Twisted Roads

The Detective

        I held the reports in my hand, scanning through each of them. "Well, Officer Harris. Do you want the assignment? We need all the trustworthy people we can get. You'll be working with agents, too. And you're assigned to protect a trusted detective," Mr. King explained. 

        "Yes, sir," I answered. "So, a bunch of smart kids banded together to run away? And they stole from some scientists?" 

        "Yes."

        "Alright. Just track down a couple of delinquents," I shrugged. "Anything else I should know? Where do these kids even come from, and where are their parents?"

        "That information is classified. This task isn't that simple. One of the kid's is extremely dangerous. That is the kid we need."

        I took a sip of my coffee. "Which kid?"

        "That's the thing... We don't know. Once we catch that kid, all of the others can go. We don't have any solid evidence, but I bet it's Vincent Green," Mr. King said. "There's evidence for him coming up with the escape. And he's the oldest." I flipped to the report on Vincent Green and skimmed through the information. A tall ginger haired boy with brown eyes and freckles. "Even if he isn't the dangerous one, we should still go for him. If we take the oldest one, hopefully he'll have information. Especially since he planned the escape."

        "And the others? Any of them suspicious?"

        "All of them are really smart. Which is no surprise because they were test subjects for genetic modification as babies. Each of them turned out right... Besides the white-haired one, Eli. Something went wrong. The scientists and doctors tried to adjust physical strength, but he ended up having health problems that limit him physically. But he's probably the smartest of them all," Mr. King continued. "They really tested how smart they could make a person with him."

        I shook my head. "Ugh... How did the parents feel about that?"

        "Each of their parents paid lots of money to get their child modified," Mr. King said. 

        "This isn't making a lot of sense... Why would the smartest kids suddenly run away from their homes and steal from scientists? And how is one of them more dangerous than others?"

        "Like I said, the rest is classified. All you're doing is helping us track down these kids--"

        The door to the office suddenly opened. "Hello," a tall slim man greeted. He had blond hair and hazel eyes. 

        "Ah, Mr. Anderson," Mr. King stood up to greet him. The two shook hands. "Right on time. Officer Harris just agreed to help you with the investigation."

        "Wonderful," Mr. Anderson said. He turned towards me and shook my hand. "I am Briar Anderson, please call me Briar."

        "I am Officer Nova Harris," I replied, smiling. "So, when do we leave?"

        "Right now, of course," Briar answered. "These kids aren't going to catch themselves. I can fill you in on our first task in my car."

        I followed Briar out to his car. It was a little old. Inside, it was unorganized. Jackets in the back seat, folders, and papers. I had to clear out the passenger seat. But I didn't say anything. I was here to do my job. 

        "Alright," Briar said, his smile disappearing from his face. "I'm not sure if you noticed, but there's something clearly wrong with this investigation." He turned the key and started the car. The sun was starting to set. I wasn't sure how much information we would find locally. "Those kids... They went missing two years ago, yet there isn't a single news article published on where these highly intelligent children disappeared to. And the parents... I worked on the case two years ago with the parents. The government wouldn't step in. I'm not sure what the full story is, but our mission is to find the kids, and learn what happened two years ago."

        "Mr. King said any other information regarding the children was classified," I reminded him. 

        "Yes. If you don't agree, then exit the car." I stayed in the passenger's seat. I then buckled up. 

        "Well then, I guess we're figuring out what happened to them previously," I shrugged. "It can't be that bad."

        Briar smiled at me. "I'm already starting to like your company." We drove off to the area of where the kids were last spotted. A science lab a couple of miles away.