Ding!
Wesley woke up to the sound of his phone, fluttering his eyes open as he stretched out his sore muscles. 6:34, the same time Mr. Mauro was waking up. The younger opened his phone almost immediately, clinging on to each word and quickly getting dressed in his usual formal-casual wear, leaving the house just a few minutes after hearing the sound.
"Fuck off." Mauro mumbled, clicking the "off" button to his phone and rolling over.
Ding!
He rolled his eyes as he put his stripy pillow over his head, hopefully blocking out any noise from his "sound proof" chamber.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"Jesus Christ will you stop already?" He groaned, succumbing to the sound. (Thinking about it now, he could've just put it on silent. But he was too tired to think, or care for that matter.) He squinted his eyes, turning down the brightness of his screen, reading:
6:34am Harrison (dumbass):
Please come to the office in one hour, evidence has been found of the Baby case and it would be in our best interest to discuss and group off. Best regards.
6:40am Wesley kid:
Lieutenant! Make sure you're at the meeting today! I have some theories I'd like to share!
6:41am Wesley kid:
Didn't sleep much last night
6:41am Wesley kid:
Lieutenant?
6:41am Wesley kid:
I'll save you a seat
He remained staring at the screen for another moment, adjusting his eyes to the brightness and begrudging rolling over, moving his body to sit on the edge of his bed. He hadn't really expected to get up today, much less this early. He stretched his arms in the air, bringing one to his back and the other flat on his comforter. He slipped on his usual blue slippers before heading to his kitchen.
The office was buzzing, a little tired, but buzzing. How could they not be? After years of dealing with petty crime, and two months of case-block agony, they were finally getting to do something. Which, is pretty morbid. You know, getting excited over a presumed-dead missing kid. But, whatever, they were excited. The office door slung open, revealing the chief and two officers, (one being Penny and the other being unknown,) with each having arms full. Harrison hit his hands hard on the table, putting several folders and a large box in the median.
"Ok," He started, bringing his palm to meet the back of his neck. "What we found may be... Surprising. To say the least."
This turned a few heads, Wesley tapping his fingers anxiously on the rim of his seat.
He looked anxious, kinda distressed, very, extremely worried. "We found evidence that might dismiss Baby's death."
The room grew uncomfortably silent, uniform breaths hitching in response.
The chief motioned to Penny, who then slipped on thin rubber gloves and removed the lid of the box. She winced and hid her face, lifting up a clay flower pot with a daisy sitting in the middle. The plant seemed to be slightly mangled, presumably being moved from place to place. Her lip quivered as she held back a low gag, quickly lifting up a plastic bag with the label "classified" plastered over it. Inside the bag seemed to be something caked in dirt, an envelope taped to the front of the bag.
The chief removed the letter, taking out a small paper and reading it aloud.
"This is a gift, from me to you. A peace offering, if you will. Please don't be too mad at me, ok? "
The chief swallowed hard, bringing his attention to the rest of the room.
"Inside this bag, is... Baby. His er— finger, to be exact. Tests have been run already and uhm... It's been confirmed to be his, fresh."
The room was suffocating, in disbelief, wishing that maybe they could've kept a caseless career.
"The original package was this flower pot," He motioned. "Inside the soil was... that, along with this note taped to the side. Along with that, another child, one from the rival school of Hillview, has gone missing. This may be an unrelated incident but we can not take chances."
Penny took the stage.
"We don't know who the culprit is— we don't know what they want and what they are capable of. We have to be cautious, we have to be nimble. You're all going to be split off into pairs, a few assignments are on the table here."
She swept one off the table and into her hand.
"I will call out groups and file numbers by last names, receive your assignment and find some evidence, many will refer to the newly missing as many of the leads of Baby have pulled out, please hurry. Children's lives may be at stake."
She cleared her throat, running her finger down the case agenda.
"Smith and Caselli, 116."
"Butler and Doner, 112."
"Mauro and Lieven, 118."
Wesley's ears perked up at the sound of his name, wiping sweat from his forehead. He anxiously looked around the room as pairs left one by one. Oh God, he didn't come, did he?
He tapped his shoe to the ground a few times, hastily getting up from his chair and marching to the front of the chief's desk.
Penny handed him his case file, raising an eyebrow to see only one person receiving it. He put on an unsure smile before leaving the room.
The lobby was full of partners discussing their assignments, a few already on their way out the door.
Wesley looked besides himself and moved to a secluded corner, unfolding the folder and removing the papers from inside.
Assignment 118 read at the top.
Missing child: Anne Wilson.
Home address: 1232 Oak street.
