Six Little Lullabies

Scotland Yard

It had been a few weeks and... nothing.
Not a single report on the missing girl was either on the news or in any newspapers. I had a feeling in my guts. Something just wasn't right about this.
I couldn't just ignore all this, so I decided to pay Scotland Yard a visit.

When I parked my car on the side of the street and got out, a few leafs from nearby trees, were whirling around my ankles, blown around by the wind.

After locking my car, I went up the steps of the Yard. If they didn't know anything, then something would definatly be up.

As I put my hand on the doorknob to twist it, I suddenly heard the giggling of a little girl, for the split second.
Whipping my head around quickly I scanned the area, only to see no child. Only the few standard by-passers on the sidewalk.
"I swear, there was a little girl giggling just now... it was so faint, though."
I quickly shook it off, as my imagination.
"I must be very worried for the missing child and just imagined it... Yeah, that must be it."

Sighing, I turned back around and entered the foyer of Scottland Yard. Since it was early in the morning, not many people were here. I stepped towards the front desk.

"Good morning, Sir." I greeted.
The policeman, a middle-aged man with copper-colored, uncombed hair and a slight 5 o'clock-shadow, looked up from his cup of coffee and with a tired and somewhat grumpy attitude replied: "Morning, ma'am. What do you need?"
I brushed off his slightly rude tone, as a non-morning-person-grumpiness and asked "I was wondering. Do you have any information about that little girl, Elizabeth Cooper, that has been reported missing a few weeks ago?"

The policeman froze for a second, and his brows furrowed in irritation. He rudely spat: "Why do you want to know? Are you a family member of her?"

I was taken aback by his sudden harshness and shook my head. "No, I just-" but  iwas cut off. "Then, there is nothing I can do for you."
He gave me an irritated look, that he probably thought would make me leave.
"But-" I began, but was cut of once more. "Any information about this missing-case is strictly classified and only ment for members of the family."

He was talking fast and it almost seemed like he was nervous. His eyes avoided mine as he continued: "So unless you have any information or hints, to where the victim is or what might have happened, I need to ask you to leave! We are a very busy organization and cannot have small talk with random civilians!"

He was looking for excuses to make me leave. "Very busy- how?? Nobody is even here!"
I took a step back, taken aback by his outburst.
"Good day." He said, calmer but still avoiding eye-contact.
"But I-"
"I said: good day." He cut me off sharply and I reluctantly compiled his wish for me to leave.

This was by no means a normal interaction. "Is the Yard hiding something...?" I thought skeptically. The lack of participation, the little information and the unprofessional behavior of the policeman; It all set off red flags in my head.

From that moment on, I had made my decision: "I will take on this case and I will find out, what all this was about!" I said outloud to myself.

I wanted to find and protect this little girl.
And what if it would happen again?
What if it would happen to Jack?
I could not let that happen, so I got in my car and made my way home.

On the way I passed a few lampposts, with "Missing"-posters on them. There were so little of them. I saw 10 at the most.

"I need to get in touch with the Cooper family. That is my only clue so far..." I thought, as I arrived back home.

Inside, I hung up my coat, and made myself a cup of tea, to calm myself.
It would be a lie to claim, that the policeman did not infuriate me.
But I couldn't let anger get the best of me now, so I took a sip of my hot beverage and started up my computer.

I started to search for families by the name of Cooper and found myself on Londons official government website. It indeed contained what I was hoping for: A registration list of all residence of London.

After what seemed like hours, I found a few people that had the surname 'Cooper' and I stared looking for Elizabeth Cooper. Luckily, there was only one person named that way. Any other Elizabeth Cooper that I managed to find, had a second name.
I clicked on the right name and since she is still a child it should be registered who her parents are:

Elizabeth Cooper

Guardians:
Isabel Cooper
Alexander Cooper

I scribbled down their names and continued my search all around the net. After a few hours I had finally found out, where they lived.
I was planning to pay them a visit, but I couldn't announce myself since I had no way of contacting them.
I just hoped that they wouldn't push me away.

"Tomorrow after my shift, I'll see to it." I thought and decided to go to bed. It was past 12pm after all.

Yawning, I got into bed, after brushing my teeth and changing, and I let the overwhelming force of sleep overcome me once more...

'Lizzy Barden took an ax...'