Love and Demise

Chapter 8

Detective Carmichael

"Bethany, Bethany, Bethany." I tapped her picture against the steering wheel. Looking at the young face staring back at me. The girl couldn't be older than 23 and here she was wrapped up in this mess.

It hurt looking at her. She reminded me of my daughter when she was in her early twenties. Doe eyed and naive. At least I hope she was naive. I could be wrong. She could be a conniving little thing; but for some reason my gut was saying she wasn't.

I looked back over at the bank. I had just left after talking to the manager. He had told me that I had just missed Bethany. She seemed to be very ill and he had suggested she go home early.

I rubbed my forehead annoyed with the circumstances. I had sent officers the her house and they radioed in saying she wasn't home and now she wasn't at work either. Why did she want to make my job even harder.

Starting the engine I pulled out of the parking lot,getting ready to return to the office,when my phone began to ring.

"Hello"

"Hey Detective Carmichael we got a location on that woman you were looking for."

"Really, Where is she?"

"St. Joseph's hospital."

I took a deep breath "What happened?"

"Don't know. An ambulance was called out to Bleak House Park and she was just admitted five minutes ago."

"Alright thanks Carl, I'll swing over there now."

"Okay. Good luck," he hung up leaving me to my thoughts.

Bleak House Park was on the other side of town. Why would Bethany even be there; especially since that's where Joseph's body was found. Starting up the car I made my way to the hospital. St. Joseph's was a big building more of a conglomerate than a hospital if you asked me.

Stepping out of my car I entered the building heading towards the front desk.

"Hi, Detective Carmichael," I took out my badge to show the young lady behind the desk. "I need the room number for a Bethany Sanchez"

"Yes, one moment," the girl said tapping away at her computer. As she looked at the computer screen a frown appeared across her face.

"Any problems?"

"No. Not really"

"So?" I asked drumming my fingers against the marble countertop.

"It says she was brought in, but she's no longer here."

"So she's been discharged?"

"Not exactly, it seems she left against medical advice."

My mind began to buzz. This case was becoming weirder and weirder as time passed by.

"Okay, thank you for your time."

Walking out towards my car I called the men I had left outside of Bethany's home. Not to my surprise she hadn't returned home. Hanging up I called officer Bell.

"What's up detective?" He sounded like he was munching on chips.

"I need you to put a missing person bolo for Bethany Sanchez"

"Really, what's going on?" The munching had ceased.

"I'll explain later, let's just find her as fast as possible. I've got a few questions for her." Hanging up I let out a deep sigh. The whole situation was giving me a bad feeling. I just hoped that it was all in my head.