VD-49

Chapter 1: The Girl Who Went Missing

Winter had arrived. That much was clear to Jude Emmerson as the icy wind blew into the building. "Shut that bloody door before we all freeze to death!" Damian's British accent was audible from the other side of the building. Thankfully someone shut the door before Damian could complain any further. Jude turned his attention back to the file that lay on the table in front of him. He had gotten the gist of the report when he had glanced at it earlier. 

It was a girl who had gone missing. Rhonwen Smith, sixteen years old. Jude had already scribbled the words 'ran away' above the picture of the girl. Why else would you wander into the Fiorewoods? Jude knew every single person in the town knew that. He had made sure that it was instilled in every single person's mind.

Jude sighed and rubbed his eyes. It had gotten darker. There was probably a storm on its way. Maybe even a blizzard. He opened the file and started reading it thoroughly. Rhonwen Smith. Aged sixteen at time of disappearance. Her father owned a farm just outside of town, though Jude didn't know what he grew there in the cold weather. Her mother and twin sister had died in a car crash. Jude winced in sympathy. That must have been rough.

Something caught his eye. 

Last seen by: Hailee Philander. Jude frowned. Somebody saw her go into the woods? Why didn't the Hailee person stop her? Something about the whole thing felt off. 

He stood and picked up the file. He knocked on Damian's office door before entering. Damian briefly glanced up at Jude. "Hey, man. Can I help you?" Jude tossed the file on his desk, upsetting some papers. The corner of Damian's mouth turned at the corner with annoyance. "I just organized that."

Jude raised an eyebrow at the young man. "Since when are you organized?"

Damian huffed and set the file to one side before attempting to re-organize the mess that was his desk. "Sometimes when I feel like my life is about to fall apart, I find that organizing my desk helps me find some traction."

"Thank you for that was a deep and philosophical explanation that I didn't need."

Damian shrugged and gave up trying to stack the papers, picking up the file instead. "What's this?" he asked. 

Jude saw his eyes flicker over the paper and not for the first time, he wondered what the young man was doing here. Damian was sharp enough and it didn't seem like he came from a poor family. He dressed well and was charming enough that half of the town's female population fawned over him.

What was he doing in a small town like this?

"And she just," he paused for a moment and shook his head. "Walked away into the woods?" Jude nodded. "And someone saw her go in?" He nodded again.

"I want you to came with me."

"Where to?"

"We're going to go talk to Hailee Philander. I want to know who in their right mind just lets a girl walk into the Fiorewoods all alone."