Hunter

I

Jade looked back at the clock.
10:30.
She drummed her fingers against the table, biting her lip.
Where is she? Mom's shift ended 10 minutes ago. She should've been here by now!
Jade pushed her chair back, pulling her curly black hair into a ponytail.
She looked outside the window, peeking at the streets outside the apartment.
Still no Mom.
Jade grabbed her phone, calling her mom's cell.
Her mother was so methodical, it was weird for her to be late.
Jade listened carefully.
"The number you are calling is unavailable now, please leave a message at the tone."
She ended the call and sighed.
"Maybe she's still at the police station. Yeah, that's it," she muttered to herself.
She took a deep breath. Jade, you're 16, you can go out the house by yourself. I can do this. Just act natural.
She slipped her phone into her jacket and checked herself in the mirror.
Her dark brown eyes were matte, her black hair lacking its usual sheen.
Her warm brown skin was dull and tired.
Stupid SAT's......
She yawned and walked out into the brisk fall air, shutting the door behind her.
The police station was a few blocks from the apartment, a short walk.
The cold air felt nice, cooling Jade down from an intense study session.
She twirled a piece of her hair around her finger and hummed under her breath.
Finally, she pushed the door to the police station open.
She walked to the front desk, ringing a bell on the top.
"Um.... Excuse me?"
A man looked up. He had graying light brown hair, his eyes outlined by bags.
"Yes?"
"Did my mother leave after her shift today? Her name is Lena Baxter. She's on the patrol unit."
The man's brow furrowed. "Lena Baxter?" He hit some keys on his computer, muttering under his breath.
Jade glanced at her phone, checking if her mother had called her. She hadn't.
This is weird......
She cursed under her breath and tucked her phone away.
She looked at the man, squinting at his shirt. A name clip glinted. Officer Connely.
Jade hummed under her breath as the man typed away at his computer.
He finally looked up. "What does your mother do?"
Jade looked at him, incredulous. "She's a cop."
"She works here?"
She could just stop herself from rolling her eyes-barely. "Uh, yeah."
Officer Connely exhaled loudly. "I don't what to tell you, kid."
Jade felt a twinge of irritation. How about where the hell my mom is?
She took a breath. "What? What's wrong?"
The man rubbed his chin. "There's no Lena Baxter in our system......"
Jade stared at him. "What?"
"Or a Lena Baxter in any system."