In the Deep *Book Two* Water Trilogy

Nine

"I already told you, I don't know where she is."

"But what if you did?"

"I would tell you! I would go get her myself!"

"Are you so sure about that?" Asked the woman detective. I was sick of being questioned. I was sick of talking about Audrey when all I wanted to do was find her. I looked the woman dead in the eye.

"Positive."

She slammed her hand down on the table in anger before walking out. A few minutes later another detective entered, only this one was a balding man with a monotone voice.

"You can go."

"What?"

"You may leave."

I was escorted out of the room and down a hall to my "Aunt" Jenny. The police were more rough with me than called for with as I was shoved through one more door, into the open area where Jenny and Mr. and Mrs.Pitkus were waiting for me. Audrey's mom hugged me tightly.

"I told them you couldn't have done it," she cried into my shoulder, startled I hugged her back and patted her shoulder as I tried to be comforting. Mrs.Pitkus clung to me a little longer until she managed to get over the fact that I wasn't going to be locked behind metal bars. Her long dark hair was in a mess of curls that looked like it handn't seen a brush in days and bags, from the lack of sleep and stress, were below her green eyes. 

"It will be alright Mrs.Pitkus," Jenny assured softly. "We'll find her." 

I nodded my head in agreement. Audrey's father stood silently, his hands clasped tightly in front of him, as he clearly struggled to fight tears. 

"Please, call me Malinda," Mrs. Pitkus hiccuped.

"Finn!" My name was called to my right by a voice I had been wanting to hear, Connor. "I told them you couldn't have done it!"

I watched as the boy pulled away from the detective who had been leading him and hurried over to me with a smile on his face. Malinda wiped tears from her eyes that had begun to spill over. 

"Don't worry, mom." He said. "Now that Finn's free we'll find her for sure."

I silently hoped that Connor was right.

"Excuse me," said the detective who had been with Connor. "Before you go, I must tell you that it wouldn't be a good idea to leave the city anytime soon Mr. Laidley."

We left the building in a hurry before climbing into our cars and driving away. Instead of Connor going with his parents he went with Jenny and I.

"Does Audrey disappearing have to do with merpeople?" 

I sighed. "It's Nahla. She's not dead and she wants to hurt me by hurting Audrey." 

"So, what's the plan?" 

"The plan-" I paused before quietly saying," I do not have a clue. Well, we have one clue."

"And what is that?" Jenny spoke up from the driver's seat. 

"When I managed to corner Nahla she mentioned something about searching for Audrey in the deep." 

"In the deep?" Jenny scoffed. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? 

"Like in the deep as in searching the ocean?" Connor questioned from the backseat. Jenny and I looked at each other. 

"Oh god," she whispered. "That would take ages to search! by the time we found her it would be too late..."