New York Detectives (Book 3)

Chapter 6

The home page loaded and there were PowerPoint files to the left, Word documents in the center, and random folders to the right.
"How did you know?" I asked Sherlock as he looked over my shoulder.
"Hm? Oh, it was quite obvious." He said and I gave him my "none of that bullshit" look.
"Well, he has a lot of photos of you. Your highschool yearbooks, pictures of you, the same books that you love, and newspapers that mention you." He quickly explained, getting off my bad side. I nodded and looked away from him, hearing him breathe out in relief.
"Alright, fair enough. Now, what am I looking for?" I asked, carefully looking at the files.
"Nothing. There's nothing here that's going to give us a lead." He said and I sighed as I went to sign out, there was a file named, Photos. I looked up at Sherlock, but logged out of the computer. I stood and followed Sherlock, heading back to the elevator.
"Why aren't there more people?" Sherlock asked and I raised a brow.
"Pardon?" I asked and he looked at me.
"Why was there only one person who reported your father missing?" He asked quietly and I tilted my head.
"Because that one person is his wife. She would notice." I quietly replied. I looked around, seeing people walk from offices and into other ones.
"In here, you probably wouldn't even notice someone missing. Unless it's one of the best people in here." I said, looking at a secretary.
"Excuse me!" I called to him and he looked up, a smile on his face.
"Yes, Ma'am. How can I help you?" He asked and I smiled.
"Yes, have you seen Nathan Maiden? My partner and I had a last minute meeting with him, but he's not in the office." I said and he nodded in understanding. He looked to his computer, typing in something. He hummed in confusion.
"Well, it says here that he won't be back for the rest of the day." He said and I nodded.
"It's alright. Thanks though." I said and went to Sherlock.
"Something isn't right here." I told him as the elevator doors opened and we moved aside for people to get out. As we stepped on, there were a few stops we'd be at before getting to the lobby. Sherlock and I huddled to the right side of the wall.
"You're those two detectives, aren't you?" A woman had asked and I turned to look at her.
"Depends on the detectives that you've heard about." I said and she smiled.
"Well, I'd know you anywhere Ms Maiden. Your father really likes to show you off. And you're that London detective. Sherlock Holmes, is it?" She asked and Sherlock nodded. She smiled, and said,
"Yeah, I should know you anywhere too. My daughter absolutely loves you." She said and Sherlock was going to say something, possibly something rude, so I spoke before him.
"He's very flattered." I said and she smiled. The elevator doors opened and she, along with another woman, walked off. I breathed out a sigh of relief.
"A lot of teens really like you." I whispered to him and he smirked. I pulled out my phone and looked at the time. I was staring at the numbers then looked up, just as we stopped. I sighed and walked out, quickly going to the stairs. I pushed the doors open and started to quickly jog down them.
"Destiny!" Sherlock exclaimed and I continued going down the spiraling stairs.
"It was taking too long! I need to stop at another place." I said, not even looking back at him. Sherlock sighed, but followed me.
"Besides, I have a family to see." I said as I jumped the last few steps, and pushed open the last door, and walking into the lobby. I continued to stride towards the revolving doors, and walked out just as another person walked in. I went to the car, hitting into a woman. I started to apologize and she waved me off, and walked away. I smirked as I stood next to the door and waited for Sherlock to exit the building. He walked out and tossed me the keys. I went to the other side, and unlocked the door hopping in and closing the door, hitting the unlock button after I settled in my seat. Sherlock opened his door, and climbed up. He sat back and pulled the seatbelt across him, and buckled. I copied his movements and put the key in the ignition. I pulled out the pair of sunglasses I had grabbed, and put them on.
"Where did you get those?" Sherlock asked as I pulled away from the curb and swerved into traffic. I chuckled and nodded my head to the lady.
"She was very kind and gave them to me." I said as I stopped at the stop light.
"Why do I not believe you?" He asked and I chuckled.
"Because it's not the truth." I said as people behind me started to honk as the light turned green. I moved forward, following the traffic. I chuckled as I shook my head.
"Now I remember why I drove a motorcycle." I laughed and Sherlock looked at me.
"Why is that?" He asked and I gestured to the traffic.
"I'd be swerving in and out of this!" I exclaimed, but took a deep breath.
"Sorry. Getting road rage." I chuckled.
"I can see that. So, what's not right?" He asked, looking at me and I tilted my head, raising my brow.
"Before we walked into the elevator, you said that something wasn't right. " He said and I nodded, remembering.
"Right! So, the reason why I said that was because think about it, Lock; everyone is reacting like they've seen him. Asking the secretary, he said that Nathan wouldn't be back for the rest of the day. How he said it, I presume he had just recently seen him." I explained and Sherlock nodded.
"And he has an office!" I exclaimed, and Sherlock looked to me.
"Why does that matter?" he asked and I sighed, turning right.
"In New York, you start at the botttom; working in a cubical; having to make calls, take calls, send them to the secretary who will give it to the assistant, then will hand it to the guy or girl in the office. You'll be bumped up to secretary, then assistant. After a long time of all that bullshit, you'll then get moved to your own office with your own assistant and secretary." I explained and Sherlock looked at me, confused.
"It's NYC, Babe. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up. The only way you'll immediately get to the top is if you know someone. " I said as I pulled over in front of another building. The name was changed and I shrugged to myself.
"Now, how do you know that?" He asked and I looked up to him, grabbing my badge from his pocket, hooking it to my belt.
"Know what?" I asked, unbuckling.
"The system of an office?" he asked and I nodded in understanding, saying a small "Oh".
"Well, did you always think I wanted to become a detective?" I asked as I opened the door, sliding out. I heard Sherlock start to unbuckle and I looked to him.
"No, you stay here. " I said and he looked at me like I was crazy.
"What? Why?" he asked and I looked at the building.
"Because, these people aren't going to be very nice on people from the outside world." I said, and he rolled his eyes. He unbuckled anyway, and walked out, locking the door and I pinched the bridge of my nose. I grabbed the keys, closed the door, and double checked to make sure the doors were locked. I walked around, catching up with him. I pushed open the glass door, slowly walking into the lobby. I walked to the front desk, waiting for her to look up at me from typing.
"Do you have an appointment?" She asked and I chuckled, grabbing my badge and setting it down.
"Yes, I actually do. With Mr CEO Dan Lettique." I stated and she looked up, and started laughing.
"Oh, Maiden! The woman who made a fool of herself in front of about what, two, three people? Got your belt on this time, I see." She asked and I cringed.
"Try hundred. Three hundred and seventy-six. And yes, I have my belt on. " I said.
"Yeah, I would let you up there, but he's busy." She said, placing her hands in front of her, holding a pen. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, and so am I. He's not busy, otherwise he would not be calling, right?" I asked, pointing to the phone. It started ringing and her face flushed. She grabbed the phone, answering it.
"Hello? Yes, Sir.... I'll send her and her partner up right now... Yes Sir." She said and I started walking away, going to the elevator and hitting the button. I heard Sherlock chuckle and I glared at him.
"You say a word and you're not allowed to have intimate contact with me." I snarled and he rolled his eyes.
"Forgot your belt that day?" He asked and I scowled at him, stepping in and pressing the 43 button. I stood on the far side of the elevator, watching out of the glass window. Once the elevator "dinged" I looked up, walking out and keeping my back to Sherlock. I went to the secretary, about to get her attention when I heard my name being called. I looked up and walked to the office, the door opened wide.
"Mr Lettique."