.•_-𝒮𝒽ℴ𝓇𝓉 𝒮𝓉ℴ𝓇𝒾ℯ𝓈-_•.

"Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper, 1942

 Let me set the scene for you. It's 1952 and I'm a P.I. for this lovely couple: the Watts. They have two children; a boy and a girl. The girl is older by 5 years, maybe 6. Anyways, they recently went missing so I was hired by the couple to find the poor souls. I've been working sleepless nights and tiring mornings trying to find at least one clue to where they could've gone; until I found one. A clue, that is. It was a note that slid under my front door. It read: "The kids are with me. If you want to find them alive, go to Seillihp bay with a million dollars. I'm waiting.". A million? Where am I supposed to get that kind of money? And where is SeiIlihp bay? I decided to tell the couple about the note. All they did was cry. I felt bad, so I left. I'll get those kids back alive, even if I don't have the money. I will.

I arrive at Seillihp bay, waiting for the criminal. I brought a briefcase full of fake money so maybe if they just see the money at first glance, they'll give the kids back. I wait... 5 minutes... 20 minutes... 70 minutes... I was getting impatient. I glanced back at the sign that adorned the words "Seillihp Bay". I was in the right place, I was sure. A couple more hours passed by and I started thinking: could Seillihp be something else? A criminal wouldn't be that forward about their location, would they? I sat down and thought. What does Seillihp mean? Could it be an anagram for something? I thought about it and started to try to say it backwards. "Seillihp... Phillies... wait. Phillies!" I shot up and sprinted towards the coffee shop. How could I be so daft? I burst in and yelled, "I have the money!" There were only three people in the shop: a man and woman sitting next to each other with white mugs with an unknown substance, and another man who was serving them. They all looked at me for a second and then decided to go back to their own devices. I was highly confused and very tired so I decided to find a seat... just to sit in. Then I found another note laid down on a stool. I snatched it up and read it: "Too late."

I sat down re-reading the note again and again. I couldn't believe it. My stupidity had gotten in the way. I don't even know if I can get them back anymore, but one thing is certain. I will not rest until I find out what happened to those kids.