Caged

Hide and Seek

"For heaven's sake, Malcolm. I wish you had told me sooner. We can't let anybody find out." "Why not?" "Because if it spreads from someone here that you told someone, people higher up here at the NYPD could use that as a way to get her put in jail. They could say it was because of how guilty she felt and because she knew she would get caught. It would just add to the whole mess. So from here on out we don't talk about it and you don't tell anyone. Not JT, Not your mother or sister, not anybody." Malcolm pressed his lips together. He felt that JT deserved to know but ignored the feeling of guilt. "You can inform Dani the same thing." He saw the excited but questioning look on Malcolm's face. "Yes. That is permission to go see her unsupervised." He said rolling his eyes. Malcolm immediately stood up and left the room. He approached the door where Dani was. For some reason he felt nervous. He put his hand on the knob and slowly opened the door. Dani pressed her lips together and lifted her eyebrows up and then back down in an extremely unamused way to acknowledge him. "I swear I didn't know." She lifted her shoulders up and then back down to let him know she didn't really care whether or not he did. "I-" there was a knock on the door and it opened up. It was JT. "Oh thank God. I'm so glad to see you." She said standing up to hug him but He stepped back and said "I can't touch you." "Oh, yeah. Right. Of course. Wouldn't want someone to think this is personal for you or you'll get thrown off the case." She pursed her lips nodding her head as she sat back down. JT felt bad but tried to hide it and keep his composure. "I just came to tell you, Bright, Gil wants to talk." "Okay. I'll be right there." And with that he left letting the door swing closed behind him. "I didn't get that reaction." Dani laughed but didn't say anything else. "Look, Dani. We are off camera for like five more minutes so Gil says you can't tell anybody you tried- to-." "Got it. Did you say we are off camera?" "Yeah." She stood up and pulled him into a hug. He stood there for a second and then put his arms around her hugging her back. He hadn't expected that. "I'm really truly sorry. I swore I'd never do this again. But, desperate times calls for desperate measures." She swung his body around and got him in a choke hold. "Da-Dani what are-" She immediately let go as she felt his body weight increase to make sure she didn't kill him. She took his wallet, phone, keys, and removed his jacket from him. She then dragged his body over to the corner of the wall in the camera's blind spot where she sat him up. Squatting down in front of him, She brushed his hair out of his face and whispered "Sorry." Then she put his jacket on and carefully opened the door a crack. She looked to see if anyone was around. Specifically Gil or JT. Seeing no one she bowed her head and sped walked out the door. She headed to Bright's car and got in. She started pulling out and saw JT and Gil in her rear view mirror. They probably thought her a monster now. Why run when you've done nothing wrong? And she hurt Malcolm. Just for her own benefit. What was she doing? I'm losing my mind.

"But why run when you've done nothing wrong?" JT asked. Malcolm rubbed his throat where Dani had choked him before answering. "Nerves. Anxiety. Fear." "Or-" Gil started to say. "Dani, didn't do it, Gil." Malcolm butted in. "Wow we finally agree on something." JT remarked. "Well, whether or not we agree on that doesn't really matter. This is going to make her look really bad. We need to find her." The two of them nodded in agreement. "She's not herself, but she's still smart." He said turning to face JT. "Keep an eye out for any stores or restaurants where Bright's credit or debit cards are used. The cash isn't gonna last forever. Get somebody on traffic cams and search for the car and license plate number anywhere. I want you to do everything in your power to make sure this doesn't go public. I dont want anyone to know." "Bright. Your with me." He stood and started following Gil who was headed out of the building. "Where are we going?" "To talk to the owner of the gas station."

