The Lost and the Looking (PUBLISHED)

8

-Scarlet

"A group of you need to search the woods; you won't find anything though." I say, clutching the cell phone. "The rest of you, come with me. We're going to need to search all the helipads."

"What makes you think we won't find anything?" An intern from my forensic team asks in a condescending tone.

"I just know. I'm quite good at my job. And if you'd still like to have a job here by the end of your internship..."

"Oh I, I'm sorry Agent Knight. I know you-" He starts to say.

"It's fine." I reply, dodging a branch on the trail.

Once inside the first helipad, I see a man in his late twenties slouching over a computer at his desk. When he looks up to see me walking toward him, he straightens up and shoves a clipboard into his desk drawer.

"Hello, I'm Special Agent Knight from the FBI," I turn and gesture towards Julia. "And this is my partner Special Agent Kann. We're investigating a recent kidnapping. Can we please see yesterday's flight schedules?"

He replies, "I'm sorry but those records are confidential. Um, customer privacy? You would need a warrant."

That's obviously ridiculous. There is a sign behind him saying the flight records are posted on the front desk.

"Threatened or bribed?" I ask.

He stutters, "I, I, I don't know what you mean."

"I could arrest you. It's illegal to keep evidence from a federal agent."

He pales. "It is?" He says with a strained voice.

"It is." Julia replies sternly. "Now I suggest you tell us. We can help you and you can help us. Or, we'll find out anyway, and you'll be in a lot of trouble."

The man looks behind him as if looking to see if it was safe to talk.

He starts to rock back and forth in his chair, his already pale skin getting paler. His eyes are wide and terrified. "They threatened me. I'm not safe!" He shutters violently. "Not safe! I'm not safe! Please!"

"Shhhhh," I soothe "it's okay, you're okay." He is still trembling. "Hey, you'll be safe, okay? We'll protect you."

He looks up at me. "Promise?"

"Promise. Now tell me everything."

He goes on to tell us about a man and a woman dragging Hannah into a helicopter. He's about to describe them when I cut him off.

"Julia, can you get someone in here to draw the people he's explaining please."

I let him continue with the rest of the details, asking him to save the descriptions for the artist.

When the artist finishes the drawings, he passes them to me.

I stare at them and smile.

One step closer, I'm going to win this one.