MORGAN'S MISSING

10-7B

December 12th, 2017
California, Los Angeles

Officer Daniel Ramirez:

*DING*
*DING*
*DING*

        "Ugh" I groan, pushing myself onto my side. My whole body aches but I often found myself ignoring it. 'I deserved it' I heard the small voice. Deciding not to hate myself just yet, I push myself into an upright position before standing up. I limp as fast as I can towards the bathroom, the urge to relieve myself strong.

         "Hey!" I hear someone shout as I harshly shove the bathroom door open. 'What the fuck?' I ask myself, my mind hazy.

         "Oh, it wasn't a dream" I mumble, staring wide eyed at Landan. The memories of yesterday rushing my mind. I soon get dizzy, deciding to lean against the doorway.

        "Sorry to disappoint...?" He trails off, still staring at me expectantly. I then take him in, noticing him still relieving himself.

       "Oh, sorry" I mumble again, wobbling out of the frame.

       "Can you shut the door?!" I hear him call as I walk down the hallway. Ignoring my urge to pee, I sit back in front of the coffee table. All my files and paperwork still sprawled out.

       "If Morgan's in Arizona, where did she send me these from..." I trail off, looking at the recent letters she sent me. I lay them out in front of me. I scan the room, looking for the backpack Amy had. I quickly spot it on the couch. 'Wait? Didn't Landan say Daxton sent me something?' I try to think about what Landan said. 'The black package before? The one without anything on it maybe?'. I push myself up, ignoring Landans curious gaze as he watches me. I open the lid to my trash bin, digging through it.

        "Yes!" I whisper shouted, pulling out the small black package. I quickly limp back to the living room, grabbing the backpack as I sit back down.

       "What are you doing?" Landan asks, shuffling to sit on the couch besides me. I quickly sprawl out the picture with 'Dead' across it as well as the others. I then opened up her computer, surprised it didn't lock. The screen was still the picture of Morgan entering the pawn shop. I quickly ignore the nagging guilt that floods me for using Amy's computer. 'I miss her'.

        "What was Morgan doing there? Were these pictures taken when she was in AZ?" I try to take a closer look at the pictures, taking in the backgrounds. I notice above the heads of pedestrians a small sign.

        "Molly's Antique, Open Monday thru Friday til 8pm." I read aloud, my eyes quickly darting towards my computer. I quickly opened it, searching 'Molly's Antique'. Multiple locations popped up. Until finally my eyes rested on Phoenix Arizona. 'It's a six hour drive at most from here...' I trailed off.

        "Landan."

        "Yes?"

        "How many weeks do I have work?" I asked, figuring he of all people should know.

       "You have eight weeks, so two months"

       "Great!" I smiled, picking the package up and opening it. My smile drops as I open the small wooden ring box that was inside. A silver bullet with 'Morgan' engraved in it rolled out. I grit my jaw, closing the box.

       "If I can get security footage from the boutique or surrounding shops I can track Morgan. If she's in a hurry or panicked I'm sure she would've left a trail, maybe not an obvious one to them but as a trained officer I'm sure I could find one. After all, there's always a trail." I mumble to myself, pushing myself back up. I quickly limp towards my bedroom. Opening the closet I pull out my blue duffle bag. I throw it onto my mattress, grabbing random shirts and jeans from hangers.

      "Yo! what are you doing?" Landan shouts, watching me from the doorway.

      "How many days do you have off work?" I asked him, shoving my clothes in the bag as well as some toiletries.

       "None. I go in today at 8pm" He says, his prying eyes still watching me.

       "Good. Can you watch babe for me? You can stay here and sleep in my room. I'll be gone for... I don't really know how long but I won't be back soon." I quickly say, realizing I couldn't leave my dog here alone. I also sure as hell couldn't take her.

        "Where are you going? I'll come with, I'll take work off!" Landan quickly steps forward.

       "No" I quickly shut him down, zipping up the bag. I shuffle past Landan, back into the living room. I gather all the useful papers as well as the small notebook I had. I shove them all into a large orange envelope, shoving the envelope into my bag.

       "Please! Let me help!"

       "You can help by staying here and taking care of my dog. For fucks sake Landan, listen to what I'm saying. You're gonna stay here and watch after Babe while I clean up Morgan's mess and yours." I turn to look at him, giving him a pointed glare. Effectively shutting him up I go back into the room.

        "Fuck. Landan!" I call, not being able to lift my mattress.
   
        "Lift the mattress for me"

        "What the fuck?" He questions, lifting it up and watching me pull out the cash.

         "Here's a grand. Now keep your word and watch Babe. Also if you tell anyone- and I mean anyone- You'll be dead to me. Don't make me regret giving you another chance." I spat out, the words tasting bitter. I hated talking to him like that. However I don't trust him, and I needed him to know there are boundaries.
      
         "I'm sorry. I won't let you down, I promise" He smiles encouragingly at me.

        "You won't let me down, again*" I corrected his sentence, sticking the cash in my bag.

        "Give me your keys." I outstretch my hand towards him.

        "Daniel, no" Landan gives me a look, shaking his head.

        "Keys ! Now! They know what my car looks like already. Because of you, I might add" I jest at him.

       "Fuck whatever." Landan hesitantly reaches into his cargo shorts, pulling out his keys. He dangled them above my hand, pulling them away as soon as I went to grab them.

       "Landan!"

       "I'm sorry! Just promise me you'll bring her back in prime condition?! She's my baby!" He whines, reluctantly handing me his keys.

       "Stop bitching it's only a car" I mumble, smiling. Knowing damn well if it was my car I'd throw a fit.

        "Here's my keys, you can drive my car to work if you want. Keep my dog alive! She eats wet and dry food! I'll let you know I'm alive, maybe" I snicker, grabbing my things and walking out the door. I quickly walk up to his red Honda coupe. Landa had decked it out in mods himself, it was his pride and joy. For now, it was about to be my living space. I throw the bag and the pair of shoes I was holding into the back. Adjusting the seat for my height, I start the car. It revs slightly.

        "Oh crap, phone cord!" I mumbled, noticing my phone was on low battery. I slowly lean over the console, opening the glove box. 'Damn Landan' I say to myself, pulling out a black glock. I push it aside, quickly pulling out the a phone cord.

        "Starting route to Molly's Antique, Phoenix Arizona." The GPS says as I back out of the parking lot. 'Here goes nothing'.