. She rushed in to the room sobbing, but I didn't care. She couldn't forgive me and right now I couldn't forgive her and I didn't want to be around her. Tired of the sobbing I looked up at her

"How could you Jennifer"

"I'm sorry....I was just answering questions...I..."

"Do you have any idea what I've been through today? Huh? You fucking threw me under the bus and right now they think I murdered our daughter because of a past you knew about when we got married. Did you tell them I was sleeping with that woman??"

"Jonathan...please..."

I slammed a shirt into the bag and zipped it closed.

"I would never hurt our kids Jennifer"

"I know...I'm sorry...please...I...."

"You can't apologize for this. Not after everything I went through today. I'm out of here. I....whatever"

I walked past her slinging my bag over my shoulder. Her sobbing and my yelling woke JJ who was standing in the doorway of his bedroom as I walked by. She followed close behind me begging and pleading, but I wasn't hearing it

"Jonathan...please....please...."

"NO. I'm leaving Jennifer. I don't want to be around you. Not after everything....I've done nothing but love you and support you Jennifer and this is what I get? Huh? You resent me that much? I absolutely would never ever ever do anything to hurt any of you....this is pointless. I'm done"

Sami walked out of the house with me not far behind. Suddenly the sound of bare feet running behind me made me turn around. I knelt down, hugged him tight and pulled him back wiping the tears from his cheeks

"Hey...remember what I said last night. None of this is your fault. Nothing going on has anything to do with you. Don't worry about anything except being a kid. I love you Jon. Always remember that. I'll call you in a few days"

I stood up, turned and walked to the car. Sami threw my bag in the trunk and we drove away