- Wow Dina! How long as it been since we've seen each other?
- Since you left me for another woman Dan.
- Haha... How have you been since then?
- Well my life has been pretty chaotic but I have finally settled down now with my husband and a kid.
- That's good to here.
- Is he your son?
- Nope, he's my partner.
- Dan. Isn't he a bit young to be your partner?!
- A work partner, Dina.
- Oh! Well that makes more sense even though you're enough of a prick to do that kind of thing.
- Don't even joke about that, I would never touch a minor.
- Still a good cop I see.
- It's the only thing that keeps me going.
- I can tell. Not married and no kids, I thought I was the one who wasn't moving on.
- ... I guess a part of that is true.
- Oh don't look so dull, your time will come when you'll find something that motivates you.
- No need, my work keeps me distracted.
- Such a workaholic! Wait were you part of that suicide? Poor thing lived with his mother hanging from the ceiling, he must have a serious mental problem that kid.
- How do you know about this?
- What do you mean? It's in the news!
- What?! How did the media get all this information in so little time?
- Well you know what they are like nowadays, they'd do anything to get a piece of juicy information.
- Yeah, they'd even ruin a kids life. At least they didn't post any photos.
- Well you know what they say about kids that age, I might of all been staged. He might have staged it all and killed her himself.
- You shouldn't say stuff like that out loud, you could start a nasty rumour.
- Well his life is already ruined so I don't think he would care.
This is why I hate people. Unconscious about society and how people like to gossip and make other peoples lives worse. She's gorgeous and yet I had completely forgotten about her, but now it makes sense why.
- Well I'm just glad that he isn't stupid enough to listen to such a **** and he must of figured that out just by looking at you.
- How dare you insult me! Wait, the way you spoke... is he here ?! Is it that kid you were with?!
I follow Dina's glare to the bench where Josh was sat.
- Where did he go?
- I don't know.... But he left his shopping bags.
At that moment, I had a violent flashback. Bodies, screaming, blood. Was it a sign ? I'm not taking any chances.
- Dina call 911 now! Report a kidnapping, tell them detective Dan is on the scene.
- Wait don't you think he could have just walked off or went to the toilet or something?
- He wouldn't have left his bags.
It only took 30 minutes for the forensics team and the Director to arrive.
- Well that was quick, did we need the forensics team though ?
- Dan, you never call me out, what's going on? Where's the kid?
- He's gone, he got kidnapped.
- Did you see it happen?
- No, but I know he did.
- You're usually right about these kind of things so I'll trust you. I thought we might find some evidence or prints.
- I'm not sure that's going to help, we are in a public park.
- Are you okay?
- I'm fine.
- What are you thinking?
- I'm thinking that the next time I'm gonna see him, he'll be cold.
- You mean dead?
- That too.
- You think it's "HIM" don't you?
- I'm not sure what I'm thinking right now.
- We'll get him back, he's a suspect after all.
I waited patiently as the forensics team worked their magic to discover anything that could be useful to finding the kidnapper. Marcus brought me some coffee and the director asked me to help her question possible witnesses including Dina. The only information that seemed useful was a child stating to have seen Josh sat with an older man on the bench, but it's a public park. Anyone could have just decided to sit there. A woman witnessed a pick up truck parked on the edge of the park who seemed to have left in a rush. Maybe a coincidence? Maybe the kidnapper? She didn't pick up the licence plate either.
- Dan, we found blood near the water dispenser.
- And?
- Somebody injured Josh before taking him.
- Fuck! How much blood?
- A fair bit, no trails or anything though, as if he just vanished.
- Okay.
- Will you please stop worrying, he won't die that easily.
- I'm not Director, he's probably gonna have great fun with the kidnapper.
- Fun?
- I've been observing him, he's crafty and a little shit.
- You're not making sense, but I think I get it.
The Director smiled at me as if she saw right through me. Josh will be fine, we both started to believe that.
- Go home Dan, we'll call you when we get something.
- No, I'll help, an extra pair of hands is not something to laugh at.
- Go home. That's an order detective.
- I can't just stay at home.
- You want me to fire you?
I hate the Director most times, but this time I wanted to string her up and gag her. In a none sexual way... I just felt the urge to kick a bin over on my way to my car to show my frustration.
- Such a kid.
