The Missing

The missing part 5

The next day came and the cop sent out for him was the youngest on the force. A choice Andy made very consciously. A younger cop wouldn't feel awkward running a test assignment as a more experienced cop might. The assignment is simple really if his Honor asks to go somewhere before the station and he goes in alone just write the address in this notebook Andy picked up the night before. Don't mention it just write it down guesstimate how long he was thee write it all down in a pen also provided off the books. Don't tell anyone anything and bring Andy the address at the station when no one was paying him attention after the mayor left.

Only one person saw what happened and because Andy came from a big city he just played it off as an observational game. See what the new guy observes and let him think he's working an off the case of the book with the Chief so that we can mold him into the best officer possible after all they had all learned from the Howard Blesserman disaster didn't they? Muttering and nodding the cop left promising to tell the guys it was a new exercise because they skipped Howie when they did the investigation and interviews at the Mall and to let the new guy run with whatever Andy assigned him during the game. Andy held his composure until the officer left the room. Actually what could have blown up right in his face had forced Andy out of his comfort zone and although this game had a specific area of interest for Andy and possible more targets to help them track Tiffany and bring her home, it may be beneficial to start doing some training like this with all the officers.

Once everyone was busy working on other things the rookie brought the notebook back in. Andy was so curious as to the information in the book that he almost grabbed it before the rookie got all the way in the door. Once he got himself under control he waved the rookie in and told him the basic outline of what he was going to be doing in the search for Tiffany until they found her. If there was an address in the notebook he was going to start by running down who owned the property. Then it was time to learn how to do a meet and greet with Andy as these would now become part of everyone's job eventually but for now, he was going to be the point man on this. So the town got a feeling of expectation and follow through the back. The intention being that the town saw a visible police presence not only still looking for Tiffany but stepping up the number of eyes on the kids in general.

It had been 4 months since the disappearance and people were losing hope and moving on. It was her favorite time of year and Andy was praying for a Christmas miracle even If she was gone they needed closure or something to happen so they had anything more to go on. He got himself a cup of coffee and made one for his new officer. The officer looked at him in shock. "Look we're going to be working this case together and pulling in more cops as needed but you and I started this thing this very morning. We follow where it leads and if it sinks the town then you and I are going to have to hold it up on our own shoulders. So get rid of the awestruck look right now because if i get up for a cup of coffee I'm going to see if you need one too. I'm going to grab some notebooks and pens because I think this may get uglier than one missing girl but one girl. But we only follow facts. Facts that will stand up to a lot of scrutiny this will get ugly so if you want out to say so now." he declared softly.

" Was I right? "

Yes, sir, we went up to one of those old homes that got renovated a few yrs back" the rookie answered.

"I'm sorry officer I never stopped to get your first name.

I'm Jess sir " the rookie replied

"Well I'm Andy Jess and seeing as how we'll be spending a lot of time together let's cut the formality and stick to first names "

"I do wonder who that house belongs to," Andy said

"I wondered that myself so I called down to the records clerk around lunchtime. Now Dar likes her lunch breaks a few minutes over so I called about 11:30 knowing she was planning to flip through a magazine at lunch and doesn't like to deal with red tape. So Technically the house belongs to us so we could practice police safety maneuvers in it. We never ran any since you've been here. I don't know why we'd own a house for things we don't do." Jess said complete confusion on his face.

"Well now that we own something like that maybe we ought to make use of it. Not only for procedures they thought we'd run but the stuff they didn't"

"It's listed as empty sir but I know people live there I saw them as I'm looking at you right now. So I don't know if I'd feel just going into a family home.

"Your right Jess and in order to prove someone lives there We have to prove there's lights cable water and that stuff going to the house. Let's take our phones and our working theories notebook the bigger ones and eat inside Mcdonalds tonight but let's give it about another hour put your small notebook away in your squad car unless you have somewhere else to be. "Andy said.

"Hey, how did you know Dar likes magazines and would be craving a new one right about now. Andy asked as if startled from a dream " Only if you tell me why we're walking to Mcdonalds and not taking a car not that I mind the walk but we could go now pull through the drive-thru and be back here working on how to get into that house. I think we can use the car but flip on the news, His Honor The Mayor looked just a little too proud walking out of here this afternoon. He charged the whole thing to the city. Andy said. Flipping on The 6 o'clock news told them exactly why.