Wedding Crasher

#4 - The Call

Chapter 4 - The Call
published: Saturday, 27 July 2019

The rumble of the car engine ceased as Ashton pulled up into the parking outside the precinct. Anna launched herself out of the car, flash drive clutched in her hand as she hurried inside.

It was 7.36pm and the night crew had taken over. Liam and Danny were nowhere to be seen.

Anna eyed the officer sitting at her desk distastefully. He always left chocolate smears all over her desk and food stains on the chair.

She forced herself to turn to one of the spare computers, holding back the glare bubbling up inside. After keying in her login details, Anna loaded screenshots from the security footage into the system.

Even though this was a long shot — facial recognition was a flimsy technology at best, and the picture was blurred beyond comprehension — Anna had to try every lead possible.

She scribbled a tick beside the words "facial recognition" in her notebook, her gaze roving to the next of her clues. The license plate number they had picked out of the video brought up a single record; a Mr Benjamin Hall.

The name rang a bell and Anna followed her gut curiosity as she opened the file and scrolled through records. Sure enough, it stated that he'd called in his car as stolen just two days ago.

There was a soft creaking as Ashton rolled over to her side on one of the office chairs.

"You guys are so lucky," he complained.

Anna cast her gaze over to him with a bemused smile. "Because of the resources?"

Ashton gave her a sheepish grin. "Yeah, that too. But I meant the rolly chairs." He pushed himself off from the desk and spun a few rounds.

Anna laughed at his antics, her morose spirits lifting. If anything, Ashton provided entertainment.

There was a ping as a notification popped up on her screen. Anna sighed in disappointment as the facial recognition turned up with nothing.

"Why don't you get the image enhanced?" Ashton offered. "I know someone." Anna glowered, but she ceded the keyboard to him nonetheless.

His fingers clicked against the keys as he sent the images through his email to whoever his contact was. Anna bit her lip warily; this contact seemed a little dodgy.

"So we have to interview Benjamin Hall," Anna read aloud. "The records team, and the Randall Brothers."

As she made to get up, Ashton held out a hand. "Wait, you don't mean now, do you?"

"Of course, now. My sister is missing, Ashton."

"Yes, but we aren't going to solve anything by chasing down people in the night. You know as well as I do that disgruntled, sleepy people aren't any help," Ashton pointed out, and Anna hated that he was right.

"Fine." Anna scowled but grabbed her notebook and shut down the computer. "Let's get you home."

As they pulled up in front of Bennett and Ashton's apartment building, Anna's brow furrowed as she noticed the lack of lights in their window.

"Is Bennett home?" she voiced with confusion.

There were a few beeps as Ashton dialled his best friend, and a few moments before he picked up. Anna glanced over as Ashton's face went slack with evident frustration. "What?" There were annoyed "mhm"s and "okay, see you"s before he hung up the phone.

"What's going on?" Anna questioned.

"The police moved Bennett and your parents to a safe house," Ashton said with a sigh. "Safety precautions and whatnot. It's supposed to last a week. They're keeping everyone who could have Hallie used against them for leverage in one place in case they're targeted too."