When they arrived Malcolm opened the door for Gil and they walked to the counter where a man was. Malcolm obeserved him. He was a rugged man. This was his only income. His only job, which he could tell from the way he dressed and presented himself. His hair was scruffed up in a huge mess and he smelled of weed and someone who hasn't showered in weeks. Malcolm noticed two tattoos. 1 on his wrist a falcon, and one on his neck under his ear. Which was a single triangle. "Hi. What can I get you?" "NYPD." Gil replied holding out his badge. His facial expression changed. "We just want to ask you a few questions." "I've already talked to the police." "I know but I'd like to hear from you myself." "And what about him where is his badge?" Malcolm pretended to be rummaging in his pocket for something and then said "Hmmm. Must have left it at the station." "Can you recall what happened Friday night about two days ago?" Gil asked before he could say anything. "Yes." "Do you mind recalling the story for us?" "I've already told it. But fine. I was just about to check out this woman and man. When this man walked in, a customer." He added. And then all of a sudden the woman I was about to check out pulled out a gun and told everybody to get down. Then she turned to me and told me to give her the cash out of the cash registered. So I started to take it out but then all of a sudden she turned and when she saw the face of the guy who had come in, the customer," He added again. "She started to chase after him with the gun so she ran out of the store and that's when I called the cops." What about the man came in with her? Gil asked. "He followed her." Gil and Malcolm looked very unpleased as they thanked the man and left. "D*** it!" Gil yelled once the car doors were fully closed. "He's lying so now we have two witnesses with different stories." "Yeah. He was definitely lying. But remember what he said when we first walked in." Gil looked over at him. "I've already told the police. Which means. We can look at the notes from his first story and see if he slipped up. Or if it's any different." "Good idea. Let's hope there is something." And with that they left for the station.

Dani pulled into a Mcddonalds parking lot and opened Malcolm's wallet. There was fifty dollars. She pulled out and headed to a local grocery store. She walked in trying to keep her head down. She bought some bread, fruit, and crackers with some of the cash that she had taken. She then went to a local clothes store and bought a black hoodie with the rest of the cash. And again went back to the grocery store and bought an apology greeting card. But this time she used the debit card and extracted $100 from Malcolm's bank account. Then she bought another apology card as fast as possible and got another $100 and then again for another $100 but this time she bought a lollipop. She made a mental note to pay him back when this was all over with.

When Gil and Malcolm got back to the station it had only been a minute since they had walked in when JT stood and said "Got it!" "What?" Gil asked. "She just made three separate purchases at a local grocery store." Malcolm furrowed his eyebrows. That didn't seem right. "Let's go!" Gil said as the three of them headed to his car. He sped to the store. On the way there Malcolm asked "What did she purchase?" "Two apology greeting cards and a lollipop along with extracting $300 from your bank account." He laughed. "She's not gonna be there."

They ran in and went over to the self checkout first. Malcolm approached one of the checkout machines. There was his debit card and credit card along with a lollipop. "Very generous." He said turning around and holding the lollipop. "Root beer! My favorite." Gil and JT got a disappointed look on there face and sighed.

They drove around the building but didn't find anything or see anybody. Until they passed by the clothes shop she had been too. "Wait. Stop the car." JT side parked the car next to the shop. Malcolm got out and reached into the garbage can. "My coat." He said holding it up. There was food and stuff on it from other people. "Ew. Let's go inside and ask if she purchased anything."

The lady told them that a woman who looked just like Dani had come in and bought a black hoodie. "Thank you so much." Malcolm said as they turned to leave. "Oh and what did you say your name was?" She asked Malcolm. "Bright." Malcolm answered. JT was already out the door. "Oh, very good." The old woman stated. "She was a very mysterious one. That lady. But she asked me to give this to you." The woman handed a piece of paper to Malcolm. "She said it was for your eyes only." Malcolm unfolded the piece of paper and read off of it, Macy's, 151 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001 Tomorrow 11:30p.m. "Thank you ma'am. Have a nice day." He said stuffing the paper in his coat pocket and starting to walk out. "Wait. Would you like a coupon Mr. Bright?" He smiled. " "Of course."

When he got in the car JT asked "Why did she keep you longer?" "She just wanted to make sure she wasn't in any trouble and." He held up the coupon. He nodded his head with a suspicious look on his face. "So," Gil said. "What else did you get other than this? Before now have you seen the car on traffic cams? What about her phone? Did she turn it off?" "No. We haven't been able to track the phone. It must be turned off and the car has been kept out of sight as well. How did your talk at the gas station go?" "Not very well, unfortunately. He totally made up his entire story but we were just about to check the other story he told another officer before. I want you to keep trying her phone and the traffic cams."

When Malcolm got home from work he worried about Dani and wondered where she was going to sleep that night. He hoped his money was enough for her to eat. He got into bed fretting what was to come next and hoping he wouldn't wake up late from his night terror episode. He chained himself to his bed and slowly started to fall asleep.

A\N: To be honest I really hate this chapter and wasn't very inspired. But never the less, enjoy! Please vote and comment! I really appreciate any constructive criticism on how I can do better! Thanks!