You Can't Run From The Silence

Chapter One

    I stomped into the station with my boots as all heads turned towards me. I was in a particularly bad mood that day because of the lack of sleep I was having you could see from the dark circles under my eyes .  

   As I entered I immediately sunk into my chair and slammed the coffee down almost causing it to spill all over the desk. I rubbed my aching eyes with the back of my hand savoring the sweet moments of silence with myself. But they were short lived as the door swung open and an obnoxious red head popped in. Making me almost lose my patience. 

   "Hello, and how is my darling Zoe doing today", Johnny said in a sing song voice which made me want to rip out his vocal cords. 

   Johnny was my unreasonably  partner. We always got cases assigned with each other and he shares an office with me. Though I've known him for a long time now I still haven't become accustomed to his carefree spirit.

   "What do you want" I said through gritted teeth as I controlled myself not to commit a murder this early in the morning.

    "Cap'n want s to see both of us" he chirped. I stared at him not willing to get out of my seat for the Captain of all people. We both headed down to the Captains office. When we reached it Johnny knocked on the door with the golden label which said 'Captain Oscar F. Lynch'.

   "Come in" said the gravelly voice from behind the door. I walked in after Johnny who so kindly held the door open for me. Captain Lynch was a seventy year old man who had a thick mustache that looked like a caterpillar.

   "I'm guessing you two know why I called you here. This is all the information we got so far and this is from the last time" Captain Lynch said sliding two brown paper evidence files across the desk to us. I stood there completely baffled as Johnny took both of the files nodding.

   "Would you mind explaining what's going on" I asked snatching the files from Johnny skimming through them. As soon as I said that I regretted it. As I was going through the few pages I found a picture of a girl who looked fifteen years old. She had light blonde hair that was cut into really short bangs. She had soft brown eyes that looked similar to mine. Underneath the photo was her name 'Penelope Marsh'.

   "Just like the Penelope Marsh incident. A girl named Aoife Kavannagh, 15 years old went missing. She left the same exact letter with the same handwriting too. We think it's the same kidnapper who did this. I want you and Detective Emerson to investigate. Hopefully find the culprit" said the Captain completely ignoring my rising anger

   "Are you fucking kidding me" I asked in disbelief. I held up both of the files and threw them back on to the desk.

   "You can't seriously expect me to work this case. " I said furiously raising my voice to a dangerous level. 

   "I do expect you to. That's why I assigned you" replied Captain Lynch deadpanned.  

   "But isn't there anybody else more qualified than me to take it" I said desperately looking for an excuse. 

 Captain Lynch folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. "Detective Marsh, I honestly thought you would handle this in a more dignified manner. But obviously I was wrong. Whether you like it or not you're on this case" 

   I was pushing back tears at this point. I should have started sobbing when I saw the picture of Penelope but I managed to get this far. 

   "This isn't fair" I tried to argue even though I knew I wasn't getting out of this.

   "Detective Marsh do you really think I give a damn about what you think is fair and isn't. I assign you missions and you complete them. You don't get a say in it. Am I clear" he said sternly looking me dead in eye.