Anne's parents are open for questioning and interview, as well as giving any resources needed to find the victim. You and your partner will be needed at the aforementioned address at around 10'o'clock am.
Springfield police department-2012
He held the paper in his palms for another second, reading and rereading to make sure he understood it perfectly.
"Ok. Anne. That's her name, Anne Wilson."
He shoved the folder haphazardly into his backpack, repeating the mantra "10'o'clock, today, Anne Wilson." Over and over again, mostly because he didn't trust his usual memory.
He bumped into a pair of officers on the way outside, being rewarded with aggravated expressions and growls. He lowered his head, opening the exit door and walking to the parking lot. To be honest, he was kinda sad Mr. Mauro didn't show up to the meeting, so he hung his head low, garnering a hot inspiration that he believed would have amazing case-solving results later.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone in their car, usually nobody would acknowledge it. But no, Micheal motherfucking Mauro was in that car. Sleeping. An unlit cigarette sitting in his gaping hole of a mouth. Wesley stood shaken for a second, stitching his eyebrows together and getting a salty taste in his mouth. His body moved a bit on autopilot, mostly in confusion with a tinge of bitterness.
He brought his knuckles to the hard glass of the window, knocking twice before increasing the volume of his voice to say: "Lieutenant! Lieutenant get up!" (repressing the urge to say what the hell man I saved you a seat.)
Mauro's body stirred peacefully for a moment, suddenly surging with life and opening his eyes. He sat in bliss, looking to his left to see an angry looking man-child knocking violently on his window. His tired, slightly drunk, self didn't really process the situation, so he rolled down his window with a half lidded smile.
"Hello."
Wesley rolled his eyes, bringing his arms to his chest.
"You got the text right? Be here in an hour? I even texted you right after!"
A burning sensation hit his nose, Mauro now holding a cigarette to his mouth. Wesley held his face away from the smoke, putting a hand between the car and his nose.
"I did come here at the right time." Mauro grumbled. "Must've put too much liquor in my coffee."
Wesley held his hands into fists, sharpening his tone and arching his eyes.
"You were drinking? Right before work? And DRIVING?"
He held a frustrated and red expression, amusing the half-there older man.
"Ok, well, here I am. I'm here now. What'd the dumbass say?"
Welsey held his tension for a second, releasing it and slumping over.
"Whoever took Baby sent a 'gift' to the office, it was a flower pot with his... finger, in it. In the soil I mean. And a note that said something like a peace offering or whatever." He rocked on the heels of his shoes anxiously, groping the zipper of his jacket.
"That really scared me. But, uh, there's a new missing kid. Her name's Anne, and we got the job of interviewing her parents, and we need to be there by 10, which is..." He looked down at his watch (power rangers themed.) "It's about 9 right now, and the house is across town, so we should start going."
Mauro looked down to the steering wheel, caressing it with his thumb before moving his hand to unlock the opposing car door.
"We'd better get going then. Get in."
Wesley held his hands up in defense. "No, Mr. Mauro. You are drunk. I'm not getting in that car, I'll drive." He pointed to a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, a serious look on his face.
Mauro laughed in response, shaking his head and looking down.
"Look, kid, I'm fine. I made it here in one piece and it's—"
"No!" Wesley burst, sternly. "I'm not going to let you disobey the law like that! You could get hurt, you could get killed." He spun some keys around his finger, walking over to his yellow car.
"I'm driving."
Mauro sat for a second, a small smile on his face as he took out his cigarette and opened the car door.
"Yesterday you were a sobbing mess and today you're acting like my mom?" He paused. "Mood swings much?"
Wesley grinned as he slid into the front seat of his car, not saying anything in response.
Mauro wobbled to the other side of the car, creaking himself inside and sitting down.
Wesley eyed him for a moment. "Buckle up."
"I'm fine, kid—"
"Buckle up or get fired, I'm the one with the assignment papers, you know." He huffed.
Mauro was amused, yet again, with this kid. This dumb kid he met yesterday, who texted this old man to make sure he was coming and saved him a seat. Oh. Right. He did that.
"Did you... Save me a seat?" He questioned. Wesley looked at him fiercely, nodding his head as a way to say 'yes.'
"Well, yeah. But it went to waste didn't it?"
"I guess it did." Mauro said, slightly resigned. A sudden anger built up, reasons being why did you even care.
"I didn't ask you to do that. Remember? I barely even know you, it's just some weird coincidence that we're even talking today. Or at all." He snapped harshly.
Wesley softened for a moment, moving the car shift into "drive."
"Sorry, Lieutenant."
