Mean Girls Missing

24

June 17

9:04 am

Monica

For the past two weeks, my life had consisted of the same routine. Wake up, drink my coffee, classes, work, sometimes Dewey would come over after my shift, and then it was bed time. Somewhere in between I would research the James twins online and try to find some clue as to where they went.

I was coming up empty handed each time.

Even when I searched about Carl and Shawnia James, there was nothing to suggest a location or motive for giving away the twins. If they were really that upset about being parents, they should have just given them up for adoption before they were old enough to understand. Now they were living with the fact that their parents didn't want them.

How depressing is that?

School was over for the summer. I rolled out of bed later than usual, thanks to not having to set an alarm. With my morning coffee in one hand, I plopped onto the sofa and turned the TV on.

Lola stumbled out of her bedroom. She set one hand against the wall to steady herself.

"Wild night?" I asked.

"You have no idea," she responded. She browsed through the fridge. "Ugh. Can you go shopping later?"

"Yeah, I'll get right on it." Not. Lola's lack of a job wasn't my problem. She was an able-bodied adult who could provide her own groceries.

The morning news brushed over the farmer's market and different unimportant stories. I had my finger again the power button, ready to turn it off when the James twins headline appeared. Then I settled into my seat with open ears.

"Good morning. We bring you an update on the James twins investigation. Last night police made an additional arrest after suspicions were brought to their attention regarding Nicki Morton..."

Nicki. There she was again. Footage flashed to a short blonde girl being led into the police department with her hands cuffed.

"Authorities have announced she was considered a suspect after police discovered paperwork of a lawsuit between Morton and the James twins. Witnesses reported feelings of hostility between the girls. After questioning, Morton was released because she had an alibi during the time of disappearance. We will keep you up to date on all things related to the missing James twins. And for our next story..."

I turned the TV off. I had more questions now than I did before.

If Carl and Shawnia were already in custody, why would they have to bring in Nicki? I didn't know the girl personally, but from what I could tell on her social media, she wasn't the kind of girl who could be involved in kidnapping. Or even transporting kidnapped victims. She was small and skinny. There was no way she could have dominated both of the twins at once. And considering the fact that they had sued her for something, Nicki would probably be afraid of the girls. Pissed off at them, sure, but she had been defeated. Would she go back to finish what she started?

I know I wouldn't. Though I guess I couldn't speak on everyone.

Wait a second. The lawsuit! There had to be some record of it online. Maybe all the lawyers and attorneys cost Carl and Shawnia a lot of money and they were upset about it, so they sent their twins away. Right?

Okay, maybe that was a bit of a stretch.

Not enough of a stretch for me not to try.

I headed back towards my bedroom. Before I could close the door, Lola's room across the hall opened at the same time. A tall boy with red hair and freckles nodded at me as he exited.

"What's up?" he said as he strolled down the hallway.

Another boy left the room. He was shorter with a shaved buzzcut and a full beard. I saw Lola on her bed, sheets covering her body, and decided that was all I wanted to see for the day. I could leave the rest for my imagination.

I sat on my bed with my laptop, typing the words into the search bar. My fingers kept messing up and pressing the wrong letter, so it took ten times as long as it should've. Either way, the search results popped onto the screen. There were several different options to choose from. I clicked the first one.

"Enter appropriate credentials?" I repeated. It was an official court site. I didn't have any official credentials. I tried the next one.

The other one was just a summary. James Twins sue long-time pal Nicki Morton and win $25,000.

My jaw dropped. The twins won over twenty grand from this girl and it never broke the news once. This is something I knew I would remember hearing about. Yet I couldn't find any record of it online.

I tried the third one, which informed me that because all three of the girls were under the age of eighteen at the time of the lawsuit, the case couldn't be placed online. It was the minor situation that made it confidential. It was only for court officials to view.

Shit. Well, at least I tried.

If Stephanie and Samantha weren't found within the next seven years, maybe I'd be able to use my forensic science degree to access the files.

A/N - sorry for the massive delay. fun for me i got COVID so i've been sick as heck for nearly two weeks now... anyways i'm spamming with 2-4 extra parts than usual to make up for it <3