JEREMY

Sixteen Days Ago

"I'm telling you man, you have got to let this go. Let her go. She's not your sister anymore. That girl you loved? The one you've been chasing for the last seven years? That girl no longer exists."

Jeremy clenched his teeth together. Did this young man not understand what it was like to lose someone he loved?

"I don't care what you think. In fact, I didn't pay you to think. I paid you to find her." Jeremy ground out. "And now that you have, I do believe I no longer need your services."

"Boss ain't gonna like.."

"I do not care what the boss likes or doesn't like. This was a deal between you and I. Or did you forget that?"

Jeremy took some pride in seeing the younger man's face pale. It would appear his reputation did still proceed him in some things at least. Impatiently, he held out his hand, waiting until the file was handed over.

"Thank you, you may go now".

Jeremy waited for the young man to leave, before pouring himself a short glass of whiskey from the bottle he kept in his desk. He looked at the file before him, knowing it held the answers to the questions he had had for the last seven years, but unsure as to whether or not he really wanted to know the answers. Wasn't there a saying about ignorance being bliss?

Taking a deep drink from his glass and relishing in the burn the whiskey left, he settled back, picked up the folder and opened it, frowning when he noticed the first entry was dated almost a month ago.

After months of searching and following lead after lead, and encountering several dead ends, it appears that I have finally located the subject. One Carnissa Daniels. Went missing seven years ago after running away from home. I will continue to monitor the situation and will report back once I ascertain whether or not this is the girl who has been missing for so long.

Surveillance night one

- Subject seen entering Mesa Luna bar at approximately 3 P.M. It would appear she has been employed there for some time as all the customers seem to know her. All is quiet.

- 6PM subject was approached by a stranger. The man spent some time speaking with her. Subject seemed to become agitated.

- 8PM the man grabbed the subjects wrist as she walked by. Subject responded by punching him in the nose. Man raised his hand and would in my opinion have struck the subject had he not been subdued by another man. The first man was dragged outside by the second and promptly given a sound beating.

- 10 PM Subject was seen leaving with her rescuer from earlier. By the way, the pair acted it was obvious there is some relationship there. Will provide more information as found, and resume surveillance tomorrow.

Jeremy leafed through some of the photographs provided. His sister looked much like he remembered her. Older of course, and a little harder around the edges maybe. But it was still her. He frowned slightly as he leafed through several photos of her with a man. He was definitely trouble. Mean eyes, eager for a fight, even in the photos Jeremy could tell there was something off about him. With a heavy sigh, he returned back to the reports in front of him.

Surveillance night two

8PM - Shift thus far uneventful. Subject reported for duty as usual, but nothing of significance to report.

10PM - Subject seen leaving Luna Mesa alone. I followed until she came to a run down house near the outskirts of town. Subject parked and quickly went inside. I was able to get close enough to discern this is the home of the man from the bar. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for fear of being caught.

Surveillance night three

It would appear it is the subject's night off. Will continue to observe.

9PM - subject has arrived at the Luna Mesa on the arm of the man she has been spotted with before. I am preparing to enter the bar to see if I can learn more about them.

12 AM - Both subjects have left the bar. I have ascertained that the female is almost certainly the missing girl as the man - who I have identified as Mac - referred to her as Nissa on numerous occasions. I have tried to learn more about the man, but it would appear that most people who frequent this place won't speak truthfully about him.

1 AM - I feel safe enough in reporting that there is a definite relationship between the subject and Mac as I accidentally caught them in a compromising position in his truck. Tomorrow I will reach out to local law enforcement and see what I can find out.

The following pages were police reports. Apparently his sisters friend had a long history with the local and state police. Drug charges - unsubstantiated. Questioned in the disappearance of a college girl. Several drunk and disorderly citations. Several assault charges. A couple pops for assault with a deadly weapon.

"What the hell have you gotten yourself into?" Jeremy asked aloud before reaching for his phone. His first call was to his partner Matthew. Telling him that Nissa had been found and asking him to make some further inquiries about this Mac character she had been keeping company with. It would look better coming from him at the moment. The second call was to Eileen.

His sisters best friend. The girl who had grown up thick as thieves with his sister. Who had claimed she had had no word from her former friend. A claim Jeremy was nearly certain was a lie. He knew Nissa didn't want to be found, but he could not believe she wouldn't have sent a letter here or there, or a phone call. Something to let her best friend know she was alive. Even if Eileen didn't want to tell him because of her loyalty.

When the call connected, he simply said. "I've found her."